How To Keep Safe Whilst Skiing - By: Mark Thomas Walters

It is undisputed that skiing is a dangerous sport, and injuries sustained in the sport can potentially be fatal unless you take the proper precautions. Beginner and intermediate level skiers need to be educated as to the dangers that could arise from failure to listen to advice from experienced skiers. In order to ski in a safe manner and to avoid any dangerous situations arising, it is important to learn the basics of ski safety.

After shelling out a huge amount of money on a skiing holiday for you and your family, the last thing you want to be doing is sitting in the chalet while everyone else is enjoying themselves. The guidelines drawn up below have been compiled to help advise you as to how to keep safe whilst skiing.

Equipment - If you are a beginner or intermediate level skier, then the chances are that you will be renting your own equipment at the ski resort you are staying in. The most important thing to remember when renting equipment is to be completely truthful to the person kitting you out with regards to your ability and your weight. Skis are categorized not only by their use, but also by the weight of the user and the user’s skiing ability. Wrongly fitted skis are a common cause of serious injuries as people fail to fully consider the implications involved in using the wrong equipment.

On-Piste - When skiing on-piste in a public environment, it is important to stick to certain ‘rules of the piste’. The Fédération Internationale de Ski, or FIS, has drawn up guidelines for skiers to follow whilst on-piste; the most important of those is that the skier in front always has priority over the skier behind. That means that you should always be aware of what the person in front of you is doing and if you intend to overtake him/her, you must let them know in advance which side you wish to overtake on. These guidelines are legally binding and in the event of an accident, if you did now follow the set rules, then you will likely be in some trouble.

Off-Piste - Going off-piste is something only experienced professionals should attempt, though even then it is ill-advised. If you do venture off-piste then you need to be aware of the increased risk there is of avalanches, tree stumps, rocks and cliff faces that you must avoid. Always carry with you a compass and an avalanche transceiver which will both help prevent you getting lost and losing your life in the event of an avalanche.

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