Snowboarding Safety Tips
Snowboarding is a great way to have fun and get exercise during cold winter months. It's fairly easy to learn, but injuries can happen. It's important to know how to stay safe on the slopes.
To help prevent injuries when snowboarding, follow these safety tips.
Staying Safe & Preventing Injuries
What Safety Gear Do I Need?
The right protective gear for snowboarding can help prevent injuries. Be sure you have:
Snowboard, Boots, & Bindings
Get a snowboard, boots, and bindings (gear that attaches boots to the board). These should be fitted for you by a trained professional.
Helmet
Wear a helmet that’s made for snowboarding and fits you properly. Be sure to always keep the chin strap fastened while riding.
Wrist Guards
Wrist guards can help reduce injuries in case of a fall.
Goggles
Goggles should fit andblock 100% of UV rays to help prevent eye injuries from the sun (even on cloudy days because the sun’s rays still reach you) and snow blindness. This painful eye condition can happen when sunlight reflects off ice and snow. You can wear close-fitting sunglasses instead, but goggles help you see better if it rains or snows. Goggles also keep your face warmer and are better at shielding your eyes from tree branches and other hazards.
Warm Clothing
You'll need ahat, gloves or mittens, snow pants, and a winter jacket. A neck gaiter(a kind of short scarf that's connected at the ends) can keep your neck warm — and your face, too, if you pull it up. Dressing in layers can help you adjust if you get too hot. If you wear thermal underwear, get the kind made of wool or a material other than cotton. Cotton takes a long time to dry, so it can make you cold.
Also remember to wear sunscreen and lip balm with an SPF of 30 or higher for daytime snowboarding. Make sure to wear it even when it's cloudy.
How Can I Stay Safe While Snowboarding?
From lessons to knowing your skill level, these guidelines can help keep you safe.
Should I Take Snowboarding Lessons?
If you're a beginner, consider taking lessons to learn how to snowboard before hitting the slopes. But lessons can be helpful for snowboarders of all levels. Sign up with a trained instructor certified by the Professional Ski Instructors Association-American Association of Snowboarding Instructors (PSIA-AASI). Private lessons offer the most one-on-one time with an instructor, but less costly group lessons work well too.
Preventing Injuries on the Slopes
To help prevent injuries, follow these rules:
- Warm up and stretch before snowboarding.
- Don't snowboard alone.
- Make sure you know how to load (get on), ride, and unload (get off) a ski lift safely. While on a snowboard you’ll have one foot strapped and the other loose, so loading and unloading is a little different than when you ski. Talk to an attendant if you need help.
- Watch where you ride. Know which slopes are right for your skill level and ride only on those. If you find yourself on a slope that's too tough, keep your snowboard on and sideslip down the hill. Stay on marked paths and never go past the snowboard area boundary or into a closed area. Also, pay attention to warning signs such as "Slow Skiing Area" and "Caution."
- Look out for other people. Before you start down a hill or merge onto a trail, look uphill to make sure no one is coming toward you.
- Be aware of the snowboarder's blind spot — you face sideways when you ride, so you can't see what's behind you or to one side. Look back to make sure no other snowboarders or skiers are in your blind spot before you make a sharp turn.
- Know who has the right of way. Snowboarders and skiers in front of you have the right of way. Keep your distance and stay in control. Don't stop or sit in the middle of a trail or in any spot where you can't be seen from above, like below a drop-off.
Learn How to Fall Properly
- Practice falling on a soft surface or on grass.
- Crouch down as you fall so you won't have as far to fall.
- Land on the fleshy parts of your body and roll rather than breaking a fall with your arms and hands.
- Relax while falling instead of going stiff.
What Else Should I Know?
- Stop snowboarding if you feel pain or get hurt. Before you go back on the hill, get checked by a doctor, nurse, athletic trainer, or coach.
- Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of liquids before, during, and after snowboarding.
- Take breaks and don't snowboard when you're very tired, which can lead to injury.
- Know what to do in case of an emergency or if you get separated from your group or partner. Carry a phone or a whistle.
Safety in Other Sports
Safety matters whether you're snowboarding or doing another athletic activity. To help prevent injuries in other sports, check out these articles: