Worried about back Snowboarding?

booooonzo

Hey,

First time snowboarding and cant wait, headin in 3 weeks.
My g/f hurt her back a few years ago in a car accident and im just reading about all the falling that takes place in the first few days/weeks. her back is still sore some days and im wondering is it advisable to do snowboarding at all?

i see you can get impact pants and spine protectors and the like. what would be the best bet (it her lower back that can be sore)

also for wrists would wrist wraps be as good? as in the wraps for martial arts??


cheers.

booooonzo

also can you rent protection gear?

Gandalf23

Some sort of lower back and wrist protection is essential... especially for beginners... an absolute must!

I use Dainese impact shorts and wrist protection. I've seen Dainese full back protection and helmets but dont use them. I got mine in Great Outdoors, but you might be able to get on eBay or in resort a bit cheaper. I've never seen this sort of gear for hire.

Look here and here for more info.

Static M.e.

Check with her doctor first,

You fall alot in the first few days but its not serious falls, its more falling back wards or forwards from a semi stationary position. Towards the end of the week though she could have some more serious falls once her builds up her confidence.

I normally don't advocate this, but Skiing might suit her better, you fall less and the better she gets the less she will fall. While the more I snowboard the more I fall ... well .. I have alot more serious falls.

edmund_f

i (unfortunately) would agree with the skiing option too, although most of the snowboarding injuries are wrist / knee and coxyx. Maybe a well padded beginner boarder would do better than unpadded beginner skier? (have no idea as have never headed over to the dark side )

Kaisr Sose

Gloves with wrist protectors are essential for boarding. I also use a Helmet and on my last trip I Purchased a full back protector. I use these for skiing too.
I fractured my spine in 2 places skiing a few years ago and wont take anymore chances. I got the medical ok for skiing/boarding but every case is different. Best to be sure and ask the specialist andif its OK go with the protection-especially snowboarding. Helemts can be rented in some places but not other stuff-probably a legal or H/Saf thing.

MadDogGreener

Great outdoors have these deuter back packs on sale for €75 at the moment.

They have a built in back protector. Useful if you wanted a new backpack too.

There were only two left when I was in there though. And quite heavy. They also see regular back protectors too I think.

Having said that I've only found my knees and ass have suffered on previous trips. Although this year I've bought a helmet. Not sure I'll have to use it as only bought for the hard/packed/icy days and theres lots of snow forecast in our resort next week :-)

cson

I'd say an arse protector is more essential than anything else. You spend a lot of time on your arse. I landed hard on my tailbone on the first day and ouchie, I thought I was paralysed such was the pain. (The ironing isn't lost on me there either )

Static M.e.

Your right about the impact shorts, I shattered the Coccyx plastic protection that I had for my last shorts. It was sore at the time but if I wasn't wearing shorts at the time, I would have broken it for sure.

Got myself the Dainese impact shorts this year