ISSN: 1546-962X
CODEN: JAIOAD
Published Online: 3 May 2004
Page Count: 10

Skiboard Injuries—A Three-Year Comparison with Alpine Skiing

Langran, M
General practitioner, Aviemore Medical Practice, Aviemore, Scotland
Honorary Clinical Research Fellow, Highlands and Islands Health Research Institute, University of Aberdeen, Inverness, Scotland

(Received 31 July 2003; accepted 25 March 2004)

Abstract

Skiboarding is a relatively new snow sport that has increased in popularity in Scotland. All skiboard and alpine ski injuries over a three-year period at ski areas in Scotland were recorded and comparative data collected from uninjured skiboarders. 136 skiboard and 1362 alpine ski injuries were recorded, as well as data from 174 uninjured skiboarders. The profile of a typical skiboarder was a young male with little experience of the sport. Compared to alpine skiing, skiboarding was associated with a higher overall risk of injury and the highest fracture rate of any snow sport reported to date. Compared to alpine skiers, skiboarders sustained more injuries to the lower limb and higher rates of lower leg fractures. The nonrelease nature of a skiboard binding appears to be a major factor in the pattern of injuries seen on skiboards. Attention should be directed towards the development of an appropriate release binding mechanism for skiboards.

Keywords:
skiboard, skiing, injury, fracture, risk, binding

Paper ID: JAI12081
DOI: 10.1520/JAI12081
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