This study was developed to empirically determine the impact of the following variables on the speeds of skiers and snowboarders: activity [skiing versus snowboarding], visibility [clear and sunny sky versus cloudy, overcast conditions], type of resort [day, destination, or combination], and helmets [use or not of helmet]. The study also evaluated differences in speed between males and females and the ability of subjects to estimate their speed. The authors measured the speed of some 650 individuals at three different ski resorts in the U.S. during the winter of 2002/2003. One resort was primarily a destination resort in Utah, one was a day area in New York, and the third resort in Vermont had a combination of destination and day skiers. The speeds were determined by means of a calibrated radar speed gun. Speeds were gathered on consecutive skiers and snowboarders as they were observed from an uphill, looking downhill position. The speed recorded was the highest speed observed during a several second interval while the observed person went through several turns as the skiers and snowboarders moved away from the observer. All observations were made on wide, straight, well-groomed ‘blue square’ (more difficult) trails. The slopes ranged from 16–20° in steepness. The average speed for all observations was 43.0 km/h (26.7 mph), with a standard deviation of 11.2 km/h (7.0 mph). The average speed for skiers of 44.5 km/h (27.6 mph) was significantly higher than that for snowboarders at 38.9 km/h (24.1 mph). The average speed under good visibility of 46.7 km/h (29.0 mph) was significantly higher than for poor visibility conditions at 38.3 km/h (23.7 mph). The average speed for helmet users of 45.8 km/h (28.4 mph) was significantly higher than those not using a helmet at 41.0 km/h (25.4 mph). Males ski and snowboard significantly faster than females. Skiers and snowboarders are fair at estimating their speed (r = 0.56), but they tend to underestimate their speeds the faster they go; for example, at an actual 48 km/h (30 mph), they estimate that they are traveling at 37 km/h (23 mph). The observed speeds are well above the speeds (22.6 km/h, or 14.0 mph) used for ASTM F 2040 helmet testing protocols for recreational snow sports helmets.

Over the past 26 years, the authors have given many reports at ASTM Conferences on injury trends in Alpine skiing. These reports have generally taken two forms: a cursory report on a broad range of injury groups or an in-depth look at a specific injury group or sub-group of the general population. In the current study, the authors provide an update on two large injury groups that have been the subject of many earlier reports, fractures and sprains of the lower leg and sprains of the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee. Examples of the lower leg injury common to Alpine skiing are tibia fractures, ankle sprains and fractures, tibia plateau fractures, heel cord injuries, and knee sprains. Between December 1972 and April 1998 the authors evaluated prospectively 15 526 injuires reported to the injury clinic operated in the base lodge of a moderate size northern Vermont ski area. During that time approximately 5 298 600 skier-visits (days) occurred at the area. Over that period the overall injury rate decreased by 46%. However, the change for the two target groups can not be expressed in such simple terms. Historically, the authors have described injury trends in mean days between injury (MDBI), fitting each year's MDBI to an exponential curve by regression analysis. In this study the authors explain why this technique can no longer be used for these two groups and propose new methods, which could lead to a better understanding of the trends identified by this study.

This study documents fatalities and risk factors in alpine winter sports. The authors have tracked all known fatalities (n=854) occurring to recreational skiers and snowboarders within the boundaries of ski resorts in the United States since January 1978 through the winter of 2004/05. Data are limited to trauma deaths. Medical emergency deaths, deaths to employees, and deaths involving uphill lift facilities were excluded. Fatality data came from three sources: the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA), and public news sources. Information concerning the accident, the injury, and the equipment used, were recorded. Data on skier and snowboarder resort utilization and demographic variables were obtained from NSAA annual reports. This particular analysis covers the 14 seasons 1991/92 through 2004/05. Five hundred sixty-two deaths were recorded; 97 to snowboarders and 465 to skiers during 761 million resort visits. During that time, helmet utilization went from essentially zero to 33.2 % for the general at-risk population. The fatality rate for skiers was 0.75 deaths per million visits (D/MV), and the snowboarder rate was 0.53 D/MV. These rates have not changed significantly over time. Most fatalities occurred to experienced males between the ages of 18 to 43. The most common scenario is a severe head injury resulting from high speed impact with a tree on or beside an intermediate trail. During the three most recent seasons, the known average prevalence of helmet utilization was 38.7 % among the fatally injured. Helmet utilization does not appear to affect fatality incidence, but it does shift primary cause of death patterns, from mostly head injuries for those not using a helmet to mostly chest and torso for those wearing a helmet. The fatality rate for alpine skiers remained significantly higher than for snowboarders. The demographic profile of the fatally injured remained unchanged from previous research.

Between December 1972 and April 1994 the authors evaluated prospectively 8023 injuries reported to the injury clinic operated in the base lodge of a moderate size northern Vermont ski area. During that time, approximately 2 480 000 skier-visits occurred at the area. This study is the most recent update of reports documenting long-term trends that have been presented at approximately four-year intervals. Although the overall injury rate decreased by 44% during the 22-year study, most of this decline occurred during the first ten years. Fractures and sprains to the lower leg, however, continued the improvement noted in previous reports with an 87% reduction. Although the incidence of knee ligament injuries did not change significantly, severe knee sprains, usually involving the anterior cruciate ligament, increased very significantly (228%), continuing a trend that began in the late 1970s. In general, the incidence of upper body injuries did not change although upper body lacerations and thumb ulnar collateral ligament sprains improved by 65 and 61%, respectively, while clavicular and trunk fractures, though rare, increased in incidence 234 and 202%, respectively.

Between 1972 and 1987, the authors evaluated prospectively all 5701 injuries reported to the injury clinic operating in the base lodge of a moderate sized ski area in northern Vermont. During that time approximately 1 690 000 skier visits occurred at the ski area. The total injury population was divided into 28 groups and subgroups and examined by regression analysis for long-term trends. Among upper body injuries, only lacerations showed a positive improvement. Among lower extremity injuries, virtually all injuries below the knee improved dramatically, some groups by more than 80%. Knee injuries, although improved as a group, showed a marked 2.7-fold increase in serious (third-degree) sprains, usually involving the anterior cruciate ligament.