14 June 2006

UC researches ski accidents and injuries

It was as Nadine Cooper was recovering in hospital from her third ski-related broken bone that she realised skiing injuries could be worthy of detailed research.

Ms Cooper is now a University of Canberra research student investigating the causes of ski injuries among young people and ways of preventing them.

"There is already evidence that accidents among kids happen just after they have left their parents and gone off with their friends," she said.

"I want to look at whether certain types of skiers are more prone to accidents and when accidents are likely to happen."

Ms Cooper, a former ski instructor, has previously worked on research projects in Austria and the United States examining injuries to snowboarders following the introduction of terrain parks to ski resorts. Her own catalogue of skiing war wounds includes three broken wrists and numerous bruises and sprains.

For her research she will use psychological testing to identify risk takers among members of schools' skiing teams and collect data about who is injured and the circumstances surrounding their accidents.

The research will also look at what safety measures had been taken to educate and protect skiers in school groups.

Ms Cooper intends then to develop a new injury prevention program.

"There will always be skiing accidents, but I want to develop a program that means skiers get hurt less often and less seriously."

As skiing has evolved, the types of injuries skiers sustain have also changed, Ms Cooper said. Snow boarding has led to a trend towards upper body injuries rather than traditional knee injuries, while technology has increased the likelihood of serious injury.

"Kids racing today are going a lot faster than Australia's first skiers went on their 2.5m skis in the 1860s."

•  The start of the ski season means Nadine Cooper is currently in Jindabyne researching injuries and risk taking, but she is available to discuss her work.

UC Communications

Gaye Morrison
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M: 0409 470 755

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T: 02 6201 2681

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Last Updated on August 1, 2005