It's snow good doing it yourself

It's snow good doing it yourself

Snow sports experts are warning Kiwi enthusiasts that it can be unsafe to do it yourself when it comes to checking and servicing your gear for the new season.

With most major ski areas expected to open this month, thousands of New Zealand snow sports devotees are expected to head for the hills soon for their first taste of the white stuff.

Many will hit the slopes after only a cursory glance at their equipment, a situation experts are warning can lead to injury and disappointing days on the mountain.

Miles Davidson of the New Zealand Snow Industries Federation says modern snow sports equipment is highly technical and needs specialist attention.

"Get your gear checked by an expert and do it now before the rush – that's my advice," Davidson says.  "Not only is it inadvisable from an enjoyment point of view to simply dust off your skis and boots just before you hit the slopes – it can also be unsafe."

Davidson says particular attention should be paid to ski and snowboard bindings, boot fitting, bases and edges.

"If you're going to leap onto the chairlift without checking your bindings and then have a fall you will want your equipment to function properly," he says.

ACC backs what Davidson says. Snow sports injuries are relatively severe the corporation says. Last year it received nearly 1,000 new snow sport entitlement claims with an average cost of $5,780 and each one sufficiently severe to require a week or more off work.

Total costs of snow sports claims last year was more than $8 million. The corporation is running an injury prevention programme focusing on raising awareness about injury prevention on the slopes.

Miles Davidson says a big part of injury prevention is having the right equipment and ensuring it's in top working order.

"For example, wrist injuries are a major problem among snowboarders and wrist-guards are a simple, cheap and effective way to help prevent injury. But it should be a good quality wrist-guard that fits you properly. That's where the expert comes in."

Helmets offer great protection too but again, when faced with a number of options, expert advice ensures you get one that fits you properly and is therefore fully effective, Davidson says.

Having properly serviced equipment is a must too.

"Get your equipment serviced at least once every year – at the start of the season is best. Bindings are your link with your skis but if they are not checked, serviced and adjusted to your ability and weight they are less likely to release in a fall – and that's when you get injured," Davidson says.

"You can ruin a great holiday for everyone and you could miss out on enjoying the great snow for the rest of the season," he says.

While about 10 per cent of skiers may be capable of maintaining their own equipment, tuning is becoming increasingly technical as new advancements are incorporated into gear, Davidson says, and most people should leave it to the experts.

ENDS

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