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The strategy and marketing of ski resorts in the European Alps are still characterized by growth orientation and the extension of technical snow production to ensure high snow reliability. In contrast, this study hypothesizes that besides a high‐performing ski resort, winter ski vacationists have further expectations for activities during their stay varying by their skiing skill level and personal preferences. The present study surveys 1413 Alpine ski tourists to identify their daily routines, activities, and used ski resort services. The findings uncover significant differences in the activity profiles with six clearly distinguishable guest segments. The results highlight the need for custom‐tailored product development considering the complete set of winter experiences as well as pricing strategies that specifically target the identified segments. Furthermore, the findings underline that ski resort and destination managers need to include daily changes in snow and weather conditions in their strategies considering climate and demographic change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates empirically how natural snow depth affects the number of downhill skiers. Data include the number of skier visits for the 32 largest ski resorts in Sweden from the 1998/1999 to the 2018/2019 seasons. Results of spatial dynamic estimations show that an increase in natural snow depth in the ski area has a significant negative impact on the number of skier visits in the short term, although the magnitude is small. This implies that a snow deficit leads to increased demand for downhill skiing both directly and indirectly (in the neighbouring areas). The variable snow depth in the neighbouring ski areas is not significantly different from zero, indicating that no spatial substitution takes place. There is, however, a strong positive relationship between skier visits to neighbouring areas, revealing that ski resorts are complements rather than substitutes. The long-term influence of snow depth is not significant, implying that the ski business is independent of variations in snow depth. Instead, the number of skier visits is mainly determined by past visits, revealing a high degree of persistence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Snow skiers are directly exposed to a variety of extreme environmental conditions, which may lead to numerous physiological and pathological changes in the skin, and potentially increased chances of various specific and non-specific skin diseases. Although there are studies on skin diseases caused by exposure to cold and high altitudes, yet those on snow skiers are scarce as the study population is small. Objective: This study was undertaken to observe various dermatoses existing exclusively in snow skiers. Methods: It was a descriptive, cross-sectional, community-based study conducted at the world-famous ski resort Gulmarg Kashmir in North India. The initial questionnaire-based assessment and the subsequent examination of those exhibiting skin involvement were undertaken by visiting places of accommodation for snow skiers as well as on-spot visits to skiing slopes. Result: The most common dermatological manifestations in our study were dryness (xerosis) and its related aftereffects such as pruritus and chapping of the lips, followed by UV-related skin damage such as whole-face tanning, various types of infections and infestations, and endogenous eczema, including seborrheic and xerotic eczema. Direct cold-related injuries such as perniosis and various forms of urticaria were also common presentations. Conclusion: Snow skiers are especially susceptible to a variety of dermatoses because of exposure to cold conditions and direct contact with the snow. Proper protective measures against cold and snow and awareness about preventive strategies may decrease the chances of snow skiers developing various dermatoses, thereby reducing morbidity and work and economic loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starting from the skill characteristics of ski tourism, this paper discusses the impact of consumer skill on travel decisions, and the moderating effect of the ski resort's comprehensive leisure environment (including the ski resort sports environment and the regional cultural tourism environment), in order to both understand their impacts on the travel distance characteristics of skiers and attempt to provide necessary research support for the development of China's ski industry and the construction of destinations. Based on the data from multi-period visitor surveys, this paper constructs the consumption skill-travel radius decision-making influence model under the moderating effect of the ski resort comprehensive leisure environment. The results show three main characteristics. (1) The travel radius obviously differs among skiers with different skill levels. The skill level of skiers has a significant positive effect on the larger travel radius, and a significant negative effect on the smaller travel radius. That is, skiers with a higher skill level are more inclined to undertake long-distance skiing travel, while skiers with a lower skill level are more inclined to undertake short-distance skiing travel. (2) The comprehensive leisure environment has a significant moderating effect on the skiers' travel radius, with a significant positive impact on enlarging the travel radius, while the influences on high-skill and low-skill skiers are significantly higher than on middle-skill skiers. (3) In the comprehensive leisure