Why AOA highly recommends Cut-Proof Gear
Introduction – The safety of our young athletes is always our top priority, and as the sport continues to evolve, so too must our approach to protecting them. In the article below, Kevin Gosselin—a seasoned ski racer, coach, and parent—shares valuable insights about cut-proof gear, a relatively new but critical piece of safety equipment now available for our young skiers.
We encourage you to read his message, consider the recommendations, and join us in our commitment to creating the safest environment possible on the slopes. Here’s to a safe and successful season for everyone. – Pat Biggs, AOA Executive Director
Alpine Ski Parents,
I’m sorry to write this, but as the saying goes: “ignorance is bliss”. As a former ski racer, parent, and coach, I believe you need to know about this. Last winter, I started seeing these little pouches on many coaches’ belts around the escarpment with a big NZ logo on them. I asked and was told what they were: a tourniquet kit – I thought to myself, “This is crazy”. We all know that skiing can be dangerous, and the skis we ski on are extremely sharp. Every so often, a freak accident happens, usually in a fall or when a ski comes off prematurely and it comes in contact with the skier’s body. It can do damage – just Google it if you need more evidence.
It happened to me when I was still racing years ago, and I had to be evacuated off the glacier in Whistler and was taken straight to surgery at UBC Hospital in Vancouver. I missed 10 weeks recovering from my only knee injury because the ski cut my medial collateral ligament (MCL). I had a lot of numbness after the surgery, and it took well over a year to fully recover, but the scar is still there.
I’ve been around the sport long enough to give you a list of people I know who went through this; just ask anyone, and they’ll tell you. There was no protection for me at the time, but now there is. Parents, you can prevent this. There are cut-proof underwear you can put your kids into. Hockey players are using them, and they are available for skiers as well. They still may get the bruises from the fall, but their chance of any laceration and the need for a tourniquet is reduced to almost zero. Yes, these cut-proof long underwear are expensive – anywhere from $300-500 – about the cost of a good helmet!
Yes, again, this sport is expensive, and yep, it can be dangerous. There is protection out there that can keep your child safe from cuts; I suggest you seriously consider it. About 4 years ago, my two girls asked if they could get a pair from the USA. At the time, it was the only place to get them, and they were about $400 USD each. It was a lot for me to pay, on top of everything else, but “in for a penny…” I bought them, and now my older daughter Michaela gets them every year as part of her team kit (she is with the Canadian Para-Alpine Team).
Many higher-end FIS racers are using them, and many teams include them with their uniforms, but what about the younger athletes? At what age should you get them? I cannot answer that question; I just want you to be aware of the issue. Safety has come a long way in our sport. I applaud Bebe Zorcic and the NZ Foundation for what they have done to make our sport safer. Nik was a great guy, and we all miss him, none more than his parents and sister.
Let’s not give any coach or Ski Patrol a reason to need to use one of those tourniquet kits when there is protection out there to prevent it. I hope someday that FIS or ACA will make these mandatory, but in the meantime, they are highly recommended. So now you know. I truly wish you all a successful and safe ski season. – Kevin Gosselin
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