Let wrist guards take the ski strain

By COLIN MOORE

In years to come an astute doctor may be able to guess whether their elderly patients have been skiers or snowboarders.

The skiers will complain of aching knees, the snowboarders of aching wrists.

A knee injury, that curse of so many sports, is now the most common injury suffered by skiers.

The development of stiffer boots with a higher cuff has virtually eliminated ankle injuries. The at-risk area has been transferred upwards and knee strains and sprains now account for 30 per cent of ski injuries.

Snowboarders' problems are mostly with their wrists, which take the force of impact when they fall and instinctively reach out their hands.

The injury is particularly prevalent with beginners in their first three days on the slopes.

Wrist guards, first developed for skateboarders who suffer the same injuries, reduce the risk of wrist injuries considerably.

Last year ACC and the New Zealand Ski Council worked together to promote the use of wrist guards as part of a three-year programme to prevent injuries at ski areas.

An ACC spokesperson noted that the average new claim cost of skiing and boarding injuries was $2500 compared with the average rugby claim of $1500.

Mark (Budgie) Woods, head of the Mt Ruapehu ski patrol, endorses the use of wrist guards.

"At first, we were concerned that strengthening the wrist with a guard would just transfer the force of impact higher up the arm as has tended to happen with skiers' leg injuries," says Woods.

"But ACC research suggests this isn't the case. While it is difficult to be absolutely conclusive, it certainly appears that wristguards work."

But Woods warns that wristguards need to be fitted correctly and of good quality.

The use of helmets has increased markedly in the past couple of seasons, following a trend that is particularly noticeable at North American ski areas. Helmet-wearers seem to be mainly the young or the elderly.

Woods, who is going into his 20th winter as a ski patroller, says helmets are certainly of benefit to children who have a far higher rate of head injuries than adults.

He says the evidence suggests that in impacts higher than 20 km/h, helmets will be of less value in protecting against concussion because the brain will still shake around inside the skull.

Woods recommends the use of climbing helmets for backcountry skiers and boarders to protect against falling objects.

His other safety recommendations are to have ski bindings checked at a ski shop at the beginning of the season and to self-check the release before each day's skiing.

He says skiers and boarders should make sure they are reasonably fit. If they have strong muscles they are less likely to suffer joint strains. And Woods recommends stretching exercises and taking a good lunch break.

The most dangerous falls are slow-motion falls in soft, gloopy snow. Woods says if you are finding the snow heavy and it feels like hard work, the safest thing to do is to take a rest.

One last plea is for the young guns flying off natural jumps to make sure they have someone below spotting for them.

And here's a personal plea: Keep a good grip on your snowboard if you are carrying it across a slope. Without the brakes to stop them that skis are fitted with, snowboards can be lethal weapons once they begin sliding. I know. An unattended snowboard once cannoned down a slope and broke my daughter's arm.