The Ski Blog

The Ski Helmet Debate

The tragic death of Natasha Richardson following an apparently minor tumble on a beginner slope in Mont Tremblant has re-ignited the debate over making helmets compulsory for skiing and snowboarding.

Ms Richardson fell whilst taking a lesson and was not wearing a helmet. She was later admitted to hospital and subsequently died from head injuries.

Earlier this year in Austria, a high speed collision between Dieter Althaus, a German politician, and a 41 year old woman resulted in the woman's death. She was not wearing a helmet. The politician, who was wearing a helmet, has since been found guilty of causing death by negligence.

Following this incident, it is now compulsory in Lower Austria for all children under the age of 14 to wear helmets. In Italy this has been the case for a while, and the vast majority of ski schools in Europe will insist or strongly advise that children should have helmets.

Clearly there is a risk of injury when doing wintersports - as there is with all sports. However whenever a tragic accident occurs there is usually a knee-jerk reaction which follows.

In our health and safety regulated society there will be calls for making helmets compulsory for all.

A Dangerous Sport?

In a recent BBC article, Dr Mike Langran, who has been studying alpine injury rates for several years, has clearly outlined how "dangerous" snow sports are.

"I don't personally regard snow sports in general as dangerous sports at all. For a start, the overall injury risk combining all the snow sports is about 0.2% to 0.4%. This is really very low. Think of an average game of football. Usually two or three players end up with an injury at the end of the game."

The incidence of head injuries in skiing and snowboarding is very low according to Dr Langran's research. Damage to the knee is the most common injury sustained by skiers, whilst snowboarding injuries tend to favour the shoulder, wrist and arm.

To quote the BBC article again:

"For every 10,000 people on the slopes on any particular day, no more than three people will sustain a head injury requiring medical attention. Fortunately, out of all these people with head injuries, the majority (90%) of the injuries are minor cuts and bruises. The remaining 10% are potentially more serious and can be deadly."

Do Helmets Make a Difference?

A survey by the National Ski Areas Association in the States has found that approximately 43% of skiers and snowboarders in the US now wear helmets (winter 2007-8). This is up from 25% in 2002-2003. Yet the same study also found that the rate of accidental deaths on the slope has not changed.

What research has shown on both sides of the Atlantic is that wearing a helmet can help reduce the severity of a head injury. A helmet alone however will not prevent injury in the case of a high speed collision. So if you are genuinely concerned about being safe when you ski or snowboard there are other measures that you should take as well.

The Highway Code of the Slopes

In our ski helmets and why they won't always keep you safe post, we outlined the 10 point code of conduct - the FIS rules of skiing and snowboarding.

How many people know the rules or are even aware that they exist?

If you've been skiing this year did you see these rules displayed anywhere in your resort? Were they on the piste map? Did anyone in the resort tell you about them - eg ski instructor, resort rep, guide? Do your children know the rules? Do your ski buddies know them? Do you know them?

Lift pass companies, tourist offices, ski schools, tour operators and just about anyone who is involved in the ski industry should be making sure that the FIS rules are out there and are very visible for all to see, In the States and Canada, piste patrols police the slopes and will pull up skiers who they feel are going too fast - they can even confiscate a lift pass in extreme cases.

European resorts tend to have a much more laissez-faire attitude.

We are not advocating that everyone should ski at 1 mile an hour, however we are advocating that everyone should be in control. Improvements in equipment, such as carving skis and better boots, give people the idea that beyond about three weeks they don't need to take lessons. Snowboarders will very rarely take lessons after the initial beginner phase.

If you can't stop when you need to, where you need to, then you're going too fast, and no amount of plastic on your head is going to save your knees or shoulders, or those of someone else, when you helplessly skid into them.

Of course what happened to Natasha Richardson was a terribly sad accident, not involving high speed or collision. As in all areas of life accidents happen, and we don't know if her death could have been avoided by wearing a helmet.

