Objectives: To examine the incidence and patterns of snow sports injuries at the three largest commercial ski areas in Scotland and to identify factors associated with injury risk. Methods: A prospective case-control study of all injured people at Cairngorm, Glenshee, and Nevis Range ski areas during the 1999-2000 winter season. Personal details, snow sports related variables, diagnosis, and treatment were recorded. Control data were collected at random from uninjured people at all three areas. Random counts were performed to analyse the composition of the on slope population. Results: A total of 732 injuries were recorded in 674 people. Control data were collected from 336 people. The injury rate for the study was 3.7 injuries per 1000 skier days. Alpine skiers comprised 67% of the on slope population, snowboarders 26%, skiboarders 4%, and telemark skiers 2%. Lower limb injuries and sprains were the commonest injuries in alpine skiers and skiboarders. Snowboarders sustained more injuries to the upper limb and axial areas. Skiboarders and snowboarders had a higher incidence of fractures. After adjustment for other variables, three factors were all independently associated with injury: snowboarding (odds ratio (OR) 4.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.65 to 10.08), alpine skiing (OR 3.82, CI 1.6 to 9.13), and age <16 years (OR 1.9, CI 1.14 to 3.17). More than five days of experience in the current season and at least one week of experience in total had a protective effect against injury. Conclusions: Despite a change in the composition of the alpine population at Scottish ski areas, the overall rate and pattern of injury are similar to those reported previously in comparable studies. Several factors are associated with an increased risk of injury and should be targeted in future injury prevention campaigns.

Objectives: To identify potential risk factors for knee injury in female alpine skiers. Methods: Injury survey in the winter season 2005 in one big Austrian ski area. Data collection on all injured skiers who needed evacuation included demographic variables, weather and snow conditions, circumstances of the skiing accident, the type of ski used, and injury location. Results: In total, 344 injured alpine skiers (41.3 % males, 58.7 % females) who needed evacuation were recorded. Twenty six percent of the injured male skiers and 47 % of the injured female skiers had knee injury. Female skiers with knee injuries were older, reported less regular physical activity, had more injuries in the morning hours and on cold days, and were not as likely to be using newly adjusted bindings in comparison to female skiers with non-knee injuries. Conclusion: This study found a set of potential risk factors for knee injury in female skiers. This is considered to be a valuable basis for more in-depth studies evaluating causal connections between these factors and the risk for knee injuries in female skiers.

First-day participants should be targeted in any future educational programs with emphasis on gear selection, use of protective gear, and the risks of exceeding the limits of their ability.