Stan's Skiers Code

As you are all well aware Stan the Outdoor Man, or Stanski as he likes to be known to his swooning groupies during the season, is, as all sex gods need to be, a fine physical specimen and never takes unnecessary risks. Stanski will think nothing of lifting 10 pints of stout and gracefully swallowing same in order to beef-up his biceps and tone-up up his throat.

Fitness and well-being

• Fitness
  Skiing and snowboarding are demanding physical sports. Specific and careful preparation pays off. You should leave plenty of time to improve your fitness before you travel - you are probably not as fit as you think.
   

• Warm-up
  Lack of a warm up is one of the most common reasons for injury. Always ensure that you have stretched thoroughly and that you have exercised to mobilise the relevant joints. The thighs are major skiing muscles but don't forget the abdomen, buttocks, and calves need to be warmed and worked. As do those in the neck, shoulders, hips and surrounding the joints.
   

• Hints & Tips
  Do not bounce your stretches.
  Try to avoid sudden jerky movements.
  Hold each stretch for 10-20 seconds and repeat each one several times.
  The daily warm up should include light aerobic exercise.
  Lastly, before heading out for your après ski, make sure that you have 'cooled down'. Gentle muscle stretches will help to ensure that you will not experience muscle soreness or stiffness after exercise.

Safety and Piste Etiquette

Although snowboarding and/or skiing can be pretty individual sports, you need to remember that in most occasions you will be sharing the slopes and pistes with other enthusiasts. To avoid crashes and injuries and to increase general piste safety some common rules have been designed. Learn, understand and follow the following rules and apply them at all times. Be a good ambassador of the Sport!

• Ski or Snowboard under control and make sure you have enough control to be able to stop or avoid objects at will when needed. You can push your boundaries, but know your limit.

• If you are overtaking another skier or snowboarder then it is your responsibility to avoid hitting the slower sporters. Take any abrupt movement of slower going people into account and make sure you have a clear picture of your surrounding skiers at all time.

• Do not stop, sit down or rest in the middle of the piste. Make sure you are out of the general traffic and that other people can clearly see you.

• When you are starting your run, give way to other skiers and snowboarders.

• Check your back and blind spot before entering your descend.

• Always use supporting gear that will prevent your gear from sliding down the slope and potentially hitting other people.

• Stick to the rules set out by the caretakers of the snow resort.

• Follow all signs and do not enter closed trails.

• Make sure to have a clear picture of the weather, snow conditions and the routes in the snow resort. Let those aspects dictate your snowboarding.

• Do not make jumps if you cannot see the landing site.

• Never ride hard into an unknown area.

• If you are in any way involved in an accident, stay on the accident scene and offer assistance where needed in any way you can. Report the accident to the patrol of the resort.

• Never go off piste alone and stay in close contact with the people you are going off slope with.

Skiing Community Home Page