Wearing a helmet should remain a personal choice, but skiing or boarding responsibly, and with consideration for other mountain users, is an obligation.

 

What makes a great...ski lesson?

Sunday morning - the first day of your ski holiday. After an epic battle to get equipment, lift passes and children sorted out in time, you finally get to your ski school meeting point. You obediently join your group, with about 11 others, receive a short greeting from your instructor and head off to the cable car. You spend the next 2 hours in a long snake behind said instructor, getting cursory comments every now and then which you hope will improve your technique and make you ski like a god. Despite doing this day after day, you don't feel any better about your skiing at the end of it than when you started. Sound familiar?

Sadly a lot of us experience the above scenario - we'd like to improve but the time and money invested in lessons doesn't bring about results. So we end up thinking that maybe we're not fit/adventurous/sporty enough, maybe skiing or snowboarding is something that we'll never be good at. We resign ourselves to getting down the mountain in our own fashion - and it doesn't really matter if we're not great at it, we only do it for one or two weeks a year after all.

Ski and snowboard lessons should be something that you want to keep going back to. They should help you learn how to handle difficult situations - steeper slopes, ice, heavy bumpy snow, off piste, white-out conditions, jumps. Nobody can get better at doing these without practice and guidance.

Hugh Monney is the Director of BASS, the British Alpine Ski School, which has schools in several resorts in France and in St Moritz in Switzerland. Hugh has spent many years developing the teaching techniques used by the BASS schools. The BASS approach is holistic - taking into account the psychological as well as the physical aspects of learning to ski and snowboard.

"Our teachers are skilful, experienced and sympathetic. We like to help people solve their problems and discover how to have fun, and we know how to make it happen."

Group sizes are kept small, with a maximum of 6 people, and BASS insists that humour is a key ingredient for success - "a caring, humourous approach makes the lesson a pleasure for everyone involved. The effectiveness of the sessions are dramatically increased by this important aspect of communication" says Hugh.

BASS also promises that teaching is only in English and that a shared mother tongue "is a must if teachers are to help people make the best progress and understand the subtleties of these great sports."

Getting good instruction can improve your ski holiday by leaps and bounds, and a good instructor should be able to tailor his teaching to suit your way of learning. Coming out of a lesson feeling that you aren't really that good says more about the instructor than your ability - even if you're never going to be Herman Maier, an instructor should be able to get you to work on something that will improve the overall effect.

So don't give up on lessons but do shop around and make sure that you get the right kind of instruction for you. Points to bear in mind are:

1. Group sizes - make sure you know what the maximum group size should be, and is this guaranteed by the ski school, or do they make exceptions in busy periods? 
2. Ability levels - how are levels assessed by the ski school, and what happens if you're in a group which is going too fast or too slow for comfort?
3. Group lessons may not be the best solution for you - no matter how good the teacher a group lesson will usually have to be at the pace of the slowest. If you worry about being bored or holding people up, or if you don't feel comfortable learning in a group scenario, then private lessons may be the better option.

Learning new techniques is fun. Learning how to stay in control brings with it a tremendous sense of achievement and knowing that you can tackle any slope, in all sorts of conditions, does wonders for your self-confidence. Skiing and snowboarding aren't mysterious dark arts whose secrets are only imparted to a select few - so next time you're the 12th person in line behind the instructor, it may be time to change the instructor.

What makes a great....Beginners' Week

Your first ever ski or snowboard holiday is an introduction to a sport that will keep you coming back for life. Wintersports holidays are fun, outdoor experiences which you can share with friends and family, you can meet new people, explore fabulous mountain landscapes and enjoy breathtaking scenery.  

If you're tempted to go on a wintersports holiday - and you've never tried any of the sports before - then there are a few things to bear in mind. Similarly if you're an experienced skier and are hoping to take beginners with you the next time you visit the mountains, there could be a number of issues to consider which could either make or break the holiday.

A failed ski holiday - where the beginners in the party hate every minute and just don't get the whole skiing/snowboarding thing - can result in simmering resentment at best, divorce/relationship breakdown at worst!

