More than six million German skiers and snowboarders are drawn to snowy slopes and runs in winter. But many snowboard descents end in the hospital instead of the valley station. That’s why you should start preparing for the coming snowboarding season early – preferably in the fall. Find out who is particularly at risk and how to take precautions here. It can be reduced to a simple denominator: If you’re not healthy, you shouldn’t snowboard.
Snowboarding requires physical fitness
Even a cold or flu can get snowboarders who have not acclimatized into trouble on slopes 1,800 meters or higher. People being treated with antibiotics should also exercise caution and carefully study the package insert. Some preparations increase sensitivity to light and the result can be painful sunburn after snowboarding.
Iron deficiency can also send snowboarders into a tailspin on the slopes. This is because athletes and women often have an increased iron requirement that cannot be compensated for with food alone. The reason for the often unnoticed iron deficiency in women is the monthly loss of blood. Athletes, on the other hand, need a lot of iron in their blood to transport oxygen to their muscles.
Those who cannot cover their requirements with food should therefore consider an iron supplement that also contains vitamin C or take it together with a drink containing vitamin C. This improves the absorption of iron and at the same time supports the muscles. This improves iron absorption and at the same time supports the immune system in its fight against winter germs.
Build fitness as early as autumn
Snowboarders should already train fitness and muscle strength in the fall – for example, by jogging, cycling or classic ski gymnastics.
Important: Do not get on the board immediately after arriving in the snowboard area. Acclimatization is essential for the body so that it doesn’t suddenly go limp while snowboarding. Even on the second day of your vacation, you should not venture too high. Because even for healthy people it can be dangerous at 3,000 meters, because the heart and circulation must first get used to the thin air.
Protection against cold
From minus 20 degrees Celsius, you also need to protect yourself especially against frostbite. Greasy ointments to protect the skin, possibly a neoprene face mask as well as silk gloves under the snowboard gloves can help here.
And of course the following applies in principle: Alcohol has just as little to do with snowboarding as it does with road traffic. Alcohol dilates the blood vessels and thus causes the body to cool down more quickly, but above all it is often the cause of falls and accidents while snowboarding: Even slightly drunk people tend to go faster than usual and underestimate dangers. Therefore: stay away from alcohol while snowboarding!
