SEDL / STP / STP1022-EB / STP19455S



Collision Injuries in Alpine Skiing

Lystad, H
Medical officer of health, Hemsedal Health Center, Hemsedal,


Pages: 6    Published: Jan 1989


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Abstract

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.


Keywords:
age, skiing ability, collision injuries, lift capacity, slope capacity, alpine skiing, slope difficulty

Paper ID: STP19455S
Committee/Subcommittee: E27.10
DOI: 10.1520/STP19455S
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