Ski injury epidemiology: A short-term epidemiology study of injuries with skiboards

A one-season epidemiology study of skiing injuries at a large Eastern ski resort was conducted for the 1998-99 season to compare injury rates and injury severity for various mountain sports, including alpine skiing, snowboarding, and, particularly, the new sport of skiboarding. Ski patrol reports and follow-up medical injury diagnosis data at the mountain clinic were compiled along with demographic information about the injured skiers and their equipment. The population at risk for each sport was determined by collecting parking lot surveys of typical skiers using previously published methodologies. The overall injury rate for all sports at the mountain was consistent with rates reported in the literature at other ski resorts. Injury rates for skiboards represented 1.1% of the total injury population, while participation in this spelt was 2.7% of the entire mountain population. Skiboard users were younger than skiers, and were predominantly male. Lower leg fractures and shoulder injuries represented 56% of the total skiboard injuries (n = 24). Tibia fractures occurred much more frequently in the skiboard population than in the alpine skiing population, while knee sprains were significantly lower in the skiboard population. This study represents one of the first studies of skiboard use, and is limited to one mountain and one season. The study will be continued in subsequent years to determine significant injury trends and implications for prevention of injuries in skiboarding.