At the time of the first flakes, our practical advice to avoid accidents on the slopes.
If skiing is one of the great pleasures of winter, do not forget the risks associated with its practice, from benign sunburn to the famous rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament that will ruin much more than your holiday week.
Some recommendations to hit the slopes in peace:
The physical preparation
One month before leaving, prepare your body to the effort with some simple exercises to soften your ankles, strengthen your thighs and work your flexibility : walk a few minutes by day, prefer the stairs to the elevators and do some jogging or cycling.
The quality of your material
Be sure to ski with suitable equipment (ski length, stick size), maintained and well adjusted. Remember that about one out of two sprains are related to the wrong setting of the bindings , and that women over 25 are three times more likely than men to have a sprained knee.
Food
Know it: the cold, the altitude and the effort significantly increase your nutritional needs. Make hearty meals that you complete with energy bars during the day and drink plenty of water , to compensate for the dehydrating effect of the dry air of the mountain and the cold.
Protection
Only one rule, cover yourself to protect yourself from the cold and possible falls: in particular, never ski without a good pair of gloves , a high-protection sunscreen and glasses providing maximum protection against ultraviolet rays ( CE 3 or 4).
The rhythm
The principle: start gently, finish quiet and do not allow fatigue to accumulate by following a few simple rules: take regular breaks during the day , resist the temptation of the “last p’tite” at the end of the day or stay and sleep at least 8h per night .
