SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1989
STP19455S

Collision Injuries in Alpine Skiing

Source

A controlled study of collision injuries in Hemsedal, Norway, is presented. Accident data for 1982 through 1986 seasons were analyzed. A total of 883 injured skiers and 379 controls were compared for epidemiological data.

Eighteen percent (n = 158) of the injuries were due to collision. There was a great difference in collision injury rate during the recording time. A peak injury rate of 0.27/1000 skier days in 1984 when a new chairlift doubled the lift capacity without opening any new slopes declined to 0.11/ 1000 skier days in 1986 after making new slopes and widening old ones.

Beginners and children were more at risk, and 28% of the injured by collision suffered a head injury.

In conclusion, different degrees of difficulty of the slopes give a better separation between the different skiing-ability groups, and wider slopes reduce relatively the “collision zone” at the tree/ slope border. This results in safer skiing on each slope.

Author Information

Lystad, H
Hemsedal Health Center, Hemsedal, Norway
Price: $25.00
Contact Sales
Related
Reprints and Permissions
Reprints and copyright permissions can be requested through the
Copyright Clearance Center
Details
Developed by Committee: F27
Pages: 69–74
DOI: 10.1520/STP19455S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-5083-6
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-1197-4