With the winter season approaching, more and more people are starting to enjoy leisurely activities, such as skiing, snowboarding, and more. If you are planning a skiing trip, you must be aware of the possibility of an injury. To prepare yourself and ensure that you are participating in the activity safely, you should know the four E's of avoiding a skiing injury:

1. Exercise: In general, if you are in better shape, you are going to be better able to control yourself and your balance while skiing, which helps you avoid a skiing injury. If you know that you aren't in the best shape, you should be taking the easy slopes and taking many breaks while also drinking lots of water to avoid easy fatigue. It's easy to forget to drink water, which makes it even more challenging and bad for your body. 
2. Equipment: Next, you need to ensure that you have all the right equipment no matter what level you might be. If you have purchased new equipment, be sure to have it adjusted to your size and even snow conditions. Meet with a professional for this. You also need to wear all of the right clothing. If you aren't exactly sure what that entails, it's best to go into a sporting goods store to get advice for what is standard for what's needed. 
3. Experience: Be sure that you are only using the slopes that are meant for your level. If you are looking to advance more quickly, sign up for lessons at least for the first day you are on your vacation. Otherwise, you run the risk of injury if you attempt more difficult slopes when you're not ready. 
4. Environment: Finally, you need to consider the environment, which usually means the snow conditions. If the snow is older, it's going to be hard and icy, which means it's more slippery. This makes it more difficult for beginners and it's even dangerous for those attempting to go down the harder slopes and perform tricks. It's better to wait for new snow, as well as for clearer air. If there's going to be a storm or just heavy wind, it's going to make visibility worse, which is when it's suggested new riders especially stay off the slopes. 

The next step would be to find an orthopedic surgeon you are comfortable with in case an injury does occur. Most likely, it would be a bone injury that would need to be taken care of by an orthopedic surgeon. However, when you understand the four E's of avoiding a skiing injury, you can be sure that you are safe, which will make your experience that much more enjoyable for yourself and everyone you are with.