Collision Injuries in Alpine Skiing

A controlled study of collision injuries in Hemsedal, Norway, is presented. Accident data for 1982 through 1986 seasons were analyzed. A total of 883 injured skiers and 379 controls were compared for epidemiological data. Eighteen percent (n = 158) of the injuries were due to collision. There was a great difference in collision injury rate during the recording time. A peak injury rate of 0.27/1000 skier days in 1984 when a new chairlift doubled the lift capacity without opening any new slopes declined to 0.11/ 1000 skier days in 1986 after making new slopes and widening old ones. Beginners and children were more at risk, and 28% of the injured by collision suffered a head injury. In conclusion, different degrees of difficulty of the slopes give a better separation between the different skiing-ability groups, and wider slopes reduce relatively the “collision zone” at the tree/ slope border. This results in safer skiing on each slope.