Adrenaline-pumping sports such as skiing and snowboarding are hugely popular, and the best resorts around the world attract young, fashionable and affluent crowds every single year. There’s no denying that a ski vacation is something of a glamorous affair but before you get caught up in the hype of the holiday, it’s important to remember some health and safety basics.
According to researchers at John Hopkins University, around 600,000 people are injured each year through skiing or snowboarding – in the U.S alone. So the proper precautions are critical for winter sports travel.
Here are the skiing and snowboarding safety essentials:
–DO NOT forget travel insurance – travel insurance should never be overlooked. In the case of winter sports travel, it is more important than ever. If you have existing travel cover, be sure to review your policy to check the small print or call your insurance provider as many standard policies do not cover extreme sports.
–DON’T cut corners with safety gear – getting the best safety gear is essential to ensure that you have the best protection out on the slopes. Although safety gear doesn’t come cheap, it’s an investment worth making if you want to have a safe and problem-free vacation. Choose trusted brands such as Salomon, POC, Atomic or UVEX (see more at High Octane Sports) and use a checklist to make sure you don’t miss anything vital.
–DO get ski lessons before you travel – ski lessons can be expensive at resorts but you can easily brush up on your indoor skiing skills by taking some lessons before you travel. Making sure you’re completely confident before you hit the slopes to prevent common mistakes and injuries.
–DO practice on nursery slopes – the nursery area is designed to give beginners a safe area to practice before testing the slopes. But it’s not just reserved for beginners and if you feel like you need to dust off those cobwebs since your last ski vacation, make sure you utilize the nursery areas.
–DON’T ignore the colors of the slopes – slopes are graded with colors to help skiers get to grips with their own levels. Green slopes are designed for beginners, blue slopes are for early intermediates, red slopes are for advanced intermediates, and black slopes are reserved for experts.
–DON’T forget eyewear – the right eyewear is essential for both skiing and snowboarding. Despite the freezing cold temperatures, many resorts are extremely sunny. Buy anti-glare goggles which can not only improve your vision (and that’s essential for not crashing into other people) but can also protect your eyes from harmful UV rays.
(Photo by jsigharas via Flickr)
Article written by Victoria S.
Here are the skiing and snowboarding safety essentials:
–DO NOT forget travel insurance – travel insurance should never be overlooked. In the case of winter sports travel, it is more important than ever. If you have existing travel cover, be sure to review your policy to check the small print or call your insurance provider as many standard policies do not cover extreme sports.
–DON’T cut corners with safety gear – getting the best safety gear is essential to ensure that you have the best protection out on the slopes. Although safety gear doesn’t come cheap, it’s an investment worth making if you want to have a safe and problem-free vacation. Choose trusted brands such as Salomon, POC, Atomic or UVEX (see more at High Octane Sports) and use a checklist to make sure you don’t miss anything vital.
–DO get ski lessons before you travel – ski lessons can be expensive at resorts but you can easily brush up on your indoor skiing skills by taking some lessons before you travel. Making sure you’re completely confident before you hit the slopes to prevent common mistakes and injuries.
–DO practice on nursery slopes – the nursery area is designed to give beginners a safe area to practice before testing the slopes. But it’s not just reserved for beginners and if you feel like you need to dust off those cobwebs since your last ski vacation, make sure you utilize the nursery areas.
–DON’T ignore the colors of the slopes – slopes are graded with colors to help skiers get to grips with their own levels. Green slopes are designed for beginners, blue slopes are for early intermediates, red slopes are for advanced intermediates, and black slopes are reserved for experts.
–DON’T forget eyewear – the right eyewear is essential for both skiing and snowboarding. Despite the freezing cold temperatures, many resorts are extremely sunny. Buy anti-glare goggles which can not only improve your vision (and that’s essential for not crashing into other people) but can also protect your eyes from harmful UV rays.
(Photo by jsigharas via Flickr)
Article written by Victoria S.
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