environment, there are differences in the moderating effect of the ski resort sports environment and the regional cultural tourism environment on the skiers travel radius, and the positive moderating effect of the ski resort sports environment on the high-skill skiers' travel radius is more obvious. While the regional cultural tourism environment has a more obvious positive moderating effect on the travel radius of non-skiers and junior skiers, it is more conducive to promoting domestic travel. In general, the skier skill level in China was generally lower, and the ski resort comprehensive leisure environment optimization is conducive to overcoming the limitation of the travel radius caused by the disadvantageous skill level of consumers. However, to promote the development of China's ski industry in the long run, it is necessary to focus on improving the consumer's ski skill level, but prevent the risk of losing high-skill consumers overseas. In the course of improving the level of domestic ski sports facilities, we should also focus on the domestic leisure cultural tourism environment to better enhance the attractiveness of domestic ski destinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Skiing and snowboarding are popular sports that are associated with a high number of orthopaedic injuries. Diaphyseal forearm fractures are an important subset of these injuries. To our knowledge, factors associated with these injuries, the mechanisms that cause them, and their relative frequencies in skiers and snowboarders have not been described. In addition, it has been proposed that the use of wrist guards may increase the risk of sustaining a diaphyseal forearm fracture; therefore, we sought to explore the relationship between wrist guard use and diaphyseal forearm fractures.Questions/purposes: (1) What are the relative frequencies and types of diaphyseal forearm fractures in skiers and snowboarders? (2) What factors are associated with these injuries? (3) Is the use of wrist guards associated with an increased risk of forearm fractures?Methods: This was an unmatched case-control study performed with an injury database from a university-run clinic at the base lodge of a major ski resort. Cases were injured skiers and snowboarders; controls were randomly selected uninjured skiers and snowboarders. Data were collected on the mechanism of injury; experience level; equipment; radiographs; skiing or snowboarding habits; and trail type, defined as green circle (easiest), blue square (intermediate), black diamond (difficult), and double black diamond (most difficult). From this database, we identified 84 patients with diaphyseal forearm fractures, one of which was a Monteggia fracture and was excluded. A logistic regression analysis was used to compare the injured and control groups to identify factors associated with diaphyseal forearm fractures, including wrist guard use.Results: When adjusted for participant days, diaphyseal forearm fractures were more common in snowboarders than skiers (0.03 injuries per 1000 person-days versus 0.004 per 1000 person-days). On multivariable analysis, factors associated with forearm fractures in skiers were younger age (odds ratio 1.08 [95% CI 1.05 to 1.14]; p < 0.01), being a man or boy (OR 11.9 [95% CI 2.5 to 57.2]; p < 0.01), lack of movement at the time of falling (OR 18.2 [95% CI 3.2 to 102.5]; p < 0.01), and skiing on green circle trails compared with black diamond trails (OR 3.6 [95% CI 1.4 to 12.5]; p = 0.04). Factors associated with forearm fractures in snowboarders were younger age (OR 1.08 [95% CI 1.02 to 1.15]; p = 0.01), decreased weight (OR 1.02 [95% CI 1.00 to 1.02]; p < 0.01), snowboarding on gentle terrain (OR 8.4 [95% CI 1.6 to 45.0]; p = 0.01), and snowboarding on groomed terrain compared with other (OR 7.2 [95% CI 1.9 to 28.0]; p < 0.01) or wet, heavy snow (OR 24.8 [95% CI 2.5 to 246.7]; p = 0.01). Wrist guard use was not associated with an increased odds of diaphyseal forearm fracture in skiers or snowboarders.Conclusion: Diaphyseal forearm fractures occur more frequently in snowboarders than in skiers. Despite speculation in prior evidence that wrist guards may paradoxically increase the risk of sustaining these injuries, our study suggests that this is not the case and wrist guards are not unsafe to wear.Level Of Evidence: Level III, prognostic study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article argues that the introduction of snowmaking to the American ski industry following World War II provided the necessary conditions for resort growth, in the process changing the sport of skiing. Using methods from histories of environmental technology, the article highlights the relationship between weather, natural snow, and artificial snow. First, it brings together scientific literature on weather and historical periodicals to contend that winters in the northeast have always lacked the type of consistent annual snowfall needed to build a dependable ski industry. Snowmaking provided reliability, but in the process, it remade the economic model of skiing. Second, using a diverse mix of periodicals, ski literature, and oral histories it interrogates how skiers experienced this new type of artificial snow, contending that artificial snow changed the sport in ways people perceived as both good and bad. Finally, it suggests that histories of technology and sports can benefit from exploring how new technologies change the environments in which sports are played. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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