Skier tries snowboarding; breaks wrist

[Edd]

I was taking a beating yet having fun, but on our 4th and what we planned to be the last run before we put our skis back on, I caught the back edge and threw my hands behind me. It's a hairline fracture, cast will be off in 4 weeks, and the doc said I could ski without poles (yay) until its off.

I rode the board back down after the fall, and while looking for the first aid station, I approached a few Sunday River employees; they hadn't seen me riding but one of them asks if I'm intrested in snowboard lessons (ha ha). The first aid crew were top notch, they took x-rays right there. I ended up with a fancy cast with Gore-Tex that you can shower with; crazy.

So I want to try this again, but I feel like I WILL throw my hands down again. This is the most common snowboarding injury, so has anyone come up with a way to keep the hands protected? Should I handcuff them together? I was wearing wrist guards, btw.

 

[SnowRider]

So I want to try this again, but I feel like I WILL throw my hands down again. This is the most common snowboarding injury, so has anyone come up with a way to keep the hands protected? Should I handcuff them together? I was wearing wrist guards, btw.

Shoulder injuries are also very common in snowboarding.

In my opinion dont try snowboarding...yet. Just ski off the injury and THEN try snowboarding. It makes no sense to me to pick up a sport while you are hurt. I use my wrist to stand up, and its the first thing I put down if I am falling. Just wait.

PS - NEVER CALL LAST RUN. It has got to be one of the biggest skiing jinxes for me.

 

[Skier75]

See, that's why I stick to skiing....although its also been known to get hurt that way, just not likely the wrists.....but....ya never know, anything could happen.

 

[Boardguy]

I use "No Gomer" wrist guards they are larger than most and protect the thumb.
I've had them a number of years and don't know if the are still available or not - Check the net. Good luck and try again. Edit - I did check the net and I think they are still around. did a google and several sites come up

 

[FRITOLAYGUY]

Sorry about your luck Edd that sucks, i plan on trying snowboarding once this year but not mixing them both in the same day although that might be a good idea if i hate it.

 

[ajl50]

dude just ski with it after 10 days. You have a cast and if the doc said skiing with no poles there is little concern over further injury from a fall. Don't go huck cliffs or anything but just take some advil and roll out.

 

[DEVO]

I used to bring groups of kids from our local YMCA to Attitash on Saturdays and a few times a season I would end up with some kid down in North Conway Hospital with a broken wrist from snowboarding. Once, while sitting in the waiting room with one of our kids, I watched a kid come out with a cast on EACH arm!

 

[SteveFoy]

You definitely want to learn snowboarding in soft conditions. Much less painfull falling in soft snow compared to hardpack. Also, icy conditions are murder on a novice snowboarder, avoid at all cost. And just like any sport, when you fall you need to relax. Stay loose, absorb the impact with your whole body and resist the urge to reach out with your arms. Of course it's much easier to relax when you know your falling into soft snow (see point 1 above). Catching a back edge and falling backwards feels scary, but it's usually less painful than falling forwards. Don't tense up, stay loose, relax.

 

[Marc]

Shoulda gone teleboarding instead.

 

[SnowRider]

i wear a tailbone protector for when im riding rails

 

[dmc]

Some people just aren't cut out for snowboarding..

I've always been good at falling... I think I developed the art when I was a kid and rode horses... Either that or pond hockey...

I blew my shoulder out on when I caught a toe edge halfway through coming back from a switch(fakie to regular)...

 

[Bumpsis]

Either that or pond hockey...

OK, so this is somewhat tangential to the topic but you just brought up a treasured memory - skating on black ice. It's been perhaps over 3 years since I was able to get out on solidly frozen pond before snow fell on it.
The amazing smoothness of "virgin" ice is just such a joy. Outdoor skating on black ice is just such a trip. I cherish it almost as much as a good powder run.

This warm weather is really getting to me. At least we'll have good ocean swell coming up in couple of days. Any winter surfers/bodyboarders out there??

 

[Big Game]

You definitely want to learn snowboarding in soft conditions.

Exactly. But the temptation will be to really enjoy the powder day and get on your skis. But don't give in! My first day I was lucky enough to drive up to Okemo, for what I thought were going to be beat conditions to try boarind,g just to appease my buds. But we get up there, all I have is my buddy's wife's board, and we have 13 inchs of unforecast. It was amazing. One run down the bunny slope and then I went up to the top. What a day. I was converted.

 

[AdironRider]

Seriously, nothing beats a snowboard on a pow day.

 

[knuckledragger]

The reason people break wrist's is because they ride with open hands. when you fall on your hand your fingers act like levers that will aply much more force at the end. try rideing with a gently closed fist, not tightly clenched. In my experiences when you fall on your knuckles it will take more of a pounding. Also keep yor elbows tight to your side. Open your hand and press backwards on your finger tips, now make a fist and aply the same pressure the force is actually directed straight towards the fore arm and not at the wrist.
A lesson with a good instructor would usally get you this lesson before you went for your first run. Now you have a broken wrist and are scared of snowboarding. If you got hurt skieing because you didn't know how to fall would you be scared to ski?

 

[Edd]

I'll take a lesson and some precautions. How's a rubber band around my wrists sound to keep my hands close together and in front?

 

[Edd]

I was wearing wrist guards. I was thinking binding my hands in front would keep me from throwing them behind me when I catch the back edge and fall.

 

[ckofer]

A) Go when the snow is soft.
B) Go when the snow is soft.
C) Go when the snow is soft.
D) Take a lesson.
E) Lightly clenched fists in a boxing position will help.