Injury article highlighting

[MK]

A few things http://ajs.sagepub.com/content/early/20 ... 6511398214

1. Snowboard/skis
2. experience/new

It's listed as an Extreme Sport. I take some issue with this classification since I contend it's as extreme as you make it but whatev, its been labeled in an article.

Interesting nonetheless and glad it was produced.

[Matt V]

"Athletes who used snowboards for snowkiting purposes were injured almost 3 times more frequently than their colleagues using skis"

Yup! I am not sure of the kiteskiing thought process, but I am pretty in tuned with the kitesnowboarding thought process. So I have a pretty good idea where that statistic is coming from.

I usually look at a snow feature and think,"I bet I can get my snowboard in there and get back out of there with no problem". The injury typically occurs when I loose the bet. For kiteskiing, I would guess that it is more obvious where you cannot fit your skis on a feature. Thus the stupid risk is not taken as often with skis. I would hypothesize that the injury rate would be about the same, given the same user demographics such as age, skill, and how hard they push the limits - if you are just comparing injuries from jumping on the flats.

As for being an extreme sport - I would classify it as a transition sport between a regular sport and an extreme sport. A regular sport is UNlikely to kill you at the beginner level (soccer, wakeboarding, running). An extreme sport is likely to kill you at the beginner level (base jumping, wingsuits, drinking Red Bull). I think kiting fits somewhere in between. You can kite with Red Bull, but you don't have to.

[MK]

It is difficult to drill down the variables when you begin to question the stats presented. Some athletes in pro-sports go entire careers without significant injuries while others get taken down. Injury seems to be illusive then in some regards.

For those beginning this sport the chance for injury is minimized or maximized based on pre-existing skills acquired and conditions they learn in. If they have no board like skills, don't take instruction, say "here, hold my beer and watch this," and go out in unsafe winds then yes, its extreme. Conversely, it can't be more hazardous than putting a 3yr old on a bunny hill, which doesn't qualify as extreme. Small kite and low winds go a long ways towards educating while minimizing danger.

Media is more at fault for highlighting the sensational side of this sport. It is sensational and fascinating to me not only what can be done with these kites but the variety of playgrounds and equipment that can be used with them. I'll likely hold my ground on the opinion of it being as extreme as you make it.

Boarding injuries make sense. My wife has begun to chuckle when student inquiry calls come in and can over hear how some state they are a snowboarder. I see more people enter class on snowboard with directional settings on their bindings as well as over sold their ability.

Just some more discussion points:)

[Drvermin]

Darn straight it is an extreme sport! Or at least that is what my kids heard and they keep the rumor going because they are proud of their old man learning something so difficult. Or at least difficult for their old man.

I got a significant injury from kiting. I snapped my quadracept in my left leg while flying a trainer kite. All it takes in one split second of the wrong conditions and it is all over but the crying. As my daughter said when it happened: "one second you were right next to me, the next you were 30' away on the ground." Now I have a nice divot in my thigh to remind me to *always* wear all my safety gear, no matter how good I think I am.