-
Women skiers, this is the place for you -- an online community without the male-orientation you'll find in conventional ski magazines and internet ski forums. At TheSkiDiva.com, you can connect with other women to talk about skiing in a way that you can relate to, about things that you find of interest. Be sure to join our community to participate (women only, please!). Registration is fast and simple. Just be sure to add [email protected] to your address book so your registration activation emails won't be routed as spam. And please give careful consideration to your user name -- it will not be changed once your registration is confirmed.
spine protectors
- Thread starter Sierra
- Start date
missyd
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I always wear a back (spine) protector and a helmet. The two have saved me more than one time from back/head injuries!
Important is the right fit of the protector.
Length: from the neck (higher than shoulder the line) to the tailbone.
The protector should stay firm in place if you bend forward.
Which one is the right for you is a personal choice ...
I have one from Komperdell (2007 model): Airshock girls vest
https://www.komperdell.com/de/protectors/airshock_girls/6014_01.php
and the other from Dainese which I also use for riding my motobike.
https://www.dainese.com/deu/articolo.asp?cat=4&nome=NEXTWAVE&articolo=4879590
I also thinking about buying the Komperdell Airshock protector shorts ....
My opinion about protectors: If you wear one it protects you from back inury ... not 100% but as best as it can!
Hope this helps.
Sierra
Certified Ski Diva
wow. The komperdell looks cool! I will look to see if it is available here.
I see you are from Switzerland... Curiously one of the few articles I found said that the protectors are far more popular in Europe than here, particularly for children.
I am an intermediate skier, so definitely not into races or extreme terrain, but skiing in Killington on weekends can be a contact sport
and I have a condition that could make an impact on the back particularly tricky.
So I am just curious about who uses them and why.
I see you are from Switzerland... Curiously one of the few articles I found said that the protectors are far more popular in Europe than here, particularly for children.
I am an intermediate skier, so definitely not into races or extreme terrain, but skiing in Killington on weekends can be a contact sport
and I have a condition that could make an impact on the back particularly tricky. So I am just curious about who uses them and why.
SkiNurse
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I don't personally wear "body armour". But, I know of several people that do. These are friends that don't race, but that have a tendency to "huck" off of anything! 
The guy that did my boot fitting swears his armour saved him from being hurt more in an amateur extreme competition, he jumped off of a cliff, clipped a ski on a ledge and feel ~ 30 feet. Broke his femur, but everything else "ok".
Like a helmet, it gives you added protection from serious injury...not 100% fail safe, but does protect..a lot more than having no protection. And, if you've ever had a back injury, it would do you good to have added protection.
They don't find that it hinders their movement or performance. States that is relatively comfortable (once you get used to it) and warm.
The guy that did my boot fitting swears his armour saved him from being hurt more in an amateur extreme competition, he jumped off of a cliff, clipped a ski on a ledge and feel ~ 30 feet. Broke his femur, but everything else "ok".Like a helmet, it gives you added protection from serious injury...not 100% fail safe, but does protect..a lot more than having no protection. And, if you've ever had a back injury, it would do you good to have added protection.
They don't find that it hinders their movement or performance. States that is relatively comfortable (once you get used to it) and warm.
missyd
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I wear my helmet because I had once a slight concussion from a nasty fall on snowboard ....
I wear my back protector because many spinal and spinal cord injuries lead to paralysis.
Here in Switzerland we have sometimes too many skiiers on the slopes and some do not care at all and carve/race downhill like mad ... so a collision with say 20-40mph is fatal ....
I would say 85-90% of skiers in switzerland wear helmets. I dont know the numbers for back protectors ....
I am member of the swiss helikopter rescue society (for fastest helicopter rescue) and of the swiss paraplegic society (for best care if the worst happens)....
I wear my back protector because many spinal and spinal cord injuries lead to paralysis.
Here in Switzerland we have sometimes too many skiiers on the slopes and some do not care at all and carve/race downhill like mad ... so a collision with say 20-40mph is fatal ....
I would say 85-90% of skiers in switzerland wear helmets. I dont know the numbers for back protectors ....
I am member of the swiss helikopter rescue society (for fastest helicopter rescue) and of the swiss paraplegic society (for best care if the worst happens)....
Sierra
Certified Ski Diva
I jinxed myself
by posting this question.
I was taken out by a snowboarder on Saturday. He crashed against my back and I ended up landing with my kidneys on the edge of his snowboard OUCH! The little punk got up and disappeared w/o a word.
I think I am ok, just sore, but docs are checking me again tomorrow.
So I am leaning towards the full body armor and a rear view mirror. That, or skipping Saturday skiing.
by posting this question.
I was taken out by a snowboarder on Saturday. He crashed against my back and I ended up landing with my kidneys on the edge of his snowboard OUCH! The little punk got up and disappeared w/o a word.
I think I am ok, just sore, but docs are checking me again tomorrow.
So I am leaning towards the full body armor and a rear view mirror. That, or skipping Saturday skiing.
shnu
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I also wear helmet and a backprotector when I ski.Like my helmet it's just a normal thing for me to put on and I don't feel restriceted in my freedom of movement. As said before it's important that the protector fits! As there are some brands I think that there is one that will suit, eg from Dainese, Sweet Protection (they really have great outerwer stuff too), Komperdell, Scott, Pro Tec or RED.
Once I saw a snobarder who wasn't able to stop "the normal way". He crashed a skier and of course she fell and suddenly felt the edges of his snowboard in her back. Of course she would have had some pain if she wore a protector, but maybe not that much. As I spend much time in the park I can say, that in Austria really many kids wear helmet and backprotection, even crash pants.
Once I saw a snobarder who wasn't able to stop "the normal way". He crashed a skier and of course she fell and suddenly felt the edges of his snowboard in her back. Of course she would have had some pain if she wore a protector, but maybe not that much. As I spend much time in the park I can say, that in Austria really many kids wear helmet and backprotection, even crash pants.
I was reading another thread on the same subject earlier today (https://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=36681) and am surprised how many people do wear them) as im about to buy a back protector.
And I always wear a helmet learned to ski in Finland (and have previously had a head injury, wouldnt dream of riding horse, motorcycle or bicycle without one either) and children i think its under 7 go free if they wear a helmet in Finland. So its just kind a accepted that everyone does.
Need to get a new helmet with guard for gates (54cm) anyone recommend one?
And I always wear a helmet learned to ski in Finland (and have previously had a head injury, wouldnt dream of riding horse, motorcycle or bicycle without one either) and children i think its under 7 go free if they wear a helmet in Finland. So its just kind a accepted that everyone does.
Need to get a new helmet with guard for gates (54cm) anyone recommend one?
MaineSkiLady
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I think my son has every type of body protector on the market (used to be sponsored by 661 in his pro-comp days). I hope he still wears the kidney protection. Impact shorts, for sure, just part of his wardrobe. Also a mouth guard!
His second knee injury was incurred in a restricted (pass required) terrain park where an intermediate skier (without park pass) had wandered and traversed right into a jump/booter landing.
It is not always the snowboarders (of which he is one) causing these problems.
Sierra, I hope you are okay!
His second knee injury was incurred in a restricted (pass required) terrain park where an intermediate skier (without park pass) had wandered and traversed right into a jump/booter landing.
It is not always the snowboarders (of which he is one) causing these problems.
Sierra, I hope you are okay!
