Skiing & Snowboarding Safety Gear

Skiing and snowboarding may seem very similar in the types of safety gear needed, but that’s an incorrect assumption. Safety gear for snowboarding is quite different due to the lack of balance poles used and the different kinds of injuries that tend to be common. Here is an overview of safety gear for both skiing and snowboarding:

Snowboarding Safety Gear

Your first priority should be to get a snowboarding helmet. Head injuries are just one of the types of injuries that snowboarders are prone to have. Since it is so easy to fall down, especially for newbie snowboarders, the likelihood of a head injury is surprisingly high. Since there are no ski poles to help you to balance, snowboarders tend to fall alot more than skiiers, and often times, they will hit their head when falling. The seriousness of a head injury depends on the type of snow, snow depth and your speed while falling, but to massively reduce the risk of a serious head injury, just wear a helmet!

Next, you need wrist protection. Wrist injuries are the #1 injury to befall snowboarders. This is because snowboarders tend to try to catch themselves when they fall, with their wrist! So, they end up falling on their wrist or twisting it in some weird way. Up to 40% of all snowboarding injuries are related to the wrist. There are two types of wrist protection available, underglove wrist guards that you wear underneath your gloves and snowboarding gloves that have integrated wrist guards built in. No excuses, just get the wrist protection, it will save you time, money and pain down the line.

While a helmet and wrist protection are the two main types of safety gear you should have as a snowboarder, there are some other types of safety gear you should also consider. Padded snowboarding shorts are available that protect your tailbone, your butt, your hips, your thighs and your knees from the impact of falling. Snowboarding goggles are also available and protect your eyes from snow and sun glare, offer UV protection and protect your eyes from tree branches as well. There are also knee pads, elbow pads and shin guards available should you feel you need some extra protection.

Skiing Safety Gear

Like snowboarding, helmets are available for skiiers as well. Helmets provide you with some impact protection if you fall, run into another skiier or even a tree. There’s also wrist pads, knee pads, hip and butt pads and other padding available. Goggles are also important for skiiers, since visibility is extremely important. Wraparound goggles that shield your eyes from snow blindness and driving snow will help your eyes stay protected. For cross country skiiers, they may want to take along a GPS and first aid kit.

Whether you’re skiing or snowboarding, there’s no excuse not to wear proper safety gear, it could save your life.

It’s time to choose that perfect snowboard. Check out our great selection of Snowboards from Sun & Ski Sports Today!