Snow parks may consist of a half pipe, kickers, rails, ramps and ski and snowboard cross courses. The equipment and terrain facilities are designed for expert freestyle skiers and freestyle snowboarders to perform various acrobatic tricks and manoeuvres sometimes involving high speeds and launching into the air.
Snow Park Regulations
Snow park regulations and the degree to which they are administered vary at each ski resort and differ country to country. Regulations are established to ensure that users get the most enjoyment from the course while maximising the safety of park participants and spectators. Rules in force on the ski runs (as set out in piste regulations) are also applicable in the park.
The following are typical snow park regulations to be found on notice boards at the entry to terrain park facilities.
- The snowpark is a ski area for the sole use of expert skiers and snowboarders. It is equipped with kickers (including ‘big-air’), ramps, rails, whoops and half-pipe designed for performing tricks and manoeuvres.
- Be familiar with every terrain feature, equipment or course before use.
- Individuals should only use equipment or courses for which they have an appropriate level of skill, proper technique and physical preparation according to the difficulty of the route (these are often colour-coded like ski runs).
- Warm up vigorously before the first jump.
- Confirm that landing zones are clear before taking off. Facilities are used by one person at a time, the exception being boarder or skier cross events.
- Respect the order of departure of park users.
- Adapt speed to the type of equipment and do not attempt ill-considered manoeuvres.
- Do not stand or wait in landing zones. In the event of a fall move off the course rapidly and never walk back up the course.
- Helmets are compulsory even for adults (this rule varies from terrain park to terrain park). Users are advised to wear other protective equipment.
- In the event of an accident clearly block the facility or equipment, offer first aid and alert the ski patrol.
- Photographers and spectators should position themselves well back from the course and be vigilant.
In the event of an accident the management of most snow parks and the lift companies will not be held responsible but will guarantee first aid assistance.
Snow Park Accidents and Injuries
According to a feature article in Le Dauphiné Libéré on the 17th March, serious accidents in French Snowparks in 2010 have led to an open debate about regulating the use of equipment and facilities.
Le Dauphiné Libéré is a daily French newspaper representing the Savoie region of France host to scores of ski resorts, notably Tignes, Val d'isere and Chamonix, Mont Blanc. Phillipe Cortay reports that since 2008 the PGHM (Peloton de Gendarmerie de Haute Montagne) high mountain rescue service in Chamonix has registered 37 serious accidents. Many of these accidents involved very young victims. This is far from the total number of accidents since most are picked up by ski patrollers not, by helicopters used by the PGHM.
The most common mechanism of injury in a terrain park was a fall from a significant height.
Contrary to a likely popular conception, many of the more serious injuries occur not on ‘big air’ but on smaller jumps closer to the ground. Young people mistakenly believe they take less risk if they don’t jump as high.
Cortay reports that 65% of accidents in snow parks involve snowboarders with increasingly serious accidents including: thorax, skull, face and spine.
Snowboarder Injuries and Skier Injuries
There are obvious differences between boarders and skiers that may go some way to explaining differing injury rates. According to studies made by Dr Langran published on the website Ski-Injury.com which promotes ‘staying safe on the snow’; most injured boarders generally fall into one of three categories:
- Skiers looking for a new challenge.
- Young kids keen to try the trendiest sport.
- Teenagers and young adults with little or no previous experience of the environment.
Upper limb injuries are the most typical for snowboarders on the slopes. In terrain parks however individuals are more likely to sustain head and face, back and neck injuries. Both fractures and concussions were more common injury types in terrain parks compared to the slopes in general and those injured in a terrain park were 23% more likely to need transportation to hospital.
Protective Equipment for Skiers and Snowboarders
- Helmet. Though still viewed by some users as uncool, there seems little doubt that wearing a helmet makes sense. When choosing a helmet it is advised to select one that meets US standards (Snell RS 98 or ASTM 2040) or the European standard (EN1077). This information is available on the inside of the helmet on the label. Helmets that meet these standards have at least undergone formal testing - there are many "helmets" being sold that meet no standards whatsoever. The crucial thing to remember about helmets is that they do not make the wearer invincible!
- Back protection
- Long sleeve clothing (to protect the skin from the abrasive effects of the snow).
- Goggles (much more likely to stay on the wearer than sunglasses during acrobatic feats)
- Sunscreen and lip protection
Participants should be familiar with the regulations and skills required for the snow park and to ski or snowboard only within their ability.
First-time or novice snow park users should consider taking a park lesson. One of the most important skills skiing or snowboarding instructors will teach is how to fall correctly, thereby avoiding the most dangerous and common situations that lead to injuries.
Further articles in this series about freestyle snowboarding include: Freestyle Snowboarding and the Evolution of Surfing on the Snow
