Rules of the snow
Mind your manners when you take your board to the slopes
BY SHEILA ASCROFT
IT’S HarD noT To want to free-ride down the Besides the lack of skill and/or snowboarding all safety pa-
hill reveling in the speed and carving through too fast for your ability, you can really do trols and ski orga-
the snow, but snowboarding has rules like yourself in if you’re not wearing proper nizations abide by a
everything else in life. rules make the sport wrist, head and even butt protection. other mountain Code of
safe and fun for everyone, so listen up. reasons to end up hurt include lack of fitness, Conduct or
If you’re a newbie, take a few lessons before especially muscle fatigue, because you need alpine responsi-
you hit the hill – literally! you’ll fall less if you to be reasonably fit to handle moguls or bility Code. rules
have some technique, and reduce your risk small bumps. Then there’s fear and anxiety include:
of injury. no classes nearby? Check out the (tense muscles perform poorly), bad snow » Stay in control of your
www.Snowhawks.com school. conditions (meaning hard or icy underfoot, board and body so you can
not to be negative, but there are reasons or poor visibility around), and boarding with stop or avoid other people and objects.
why snowboarders are injured every year. a hangover. » People ahead of you have the right-of-way.
People part way down hill can’t see behind
So, what to do? them. The view is clearer from above, and you
» Snowboard with a pal or two. It’s more fun with friends and safer if you run into trouble. must avoid them.
» Wear protective gear. Yep, that means the dorky helmet too. Make sure you find one with side » Don’t stop where you block the path or cannot
vents so you can hear what’s going on. This also means leave the iPod at home. be seen from above – move to the side.
» Wearing a leash. This non-releasing strap wraps around your leading leg to keep your snowboard » Before starting downhill or merging with a
from accidentally getting away and clobbering someone else on the hill. different route, yield to those coming down.
» Wear brightly coloured clothing so people on the hill can see you – and watch out for others as » If there’s an accident remain at the scene and
you go down. identify yourself to the Ski/Board Patrol. If you
» Stay in the areas set up for snowboarding – being lost or injured in the woods where no one can have first-aid skills, help the injured.
see you is no joke. » Use a leash to prevent runaway boards.
» If you do go into a new or unregulated area, check the hill before you go down to ensure it’s free » Stay inside if you’ve been drinking or
from trees, rock and other obstacles. Be sure the bottom of the hill isn’t near a road or water in taking drugs.
case you can’t stop in time. » Obey all signs and keep off closed areas – they
» It is common sense, but I’ll say it anyway – check weather forecasts and heed any warnings! are closed for a reason!
High wind and extremely low temperatures can mean frostbite nipping at your nose or cheeks or…
» Be aware of changing snow conditions. Consider carrying a cellphone in case of emergency. Keep
trails are rated according to the following KLEH
it inside your coat so the battery stays warm and charged.
scale:
Y
» Take a break if you are tired or cold – snowboarding is supposed to be fun.
● easy insert ■ Difficult insert
♦
B
Y
CIND
Very difficult ♦♦ extremely difficult
T
O
P
HO
KUMUKA WORLDWIDE TRAVEL TIPS
PREPARING FOR YOUR TRAVEL
• Hang a calendar and mark the days off
aS THe ColD weather rolls in you’re • everyone has travel in common. until you are on your adventure.
probably looking at booking your winter
• There is a high chance you will meet people • If you have a list of things to buy, buy one
escape to a country with warmer climate.
you will be in contact with, if not good friends item a week to prolong the enjoyment.
we’ve compiled some tips and insights into
with (maybe even married to!), for the rest of • Put a map on the wall with your journey
booking your next adventure with an
your life. Spend time getting to know your marked on it and stare at it every time you
organized adventure travel company. Here’s
travel companions. pass.
• The chances are you won’t love everyone but that’s • enjoy turning down invitations to social
what the friendly Kumuka worldwide staff
the beauty of group travel - you have a variety of events and using the excuse, “sorry cant
have to say:
people with whom you can spend time with. make it, I’ll be in …eg India, antarctica,
TRAVELLING WITH A TOUR GROUP • everyone on tour is embarking on a highlight Bolivia, Croatia, Belize, Tibet…”
one of the biggest questions in people’s of his or her life. no matter what the experi-
~ Kumuka Worldwide, whose name originates
minds before they head off on a group ence, they will remember this journey and
from Africa, and translates in to ‘the start of a
journey is “what will it be like travelling with quite possibly you for the rest of their lives.
journey’, has taken travellers to many parts of the
a group of strangers?” Here’s some useful • after only one day on tour you will already
globe, offering an extraordinary range of trips. You
advice and insight as to why it’ll be a great have a multitude of common experiences;
can find out more at
www.kumuka.com.
experience: friendships will form quickly.
32 OTTAWA >> WINTER 2008/2009
www.OttawaOutdoors.ca
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