Elsevier

Accident Analysis & Prevention

Volume 50, January 2013, Pages 1221-1225
Accident Analysis & Prevention

Factors associated with injuries occurred on slope intersections and in snow parks compared to on-slope injuries

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2012.09.019Get rights and content

Abstract

In alpine winter sports, external risk factors as snow and weather conditions as well as slope characteristics (width, steepness, slope intersections, and snow parks) should be considered when investigating potential risk factors. Therefore, ski patrol injury reports were used to compare factors associated with injuries occurred on slope intersections and in snow parks compared to on-slope injuries.

Multivariate regression analysis revealed that in comparison to injuries occurring on ski slopes, collisions with other persons (OR: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.3–3.4) and arm injuries (OR: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.3–3.5) were more likely associated with injuries occurring on slope intersections while male gender (OR: 3.5, 95% CI: 2.1–5.7), younger age (OR: 1.1, 95% CI: 1.0–1.1), slushy/soft snow conditions (OR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.1–3.3), knee injuries (OR: 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2–0.8) and back injuries (OR: 5.5, 95% CI: 3.0–10.2) were more likely associated with injuries which occurred in snow parks.

In conclusion, injuries on slope intersections and in snow parks differ in some factors from injuries sustained on ski slopes.

Highlights

► A retrospective case–control study by using ski patrol injury reports was conducted. ► Skiers and snowboarders with injuries occurred on slope intersections and in snow parks were compared with those injured on ski slopes. ► Collisions with other persons and arm injuries were more likely associated with injuries occurred on slope intersections. ► Male gender, younger age, less knee injuries and more back injuries were more likely associated with injuries occurred in snow parks.

Introduction

Alpine skiing and snowboarding have become the most popular winter sports world-wide. About 8 million skiers visit the Austrian Alps annually and complete more than 50 million skier days (Burtscher et al., 2008, Ruedl et al., 2011c). In general, the ski injury rate decreased over the past 30 years from 5–8 to less than 2 injuries per 1000 ski days (Burtscher et al., 2008, Ekeland and Rodven, 2011), statistically meaning 1 injury in 35 years assuming an average of 14 skiing days per season. This decrease might be partly due to new skiing equipment (Burtscher et al., 2008), an increase in use of protective gear (Russel et al., 2010, Sulheim et al., 2006, Ruedl et al., 2010a, Ruedl et al., 2010b), or better slope preparation (Bergstrom and Ekeland, 2004).

In general, internal risk factors as younger age and less skill level increase injury risk in alpine winter sports (Sulheim et al., 2011). However, also external risk factors as snow and weather conditions as well as slope characteristics (width, steepness) should be considered when investigating potential risk factors (Bergstrom and Ekeland, 2004). Bergstrom and Ekeland (2004) report an accumulation of skiing injuries on steep and small parts of slopes as well as on locations where several slopes meet and continue downhill as a slope. For example, in Austria a collision between a German politician and a mother of four children at the New Years Day 2009 reignited the debate on a ski helmet mandatory (Ruedl et al., 2011c). The politician turned uphill into the slope on which the female skier was descending. The politician wearing a ski helmet survived suffering from traumatic brain injury, whereas the woman not wearing a helmet died. To the best of our knowledge no study has yet investigated factors associated with injuries on slope intersections.

Also, in past years so-called terrain or snow parks containing half-pipes, jumps, and metal features such as rails and boxes allowing aerial manoeuvres were built in many ski areas (Brooks et al., 2010). Studies reported that 19–27% of injuries occurred in snow parks (Brooks et al., 2010, Ekeland and Rodven, 2011) and that these injuries were more likely to be severe, involving the head or back compared to injuries sustained on ski slopes (Brooks et al., 2010, Ekeland and Rodven, 2011).

Therefore, the goal of this study was to evaluate factors associated with skiing and snowboarding injuries occurred on slope intersections and in snow parks compared to on-slope injuries.

Section snippets

Data collection procedures

This study was conducted as a retrospective case–control study by using ski patrol injury reports of two major Western Austrian ski areas in the winter season 2010/2011. Cases were skiers and snowboarders with injuries occurring on slope intersections and in snow parks, respectively. Controls were injured skiers and snowboarders with injuries occurring on ski slopes. Data collection on injured skiers and snowboarders requiring evacuation and medical treatment included subjects demographics

Results

In total, 2326 injuries (51.3% males vs. 48.7% females; 80.1% skiers vs. 19.9% snowboarders; 72.2% ski helmet use) meeting the inclusion criteria were reported by ski patrollers. Mean age was 36.2 + 15.2 (range: 5–79) years. Injury occurred in 89.7% on a ski slope, in 4.6% on a slope intersection and in 5.8% in a snow park. Cause of injury was a fall in 89.2%, and a collision with a person in 10.8%, respectively.

Univariate analyses revealed that collisions with other persons (20% vs. 11%, p = 

Discussion

The aim of this study was to compare factors associated with skiing and snowboarding injuries occurred on slope intersections and in snow parks compared to on-slope injuries. Main findings were twofold odds of collisions with other persons and twofold odds of arm injuries sustained on a slope intersection compared to injuries occurred on ski slopes. In addition, a lower mean age, higher proportions of males, and a higher proportion of slushy/soft snow conditions in injuries sustained in snow

Conclusion

Injuries on slope intersections and in snow parks differ in some factors from injuries sustained on ski slopes. Collisions with other persons are highest on slope intersections. Therefore, skiers and snowboarders should obey signs for slow zones and intersection trails as well as adapt their speed to their skill level, weather conditions, and the number of other winter sport participants on the slope and in snow parks.

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