Popular belief would have you assume that extreme snowboarding is likely to be more dangerous. To some extent, they may be right. Researchers have found that snowboarding can cause more injuries than skiing. According to the University of Vermont College of Medicine, found in Burlington, between the years of 1988 to 2006, the snowboarders had a higher incident rate. With and average of 345 days between incident, that’s 55 days shorter than the average days between incidents for skiers. href=’http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/9226935/Siberian-skiers-brave-freezing-plunge.html’>This{{/tag} helps explain it more.

That alone doesn’t make skiing safer compared to snowboarding. Although snowboarders have been found to be 50%-70% more likely to be injured, they’re also a third less likely to face a fatal accident. Most fatalities tied to skiing are from “collision with a fixed object”. According to the National Ski Areas Association, during the season of 2010/11 there were a reported 47 casualties. Out of those 47, 31 reported fatalities were skiers, making it more fatal then snowboarding.

So which one is more dangerous? Equally as dangerous, they’re both sports not to be taken lightly. Next time you hit those slopes, be sure to stay safe.

There are lots of fun things one can do on skis. It’s possible to go down some pretty extreme slopes, go over high jumps, rocket down the side of a mountain, and more. However, traditional skis have some serious limitations. Many skis have issues when used on rough terrain. In addition, skiing on rough terrain can increase the risk of a fractured ankle.

A snowboard can often provide a more enjoyable experience than skiing. Since a snowboard can be used in many extreme outdoor environments, it’s possible to push oneself to the limit. In addition, a snowboard offers better leg and ankle protection when compared to skis.

Many snowboarders can travel over rough terrain with minimal risk of an injury. Since both legs are on the same board, there is less of a risk for an injured leg or ankle. In addition, a snowboard can usually travel over small sections of rock and other debris. This isn’t possible when skiing.

A snowboarder is twice as likely to sustain a fracture than a skier. The two most common fractures are the wrist and the ankle. Many wrists are fractured when beginners fall. The natural instinct is to break your fall with your arm outstretched. This applies great pressure on the wrist and can lead to a fracture. Ankle fractures are common as well and some of them go undiagnosed. Termed snowboarders ankle, this injury feels like a bad sprain when in fact it is a fracture of the lateral process of the talus bone in the foot. Often not diagnosed, it can cause severe arthritis if not treated. A head injury is the most serious of snowboarding injuries. The speed of the sport can lead to not being able to maneuver in time to avoid obstacles, such as trees or people. Many head injuries occur from a collision or a hard fall. The chances of sustaining a head injury while snowboarding greatly reduce when wearing a helmet.

Enjoy snowboarding, but remember to wear all recommended equipment. This will minimize your risk of injury,

Just like his brother, White went from skibording to snowboarding when he turned six years of age. He has won many medals when it comes to skteboarding including the overall action sports title championship. Shawn started his training early and received his first sponsorship when he turne 7 years old. In 2003-04 he won the Air & Style contest.

In 2007, he lost one of the professional games to a competitor but was still able to take home a bronze medal. He released a video game in the year of 2008 i North America called “Shawn White Snowboarding.” it became one of the best selling video games in December of 2008. Scoring a perfect 100in the 2012 Winter X games, he became one of the first individuals to ever do this. Today, Shawn is still working hard to prove just how talented he really is. There is no doubt that you will want to see what medals he takes home next year.