So how do you make sure that a wintersports novice loves their first week and is desperate to come back for more? Just what makes a great Beginners' Week?
Preparation is key. If you are new to skiing and snowboarding then doing your homework can make your first steps a lot easier.

This homework doesn't just include looking at resorts and deciding which one to try, there is much more that can be done which will save you time in the long run. Here's a few tips and tricks:

1. Physical preparation: If you spend 50 weeks a year behind a desk at sea level, your body is going to get a big shock when it is suddenly required to be physical at altitude.
Yep it's obvious but true - working on your physical fitness is definitely going to help you get more out of your ski holiday. Unfortunately beginner skiers and snowboarders probably expend more energy than intermediates - the whole effort of standing up after a fall can be exhausting.

So if you do lead a fairly sedentary lifestyle take a look at increasing your exercise levels from around six weeks before you go.

Both aerobic and anaerobic fitness are required for skiing and snowboarding. You don't need to be able to run marathons but feeling confident that your body is not going to seize up with the slightest effort is going to be beneficial. Plus you will feel better for it!
For some great tips on getting fit for skiing see Graham Bell's excellent features on the BBC website.

2. Pre-Holiday Lessons: If you are not too far away from an artificial ski slope or an indoor snowdome then it's definitely worth investing in a few lessons before you go.
The whole business of putting on strange boots and then clipping them onto a plank, or two, is very unfamiliar. A few sessions at your local ski centre before your holiday will help you conquer this weirdness. Having a chance to move around with them and take a few pratice turns down a slope will help enormously when you get onto the snow for real. Getting used to the equipment before you get there will help to relieve the stress of the first few days.

The rate of improvement between beginners who've had pre-holiday lessons and those who haven't can be remarkable - quite often these are the ones who will shine when they get onto the snow.

3. Ski and Snowboard School: Just as lessons before you go will prepare you, the only way to learn properly when you're there is to take lessons - from a qualified professional. Don't be tempted when one of your party who has been a couple of times before, says that he/she will show you the ropes - you run the risk of ruining your holiday and theirs'.
Ski schools, especially French ski schools, have had bad press it has to be said. We're all aware of the archetypal French "follow me" ski instructor who has to be coaxed and flattered to impart his wisdom. Fortunately this is changing. Many ski schools now offer small group sizes and English speaking instructors. Maybe have a look at the resort website before you go and see how many ski schools are operating there - several ski schools in one resort will generally mean that there will be competition between them, so they have to be more proactive and customer focused.

It's also worth finding out what other options are available for beginners. Ski and snowboard school usually comprises 2-3h hour sessions at the same time each day over 4, 5 or 6 days. But there maybe more specialist or more tailored options. If you are group of beginners for example - maybe 4 or 5 of you all at the same level - it could be more fun to book private sessions for your group.

Whether you choose to ski or snowboard, look on lessons as an investment rather than an expense. As with all investments it's worth investigating and researching. Look at the school's website, email for information, even call them if you need. And make sure you book in advance so that you don't get disappointed when you arrive.
A word of warning though - as ski schools are usually seasonal businesses their offices may not be manned year round. So if you call in July and don't get an answer, emailing might be best.

4. Choosing a resort: This is a tricky one, especially if you are a beginner and you are organising the holiday. How on earth would you know what makes a good beginners resort? Most ski resorts will have beginners facilities - ie gentle nursery slopes with gentle lifts so that beginners can practice their first turns without fear.
So what should a beginner look for in particular? In reality, all ski resorts want to attract skiers and boarders from beginner to expert, so they will make sure that there are green slopes (the easiest and gentlest), right through to black ones (the steepest), with usually a preponderance of blues and reds in between.

The answer to what resort you should choose depends on what else you want out of your holiday. Let's not forget that a ski/snowboard holiday is a whole package, the apres-ski can be as important as the skiing itself! So make sure that you and your group know what you all want.

