Is it easier for big guys to get hurt skiing?

[meatdrink9]

I'm 6,1, but I only weigh 150. With my gear and pack I weigh 200. I do pretty good at walking away from some stupid stuff. But other times the littlest thing will take me down (collarbone on groomer). I broke my tooth doing something I've done a 100 times, but landing in sticky deep slop my feet didn't slide when I landed and my head whipped towards my knee at crazy speed. A 5 foot skier that hucks a 20 foot cliff is dropping his body length 4 times while a 6 foot plus guy is only dropping his body length roughly 3 times. In this case the big guy has the advantage. I think there are pros and cons to any body type (except iceman's, that thing is all cons).

[Super G]

One of the most skilled rappers is white..Eminem
Tallest NBA player is Chinese...Yao Ming
Best Golfer is black...Tiger
MVP of NBA is a short white Candian guy..Steve Nash


I am a big skier (with all my gear 6'4" 220lbs). I ski hard enough to the point where injury or death is always possible(speed, trees, cliffs) but I havent been hurt in my 25 years of skiing

so....stereotypes are whack.

[tywhy]

yoga's the shit. I don't think you could design a better stretching, strength, and balance regimen for skiing. Yoga's not enough alone, but I think it's a key ingredient to ripping and staying healthy. Mountain biking, trail running, and weights are super important too. Sage was mentioned, and I know Will Burks is super into yoga too. those guys kill it.

I don't think size has anything to do with it as long as your in the shape you need to be.

[truth]

(except iceman's, that thing is all cons).

Prison made him stronger.

[Fisted By Ullr*]

Nobody has mentioned the 'whip-factor' yet. As a tall, skinny guy who wears a helmet I've had some hard head whips over the years and my neck and upper back have paid the price. Tall guys have a different centre of gravity and are more prone to whip lash. Assumeing we land squarely maybe we have more shock absorption, if not though we just have more leverage to stretch and tear ligaments.

[DaveTV]

Fisted By Ullr*
Registered User

Nice handle!

[Z]

The one injury I have battled for years though is the front shin bag. I know every gets it, but I always attributed it to my boots being lower on my tib/fib than all the short guys. Longer lever arm, less support, backseat huck landing.....OUCH.

thats a good point....im 6'4 and have the exact same problem, however i never thought about that.....wierd, but a ziploc back covering the tongue, totally killed that for me, lets you slide up, and doesnt pull the muscle away(that was a maggot suggestion by the way)...however, the back of my calf will take the beating because of it....there is a solution somewhere in the middle, and i WILL find it....