It's a standard for snowboarders to wear a helmet before going down the slope. But, a majority is not wearing wrist guards. As a result, many continue to get the most common injury in snowboarding, a wrist fracture.
"We get about 10 wrist guards each day on a weekend," said Jacob Huxman, Ski Patrol Director of Big Bear Mountain Resorts.
Snowboard instructors say this injury happens because it is common for people to put their hands out to break their fall.
"That's why when I teach them I tell them to make fists or fall on your forearms or if you are going to fall on your back, use your butt," said Kevin Murphy, a snowboard instructor.
Even though a wrist fracture is the most common injury in snowboarding, a majority of people Annenberg Media spoke with do not wear wrist guards because they think it is "lame" or they don't want to wear more equipment.
Big Bear Ski Patrol thinks 90% of snowboarders at their resort do not wear them.
Annenberg Media only say one snowboarder wearing a wrist guard during a whole weekend at a ski resort. Jake Elisius now wears wrist guards after breaking both wrists while snowboarding. He hasn't had another injury since.
Doctors say wrist guards may be uncommon because ski rental shops are not good about renting wrist guards with the other equipment. Linda Goldsmith, owner of a ski rental shop in Big Bear, says she does not rent wrist guards often. Most of the store's wrist guards are only available for purchase. That is because they only cost $15.
Most of the time, that purchase comes too late. Goldsmith says most people who purchase wrist guards had a wrist injury before.
A recent study by orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Thomas Grogan, says just one wrist guard can make a big difference. Dr. Grogan found 90 percent of people broke their non-dominant hand after falling on their wrist while snowboarding.
And buying one wrist guard can also help avoid a 6 weeklong recovery and paying as much as $2,500 in medical fees.
Annenberg Media