Snow tubing is an outdoor winter activity similar to sledding which involves riding an inflated inner tube down a snow-covered hill.
Even though this activity is considered an outdoor winter activity, which means that it is especially enjoyed during the winter season, however, innovations such as snowmaking machines have made it possible for snow tubing to be enjoyed at all seasons and for when there isn’t enough snow.
The goodness of snow tubing is made possible through a brilliant partnership between nature, science and technology. Nature provides the mountains which incorporate the hills, winter which in turn provides snow which again provides the ski area. Science and technology provides innovations such as snowmaking machines, tubes, helmets, etc. which ensure proper maintenance and utilization of nature’s work. It further offers various means with which to navigate the area and have good fun while at it.
While riding a tube from the top of the hill, there is usually no way of manually control the speed of the tube nor is there any special equipment that can be used to this effect. The Tubers cannot employ the use of their hands as is the practice with Sleds because it can cause the tuber to spin downhill and lose control of direction of the Tube. The speed of the Tube increases during descent and only comes to a halt when the Tuber has reached the end of the hill.
Because of this, snow tubing can be a risky venture if it is not planned and carried out carefully. Injuries suffered while sledding and snow tubing accounted for 52,000 injuries in 2014 alone. You should always go snow tubing in a proper place where trained people can give you advice and where the slide is safe and professionally maintained.
In as much as there is no need for specialized skills to engage in and enjoy snow tubing, a tuber must, however, have some necessary equipment – some equipment to participate in the activity, others to be safe while at it. It is suggested that it is best and safer for a tuber to go snow tubing at a Mountain Resort, Adventure Park or Adventure centre. This is because of the organized system which these places operate.
When it comes to organized Snow Tubing, Mountain Resorts are known for taking advantage of the natural ski area by creating the most sophisticated adventure parks thereby offering their visitors a range of activities such as riding a Mountain Coaster, going on a Ski and Snowboard, playing Hockey, Sledding, Ice skating, etc.
These mountain resorts go the extra mile to ensure the safety of its visitors by:
- Building in a clear and safe area away from the roads, the woods and the city.
- Staying updated with the snow conditions and snow reports which changes from time to time without control. There could be times when some part of the ski area becomes icy. The steady checks and updates ensure that these areas are noticed early and avoided.
- Ensuring that the tubers are correctly dressed for the activity in their warm clothes, gloves and scarves and other accessories which would typically be worn on a snowy This reduces to a reasonable extent, the tuber’s exposure to cold. In effect, there are less chances of suffering frostbites or other cold-related injuries.
The use of helmets further protects the head of the tuber in case of collisions since all collisions cannot be avoided.
- Routinely checking the condition of the Tubes and other safety equipment such as helmets and mountain cams. This is to ensure that defective equipment is not put into use and that only the good, safe and fully functional ones are used by tubers. The mountain cams are checked to see that they are powered and clear such that every activity in the area can be noticed.
- Making snow tubing less tedious by providing Magic Carpets or tow lifts with which the Tubers go uphill carrying their tubes and then have a fun ride downhill in their Tubes.
- Doing due diligence of making sure that visitors are intimated on the conditions of the snow, the necessary safety tips and the risks involved in snow tubing.
- Seeing to it that the hours of operation are in the day time when there is perfect lighting and chances of collision is reduced drastically.
- Placing trained safety officials at strategic areas in case of an accident or emergency.
There is never a 100% guarantee of safety. For this reason, visitors who want to still engage in the activity are prompted to sign a release. This release does the job of permitting the resort, park or center to give the tuber a snow tubing experience irrespective of the possible dangers. This release must be signed by an adult before a child or adult, can go Snow Tubing. The purpose of this is to release the resort of any responsibility in case of an accident. This means that the resort will not be responsible for the visitor’s injury.
Regardless, when adequate care is applied, and safety measures are religiously adhered to, snow tubing is a safe and fun activity. Therefore, in the absence of an organized ski area, it is crucial to pay close attention to safety details as observed by resorts and adhere to just as much as possible.
