How to stay safe on the slopes
A relaxing holiday doesn’t suit everyone, and for some people there is nothing better than getting some skis strapped to their feet, grabbing those ski poles and heading off down a steep mountain.
If you count yourself in this group – regardless of whether you are trying it out for the first time or going for a repeat adventure – then it is important to make sure that safety is your first concern. Despite the stories you occasionally hear about broken legs and arms, skiing is actually incredibly safe if you take the right precautions and don’t try and do more than you are capable of.
For example, unless you are an experienced skier it is definitely advisable to book yourself in for some lessons before you get onto the slopes. Even if you are a reasonably good skier it’s worth doing this if you haven’t been skiing in a while.
Keep an eye on the weather conditions and weather reports as well. Bad weather can come in very quickly and while it’s nice to ski while it’s snowing, you don’t want to get caught out in a raging blizzard.
Safety equipment is probably the most important consideration of all. You will no doubt see a lot of people skiing with nothing more on their heads than a woolly hat, but that won’t protect you very much if you are unfortunate enough to have an accident. A properly fitted crash helmet is essential, as are proper safety gloves and even the right size equipment for you. For example if you are wearing the wrong size ski boots you will be more likely to have an accident because you won’t feel strong and steady in them and your feet may move.
You should also be honest with yourself about how much you can actually manage to do when it comes to skiing. If you only get casual exercise most of the time and you are intending to hit the slopes and be out skiing all day, it might turn out to be a little over ambitious to begin with. Ideally you should think about building up to a skiing holiday by taking some more exercise before you leave, or at least starting out on the smaller slopes and stopping to rest frequently.
It’s also a good idea to arrange travel insurance that can be specifically tailored towards skiers as well, so that in the event something happens you are safe in the knowledge that you will be covered for it.
Staying safe when you go skiing is as much a matter of common sense than anything else. If you prepare in the right way and don’t do more than you are capable of, you should be able to enjoy a worry free holiday wherever you are heading to.
Paul McIndoe writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.
