Ski safety is essential, not only for off-piste activities but also for traditional groomed skiing. And if they are now fewer and fewer adult skiers who do not wear helmets, which is mandatory for children up to 14 years of age, there are also more and more skiers who decide to also wear the protection of a back protector when skiing, and above all to let their children wear it.
Ma Is a back protector really useful for skiing? And is it really useful in case of falls?
Which ski back protector to choose
Yes, as Giorgio Rocca told us among his tips for skiing without risks, investing a few tens of euros in a back protector for skiing is undoubtedly useful in case of falls. The important thing is to choose a model that is truly protective. Net of the characteristics of each back protector, as with helmets you need to check the approval which is found on the label inside. The approval standard for back protectors is CE/EN 1621-2, and concerns both back protection devices for skiing and those for motorbikes.
The CE/EN 1621-2 approval is divided into 2 levels based on the residual strength:
Level 1: Maximum average residual force 18kN, maximum force for a single impact 24 kN
Level 2: Maximum average residual force 9kN, maximum force for a single impact 12 kN
Considering that 10 N is approximately equivalent to 1 kg, and 1 kN to approximately 100 kg, and that a lower level of residual force means better protection, it is clear that the approved ski back protectors that ensure greater protection are Level 2 ones.
Once you have verified the level of protection ensured, you can choose between the different models of back protector: there are rigid ones and flexible ones with a variable number of plates, with braces or which are worn like a vest, and which also have back protection. sacrum.
How a back protector for skiing is made
The back protector for skiing is nothing else than a protective shell made of plastic material which, especially in the vertebrae area, distributes and dissipates impacts, avoiding fractures. Normally there is an external layer in shock-proof material (typically Polypropylene) which adapts to the shape of the back, an internal aluminum protection, which undergoes deformations and increases protection, and an internal lining in technical and comfortable material.
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How to wear a back protector for skiing
Having to protect in the event of impacts (not only falls but also accidental collisions with other skiers or objects) the back protector must fit perfectly. For this reason it is essential that it is the right size, that it is fastened correctly, preventing it from moving, and above all that it is worn immediately after the first technical layer in contact with the skin and not over the second layer, typically a soft fleece that keeps you warm. This advice not only to prevent it from moving but also to avoid excessive accumulation of sweat: although padded in contact with the body with soft material, the back protector is not totally breathable and it is necessary to facilitate the exit of the vapor generated by sweat.
How much does a back protector for skiing cost
For a back protector for children’s skiing, flexible and worn like braces, it starts from around 40/50 euros. Some vest back protectors, with level 2 approval and from the best brands such as Dainese, Salomon, POC or Alpina, can be found at no less than 100 euros and prices can even reach almost 200 eurosunless you can find discounts like these.
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2024-01-31 07:45:27
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