Snow covered slopes provide us with extreme thrills, but these also come associated with risks. According to one study reported by the NCBI, as many as 72% of snow sports enthusiasts suffer injury of some type. There are of course ways to keep these risks as low as possible. Mountain and snow safety knowledge comes first and having the right equipment is close second. Now, I bet you did not know titanium is connected to some of the best protection around, and in ways you might not expect.
Skiing equipment
The ski market is huge, and as a result there’s a lot of chaff to cut through when searching for a quality product. A good idea is to look out for titanium reinforced skies, preferably with ATSM Grade 5 titanium, or Grades 1 and 9. The UKs Telegraph newspaper produced a jargon buster to help tackle the challenge ski purchasing, and noted that the ‘core’ of many skis contains a titanium alloy. These tend to be tough, flexible, and will help to enhance your safety.
Shielding from the sun
Every snow sport enthusiast is more than aware of the risks of snowblindness. However, many are unaware of the inherent risks that cause the condition, and may be using unsuitable goggles. For instance, reflection of visible light is not the primary concern – as the American Academy of Ophthalmology note, blocking out UV rays is far more important, as is preventing reflection. Many high grade titanium goggles have this attribute, and are less reflective due to the material. This gives an added layer of protection against rays, as they have been known to cause snowblindness from reflecting up, either off skin or silver-colored goggles.
Your skin needs protection too
Experienced snow-goers will know all about the intensity of the sun, despite chilling winds and temperatures. Again titanium plays a role here. You are probably using titanium oxide based sunscreens. It provides excellent protection against the penetration of harmful rays, it also, according to skincare experts Paula’s Choice, is beneficial for skin that is sensitive. Many people suffer from sensitive or wind-chilled skin when heading out into the snow and mountains, and so it’s a good idea to stock up on titanium oxide based sunscreen before your next trip.
What else? Travel insurance and good skills is what will keep you out of trouble. And now you also know what titanium as a material stands for when you see it written on a snow related product.