Red Bull-sponsored athlete and top Chinese snowboarder He Wei in competition.
Former F1 world champion Michael Schumacher recently had an accident while skiing near the French Alps, hitting his head on a rock and was subsequently hospitalized for treatment, currently still in a coma. The racing legend’s injury has touched the hearts of fans worldwide, and also serves as a wake-up call for skiing enthusiasts. In response, reporters contacted renowned Chinese snowboarder He Wei, who explained in detail from both a professional perspective and personal experience how skiers can protect themselves while on the slopes. He emphasized that the most crucial aspect of skiing is to “know your limits.”
Nicknamed “Xiao Hu,” He Wei is one of China’s top snowboarders in the slopestyle (obstacle slope tricks) discipline. At the 2013 “Air & Style Beijing” event held last month, he became the first Chinese rider to compete in the competition, successfully landing a high-difficulty trick — a double cork 900 — although he ultimately did not advance past the round of 16. Nevertheless, he became the first Chinese rider to complete this move in an official competition. He is also the only Chinese snowboarder sponsored by Red Bull in China. Currently, Xiao Hu is training intensively at the Nanshan Ski Resort in Miyun, Beijing, in preparation for the qualification rounds of the 12th Red Bull Nanshan Open, which will be held there on January 4.
As a professional snowboarder, Xiao Hu has also suffered from injuries. In 2011, he was seriously injured during training in New Zealand and had to rest for nearly a year. “I saw the news about Schumacher — he was skiing on alpine skis,” said Xiao Hu. Actually, when it comes to getting started, alpine skiing is much easier than snowboarding. Once you put on alpine skis, standing up isn’t a problem, and with a bit of practice, you can start moving. Snowboarding is different — for beginners, just standing and sliding on the board is a big challenge. “But once you get the hang of it, progress is faster and it’s more fun.” As for safety, “it’s pretty similar between snowboarding and alpine skiing, though some specific movements differ. The most important thing is to know your limits.”
I. Gear — A helmet could save your life
1. Your helmet is your ski seatbelt According to foreign media reports, the University Hospital of Grenoble in France, which is treating Schumacher, held a press conference on December 30 local time to provide an update on his condition. Dr. Emmanuel Gay, one of the surgeons involved in his treatment, said that at the time of the accident, Schumacher’s head hit a rock at high speed and with great force, and if he hadn’t been wearing a helmet, he definitely would not have survived. On this, Xiao Hu said that a helmet is absolutely the most important piece of gear. Maybe you don’t feel like you need it normally, but it might save your life when it counts. Even if you think you’re skilled, you might not hit someone, but someone might hit you. “There are too many rookie ‘torpedoes’ on the slopes. It’s like wearing a seatbelt when driving — never gamble with your life!” Another example highlighting the importance of helmets is the famous “Althaus accident” in Schumacher’s home country of Germany — on January 1, 2009, former Thuringian governor Dieter Althaus collided with a female skier while skiing in Austria. The helmet Althaus was wearing saved his life, while the woman, who wasn’t wearing one, tragically lost hers. According to data from the German Ski Association, before the “Althaus accident,” only about a quarter of German skiers wore helmets. Now, although it’s still not mandatory in Germany, about 80% of skiers voluntarily wear helmets on the slopes. German Ski Association safety expert Andreas König said this change is largely thanks to the “Althaus effect.”
2. Wear a butt pad — your backside will thank you There’s a lot of ski gear, and most beginners focus on jackets and boards. But Xiao Hu reminds everyone that while boards, jackets, gloves, and hats can be gradually acquired (after all, most ski resorts offer rentals), it’s best to prepare a butt pad, wrist guards, and knee pads in advance. Beginners are bound to fall a lot, and the snow at domestic resorts isn’t the soft powder kind. “If you don’t wear protective gear as a beginner, your butt is going to pay the price,” Xiao Hu said with a laugh.
3. Ski goggles are essential — and try not to wear contact lenses Due to the strong reflection of sunlight on snow and the harsh cold wind hitting your eyes while skiing, goggles are necessary to protect your eyes. Xiao Hu said that skiing without eye protection can easily lead to snow blindness, which in severe cases may cause permanent damage. If you don’t have goggles, sunglasses can be used as a substitute, but those wearing glasses should choose goggles with thicker frames to fully cover their prescription glasses. People with poor vision should avoid wearing contact lenses while skiing — if they fall and lose their lenses, the chance of finding them again is almost zero. Also, those worried about cold cheeks should consider wearing a face mask.
II. Terrain — Know your limits
Don’t stray off the marked trails Schumacher’s accident was largely due to terrain issues. According to Sylvain Simonin, the manager of the Méribel ski resort where the accident occurred: “Schumacher chose an area outside the marked ski runs. Given the current weather conditions, those areas carry significant risks due to many hidden obstacles.” On this, Xiao Hu reminds skiing enthusiasts to plan their routes carefully while on the slopes and not to overestimate their abilities. Often, amateur skiers lose control of their direction and may collide with others, leading to danger. Additionally, it’s better to ski earlier in the day because domestic ski resorts tend to get crowded, and the snow on the runs isn’t deep powder — by the afternoon, many areas may become icy, which is very dangerous. Pre-ski preparations are also essential, including warming up joints, and doing exercises like squats, jogging, or jumping in place. Overweight individuals and those who don’t exercise regularly should especially prepare beforehand. The most important thing when learning to ski is to progress step by step, and it’s best to learn with an instructor if possible. When the slopes are crowded, it’s essential to control your speed, and skiers higher up the run should actively yield to those below. Don’t stop in the middle of the run — if you need to rest, move to the sides of the run as soon as possible, where people above can see you and have enough space to avoid you.
III. Movement — Fall proactively
If we fall while skiing, posture matters. It’s best to “fall proactively,” which helps prevent secondary injuries, reduce momentum, and gives you a buffer. Beginners usually injure their knees, wrists, or lower back. For instance, many beginners like to sit down hard when falling, or panic and lean backward, which can injure the coccyx. Supporting yourself with one hand can easily injure the wrist. So when falling, never put all your weight on one hand. For snowboarders, quickly let go of your poles, cross your arms over your chest, tuck into a ball, and fall naturally. Also, don’t try to get up forcefully after a fall. First, figure out where it hurts. If no joints are dislocated, gently move them and try standing up with help. If you feel pain in the hip joint, or in the thoracic or lumbar spine, do not try to sit or stand up, as it may cause more serious displacement or injury. You should also assess the severity of the injury — if there’s bleeding, don’t rub the snow on it, bandage it instead. If you suspect a fracture, immobilize it immediately with a splint.