If you're looking for chocolate box chalets and horse-drawn sleighs then a purpose-built resort will not fit the bill. If you want lively bars and rocking clubs, make sure there is enough nightlife in your resort. If you want to be able to ski from the door then it's likely that a high altitude resort will be the best bet. If you want good shopping and plenty of other things to do then look at going to a large resort where there will be more facilities.

If you're still at a loss then ask someone else! Other skiers and boarders will always be happy to share their experience. Good online message boards where you can ask questions are the Snowheads Forums and of course our very own Solutions Room.

Skiing and snowboarding holidays are fun and rewarding experiences, so a little planning and preparation will go a long way!

Why wearing a helmet won't always keep you safe!

One of the main causes of injury on the slopes is collision between people. According to the Ski Club of GB:

"25% of accidents are due to collision, either with another person or with a static object such as a tree or safety gates."

That's probably not a surprise to many skiers and snowboarders. Large numbers of people, at varying levels of competency, on the same slippery slope at the same time, is bound to involve some risk.

So in recent years the wearing of crash helmets has become something of a sensible precaution. Manufacturers have also managed to turn them into fashion statements, with a wider choice of funky designs and colours becoming available each year.

A crash helmet will undoubtedly provide some protection in a collision, again the Ski Club of Great Britain has the following stats:

"Wearing a helmet reduces incidence of less serious head injuries by between 30 – 50%. And reduces severity of all head injuries in 50% of cases."

Yet wouldn't it be better to avoid the collision in the first place? Skiing or snowboarding in control, and always within your limits, can be one of the best ways to make sure you are not the cause of injuries. Remember the FIS rules and make sure your children are aware of them too.

The FIS rules, if you don't know what they are, are 10 rules of conduct for the piste and should be followed by skiers and snowboarders alike. The basis of this code of conduct is respecting others and making sure that you are aware that this a potentially dangerous environment. Think of them as a kind of highway code for the mountain.

The 10 rules are:

1. Respect for others - A skier or snowboarder must behave in such a way that he does not endanger or prejudice others.

2. Control of speed and skiing or snowboarding - A skier or snowboarder must move in control. He must adapt his speed and manner of skiing or snowboarding to his personal ability and to the prevailing conditions of terrain, snow and weather as well as to the density of traffic.

3. Choice of route - A skier or snowboarder coming from behind must choose his route in such a way that he does not endanger skiers or snowboarders ahead.

4. Overtaking - A skier or snowboarder may overtake another skier or snowboarder to the right or to the left provided that he leaves enough space for the overtaken skier or snowboarder to make any voluntary or involuntary movement.

5. Entering, starting and moving upwards - A skier or snowboarder entering a marked run, starting again after stopping or moving upwards on the slopes must look up and down the slopes that he can do so without endangering himself or others.

6. Stopping on the piste - Unless absolutely necessary, a skier or snowboarder must avoid stopping on the piste in narrow places or where visibility is restricted. After a fall in such a place, a skier or snowboarder must move clear of the piste as soon as possible.

7. Climbing and descending on foot - A skier or snowboarder either climbing or descending on foot must keep to the side of the piste.

8. Respect for signs and markings - A skier or snowboarder must respect all signs and markings.

9. Assistance - At accidents, every skier or snowboarder is duty bound to assist.

10. Identification - Every skier or snowboarder and witness, whether a responsible party or not, must exchange names and addresses following an accident.

Whilst all skiers and snowboarders are aware of the buzz, the adrenaline and the excitement of going at speed downhill, respecting the rules will mean that you can enjoy yourselves without being a menace to others.

Being out of control is possibly one of the main causes of accidents so if you can't stay in control get lessons and learn how to adapt to conditions.

So whilst wearing a helmet is sensible, and there will always be accidents that can't be helped, making sure that you, and those that ski or board with you, observe the FIS rules, stay in control and generally have consideration for other mountain users, can help to avoid the accident in the first place!