Downhill Skiing Riskiest, Snowboarding Safest Among Four Winter Sports: Canada Public Health Agency Report

Downhill skiers enjoy the winter sport during Spring Break in a file photo. (VisualCommunications/Getty Images)

Skating and tobogganing are more likely to result in injury than snowboarding, but when it comes to winter sports, downhill skiing is the riskiest activity, according to a new report from the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Snowboarders had a hospitalization rate of 550 cases per 100,000 emergency room admission records. However, downhill skiing caused the most hospitalizations, with 707 injuries per 100,000 records.

Fractures represented over a third of all downhill skiing-related injuries, and “falls represented the highest percentage of [fracture] cases at 66.8 percent,” according to a data blog published by the agency on March 8, as first reported by Blacklock’s Reporter.

“While there are numerous health benefits resulting from these sports and activities, there are also risks of serious injuries,” said the blog, titled “Injuries from winter sports and activities.”

The blog documents injury statistics for popular winter sports and activities captured by the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (CHIRPP). The data is tabulated from 20 emergency rooms across Canada between Oct. 1, 2016, and Nov. 9, 2022. The blog considered four popular winter activities: alpine (downhill) skiing, ice skating, sledding/tobogganing, and snowboarding.

Downhill skiers suffered 4,456 injuries during that period, representing 707.2 cases per 100,000 CHIRPP records. The average patient age was 16.1 years, with 57.8 percent of cases occurring in males. Children 14 and younger represented 69.0 percent of all cases, with children 10 to 14 representing 44.7 percent of all cases.

Fractures represented 39.2 percent of all downhill skiing-related injuries. After the category of falls, skiers were prone to fractures as a result of jumps (13 percent) and impact from hitting stationary objects (9 percent) such as trees, ricks, and chair lift poles, said the blog. Of those who mentioned it, 69.5 percent said they were wearing safety equipment when the injury happened.

Skating

Ice skating was the second-riskiest winter sport, with 630 injuries per 100,000 CHIRPP records during the time period studied, mostly affecting girls (64.3 percent).

The mean age among patients was 14.4 years, with children 14 and younger representing 78.9 percent of all cases. Almost half (43.6 percent) of all cases were children aged 10 to 14. Where reported, one-third (36.9 percent) of injured skaters said they were wearing safety equipment.

“Falls represented the highest percentage of cases at 87 percent, reflecting the nature of this activity,” stated the blog. The next two most common circumstances were hitting a stationary object (6 percent) and falling or landing poorly after attempting a manoeuvre (3.6 percent) such as a jump, axel, or twist.

Fractures were again the most common injury (34.8 percent), with fractures in the upper extremities representing 71 percent of all cases, while lower extremity fractures accounted for 22.1 percent, trunk fractures 6.1 percent, and head and neck fractures 0.8 percent.

Sledding

During the time period studied, there were 3,639 sledding/tobogganing injuries reported in the CHIRPP database, or 577.6 cases per 100,000 records. Males represented 54.8 percent of all cases, with the mean age being 9.7 years. Children aged 14 and younger accounted for 92 percent of all cases.

Where reported, 7.8 percent of those injured said they were wearing safety equipment at the time.

Fractures were the most common injury resulting from sledding, representing 32 percent of cases. Traumatic brain injuries accounted for 21.6 percent, broken down further to minor head injury at 10.5 percent, concussion at 10.5 percent, and intracranial injury at 0.6 percent. Superficial/open wounds accounted for 16 percent of all cases.

The report indicates that almost 75 percent of all fractures were to the upper and lower extremity regions, with the wrist, forearm, lower leg, and ankle being the most common fractured areas.

The majority of injuries (34.8 percent) were caused by a fall from the sled, followed by impact from hitting a stationary object (28.9 percent).

“These risks highlight the importance of personal safety, such as wearing appropriate clothing and safety equipment, and ensuring your gear is in good condition,” said the blog