Fatalities associated with ski touring and freeriding: A retrospective analysis from 2001 to 2019

Abstract

Introduction: Winter sports off the marked slopes are becoming more popular. All sports in uncontrolled and mountainous terrain are combined with risks and claim fatalities every year. This study investigates the circumstances, causes and epidemiological aspects of fatalities of the two most common winter sports outside prepared slopes. Methods: This retrospective study deals with off-slope fatalities reported to the authorities in the Canton of Berne, Switzerland, between 2001 and 2019. The cases were examined for various parameters and statistically evaluated. Ski touring was compared with freeriding. Results: Fifty-nine cases were examined. The male/female ratio was 4/1. Freeriders were significantly younger than ski tourers when they died (27 ± 9 y vs. 39 ± 15 y, P = 0.005). In 8 cases the cause of death was classified as natural, in 51 cases an accident was the reason for the fatality. The most frequent incident was an avalanche (63% of all cases). Freeriders had significantly more lacks in their equipment than ski tourers (86 vs. 50%, P = 0.013). Conclusion: Our results indicate that fatally injured freeriders were significantly younger, less equipped and prepared than ski tourers when skiing uncontrolled winter backcountry. Prevention programs should therefore focus on young and unexperienced freeriders who decide to leave the marked slope in ski areas without any preparations.

Keywords

• Mountaineering skiing
• Wilderness medicine
• Sports science
• Winter sports
• Avalanches