| While skiing recently at Mont-Tremblant near | | | | benign fall and turn an innocent spill into a broken leg. |
| Montreal, British actress Natasha Richardson took | | | | Make sure all your equipment has been professionally |
| what likely seemed a benign spill. In the hours | | | | evaluated for proper fit and calibration. |
| following the incident, she reported feeling ill and was | | | | 3. Observe the rules of the road |
| taken to hospital in Montreal, and then apparently | | | | Knowing how to behave on the slopes can protect |
| transfered to Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. | | | | both you and others from injury. The Skier |
| We later learned of her untimely and tragic death. | | | | Responsibility Code lays out the guidelines for all |
| This unfortunate accident will undoubtedly serve to | | | | snowsports participants. Something as simple as |
| propagate the popular myth that skiing is a | | | | knowing to yield way to skiers below you on the |
| dangerous sport. | | | | slope can greatly reduce risk of a mishap. |
| Skiing already has a bad reputation for injury. The | | | | 4. Learn the lay of the land |
| cliché of skiers spending their entire week of | | | | There's nothing like being surprised by the terrain to |
| vacation in a cast after their first day on the slopes | | | | cause a fall. Careening over a blind roll to find that the |
| is a favorite of Hollywood writers. But the truth is, | | | | trail takes a sharp turn is a surefire way to induce |
| statistically skiing is no more dangerous than many | | | | panic, freeze up and fall. Get a feel for the lay of the |
| other mainstream recreational activities. A quick | | | | land from a trail map. Take it easy your first time |
| survey of the statistics shows higher injury rates in | | | | down a new trail. And ideally, hire a guide or |
| sports such as softball, swimming, basketball and | | | | instructor to show you the ropes when visiting a |
| bicycling - sports that most people would consider | | | | new ski area. This is no guarantee, but it helps. |
| quite benign. | | | | 5. Maintain a solid movement palette and freedom of |
| But like any action oriented activity, of course there | | | | movement |
| is risk associated with skiing. Taking a few simple | | | | The better your overall ability to move your body |
| measures can go a long way to making sure you | | | | efficiently in space, the more chance you will have to |
| stay safe on the slopes and get the most out of a | | | | recover from slight mistakes without falling. The |
| beautiful sport. | | | | more mobile and coordinated you are, the better |
| 1. Wear a helmet | | | | your movement will be. The best approach for |
| Especially when you are out of your comfort zone, | | | | maintaining this type of movement freedom is to |
| make sure you protect your noggin. This means ALL | | | | engage in regular sessions of joint mobility training, |
| beginners should don their lid. When you are learning a | | | | such as Intu-Flow, and regular bodyweight circuit |
| new skill, you need to think about every move. This | | | | training that takes you through every plane of |
| means you are more mechanical and prone to falling. | | | | movement, such as FlowFit®. Both of these |
| I rarely wear a helmet, but when training in gates | | | | programs are components of the Circular Strength |
| (racing) I always do. That's because I don't do it | | | | Training® system. |
| often and am out of my element. Every beginner is | | | | None of these measures is a guarantee, but together |
| in this situation. | | | | they represent a solid dose of prevention. Every |
| 2. Use well maintained, well fitting and well adjusted | | | | sport carries it's inherent risk of injury. Unfortunate |
| equipment | | | | accidents can happen. And they usually seem to |
| Boots that are too big, skis that are two long, | | | | happen just when you least expect them. Make sure |
| clothing that is ill fitting or not warm enough, and | | | | you do what you can to prevent them and you'll |
| other equipment related factors can lead to | | | | increase your chances of reaping everything physical |
| accidents. They can also make the consequences of | | | | activity has to offer while all but eliminating the risk |
| an accident more extreme. For example, badly | | | | of injury. |
| adjusted ski bindings can fail to release during a | | | | |