Preventing Wrist, Shoulder and Head Injuries in Snowboarding
The pattern of injuries in snowboarding is different from skiing: in skiing the knee comes first, in snowboarding the wrist. In an 18-season study in the US state of Vermont, wrist injuries made up 27.6% of all snowboarding injuries but only 2.8% of skiing injuries; shoulder and collarbone injuries and concussions were also more common among snowboarders. The good news is that the most common injury is also the easiest one to prevent: according to a systematic review pooling 6 studies, wrist guards cut the risk of wrist injury to roughly a quarter. Among helmet wearers, the likelihood of a head injury is about 35% lower. Because beginners are injured more often, wearing protection in the first days and learning how to fall properly matters.
Wrist injuries make up 27.6% of all injuries in snowboarding and 2.8% in skiing
Vermont, 18 seasons (American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2012)
Shoulder, ankle, concussion and collarbone injuries are more common among snowboarders
Same study
Among upper-limb injuries, the wrist accounts for 36% in snowboarding and the shoulder for 37% in skiing
Meta-analysis pooling more than 750,000 injuries (Shoulder & Elbow, 2026)
37.5% of injured snowboarders were beginners
A ski resort in China (BMJ Open, 2020)
In skiing, the knee is the most commonly injured body part; for details, see our guide Knee Injuries in Skiing. In snowboarding, both feet are fixed to the board and, as you fall, your hands reach forward by reflex; that is why the wrist takes the first impact.
Wrist guards: the measure with the strongest evidence
In snowboard safety, the strongest evidence is for wrist guards:
Randomised trial: In a randomised trial with 5,029 snowboarders, there were 8 wrist injuries in the group wearing wrist guards and 29 in the group without them (American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2001). In the same study, beginners in their first 5 days and those using rental equipment were more prone to injury.
Systematic review: According to a review pooling 6 studies, the risk of wrist injury among wrist guard users fell to roughly a quarter (relative risk 0.23) and the risk of wrist fracture to roughly a third (0.29) (Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, 2007).
Always wear wrist guards in your first days; there are models worn under the glove and models built into the glove.
Shoulder and collarbone
Shoulder and collarbone injuries can happen when you reach out to the ground with a straight arm as you fall, or when you land directly on your shoulder. Fast, uncontrolled falls, especially slamming suddenly into the ground after catching an edge, are the most common cause. Catching an edge usually happens when the board is running flat and the downhill edge catches in the snow; keeping your weight on the correct edge and controlling your speed reduces the risk.
The head: helmets and catching an edge
Concussions are more common among snowboarders than among skiers, which is why it is important not to hit the back of your head on the ground when you fall backwards. According to a meta-analysis of 12 studies, helmet wearers are about 35% less likely to suffer a head injury. For choosing a helmet, see our guide Choosing a Ski Helmet: Fit, Certification and Protection; wearing a helmet is compulsory in Erciyes.
Falling properly
Don't put your hand down: The reflex is hard to break, but it can be learnt; make a fist and keep your arms close to your chest.
Fall onto your forearms and knees (toeside): When you fall forwards, try to land on your forearms and knees.
Sit down and roll onto your back (heelside): When you fall backwards, sit down on your bottom, round your back and tuck your chin to your chest, so the back of your head does not hit the ground.
Your instructor teaches you the correct falling technique in the first lesson.
6 rules for beginners
Wear wrist guards and a helmet.
Spend your first day with an instructor, in a gently sloping beginner area.
Keep your weight on the correct edge to avoid catching an edge; take care when the board is running flat.
Stay on slopes where you can control your speed.
Stop when you get tired; injuries increase at the end of the day.
Make sure your rental equipment suits you (correct boot size, suitable board).
An activity holiday with protection included
On an activity holiday, protective equipment and lessons are planned from the start: on Doğadayız Erciyes basic course packages, a helmet, goggles, wrist guards, hip protectors, knee pads and elbow pads are included alongside the snowboard set, and instructors affiliated with the Turkish Ski Federation (TKF) teach you how to fall properly on day one. Learning with people at the same level turns the programme into a social adventure holiday; to get started with snowboarding, see our guide How Do You Start Learning to Snowboard?.
Doğadayız Packages
Doğadayız packages for your level
Winter activity holidays with accommodation, ski pass and equipment included, shared with a group.
The easiest way to learn to ski: a winter activity holiday
An activity holiday puts a sport at the heart of your trip: transport, accommodation and meals are planned, so you can focus on learning on the slopes. On Doğadayız winter activity holidays, accommodation, ski pass and ski or snowboard equipment are included in every package; course packages include basic lessons with instructors affiliated with the Turkish Ski Federation, while experience packages let you practise on the slopes at your own level.
What makes the programme different is the group: sharing the slopes with people at a similar level, dinners and nights out together, and a group leader by your side at all times. Solo travellers become part of this social adventure holiday from day one. That is why we describe our programmes as a social adventure holiday.
Wrist injuries. In an 18-season study in Vermont, wrist injuries made up 27.6% of all snowboarding injuries but only 2.8% of skiing injuries. Because your hands reach forward by reflex as you fall, the wrist takes the first impact.
Do wrist guards really work?
Yes, they are the snowboard safety measure with the strongest evidence. According to a systematic review pooling 6 studies, wrist guards cut the risk of wrist injury to roughly a quarter; a randomised trial with 5,029 snowboarders produced a similar result.
How do you fall properly on a snowboard?
Without putting your hand down: when you fall forwards, land on your forearms and knees; when you fall backwards, sit down on your bottom, round your back and tuck your chin to your chest. The correct falling technique is taught in the first lesson.
Is snowboarding more dangerous than skiing?
The types of injury are different: in skiing knee injuries come first, in snowboarding wrist, shoulder and head injuries. A significant share of injured snowboarders are beginners; starting with wrist guards, a helmet and an instructor reduces the risk considerably.
The knee is the most commonly injured body part in skiing: according to a clinical review of skiing injuries, 27–41% of all injuries affect the knee. The most common knee injuries are sprains of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and the medial collateral ligament (MCL); in an 18-season study in the US state of Vermont, the ACL was the single most common injury among skiers (17.2%). There are two typical mechanisms: phantom foot (falling backwards off balance so that your weight goes onto the tail of the downhill ski) and boot-induced injury (landing a jump with a straight leg). For prevention, the right binding setting, stopping when you are tired, not sitting back and not fighting a fall all matter; an awareness training programme given to ski staff reduced serious knee sprains by 62%.
You start snowboarding by finding your stance (regular or goofy), with a beginner lesson with an instructor and with rental equipment. On day one you learn to push with one foot and to side-slip on your heel edge (heelside) and your toe edge (toeside); then you change direction with the falling leaf, and usually on day 2–3 you make your first linked turns.
When choosing a ski helmet, check three things: certification, fit and goggle compatibility. In Europe the standard for ski and snowboard helmets is EN 1077 (class A covers the ears and has a stricter penetration test; class B offers more ventilation and better hearing); in the USA it is ASTM F2040. The helmet should fit snugly but without hurting, stay put when you shake your head, and leave room for two fingers under the chin strap. According to a meta-analysis of 12 studies, helmet wearers are about 35% less likely to suffer a head injury, and neck injuries do not increase. After a serious impact, a helmet should be replaced even if there is no visible damage.
