16 Safety Tips You've Gotta Read Before You Ski or Snowboard

With all the snow in Ontario, it's a good time to get the skis waxed up and hit the slopes. But did you know that 5,600 Canadians are seriously injured from winter sports every year? And this statistic, recorded by the Canadian Institute for Health Information, only includes those who spend at least a one night stay in hospital, but not those that involve only the emergency department, doctor’s office, or deaths at the scene, which, if included, would make this number much higher (Indeed, in terms of total ED visits for these seasonal activities, Ontario alone saw a total of 45,270 in 2010-2011, averaging 285 emergency department visits for every day of winter.).

Additionally, while hockey has been receiving a great deal of attention for winter sport injury, skiing and snowboarding injuries are more than twice as common. And close to one-third of all those hospitalizations for ski and snowboarding injuries were for people age 10-19, with boys forming 81% of those hurt. And children younger than 10 years old were hospitalized most often for injuries related to skiing and snowboarding.

In light of this, it will be important to slightly curb your enthusiasm for shreddin’, with the following safety tips, especially if you are, or a guardian of, a male between the ages of 10 and 19 or :

1. Always stay in control. You must be able to stop, or avoid other people or objects.

2. People ahead of you have the right-of-way. It’s your responsibility to avoid them.

3. Do not stop where you obstruct a trail or are not visible from above.

4. Before starting downhill or merging onto a trail, look uphill and yield to others.

5. If you are involved in or witness a collision or accident, you must remain at the scene and identify yourself to the Ski Patrol.

6. Always use proper devices to help prevent runaway equipment.

7. Observe and obey all posted signs and warnings.

8. Keep off closed trails and closed areas.

9. You must not use lifts or terrain if your ability is impaired through the use of drugs and alcohol.

10. You must have sufficient physical dexterity, ability and knowledge to safely load, right, and unload lifts. If in doubt, ask the attendant.

11. Use and respect the above Alpine Responsibility Code

12. Use properly adjusted equipment: ski bindings should be adjusted regularly by a professional

13. Always remain in control of your speed and direction

14. Choose a terrain that matches your ability, and not that of a friend.

15. Always wear a helmet that is specifically for skiing and snowboarding, and fits you properly.

16. With these tips in mind, your risks of suffering serious injury—and being a statistic rather than part of the ruddy cohort of hot-chocolate swiggers at the slope’s chalet—will be greatly reduced.