As the ski season gets into full swing, skiers are being urged to "know their limits" when they hit the slopes over the next few months.
The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) spent $206 million between 2016 and 2022 helping 94,000 people recover from skiing and snowboarding injuries.
The vast majority of those claims were recorded in the Otago region (44,276), followed by Canterbury (15,320) and Manawatū-Whanganui (13,819).
The ACC and the Ski Area Association of New Zealand (SAANZ) are teaming up to tackle preventable snowsports injuries.
ACC injury prevention partner Nat Hardaker said injuries on the slopes peaked about noon, and overall, most injuries occurred in the afternoon.
"This tells us that after a big morning getting to the mountain and enjoying those first runs, people are tired and need to take a break to prevent injuries.
"Listen to your body — if you’re starting to feel aches or niggles, have a rest."
Many injuries happened because people underestimated the risk or overestimated their ability, she said.
Research showed 90% of all injuries were predictable, and therefore preventable, and that included snow sports injuries.
"It’s one of the reasons ACC has teamed up with SAANZ to ensure Kiwis and other skifield users continue to have fun on the slopes and stay injury-free so they can come back for more."
The campaign is also being supported by two of New Zealand’s leading snow sports athletes — Olympians Nico Porteous and Cool Wakushima — who will be joining skifield staff to share injury prevention tips, for everyone from novices to professionals.
Their tips will be shared through videos, social media posts and elsewhere online.
SAANZ manager Toby Arnott said it was great to have Porteous and Wakushima involved in the campaign.
"Given they’re both among the best in the world, we believe people will be very keen to learn from their experience."
The campaign’s advice focused on basic safety tips such as warming up properly, being prepared for any conditions, sticking to runs that suit people’s ability, making space for others and finding your own space.
