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Are there risk factors for snowboard injuries? A case-control multicentre study of 559 snowboarders.

Br J Sports Med. 2010 Sep;44(11):816-821

Authors: Hasler RM, Berov S, Benneker L, Dubler S, Spycher J, Heim D, Zimmermann H, Exadaktylos AK

Objective To analyse risk factors leading to injuries during snowboarding. Design A case-control multicentre survey of injured and non-injured snowboarders. Setting One tertiary and two secondary trauma centres in Bern, Switzerland. Methods All snowboard injuries admitted to our tertiary and two affiliated secondary trauma centres from 1 November 2007 to 15 April 2008 were analysed on the basis of a completed questionnaire incorporating 15 variables. The same questionnaire was applied in non-injured controls at valley stations after a snowboarding day during the same period. A multiple logistic regression was performed (dichotomous variables). Patterns of combined risk factors were calculated by inference trees. Results 306 patients and 253 controls were interviewed. The following variables were statistically significant for the injured PATIENTS: low readiness for speed (OR 0.20, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.64, p=0.0037), bad weather/visibility (OR 19.06, 95% CI 2.70 to 134.73, p=0.0031) and old snow (OR 0.11, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.68, p=0.0323). Not wearing a helmet and riding on icy slopes emerged as a combination of risk factors associated with injury. Conclusions Several risk factors and combinations exist, and different risk profiles were identified. Future research should be aimed at more precise identification of groups at risk and developing specific recommendations for each group-for example, a snow-weather conditions index at valley stations.

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– Are there risk factors for snowboard injuries? A case-control multicentre study of 559 snowboarders.

This year, don’t let the off season make you stale. Just because it has come doesn’t mean you have to let your snowboarding skills go to waste. In this article you will find three kinds of boards that are made to carve and ride like a snowboard. Many snowboarders use any one of these boards to keep their skills fresh in the off season.

The flowboard is a snowboard simulating board that has lots of wheels. It certainly has many more wheels than any other board that I know of.

The flowboard doesn’t have trucks on it. Instead there are seven wheels side by side in a curve. This enables the flowboard to carve up to 45 degree turns. The flowboard is a great board for carving down roads.

With only two wheels on caster trucks, the t-board does an excellent job reproducing the feel of snowboarding on snow, except on pavement. Tierney rides makes the t-board, which carves and feels similar to how a snowboard reacts when it is carving on it’s edge on snow.

The other boards both do a great job simulating the carving experience in snowboarding. The next board I’ll tell you about is called the freebord. It does more than just reproduce how it feels to carve on snow, by also bringing in the sliding experience in snowboarding.

The freebord has four outside wheels (two on each side) that simulate the edge of a snowboard. With the freebord you can control your speed and stop as you would on a snowboard. On the bottom of the freebord there are two wheels that make the board ride and slide similar to a snowboard. These wheels make it so you can slide and drift into a switch stance while riding down a hill.

Don’t let your snowboarding skills deteriorate in the off season. With one of the above boards you can continue to improve your skills and prepare yourself for the next snowboarding season!

A flowboard, t-board, or freebord will bring the experience of snowboarding into the off season. Ride one and keep your skills sharp and get ready for the snowboarding season. You won’t need a lift ticket to feel like your snowboarding again! All you’ll need is a paved hill, and away you go!

To find out what else you can do in the off season, check out ActionIsle, a site full of extreme toys, alternative boards, and all things fun!

I gazed at the pale gray sky and thought I was back on the east coast. I asked some local hikers what happened to the Santa Barbara sky. June glum they answered; a reference to the fog that permeates most of the California skyline during the month of June.

For today, the Cat 3 riders, who started in the early morning, were the beneficiaries of June glum. With the cool temperatures, dehydration would not be a problem for most of these MTB riders. The Cat 1 riders did not receive the cool temperatures, but were presented with the best scenery to ride in that Santa Barbara had to offer.

