Table 1

Characteristics of individuals sustaining skiing or snowboarding injuries on slopes or in terrain parks at two western ski areas, 2000–05

	Slopes		Terrain parks		Missing data
	(N=10828)		(N=3953)
Characteristics	N	%	N	%	N (%)
Activity
Alpine skiing	4883	45	625	16	0 (0)
Snowboarding	5945	55	3328	84	0 (0)

Gender
Male	5767	53	3218	82	27 (0)
Female	5049	47	727	18	27 (0)

Age (y)
1–12	1779	17	354	9	78 (1)
13–24	3840	36	2706	69
25–39	2705	25	737	19
40+	2452	23	143	4

Ability
Beginner	3676	35	298	8	353 (2)
Intermediate	4505	42	1688	44
Expert	2444	23	1870	48

Owned equipment
No	4457	42	593	15	447 (3)
Yes	6100	58	3236	85	447 (3)

Wore helmet
No	8543	80	2860	73	157 (1)
Yes	2174	20	1074	27	157 (1)

Ski school
No	9707	90	3842	98	104 (1)
Yes	1057	10	88	2	104 (1)

Wind
Calm	8055	77	3065	80	78 (1)
Medium	2127	20	673	18
High	302	3	79	2

Clear visibility
No	1800	17	375	10	501 (3)
Yes	8702	83	3457	90	501 (3)

Injury mechanism
Fall: high^*	486	4	2197	56
Fall: medium^†	767	7	772	20
Fall: level	2751	25	171	4
Collision	1514	14	126	3
Unknown	5310	49	687	17

↵* High fall defined as terrain park elevated jump, cliff, or other indication of likely greater height.
↵† Medium fall defined as mogul or small jump.