See that girl in the picture to the left with the sexy pink cast? Yeah; that’s me. Near the end of last season – Aprilish (in my opinion, when it was just getting good) – I really wanted to nail my frontside 3s. I was having an awesome day in the park, so I thought I’d attempt a 3 over the big side and get lots of air. Well, obviously it was a bad idea because it resulted in a hot pink cast I sported for nearly three months.

I had always thought I had bad luck snowboarding (you name it, I’ve hurt it – sprained ankle, broken arm, even a bandaged up face), but now I’m pretty sure it just runs in the family.

Last weekend, my mom was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance after a nasty fall in the powder due to a binding malfunction (her binding didn’t release properly when she fell).  Well, both fortunately and unfortunately, she ended up with a leg broken in several different places and had to undergo surgery to get a medal rod inserted into her leg.  Good news is, it’s only a broken leg (can you imagine my reaction when her boyfriend called to tell me my mom was being rushed home from the mountain in an ambulance?!)  Bad news is, she’s out for the season, which, for my mom, is more painful than any broken leg could ever be.

Broken limbs suck, but hey, they happen every now and again, especially if you’re continuously taking risks on the slops and trying to improve your skill (which you should be!)  Here are a few tips on how you can take risks, while still practicing good safety habits (and hopefully keep your limbs in tact!)

• Wear a Helmet: This is the number one rule if you want to minimize the risks of getting seriously injured on the slopes!  Helmets can significantly decrease the risk of injuries, and even if they aren’t the greatest “fashion statement,” I’d like to think that your life is pretty worth it.   Not sure if you all remember the tragic incident that happened at Mt. Hood Meadows two years ago – an unidentified snowboarder hit skier Geoff Bradeen (45), who died due to a head injury.  Sources say a helmet could have saved Bradeen’s life.  Personally, I can say that a helmet has likely saved my life on more than one occasion and should be worn at all times.
  • Also, if you’re scared about hurting your wrists and planning on trying new things in the park, it might not be a bad idea to also invest in a pair of wrist guards.
• Make Sure Your Gear Is Functioning Properly: In the case of my mom’s recent accident, her injury was due to a gear malfunction.  In her particular case, the accident could not have been foreseen, but it’s always a good idea to check your gear before you head to the hill.
• Practice Good Mountain Etiquette: Our friends over at Highly Obsessed offer some great tips on mountain etiquette for both snowboarders and skiers.  Practicing good etiquette on the slopes will not only keep you safe, but it will make others around you happy as well!
• Those Ahead Have Right Of Way: Plain and simple, keep an eye out for those ahead of you in order to prevent collisions.  If you can’t quite tell who’s ahead (ie; intersection coming from the same direction) stop anyway to give the other rider the benefit of the doubt.
• Don’t Stop In The Middle of the Hill, and Especially Not A Lip!: I’ve personally witnessed a number of accidents due to people stopping either in the middle of a hill or in front of the lip of a jump (and then there’s the people who are just plain stupid, cutting in front of someone who’s already halfway over a jump).  If you want to stop on a run, make sure to do it on the side.  If you fall in front of or behind a jump, make sure to move over ASAP – sometimes it’s difficult for others to see you’ve fallen.  And definitely make sure you wait to drop into the park until the person who dropped before you has fully cleared the first jump and is already on to the second (this will make your run better, too, because if you happen to get stuck behind a slow person, you won’t have to stop on their heels in frustration).
• Don’t Ride Out of Bounds: Though it may be tempting, its dangerous.   It’s also a good idea to carry a cell phone or walkie talkie with you at all times, just in case.

For more safety tips and rules of the sport, check out the National Ski Patrol’s Responsibility Code.  What would you add to the list; did we miss anything?  Leave a comment below!  And keep it stylish’ (without a pink cast) this winter.