Snow Sickness

[Angus]

question for you all, my son has experienced mild to moderate nausea (dizziness, stomach) the last two times we have skied in the falling snow. I've never had this problem and haven't heard of anyone else experiencing it. not sure if it's related to lack of visual reference due to snow and if problem might be alleviated by a particular type of goggle lens (clear versus tinted). Any ideas. thanks

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

anything to do with the chair ride?? Height sickness/motion??

 

[hammer]

Any known ear problems or past ear surgeries?

Ever since I had surgery on my right ear about 10 years ago, I experience significant vertigo if I get any cold water in the ear. I wear a helmet so it's usually not a problem for skiing, but when I go swimming I plug it up to prevent problems if I go underwater.

 

[eatskisleep]

Is he eating a good breakfast?

 

[Angus]

Is he eating a good breakfast?

hey, you're questioning my parenting skills! )

both good points - ear problems, he had an ear infection over school vacation and was taking penicillin Saturday. In addition, we had a long drive up and so he ate an early (& probably incomplete) breakfast that morning and I think he was complaining prior to lunch. last year, I can't remember. As a side note, I remember skiing in the snow all the time as a kid - now it seems like I never ski in the snow.

 

[BeanoNYC]

Sounds like a balance issue due to the ear infection that was worsened by the disorientation of falling snow plus the altitude. How old is he?

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

"Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take penicillin V and talk to your doctor if you experience
· mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain "

 

[dmc]

It's vertigo/visual spatial disorientation..
I've seen it above treeline a few times - when it's snowing and people get dissoriented...

Try using a bright lens(amber) for snowy days.. Or ski in the trees.

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

appears to be just a side effect of the penicillin..unless he had this issue last year/eariler this year when he wasnt on the Penicillin....

 

[wintersyndrome]

is your flask missing? :beer: JK

From personal experience I've had some diorientation when riding in whiteout conditions above the treeline as I think DMC pointed out before me. The lack of visual reference had me unaware that i was moving at certain points until rocks or variations in the slope were noticed. (a little humility for my first time at A-basin)

When skiing, was your young one skiing in the middle of the trail? Riding the edge near the trees gives some frame of reference to movement and has helped me when riding in zero visability situations...thoughts?

 

[Brn4353]

It's vertigo/visual spatial disorientation..
I've seen it above treeline a few times - when it's snowing and people get dissoriented...

Try using a bright lens(amber) for snowy days.. Or ski in the trees.

Actually, If it is truely a visual spatial disorientation issue, adding trees the visual field can be more disorienting/challenging, and can be much more dangerous.

 

[dmc]

Actually, If it is truely a visual spatial disorientation issue, adding trees the visual field can be more disorienting/challenging, and can be much more dangerous.

No way - trees add definition... taking people to tree level helps..

 

[Brn4353]

No way - trees add definition... taking people to tree level helps..

If it is truely an issue w/ spatial relations (brain interpreting/processing what the eyes are seeing) adding additional stimulus, which is moving past you, CAN be more disorienting. If it is a glare thing...I cansee how trees would add definition. We may be referring to different things.