How to Ski Safely, According to a Ski Patroller and Mountain Medic: ‘Speed Is the No.1 Reason People Die’

Bling Empire star Lynn Ban died on Monday, Jan. 10, after brain surgery following a ski accident. Earlier in the month, an 18-year-old died after hitting a tree at Rose Mountain in Tahoe — the third skiing fatality in young men in just two weeks.

Ski accidents lead to around 40 deaths a year in the U.S., according to the National Ski Areas Association. The main cause of fatalities on the mountain is blunt force and head trauma from hitting trees high speeds. And according to the Boston Globe, accidents usually occur toward the end of the day when skiers are tired, the snow conditions have worsened, and the sun is low in the sky.

“Going 50, 60 miles an hour, when there’s nothing to stop you but a tree means even the best helmet can’t save you,” Dr. Robert Schneider, a physician who has worked at the base of Hunter Mountain in New York for 26 years, says. “The instantaneous deaths are all from high velocity,”

Other injuries he sees include head trauma, broken necks, severed spines and ruptured spleens. “We’ve seen ruptured aortas from people hitting trees so hard,” he adds.

Peter Novom, manager of the Ski & Ride program at Okemo Mountain in Vermont, agrees that speed is a factor in the worst injuries.

“Going fast is fun, but you need the skills to ski faster,” he says. “You have to ask yourself, are you able to perform hockey stops at higher rates of speed? Are you able to make quick changes to your path down the hill as unanticipated challenges arise? If not, you should limit your speed.”

Below, Dr. Schneider and Novom give more tips for staying safe and injury-free on the slopes.

Take a Lesson — and Never Ski Beyond Your Ability

“Most accidents occur when skiers or riders are skiing above their ability level,” says Novom, a member of the 2024-28 PSIA-AASI National Team, which includes top ski and snowboard instructors from across the country.

“The best way to prevent accidents from lack of knowledge is to take a lesson,” he says. “If the guest is new to the area and sport, it is very easy to take a wrong turn and end up on a much steeper slope than anticipated, or to overestimate your skill. With a lesson you get the local perspective, which trails are appropriate, and where the best snow conditions are.”

But lessons aren’t available at every mountain and can be prohibitively expensive.

“In the absence of a lesson, the best way to avoid injury is to warm up slowly and start on trails that are actually easier than you can ski at your best,” Novom says.

Dr. Schneider sees the same issues.

“The beginners are the ones getting hurt the most,” he says, adding that he always recommends lessons — and not just for beginners, but for intermediate and even expert skiers who want to improve each season. “There’s also the danger of young teens who are not that good and showing off for other friends, anyone who is racing their friends, or skiing after 2 pm when conditions are worse. They might have crappy skis…it can be a recipe for disaster.”

He adds, “It’s understandable that people who pay $200 for a day of skiing want to see the view from the top, but that’s when we get the most calls for ski patrol. People get injured, or realize they’re out of their depth up there, and have to call for a ride down in the sled.”

Be Aware of the Conditions

Mountains on the East Coast tend to be icier, but sticky snow is where Dr. Schneider sees the most knee injuries.

“If the snow is sticky, as it has been so far this winter, that’s all ACLs [anterior cruciate ligament],” he says. “You’ll also get shoulder injuries because you’re skiing down, and all of a sudden you hit this slush and it’s like glue, and then boom, you’re pile driving yourself right into the ground. That’s why early season and late season can be real tricky for injuries.”

Novom agrees. “Conditions matter,” he says.

“In bigger resorts, snow texture can make or break the experience. One side of the resort might be shady and firm, the other side might be in the sun and soft! A big factor at many resorts is the texture changes from man-made snow to natural. I’ve seen many accidents due to these types of changes.”

Don’t Ski When You’re Tired — and Have Good Equipment

“Certainly do not ski when you’re tired,” says Dr. Schneider, who sees most injuries in the afternoon between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

“There’s that ‘rule of threes,’ which is, never ski three days in a row, over 3,000 feet, or after 3 p.m. Especially on the East Coast, the conditions can be terrible after 3. It’s all scraped off and icy, and most people renting or borrowing skis don’t have them tuned to handle bad conditions.”

He adds, “Making sure your skis are really tuned is important. Your binding release needs to be adjusted to your weight and your skiing ability, so if you do fall, they pop off. When they don’t, you see torn ACLs.”

Novom concurs: “Tune and test your gear! Go to the experts, make sure that you have your equipment set up correctly, the edges are sharp and the base is waxed. This will give you the best possible experience for the skills that you have,” he says.

Stay in the Middle of the Run

The embankments off the sides of runs are where people get into trouble when they’re out of control — and it’s where the trees are.

“Speed is the number one reason people die or get really, really maimed. If you’re going to go faster, do not go fast on the edges of the slope, stay in the middle of the slope because you’ll have a better chance of not making into the trees,” says Dr. Schneider.

Also, don’t try to be cool by not wearing a helmet.

“Wear a helmet,” says Novom. “At slower speeds, an impact with person or object may not have any effect on the guest. But at high rates of speed, even the best helmets start to become less effective.”

He adds, “Anyone can ski. But everyone learns at their own pace. If you enjoy the learning process and being outside in the environment, you will always have fun. If you don’t put too much pressure on how quickly you learn, then everyone has a great time and stays safe.”