People love having fun on snow as much as on land and water. One of today's most popular snow sports, snowboarding, did not get a warm welcome when it was first introduced in 1920. But now snowboarding is the fastest-growing winter sport worldwide.

Snowboarding is a simple sport, involving high-speed movement down a snow-covered hill; the snowboarder uses one board to zip by natural and man-made obstacles. Because snowboarding takes place in the winter at high altitudes, slopes and weather conditions can change every hour. No matter how experienced a snowboarder is, falling down and colliding are nearly unavoidable. Therefore, knowing a few safety tips before hitting the slopes is not only advisable but necessary.

Snowboarding and skiing are both snow sports that, despite their apparent similarities, are two very different activities.

• Snowboarding equipment includes a wide board upon which a boarder balances his or her whole body weight, shifting balance with arms and legs, which helps propel and navigate forward. Skiers, on the other hand, use one slender board per leg and two ski poles to balance and push forward.

• On a snowboard, both feet bind onto the board side-by-side, facing sideways, while the rider's head faces forward. In skiing, a skier binds his feet straight-ahead, in the direction he or she will face; one foot binds to each board.

• Snowboarders need to sit in order to remain stationary, whereas a skier can stand up on his skies to do so.

• The Snowboard: For beginners, an all-purpose snowboard is the best option; advanced snowboarders might opt for specialty boards, which make balancing more difficult. Choosing the right board length will facilitate a beginner's balancing.

• Boots: Soft boots are recommended for beginners because standing in hard boots is extremely difficult. Moonboots and hiking boots should be avoided, as they increase risk of ankle-injury and broken bones.

• Protective Gear: Wrist and arm guards, a helmet, goggles, shin guards, and customized protective gear for other vulnerable areas will reduce risk and incidence of injury. All snowboarders will fall, but having these items will deflect the impact.

• Ski Poles: Snowboards are designed to be used without ski poles, but beginners can benefit from using them; beginners using poles often learn faster and avoid severe wrist injuries.

• Proper Clothing: Proper clothing in all winter sports is necessary to avoid undue exposure to the elements. Thermal clothing, including gloves and socks; a neck gaiter or other tight-fitting neck cloth; and a weatherproof winter jacket, is essential.

In snowboarding, a few different injury patterns arise that differ from those of skiing because of different equipment used and riding posture. A snowboarder stands on his or her board and balances by using the arms rather than poles, as a skier would use. Because of this lack of poles, the snowboarder has a much higher risk of outstretching his or her arms in order to break a fall; an injury called a hyperextended wrist is a common result.

Additional common snowboarding injuries include high-speed collision with an object; falling, especially while trying to land a jump; and fatigue from clipping in and out of his or her board. On the other hand, since a snowboarder’s feet are both held in place on the board, the risk of twisting-knee injuries are much lower than that of skiers.

Additional, severe snowboarding injuries include:

• Dislocation of the shoulder joint

• Shoulder separation (also called acromioclavicular or AC separation)

• Injury, often a tear, to rotator cuff (a group of muscles in the shoulder)

• Fracture to an upper-arm bone called the proximal humerus

• Clavicle (or collar-bone) fracture

• Injury to the head, spine, or neck

Most snow-sport injuries affect athletes' hands, buttocks, or heads. Almost all athletes will gain bruises and sores. Reducing injury starts with wearing proper gear, in addition to a few other precautionary measures:

• Wrist injury is common in snowboarders. When falling, hands need to form tight fists –falling with open hands puts them at greater risk of injury. When falling, a rider should roll like a paratrooper, spreading the impact over his or her body.

• A helmet is always necessary; it protects the rider’s head from injury from a fall in any position.

• Avoid runs that are above your skill level.

• Riders need to always watch out and be aware of other snowboarders and skiers.

• All equipments should be checked regularly and kept in good condition.

• A rider trying out new trick should have a spotter nearby.

• Rules need to be followed. No exceptions.

• Showing off might look cool but is not worth the risk of its common ending: hurting someone – the rider or a bystander – seriously.