INTRODUCTION: The risk of injury in snowboarding (SNB) is high, whereas the incidence and type of injury differ depending on discipline and performance level. In SNB Cross, Big air and Halfpipe disciplines occur a higher amount of contact injuries and (landing) falls than in SNB Slalom disciplines. While wrist injuries dominate in the recreational athletes, knee and back injuries are dominant among elite athletes. The lower the rider`s skill level, the higher the risk of injury, but the severity of injuries (multiple injuries involving the trunk) increases with skill level. So far, there are no standardized raised epidemiological injury data for junior elite SNB. Therefore, it is not clear how these correlations operate in young athletes regarding their non-linear growth and maturation phases involving unequal developing state of skeletal, muscular and nervous system. Injury surveillance in junior athletes is particularly difficult. There is no central point of contact where data can be collected regularly in a standardized and comprehensive manner. Further, medical care in junior elite sport is usually organized decentralized by individual physicians or institutions. Therefore, thegoal was to establish a coach-centered and largely automated system of injury surveillance at national level that fits the general conditions in German junior snowboarding. METHODS: The procedure involved a detailed analysis of the context, in particular, clarifying questions such as: Who will collect data, how often and how detailed? Data acquisition and its criteria are based on the IOC specifications. All junior athletes (12-15 years) of the disciplines SNB Cross, Race and Freestyle who compete at national level were included. After a one-year pilot phase, the injury surveillance procedure will be evaluated for its effort and practicality through interviews of coaches. RESULTS: As a result, relevant information of typical injuries of young elite SNB can be displayed on a digital dashboard that is automatically generated based on data stored in a database. Information, such as frequently injured body parts, injury types or distribution of injuries over the year/season can be visualized. The dataset can also be filtered by different parameters such as date of injury, gender or age. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: By the application of an injury database (located centrally), coaches will receive an annual injury report in the future with the long-term goal of reducing injuries in German junior elite snowboarding. Preventive actions to improve athletes`; safety can include recommendations, like the use of mandatory protective equipment (e.g. back protectors, airbags), regulatory changes as well as training adaptations such as specific strength training or tactical training in SNB Cross.
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