Snowboarders generally expend larger amounts of energy than do Alpine skiers. For this reason they tend to dress in "layers" as do Nordic skiers. The heavy and bulky parkas used in Alpine skiing don't work well for snowboarding, as they tend to provide to much warmth.
On the upper body snowboarders prefer a thin inner shirt covered by a fleece or similar thermal layer. An outer "water-proof shell" goes over this. With this type of layering garments can be opened one at a time to shed excess heat and then closed for cold lift rides back to the summit.
While soft snowboard boots are generally warmer than hard-shell Alpine ski boots, most riders still use a heavy pair of cotton socks; more to avoid friction and blisters than for warmth. The "Thorlo" company makes an excellent "Snowboard Specific" sock that has extra padding in the vital ankle and heel areas. I have been using their product for several years and HIGHLY recommend them.
The novice snowboarder will spend a great deal of time sitting or kneeling in the snow, not to mention a few falls. If you become serious about the sport, you will want to purchase a good pair of snowboard "technical pants" to replace the ones you "borrowed" the first few days. They should be highly waterproofed and may include vital padding in both the knees and the seat.
As we all know, there's nothing worse than having a
sore, cold, wet...."Butt."
Safety Equipment
The overall accident rates for snowboarders are about the same as for Alpine skiers on a "skier-day basis" Statistics - Snowboard Injury Rates However, snowboarders are prone to different types of injuries than are Alpine skiers.
The good news is that snowboarders have far fewer injuries of the lower body, most notably the knees, compared to Alpine skiers. This might be one reason that some former Alpine skiers migrate to snowboarding after sustaining serious knee injuries.
Among Snowboarders injuries to the upper extremities, notably the wrists and shoulders are more common than for Alpine skiers. The use of wrist guards is highly recommended for novice and advanced snowboarders.
I broke my wrist in February, no I was NOT wearing wrist guards.
Some novice riders initially use wrist and knee guards designed for in-line skating. Helmets also are being seen in increasing numbers. While I don't yet wear one I strongly recommend them. (I wasn't using wrist guards when I was hurt, hmmmmmm)
Additional Safety and Injury information can be found at: ski-injury.com
Photos: Courtesy of TransWorld Publications, Inc.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed herein are purely my own. They are based upon my personal experience (who is this "Dave dude") and publicly available materials.
© Copyright 1993 - 2001 David E. Schutz