How to fall
The reality is that everyone loses their balance and falls over at some stage, especially when they’re first learning to ski or snowboard.
But the way you fall (or rather, the way you land) can play a significant part in whether you injure yourself or not. So learning good falling techniques is fundamental to preventing injuries.
Some simple tips can make the difference between a nasty injury or just a spot of embarrassment.
Here are five tips to falling safely.
- Recognise that you’re losing your balance – that way you can be prepared to fall and take the following steps.
- Relax! That may sound odd, but the more relaxed you and your muscles are the less likely you are to hurt yourself. But don’t go too far and just flop down either. Don’t lock any of your limbs – especially your arms. These need to be able to bend to absorb some of the force. Locked arms can result in broken wrists.
- Fall uphill if possible. The snow on the slope above you is closer than that on the downhill side. Falling uphill also means you’re less likely to keep sliding.
- Fall on your side. Try to curve or roll your body into the snow, so that no single part of your body takes all the force. Or at least try to fall on your hip and shoulder, rather than your wrists and knees, which are more vulnerable to injury.
- Don’t try to fight it. If you sense you’re going to fall, go with it, because fighting a fall can also lead to injury.
It might sound silly, but it pays to practice falling safely so that when you realise it’s happening, your instinct will take over and ensure that you fall the right way.
Snowboarding falling tips
Snowboarders are particularly at risk of upper limb and wrist injuries, but knowing how to fall can cut their chances of actually getting hurt.
Falling backwards:
Make a fist – When you’re falling backwards, making your hands into a fist will minimise the excessive forces that can occur at the wrist if you fall with a flat, open hand.
Land on your bottom – Instead of putting your hands back to stop yourself, tuck your forearms into your chest with your fists clenched, letting your buttocks take the force off the fall.
Protect your head – If you’re falling backwards, bend your chin down to your chest so your head doesn’t smack back against the snow.
Falling forwards:
Land on your knees and forearms – When falling forwards, landing on your knees and forearms rather than putting your hands out to break your fall will reduce that repeated impact on your wrists. So slightly bend your elbows and try to take the impact along your forearms, not just on your hands and wrists.
Bend your knees – The closer you are to the snow, the less you have to fall, so when you feel that you’re falling, bend your knees to lower yourself down and roll into the snow.
The thing to remember is that everyone does it. Even Olympic skiers fall over at some stage and usually rather spectacularly.
And anyway, assuming you can simply get up uninjured (aside from your pride) and brush off the snow, at least you’ve given your mates a good giggle and yourself a good story to tell at the end of the day!
