Skiing is one of the most exciting sports activities you can ever experience in your lifetime. It’s not just about having fun, but you can also work on your fitness level while having fun. Sometimes, however, you might want to work on your fitness level a little more intently than usual, and that’s where the issue of skiing injuries comes in. Injuries are common in any sport, but the stats for skiing are particularly grim. Injuries not caused by accidents do happen, but they are largely preventable if you know how and where to look for them. It’s not always easy to identify the root cause of a skiing injury, so knowing how to tape skier’s thumb can help prevent many of them. Here’s what you should know about this issue.
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The Anatomy Of A Skier’s Thumb
If you’ve ever seen a ski run, you’ll most likely have noticed the thumb of the skier sticking out from his/her glove. The function of the thumb in skiing is manifold. First, it helps the skier hold on to the handlebars of the chairlift as it carries him/her towards the next run. Once on the ramp, the thumb is there to help guide the ski down.
Apart from helping the skier control his/her descent, the thumb also does double duty by protecting the fingers from injury. When a skier falls, he/she will instinctively protect their hands by clasping them together so as not to hurt them. When the ski glove is secured with the thumb, this naturally creates a protective wall around the knuckle area. This is particularly important because when your knuckles hit the ground first, it often results in broken bones or other severe injuries. When that happens, it’s usually the thumb that’s at fault because it’s too often the case that people wear the gloves without taping them up. The only other place you’ll find knuckle injuries is when someone punches you in the back of the hand. So, keeping your thumb inside your ski glove is crucial for preventing injuries to your knuckles when skiing.
Why Do Skiers Wear Thumb Wraps?
In addition to preventing injuries to your knuckles, the thumb is also a common point of injury for skiers. In fact, it’s the most injured part of the hand when it comes to skiing, so much so that the sport’s governing bodies have adopted a policy regarding the issue. In the early days of skiing, people wore wool gloves and their thumbs were easily visible, especially when it came time to stop and take a photo. Back then, photographers would crop the photo on their phones to make the subject’s thumb look proportionally sized in relation to the rest of their hand. Nowadays, however, skiers wear plastic or leather gloves and their thumbs are mostly covered by the glove, so it’s harder to tell what size they are.
The solution? Tape up the thumb on your ski glove. Not only will this protect it from injury, but it will also give you an idea of what size you are wearing.
Taping Up The Thumb
There are several methods of taping up the thumb on your ski glove. You can either double tape it, using a layer of transparent tape above a layer of regular tape, or you can use one long piece of tape that you’ll need to fold it in half to use.
Whichever method you choose, make sure you do it securely, but not so tightly that it inhibits movement. Also, make sure you taper the end that will be outside of the glove so that it’s easier to pull off when needed. For instance, if there’s an avalanche and you have to dig your way out, you’ll be thankful you have these little tips and tricks to help you escape safely.
When Should I Tape Up My Thumb?
There are several instances where you should tape up your thumb. The first is when you use an “active” grip with both hands while skiing. In this instance, you should tape up your thumb so that it stays inside the glove and doesn’t pop out during your descent. While skiing is an exciting sport, it’s also one of the most dangerous ones. The risk of injury is greatly dependent on what type of skier you are. A recreational skier has a much lower chance of getting injured than a professional one because the latter are trained better and know how to avoid accidents. That’s why you should always wear protective gear when skiing, and the best protection you can get is by securing your thumb in your ski glove. Doing so can prevent many injuries, both minor and major. In addition, make sure you’re extra careful if you have to navigate icy or snowy terrains or if you are skiing in the dark.
What Should I Look For In A Good Tape?
When buying tape for your thumb, make sure you get something that’s strong yet flexible enough to allow you to peel off the glove without difficulty. In addition, also look for something non-toxic that’s machine washable. Many tapes are made of thin polyester and some people have issues with their skin breaking out when they wear the gloves. In this case, you’ll want to look for a medical-quality tape that’s not causing any irritation or hives. Also, make sure you get something that has a smooth surface so that it doesn’t catch on any hair or clothing fibers when you remove your thumb from the glove. Many people recommend medical-grade silicone for this purpose because it has a surface that’s extremely slick. This makes it ideal for taping up your hand while skiing because it prevents any sliding incidents and helps keep you safe.
The Importance Of Thumb Wrapping
Besides preventing injuries and helping you determine what size you are wearing, the thumb is also an important part of identifying the brand of your ski gloves. This is significant because there are several brands out there that are specifically designed for skiers. These brands will often have a particular logo or symbol on the outside of the glove, so you can identify them when there’s an avalanche and you have to dig your way out. When that happens, you’ll be glad you have these gloves. Otherwise, you might lose a digit. So, taping up the thumb is something that can assist you in your time of need and let you know which glove brand is worth wearing for optimum comfort and safety while skiing. This is important because when it comes to your health, safety always takes precedence over anything else.
To recap, the anatomy of a ski thumb, the importance of thumb wrapping, when to tape up your thumb, and what to look for in a good tape. With that, you’ll be able to confidently hit the slopes knowing exactly what you’re getting into and what tools you need to make the most out of the experience.