How about a helmet thread?

[deadheadskier]

.....cause we haven't had enough of those.


Inspiration for this thread was watching the Mt. Dew Vertical whatever tour this weekend on the tube. Watched about 45 minutes of the snowboard half pipe comp from Breckenridge. It seemed that better than 75% of the competitors I saw were not wearing helmets.

I'm all for choice, but if I was making a paycheck at the sport, I'd feel pretty damn foolish if I wrecked and got a concussion that kept me out for several weeks when a simple $150 piece of equipment might have prevented the injury.

So, there in lies the question. I can understand a casual skier/rider deciding they would rather not wear a helmet. If you're one of those folks who choose not to wear a helmet, would you still choose not to if you made a paycheck from the sport?

No agenda here. I don't care what people choose to do in their casual recreational pursuits. This is purely a question relating to if skiing/boarding competition was your profession.

 

[andyzee]

I'd think there have been too many helmet threads. But, if you make it a "Helmets At Sundown" thread, well then you're talking!

 

[drjeff]

.....cause we haven't had enough of those.


Inspiration for this thread was watching the Mt. Dew Vertical whatever tour this weekend on the tube. Watched about 45 minutes of the snowboard half pipe comp from Breckenridge. It seemed that better than 75% of the competitors I saw were not wearing helmets.

I'm all for choice, but if I was making a paycheck at the sport, I'd feel pretty damn foolish if I wrecked and got a concussion that kept me out for several weeks when a simple $150 piece of equipment might have prevented the injury.

So, there in lies the question. I can understand a casual skier/rider deciding they would rather not wear a helmet. If you're one of those folks who choose not to wear a helmet, would you still choose not to if you made a paycheck from the sport?

No agenda here. I don't care what people choose to do in their casual recreational pursuits. This is purely a question relating to if skiing/boarding competition was your profession.

Brain bucket = yes. There's only so much that a skier or rider of ANY ability can control, and the brain is one organ that you just can't afford to scramble IMHO. Especially if you're a pro and out there day in and day out, the chances of 1) you getting taken out by someone else and 2) you getting in a BIG crash trying to push yourself to new levels of performance and 3) inspite of what many a teen/20 something thinks, people AREN'T indestructable!

 

[2knees]

Whether you're talking pros making a living or recs out skiing, it still boils down to the same argument.


or it will.....

 

[jr05]

I wear a helmet even when I'm cruising the green trails. I cannot believe anybody wouldn't wear one when they are doing trick competitions!

Then again, I have worn a helmet skiing for as long as I remember (ski school as a child).

 

[billski]

woods

I'm not gonna talk about safety. There are other good uses for helmets.

I really appreciate my helmet when skiing woods. I often get into brush and a lot of low-hangers. The hemet is a perfect battering ram to get through the stuff. I've only suffered one bloodied nose. :dunce:

 

[mondeo]

You realize the focus on professionals is going to be lost within the first 10 posts, right?

 

[drjeff]

I'm not gonna talk about safety. There are other good uses for helmets.

I really appreciate my helmet when skiing woods. I often get into brush and a lot of low-hangers. The hemet is a perfect battering ram to get through the stuff. I've only suffered one bloodied nose. :dunce:

ANY tall person who's been whacked in the back of the head by a premature safety bar closure when getting on a lift appreciates the brain bucket!

 

[mondeo]

I think it's stupid not to wear a helmet. They're plenty comfortable, and whose head isn't worth $100?

 

[abc]

Inspiration for this thread was watching the Mt. Dew Vertical whatever tour this weekend on the tube. Watched about 45 minutes of the snowboard half pipe comp from Breckenridge. It seemed that better than 75% of the competitors I saw were not wearing helmets.

Snowboarders popularized helmets in the first place!

Very few skiers wore helmets 15-20 years ago. But I bet the renagade side-way sliding single-edger found hitting the hard snow with their head was painful. So they wear whatever that would lessen the pain. Besides, wearing helmets made them stand out from the beanie wearing skiers. So that was COOL.

But fast forward to today. The middle aged skiers are all wearing helmets. Some of them even taking up boarding! Wearing helmet is now such a yuppie thing. What teenager wants to wear a brain bucket like his dad?

Many pro snowboarders represent this generation of teenagers. Helmets are NOT cool in that crowd any more.

 

[snoseek]

It would make sense. Their choice I guess. Everyone in indestuctable at 19.

Hell i suffered a mild concussion (and worse a mangled tounge which still hurts bad) with my helmet on just last week. Can't imagine the impact without it.

 

[billski]

If you're a "professional" then ostensibly you are a role model. nuff said.

 

[redalienx11]

its our company policy to wear helmets on the job

 

[ZYDECORICH]

20 years no helmet....12 years with helmet... getting smarter as i get older, protecting what little grey matter is left. thinking about it, I'm so glad i didn't get screwed in the first 20 years. I barely think about it being on my head now.

 

[Geoff]

I don't wear a helmet in the spring. Once it gets over 40F on sunny days, it stays in the SUV. I can't imagine tree skiing without it.

 

[deadheadskier]

You realize the focus on professionals is going to be lost within the first 10 posts, right?

Looks like the first 5 :lol:


I be willing to be that Half Pipe competition or other similar sports had high TV ratings, helmets would be required. They'd be required not for the sake for setting a good example, but to protect ratings.

Heck, the NFL changed the rules when one of their marquis players, Tom Brady, went down for the season.

It's hard for me to say what I'd do if I were a pro because I'm not. It just seems to me that not wearing one would be a bad business decision if my paycheck/livelihood could be compromised if I chose not to wear one.

 

[catskills]

If we got rid of snowboarders and went back to straight skis with ankle high ski boots for everybody, we would not need helmets. Ahh the good old days when people broke their Tibia's and not their heads.



Happy Holidays Everyone.

 

[Philpug]

I do. I like it better, it is warmer, it is cooler, it gives me protection. I cannot think of a situation where NOT wearing a helmet is better. The new helmets like the Giro Seam and Smith Variant are so light and comfortable. I do see at some point where most resorts will require employees who are on snow to be wearing them.

 

[dmc]

I don't wear a helmet in the spring. Once it gets over 40F on sunny days, it stays in the SUV. I can't imagine tree skiing without it.

Me too - I tend to not wear it when I'm out on a warm uncrowded day....
Last years ski trip we didn't wear helmets indoors in Dubai... It was only 100 outside...

 

[dmc]

All this being said... I'm noticing a lot more helmetless heads this year...