by Matt Bender

Created on: November 13, 2009

Although snowboarding is not a particularly safe sport, following these tips will allow you to have a far safer snowboarding outing.

Check to make sure your bindings are securely fastened to the board, and don't use the board if the fasteners are missing and/or damaged. Constant snowboard use can lead to loosened bindings; bindings popping off during a run can result in serious injury. Also, if the fasteners which hold the boot in place are missing and/or damaged, make sure you replace them before hitting the slopes.

Make sure you wear appropriate protection for your head. Although it may be "cool" to snowboard with only a hat or less, make sure you wear a helmet while snowboarding. Without a helmet, having a fall can cause serious damage to the brain, can cause a concussion, or can even result in death. By wearing a helmet, you greatly increase your level of protection.

Make sure you have wrist guards. Many new snowboarders try breaking their falls with a hand. Most of the time, falling on a hand doesn't end in injury, but occasionally, snowboarders fall at a wrong angle and break their wrists. Wrist guards will protect against awkward falls by providing extra support to a vulnerable part of the body.

Know your level of experience. Most ski resorts have a rating system which tells skiers and snowboarders the level of difficulty for each of the resort's ski trails. Generally, "black diamond" trails are considered the hardest trails to negotiate. Trails of this difficulty are usually very steep, have obstacles in the trail, are close to sudden drop-offs, or become very narrow. By attempting harder trails without the necessary experience, you can harm either yourself or other skiers/snowboarders. As a new snowboarder, try to steer clear of trails of this difficulty, at least until you're sure you have complete control of your board.

Don't go too fast for your level of experience. Before speeding downhill, make sure you have a decent level of control, know how to maneuver around obstacles, and can stop at short notice. Going fast without good control skills can lead to broken bones, or if you're extremely unlucky, can lead to flying off the trail into trees or rocks. Once you're more confident with your control skills, feel free to go faster.

By applying these five suggestions, you can make your next snowboarding trip the safest you've ever had.

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