Christian Neureuther is a proud grandfather of four.
Here, the former world-class skier explains how he protects his grandchildren from skiing accidents.
The mountains, the snow - when Christian Neureuther puts on his skis, he is in his element.
He is just as passionate about having fun in the snow today as he was when he was a professional skier and world-class athlete.
The Garmisch-Partenkirchen native particularly enjoys skiing down the slopes with his grandchildren, for example in the Garmisch Classic ski area between Hausberg, Kreuzeck and Osterfelder Kopf below the Alpspitze.
"It's wonderful to go on the slopes with the family, I also enjoy it very much with my grandchildren," says the former world-class skier to Münchner Merkur and tz.
“But safety must always come first.
Parents and grandparents should please be particularly careful on the ski slopes if they are traveling with little ones.”
Ski doctor Dr.
Manuel Köhne: This year there were a particularly large number of skiing accidents
Neureuther's warning has a serious background: This winter, a particularly large number of ski accidents are happening in Munich's local mountains.
This was reported by numerous Upper Bavarian orthopedists and trauma surgeons, including the team doctor of the German national alpine ski team, Dr.
Manuel Köhne, from Munich: “I currently see around 20 patients every day who have injured their knees while skiing. Colleagues tell me about a similar accumulation.
This is really unusual and has never been the case to this extent in the past ten years.” Felix Neureuther also confirmed the huge rush on the slopes to Münchner Merkur and tz.
Read here what Felix experienced while skiing.
For safety reasons, Christian Neureuther drives behind the children
Skiing accidents can be particularly bad when two skiers collide - especially when a skier is shot from above at high speed and can no longer avoid it.
“Children in particular can now ski very tight radii with modern skis and thus also unpredictable lines.
If skiers rush in too quickly and don't have their boards under control, it can become a huge problem," Neureuther knows.
In the worst case, the gnomes are then run over - sheer horror for all parents and grandparents.
To protect his grandchildren from this, grandpa almost always drives behind them on the slopes.
“I don't show them any turns, I give them my tips practically from behind.
As a result, I stand in between as a buffer if necessary,
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Formerly a world class skier and now an enthusiastic ski instructor for his own grandchildren: Christian Neureuther.
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"Never stop in the middle of the slope and look up before you start"
Decisive when skiing: "Always drive with foresight and never lose track," says Neureuther.
For example, grandfather tells his grandchildren not to stop in the middle of the piste, but at the edge of the piste.
In this context, it is very important that parents and grandparents set a good example.
"When you start skiing again after the break, the first thing you have to do is look up to make sure you don't get in front of anyone's skis," advises Neureuther.
Safety equipment should be standard.
This includes a helmet and, if possible, a back protector.
This plastic armor, which is worn under the ski jacket, has become more and more popular in recent years.
With good reason, because it is designed to protect the spine in accidents and especially in collisions.
“Unfortunately, we also experience serious back injuries again and again.
That's why a protector makes a lot of sense," confirms DSV team doctor Köhne.
It's incredibly nice to see how dad infects the kids with his enthusiasm.
This is a highlight for Miri and me too.
Felix Neureuther about his father Christian
Felix Neureuther pays his father a big compliment
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It is a matter close to the heart of the Neureuther family to inspire little ones to ski.
Here Felix is with children on the local mountain near Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
© Peter Kornatz/Collaboration: Jutta Kornatz
If you follow the most important safety rules, many skiing accidents can be avoided.
And with the highest level of safety, you can enjoy a day's skiing twice as much.
“It's just great to go to the slopes with my grandchildren.
That means a lot to me,” says the former world-class skier.
It goes without saying that grandfather, as a ski trainer, has lots of tips for the young family skiers at Neureuther.
His son Felix Neureuther knows from his own experience how good Christian is as a ski instructor.
Felix is now a father of three himself and is happy about how much fun the whole family is having while skiing.
He pays his father a big compliment: "It's amazing to see how dad infects the kids with his enthusiasm.
He's just perfect
to convey the joy of skiing to them with playful ease.
That's also a highlight for Miri and me," says Felix to Münchner Merkur and tz.
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