Injuries Snowboarding continues to enjoy a phenomenal rise in popularity and for the last few years has undoubtedly been the fastest growing winter sport.
American estimates suggest a four-fold increase in boarder numbers in as many years.
This has raised fears of an increase in injuries on ski slopes, as skiers and boarders vie for space - especially in Scotland where pistes are relatively small. Initially concerns were raised and related to the perceived image of boarding by many skiers as a dangerous and reckless sport, pursued only by the young and foolish. Globally, many ski areas reacted by banning snowboarding from their slopes and some, mainly American resorts, still do. In Scotland, no such bans have been introduced. A more productive reaction has been the development of specific snowboard parks, created to allow boarders the freedom to practice their manouevres without coming into direct conflict with skiers.