But it turns out that Asheville is home to a North Carolina state water skiing champion. And David Sikes is such a fanatic about it that he's set a specific goal: Sikes wants to be water skiing when h… – Water skiing keeps Asheville business owner young
Sportverletz Sportschaden. 2009 Mar;23(1):41-6
BACKGROUND: Injuries in leisure sports, especially with skiers and snowboarders are a challenge for medicine as well as for economy. The risk of getting injured depends not only on the performed sport but also on the individual readiness to take a risk and the worn safety devices. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 663 persons performing leisure sports in an alpine ski resort were questioned concerning their individual readiness to take a risk and need for security. It was distinguished between skiers and snowboarders. Also the worn safety devices as well as the reasons for and against the use of safety devices were asked. As safety devices helmets, back protectors, wrist guards, knee-, shin- and elbow pads were considered. There were also questions about the behaviour on the ski slope and injuries so far. RESULTS: 52.5 % of all questioned persons are skiers, 36.0 % snowboarders, 11.5 % practise both sports. Safety devices are widely accepted in leisure sports: 78.1 % of all persons questioned wear at least one device. 76.8 % wear it for their own safety. The most common reason against safety devices are “lack of need” with 59.6 %. 28 % mentioned lack of comfort. Males show a significantly riskier behaviour on ski piste than females, 7 versus 5 on an analogue scale 0 – 10. After all 47.2 % of all persons have suffered from an injury, which needed medical treatment. In 75.7 % the cause was a fall, 14,7 % were results of a collision. In this context 49.5 % would appreciate the introduction of a ski slope controller. 90.5 % deny the consumption of alcohol while performing their sport and 78.4 % consider the consumption of alcohol as a risk either for themselves or for others. CONCLUSION: Our study shows a broad acceptance of safety devices in leisure sport. A lot of studies have proved the value of helmets to prevent injuries. The introduction of mandatory helmets at least for children and juveniles in alpine sports would be well accepted. Males show a significantly riskier behaviour on ski pistes than females. Efficient controls on ski pistes to avoid ruthless behaviour would be appreciated and declined by equal numbers.
19306236
– [Safety requirements and risk factors of skiers and snowboarders]
Aust J Rural Health. 2009 Aug;17(4):218-9
19664088
– Community-driven intervention to reduce injury rates in school-age snowboarders.
Wilderness Environ Med. 2009;20(3):257-60
OBJECTIVE: To quantify awareness of acute mountain sickness (AMS) in a sample of visitors to a North American ski resort and to identify strategies and interest for increasing knowledge of AMS in that population. METHODS: One hundred and thirty visitors to Big Sky Ski Resort, Montana, were surveyed. Demographic data were obtained. Respondents were asked about their current knowledge of AMS and then answered questions designed to quantify their depth of knowledge of the subject. Correct answers were correlated with demographic data. Respondents also answered questions indicating their interest in further education about altitude illness and their preferred modality for obtaining this information. RESULTS: In general, most respondents were young, 18 to 30 years (62.3%), and male (62.5%). Seventy-six percent had at least some college education and more than 5 years of skiing/snowboarding experience. Only 55% of respondents had some knowledge of AMS, but only 30% had knowledge of AMS symptoms using the Lake Louise Scoring System. About 30% knew the lowest altitude this illness can occur. There was a correlation between educational background and improved knowledge of altitude illness. Half of the respondents desired further information about AMS, and the Internet was the preferred source of information. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that a large population of skiers in North America may be relatively naive to the dangers of AMS. The majority of the respondents were interested in learning more about altitude illness, and the Internet was the most attractive source of information.
19737036
– Awareness of altitude sickness among visitors to a North American ski resort.
