Every year, Queenstown Medical Centre treats hundreds of riders with snowboarding induced injuries.

Radiographer Sandy Goldfinch said that the most common injury they see coming through their doors in winter is fractured wrists from snowboarders falling forwards or backwards and putting out their hands to save themselves.

She also said that for the most part, injuries increase across the board each year.

In 2007 winter we had 306 patients with fractured wrists, 150 shoulder or clavicle breaks, 104 elbow, hand or finger injuries and 59 spinal injuries, Goldfinch said.
 

It is common knowledge that wrist guards are a vital piece of equipment to preventing this kind of injury, especially for beginners.

Goldfinch backs this by saying The best way for people to prevent these injuries is to wear wrist guards and be more in control, maybe going slower until they have good skills.

But in saying that, we did get people with wrist fractures who were wearing guards, so they don't always prevent injuries, so boarders need to be careful, she said.

Unfortunately, there is no escape from the painful reality and accidents can occur at any time for what ever reason, across all levels of ability.

Seasoned Christchurch based rider Christian Hearns biggest fear when riding is that moment of realization that something is about to go wrong.

That few seconds before the pain, when youre furiously winding down the windows, you know youve screwed up and youve got just enough time to think about the consequences and promise yourself youll never leave the house again if you dont get broken, he said.

Christians riding has taken a change as a result from an accident in Heavenly, Lake Tahoe, which left him with a broken tailbone and minor brain swelling after misjudging a jump that he had hit the day before. After experiencing a seizure and having his broken helmet removed, he was helicoptored off the mountain and spent a week in hospital jacked up on morphine. And it wasnt without further consequences.

My short-term memory has been terrible ever since. Theres also the mental barrier when riding. I still love jumping off stuff, but my comfort zone has been downsized. It also made me realize that while I love riding, walking is pretty choice too and because I need to walk I should just calm down with things that could make me floppy from the neck down, he said.

Now he thinks things through and 9 times out of 10 realizes that most moves are irrational.

It seems that judgement, decision making and the mentality of a rider can play a huge part in determining the possibility of injury.


Top New Zealand rider Abby Lockhart also ponders the concept of fear after overshooting a jump and tearing her ACL in her knee, putting her out for the 2008 season.

I am not really scared of anything when Im riding although there is definitely a small element of fear of being injured, but when it happens it is just something you deal with, there is no point being scared.

Abby also pointed out that there is a close relationship between the feeling of adrenaline and the feeling of fear, snowboarding being a sport which is certainly packed with adrenaline.

When asked if the break will have an impact on her riding when she first gets back on the board, she confidently stated that it wouldnt place a barrier on her riding.

Its already made me stronger mentally and by the end of the rehab programme I will be stronger physically than I was before the injury, she said.

So whats the key to turning away the fear factor? It seems to be a mixture of taking care when you are riding, making the right decisions and in the safety gear you use; helmets,  wrist guards or pads. But more importantly, challenging yourself but still riding within your comfort zone.

You have to know your limits and just ride at your own ability. Once you have been injured you have just got to put it in the past and look at the positives for the future. And when you do get riding again there is no point worrying about what could go wrong thats the worst frame of mind to be in, advises Abby.

Christian also offers advice by saying The thing which held me back was taking that fear with me, which is the worst possible option. Now if I make a decision to hit something, its decision made. It is important to only think about stomping it otherwise its going to be half-assed and helicopter time again.

Perhaps it is not such a bad idea to take on board that old saying learn from the mistakes of others and to not let an installation of fear get the better of you and your riding.

Afterall, a day up the mountain is best ended with a bit of stoked reminiscence and a body safely intact.