A two-year study of skiboards

The purpose of this study is to determine the lower leg injury rate for skiboard users in comparison to the injury rate for users of traditional alpine ski equipment. Data were collected from ski areas representing approximately 1000 skiboard rental units. Injury rates for users of these units were compared to injury rates involving conventional alpine rental equipment at the same ski areas. A total of 75 ski areas were polled in the study. Sixteen areas submitted complete data with two of the areas reporting for two seasons. In all, 34 475 alpine units and 960 skiboard units were involved in the study. Alpine equipment accounted for approximately 860 000 skier visits with skiboards accounting for approximately 20 000 skier visits. For the all injury group, mean rentals between injuries (MRBI) was 321 for alpine and 147 for skiboards (risk ratio 2.2:1). For the lower leg Injury Group, MRBI was 2221 for alpine and 575 for skiboards (risk ratio 3.9:1).