Outside Snapshots

By The Standard Staff - 11/29/2007

Avoid the pain

of a sprain while snowboarding

An ankle sprain can abruptly end your day on the slopes. And, unfortunately, snowboarders have a much a much higher risk of ankle sprains than conventional skiiers, mainly due to the type of boots used for snowboarding.

Snowboarding boots allow a moderate range of motion for the ankle, but don’t provide the same level of protective stiff support as normal ski boots.

The type of snowboarding boots a person selects can have a direct bearing on the chances of suffering an ankle sprain.

Soft-shell boots offer the most ankle flexibility during snowboarding, but also possess the highest risk factor for a sprain. A hard-shell boot may offer more

stability and protection against a sprain, but may not provide the best range of ankle motion. A third type, hybrid boots, features qualities soft and hard shell boots, with increased stability and range of motion.

In addition to boot selection, a few other preventive measures can reduce the risk of an ankle sprain while snowboar you experience pain in the foot or ankle.

Source: Medical College of Wisconsin; American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; Institute of Sports Medicine and Athletic Trauma

Don’t forget

shovel when

heading into

the mountains

A shovel may not be on the top of your packing list for a backcountry trip. But perhaps it should be — particularly during the winter months.

More than just a tool to help carve out a campsite in the snow, a snow shovel can perform a wide range of important tasks.

Here are just some of the other ways to use it: