While some people prefer to spend the winter months indoors and huddled up under cozy blankets watching TV with a steaming mug of hot chocolate in hand, there are those who simply cannot wait until the colder weather arrives and the first snow falls in their favorite winter resort. This is when they can enjoy sports such as skiing, ice skating, sledding, and snowboarding.

Winter sports are great ways to get out when it’s cold, and they are fun and exciting as well! However, they also carry a certain amount of danger because those who enjoy them are travelling at high speeds and rely on weather conditions. Take snowboarding, for example. The risk of injuries is higher than it is for skiers. Snowboarders commonly experience wrist, shoulder, and ankle injuries as well as concussions. If you are someone who loves snowboarding, it makes sense to take precautions to avoid injury. So, how do you do this?

Stay in Shape

The easiest way to minimize your risk of injury is to stay in shape. Making sure your muscles are strong will help to prevent injuries. You need to keep your legs and arms in top condition so even when you are not on the slopes, you should continue to work these muscle groups and maintain your stamina and endurance. Some snowboarders swear by yoga and Pilates for enhancing their core strength and stability and say that these exercises help to improve their balance.

Protect Your Body

If you want to prevent injury to various parts of your body, you need to make sure you wear the right protective gear, and a helmet is the most obvious item to have. Falling is a part of snowboarding and because the risk of concussion from a bang to the head is high, it is vital that you always wear it. Regardless of how uncool you might think a helmet is, it is essential for your safety.

Other parts of the body require protection too, such as your wrists. Sprained wrists are common among snowboarders, especially the inexperienced. Falling forwards when you catch the toe edge of your board increases the risk, but a good pair of wrist guards can help to keep this joint protected.

Many snowboarders will also wear knee pads. Landing on the knees in icy conditions can result in painful bruises. Knee pads can make the landing softer and more comfortable.

Check Your Equipment

Always make sure that your board is in good condition before you head out onto the snow. Some snowboarders will hire a board from the rental shop because they know that this means it will be in perfect working order. If you own a board, don’t forget the importance of snowboard tunes. According to the folk at Canyon Sports, tune-ups are vital for keeping you safe on the slopes. Your board will perform better with sharper edges and a smooth base.

Learn How to Fall

Experienced snowboarders minimize injuries to their body by learning the right way to fall. They know that falling is unavoidable in the sport so most will adopt a tuck and roll approach when they do fall. This means keeping their head and shoulders in and bringing their arms close to their chest, resisting the natural urge to throw the arms out. This will help to prevent the full force of the fall on one part of the body.

To conclude, falls and subsequent injuries are a part of snowboarding. But something like a sprained wrist or ankle could see you away from your favorite sport for weeks or months. Taking the right preventative measures will allow you to enjoy snowboarding and always stay safe.