One of the largest mountain bike events in the area, Elings Park was sure to remind people that Santa Barbara is a premier location in California to vacation with the family. With rolling green hills overlooking the majestic Pacific Ocean, bringing a camera is always a good idea.

Today, to capture some speed in motion, I brought the video camera. With a slew of single track trails and fire roads to keep the MTB riders busy on a multi-lap course, there would be plenty of opportunities to shoot some good footage.

For this course, a solid warm-up is mandatory. Within a short distance after the start, you are going vertical. The course climbs to the top of Elings Park, mainly on fire roads, and then adds single track trails at the top. On the second lap, the course changes at the beginning section as you tackle a winding trail with plenty of U-Turn climbs to the summit.

After shooting some video and photographs of the mountain bike competitors, I discovered a good shooting location on the climb of the second lap. So far, today was going well. I hadn’t fallen down any hills with my gear. But I realized later, the day was just beginning.

The bright sun welcomed the Cat 1 and 2 riders with high 70 degree weather. The goal for the day was to shoot these MTB racers up close so I trekked through the hills to find a good location and the heart beat of the Elings Park mountain bike race. After sliding down a couple of hills, I realized I created some new ventilation in my jeans…an eight inch gap from the crotch downward. Thankfully, any competitors coming my way only cared about one thing…going fast.

The MTB racers were given a splendid view of the Pacific Ocean once they climb to the top of the course. However, with the winding trails, the view was short lived.

Deep in the bushes, I managed to find a good location to capture the MTB riders as they raced around me. I was in the zone, and focused.

After capturing the race footage necessary, I decided to checkout my surroundings. It was then that I understood one of the disadvantages of being in the zone. There I was in the bushes with an eight inch rip in my pant leg surrounded by poison ivy! The Elings Park MTB race will always be remembered for the lessons learned. As the mountain bikers must always watch the path in front of them, so must I.

If you are considering a Santa Barbara trip and looking for a great mountain bike race along the way, the Elings Park mountain bike race is an excellent choice. Organized by Team Big Bear, the MTB event is certain to test your mountain bike fitness.

Staying on the trail is a good idea.

Keith Rejino is a personal trainer, mountain biker, and sports photographer for Dreamscape Images. Dreamscape Images provides Sports Stock Photography and event Professional Sports Photography to various sporting events.

When you are trying to get some basic skiing gear together, the prices can be quite high. Learning how to pick the right skis for the best prices can really help you keep your costs down. You need to know how to find the right women’s skis so that you are not spending money on ones you will not enjoy using. Here is what you need to know.

Many of the changes to skis for women have been introduced over the last few years. In the beginning, the differences were mainly cosmetic and different colors and top sheets were used that appealed to women more. Then, as designers began to find ways to accommodate physiological differences, changes in structure were incorporated that made them look and feel different for female skiers. The good news is that because yearly changes are not as massive as they have been you can still get the latest in ski technology at a lower price by purchasing previous models built in the last few years.

Women tend to have smaller muscle mass than most men. Because of this, they can do better on skis which have been designed to be lighter in weight and have a softer feel than those designed for men. Because we move differently, women can benefit from a ski design that puts the boot further forward of center. This can assist us when we try and turn on the slopes.

The conditions you will be encountering on the slopes or trails should also be considered when purchasing your pair. Think about whether you tend to ski on granular or powdery snow and whether the slopes where you ski are usually icy or not.

There is a lot to be said for experience. If you are shopping on a budget, getting the right pair is essential since you may not have the money to buy more than one pair every few years. You should think about bringing someone with you to shop or going to a store where you can try them on and see how they suit you.

When you know what model and size will work best for you, consider comparison shopping. You may be able to find better pricing online and there are a number of websites that can offer you a great selection to pick from. You can also save money if you shop more in the spring. It may not mean you’re carving a path with the latest models but they will help you save money on your purchase.

Make sure that you pay a visit to great deals on skis for cost-free information, reviews and a great selection of merchandise such as cheap Fischer skis. Visit http://dealsonskis.com today.