Do you wear a helmet?

[Greg]

I was in the Hurricane triple lift line at Pats Peak when I whacked the top of my head a good one on the shed roof overhang if I hadn't been wearing a helmet I am sure I would have done some serious damage to the skull. So the helmet isn't just for slopes ... oh I have had the safety bar on the chair knock me a few times in the head too.

Ironically, is it possible that you might have missed that overhang without the added height of the helmet? Also, I've never been clipped by the safety bar before wearing a helmet. Now, it's pretty common...

 

[JimG.]

Well, a court in Germany has found replacing your skull with a plastic covering is better than the original....I sense a business opportunity here. Forget wearing helmets. Try skull replacement!

On a related note, can you imagine what this dude would have gotten in an American court?



Man loses top of his head in brain operation
Wed Aug 29, 2007 9:07 AM ET

BERLIN (Reuters) - A German court has awarded 3,000 euros ($4,100) in damages to a man who had to have the top of his skull replaced with plastic because of a faulty hospital fridge.

Doctors removed the top of the man's head and put it in cold storage while they operated on his brain, the court in the western city of Koblenz said Tuesday.

Because the refrigerator was defective, the section of skull was not kept cool enough and could not be reattached. Doctors replaced the bone with a plastic prosthesis.

The man sought compensation of at least 20,000 euros on the grounds that the prosthesis caused him headaches, affected his balance and made him unduly sensitivity to the weather.

Following consultations with experts, the court found that the operation had caused the man's discomfort, not the loss of the top of his skull.

Compensation of 3,000 euros was "appropriate and sufficient," it said.

"The experts consulted by the court concluded the new skull roof was better than the original," a court spokesman said.

http://tinyurl.com/yt3r2g

Nice! All he needs is to attach one of those multicolored wigs to the plastic skull and he's good to go.

The guy would have gotten $10 million here.

 

[skiadikt]

guess i started '05-06 though only when it's tree skiing season. early & late season, i prefer to ski without it.

 

[tree_skier]

Did not know they had a fat head series of those brain buckets Dave.

Yup it's amazing what they make in XXL. and the best part is it matches the Karbon suit you wish you had.

 

[Puck it]

I do ever since I got it by a branch in the forehead. It is mucher warmer on cold with too.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Getting used to it, I don't ride my bike w/o it, so it makes sense to wear it skiing. And yea, when the vents are closed, and the ear pads are on, it keeps my head right toasty! There were some bitter cold days last year that I was really glad I had the helmet, not only for protection, but for warmth.

 

[millerm277]

I don't wear a helmet. Then again, I don't wear one when biking either. I don't really like the feel of them (Yes, I have tried on recent models), I know that if I have a bad fall, a helmet could save me from serious injuries, but I also feel that I'm more likely to have that bad fall because of the semi-false sense of security the helmet gives me.

Also, I don't do parks, don't mind bailing on skiing something if it looks like the conditions are going to make it too dangerous, and am fairly cautious in the trees, so other than skiing fast, I don't have a high likelihood of having a bad fall.

 

[darent]

never thought I would, tried it and it was warm, my hat didn't ride up and freeze my ears, head didin't itch and sweat, been wearinf\g one ever since.

 

[Sky]

Greg...breath in through the nose and out through the mouth. We have a few fabulous months of Fall to go before ski season.

Yes I wear a helmet. Ever since I bought decent skis and boots back in 01. EEEK! Maybe it's time to replace that helmet!! Thanks for pointing that out! *smirk*

 

[Hawkshot99]

I wear a Giro G10. Have always worn a helmet since I started, as I grew up in the begining of the helmet craze for kids. Every sport I have played was a helmet sport(hockey, lacrosse) so there was nothing to get used to for me.

 

[deadheadskier]

I don't.....


....but probably should.

 

[mattchuck2]

Here's my thoughts on the issue. Basically I believe that you can have whatever opinion you want about helmets, but don't try to force that opinion on people.

 

[twinplanx]

My new one just got here the other day 29.95 from sierrasnowboards. Pretty sweet deal I think it originally listed for 105$. My beloved cromedome needed to be retired after last spring.

 

[Newpylong]

never will.

 

[big_vert]

I've had helmets for about the past 6 years, and can't imagine going into the woods with out it. I've also had instances like when an icicle fell of the top of the lift and hit directly on the top of the helmet and other things that make me believe it's a mandatory piece of equipment

I have a couple of Leedoms (full coverage and 3/4), a Giro G10, Giro Omen, Giro Fuse, Carrera something and some others.

The Giro's fit nice but the venting opens the top of the helmet, and if it's snowing, you get a bad brain freeze from the incoming frozen water, unless you put a hood up. Also, if you do a header sith the vents open, it's mandatory to take the thing off and clear it as it snowplows lots of snow onto your head.

Expecting the typical "why open it if it's snowing" question, there's many days when it's snowing even when it's not so cold, and a couple of minutes of cold snow on your head makes you a believer that it's not the best solution.

The Leedom system (Scream and Cut models) is far better, as it is not only more effective at venting, but as the venting is under the plastic shell, the problems mentioned for the Giro's don't happen.

 

[JimG.]

Here's my thoughts on the issue. Basically I believe that you can have whatever opinion you want about helmets, but don't try to force that opinion on people.

I respect your opinion; I'm not trying to convert anyone. I don't care at all what other folks put on their head. I don't believe in helmet laws either...to each his/her own.

I don't think the thread was started to convert anyone.

I wear a helmet for 2 reasons:

1) I make my kids wear helmets and have to set an example. If I get crashed into and killed, so be it. If one of my kids gets hit and killed, then I have to kill whoever hit them and I'd wind up in jail. Not worth jail time, easier to wear the helmet. And I'm not saying that a helmet will protect me from injury or death, it just won't. But it might help.

2) I started wearing it in 01-02 when I started skiing again after missing 2 seasons with ski injuries. BAD ones. Almost lost a leg. When I saw my X-ray of that leg I was astounded at the damage. Whatever I hit knocked a 1 foot long section of my left tibia clean out. 2 breaks. Lucky I healed. My doctor's only words to me were "it's a good thing you didn't go down head first".

Again, a helmet would not have prevented my injuries or kept me alive if I had hit my head. It's likely I would have snapped my neck anyway. But it can't hurt.

 

[dmc]

Basically I believe that you can have whatever opinion you want about helmets, but don't try to force that opinion on people.

nice - does that apply to helping people with yardsales too?

I wear one.. But there are days i don't.. mostly when it's like 70 out...

 

[threecy]

If I have kids someday, maybe. Now? No.

 

[Dr Skimeister]

I became a regular helmet user when I realized a day could come when I might say, "Damn, wish I had worn a helmet" . Might be too late then.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I became a helmet wearer do to my Mom...She told me that if I have a bad head injury in a ski accident and become a vegetable..I'd have to move back in with my parents and I'd never have sex for the rest of my life...that was reason enough..lol