If you’re going on a ski holiday, then you have a responsibility to keep yourself – and those with whom you might be sharing the piste – safe. Thankfully, just a few simple measures can vastly reduce the likelihood, and the impact, of a problem. Let’s consider them.
Prepare Your Equipment Thoroughly
When you’re hurtling down a mountainside at breakneck speed, you’ll be dependent on your equipment. It’s therefore essential that you inspect it before you head onto the slopes. A quick check of your poles, skis, boots and bindings can often provide a clue that something isn’t right.
If you’re heading to a popular destination, like the Val Thorens ski resort, then equipment checks become truly essential, because of the volume of traffic you’ll need to contend with.
Know and Follow the FIS Code of Conduct
Keeping yourself safe on the slope is also a matter of behaviour. You’ll need to know what’s expected of you. Here, the International Ski Federation’s rules can be thought of as a little bit like the Highway Code. It will change fairly regularly over time, so it’s worth making yourself aware of those changes as they happen. If you don’t abide by the rules, then you might find that your insurer refuses to pay out in the event of an accident, especially if you were the one who caused it.
Stay Aware of Your Surroundings and Slope Conditions
One of the things that makes skiing so interesting is the fact that no two descents are ever quite the same. The environment, and in particular the snow beneath you, will shift constantly. Therefore, it’s worth paying special attention to any signage that might advise you of a change in the snow’s condition. If you’re in any doubt as to what to expect, then it’s worth erring on the side of caution. This is particularly important if you know that you’re stopping near to a blind summit, or some other obstacle that might cause descending skiers to miss you.
Prepare Physically and Warm Up Properly
We’ve already discussed how the state of your equipment can make the difference between a safe descent and an unsafe one. But this arguably applies even more to the condition of your body. If you aren’t in good shape prior to your trip, then you might find yourself at greater risk of an injury.
Of particular concern might be joints, like the hips and the knees. Often, you can improve your chances of a good experience with the help of a little bit of pre-season conditioning. The effort you invest now will be justified, if you can avoid a holiday-ruining injury.
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