CPSC Says Snowboarding Boom Leads To More Injuries

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today is releasing statistics showing a 42 percent increase in snowboard-related injuries from 1993 to 1994. Snowboarding is the fastest growing winter sport and is rapidly gaining popularity at ski resorts across the country.

CPSC Chairman Ann Brown said, "Snowboarding is one of the hottest new sports on the slopes and a great way to enjoy the winter outdoors. We all know that falling or 'wiping out' is inevitable. Snowboarders should take lessons to help them enjoy the sport and reduce the risk of injury."

An estimated 27,000 snowboarding injuries were treated in hospital emergency rooms in 1994, up from about 19,000 for 1993, an increase of 42 percent. Unlike skiing, where the largest number of injuries involve the knee, the greatest number of snowboarding injuries involve the wrist or arm. About 27 percent of snowboarding injuries in 1994 involved the wrist or arm and 9 percent involved the knee. Skiers experienced more knee injuries (27 percent of injuries) and fewer wrist or arm injuries (7 percent). Snowboarders and skiers were equally likely to sustain shoulder injuries (20 percent for snowboarders and 21 percent for skiers).

Over half the snowboarding injuries in 1994 occurred to persons age 15-24. Males accounted for about 19,000 of the injuries. Although the sport has traditionally been popular among young men, snowboarding is quickly catching on as a family sport and is attracting more women each year.

Most snowboarding injuries result from falling. Relatively few of the reported injuries involved collisions with trees, other snowboarders, or skiers. Factors contributing to snowboarding injuries include a lack of skill or instruction for novice snowboarders and high risk behavior.

Since 1991, CPSC has received reports of five deaths from snowboarding, all involving males between the ages of 15 and 28. Most of the fatalities resulted from suffocation in deep snow.

As the number of snowboarding participants surpasses 2 million, many ski resorts and facilities are offering snowboarding lessons and providing guidance on snowboarding etiquette to help prevent injury.