Stay Safe on the Slopes and Avoid Skiing Injuries

Not known as extreme sports without reason, skiing and snowboarding, whilst a lot of fun and coming with a whole host of benefits to your health, can be immensely dangerous should you not take the care and attention they warrant. Knee injuries are one of the most common to occur as a result of skiing, and these can be devastating to an active lifestyle, but if you follow a few tips and guidelines, you can avoid injury and continue to enjoy the pleasure of the piste.

Prepare

Before your skiing holiday a certain amount of preparation is recommended to get your body used to the conditions it will be facing on the slopes. Skiing is one of the most demanding sports on your body, so hitting the gym several months beforehand will ensure your muscles are prepared for the intense pressure that will be put on your quads and hamstrings. This will also ensure you are able to get the most out of your ski trip, with your fitness at a level that will leave you better equipped to deal with the physical demands of skiing all day.

It is also worth investing in some safety equipment before the off. Certain gear will work as much needed extra protection on the slopes; whether you are a beginner or a veteran of the sport, wrist and spine guards provide that added reassurance and work to prevent serious injury. With the recent developments in ski equipment, most modern gear is virtually undetectable, so it won't impact on performance or appearance.

Perform

All skiing professionals and instructors recommend a few lessons before you start properly skiing on your own. Whether you are a beginner or have had an extended break from the sport, it is always worth booking a couple of classes to ensure your technique is efficient and isn't putting extra strain on your body.

You should also schedule in breaks, as this stops your body from becoming overtired and can avoid unnecessary trips and falls leading to injury. Listen to your body - it will tell you when you need to take a rest.

Be prepared to let yourself fall; this may seem unnatural but some of the worst injuries come from where people try to stop themselves from falling and do serious damage to ligaments. This is a painful and unnecessary injury that can be prevented by going with the fall, rather than trying to fight it.

Prevent

Should you suffer an injury whilst skiing - however minor - get it seen to by a medical professional immediately. Attempting to ski with a knee problem or similar injury can do far more damage and cause ongoing injuries in the long term.

Ski Lift Advice for Your First Skiing Holiday

A family skiing holiday can provide the best of memories but if you are relatively new to the sport certain aspects can prove daunting, especially when your child is asking you for advice. One of the most intimidating aspects of skiing can be the formidable ski lift; for novice skiers or even those who aren't regularly carving it up on the slopes, the ski lift can cause a whole host of problems and make children particularly nervous.

Yet this doesn't need to be the case, this short guide will help put your fears aside with information on the different kind of lifts you may encounter at your resort so you can feel confident passing on your wisdom to your children and manoeuvring the lift yourself.

Drag Lifts

As drag lifts are normally the lift of choice on beginner slopes they are the easier lift to get to grips with. Their slow speed and gradual incline mean they shouldn't present too much of a challenge for young children or, indeed, yourself!

There are four types of drag lift- the button, t-bar, magic carpet and rope tow. The last two are comparably different to the first as they both involve the passenger standing; the magic carpet is more like a travelator in design and the rope tow is just how it sounds, you hold on to a rope that pulls you up the slope.

While the first two have seats and involve the tricky 'getting off' process but there is always a member of staff to help you, so don't panic.

Chairlifts

Chairlifts are the more traditional form of ski lift and the ones you will see most often on skiing films and at various resorts. They consist of a bench that can seat between two and eight passengers, meaning they are perfect for families as you can be with your child on the ascent.

In terms of the summit, there is always plenty of space between chairs and therefore plenty of time to get yourselves off of the lift and through the gate to the slopes. There is also a safety rail you pull down so you can reassure any nervous passenger that they will not fall.

Gondolas

Similar to chairlifts, the gondola style of ski lift involves a cable car. These can carry between four and 30 people in an enclosed form of cabin so they can feel much safer than the other types of lift to the apprehensive passenger. You don't wear your skis on the gondola carriages and, instead, carry them so it might be tricky to keep your family organised.

While the ski lift can be an unnerving prospect for the novice skier there are nothing to fret about, there is always staff on hand to help.