Snowmobiling in Sweden 2014 : trends, attitudes to risk and knowledge about avalanches

In spring 2014 a web survey aimed towards Swedish snowmobilers were conducted. The aim was to identify riding habits, attitudes to risk, knowledge of avalanches and the use of safety equip- ment. In total 2917 snowmobilers responded. The results provide new and important knowledge about behavior and attitudes to risk and general knowledge about avalanches and avalanche awareness. 34 % of the snowmobilers state that they are sometimes or often in contact with avalanche terrain. Of those, 19 % has been involved in at least on avalanche related incident. In the same group, only 14 % are regularly equipped with avalanche transmitter and probe. Among those who are using avalanche safety equipment, 33 % states that they rarely or never practice to use it.In Sweden the use of snowmobile has greatly increased the past 20 years and so has the popularity re- garding freeriding with snowmobiles in steep terrain. The total number of snowmobiles is now more than 280,000. Between 2005 and 2014, 102 snowmobilers in Sweden where killed in snowmobile related acci- dents in total but very few accidents during this period has officially been avalanche related which is surprisingly. Do Swedish snowmobilers uses the terrain differently than in North America and in Norway where there is much more accidents recorded or is there a difference in their attitudes to risk, or is the relatively few ava- lanche accidents just a coincidence? Is the relatively few accidents connected with the development of stronger and faster snowmobiles? Will Sweden also see a growing number of accidents with more vic- tims? Are there other factors? The final results will be used in the Swedish Mountain Safety Councils efforts to develop future avalanche education programs for snowmobilers and as a way to support research and development in the area.Godkänd; 2014; 20140829 (stemar