New helmet rules from Canada...will they start a trend?

[legalskier]

Whistler Blackcomb toughens rules for helmet use by skiers, boarders
Intrawest move comes after death of famous actress on Quebec slope
By Doug Ward, Canwest News ServiceOctober 2, 2009 6:13 AM

Six months after actress Natasha Richardson died at its Mont-Tremblant ski facility, Intrawest has toughened helmet rules at its 11 North American resorts, including Whistler Blackcomb. Vancouver-based Intrawest announced Thursday that it is urging all skiers and snowboarders at its resorts to wear helmets. While helmet use will remain a personal choice for most Intrawest guests, it will be mandatory for children and youth participants in the company's ski and snowboard programs during the 2009-2010 season. Helmets will also be obligatory for all students in freestyle terrain park programs. By the 2010-2011 season, helmets will also be mandatory for Intrawest employees while skiing or snowboarding in terrain parks while on duty. Staff will also have to wear helmets if they instruct or guide in programs in which participants are required to use helmets. Whistler Blackcomb president Dave Brownlie said the new emphasis on helmets at Intrawest is part of the evolution of safety protocols in the ski industry -- and not related to Richardson's highly-publicized death after a fall at Mount Tremblant in Quebec in March. Richardson, who was not wearing a helmet, died of a blood clot on the brain after a minor fall on an easy run. Under the new Intrawest rules, she would still not have been required to wear a helmet. "I think it's the right direction for us to go at Whistler Blackcomb and in the ski industry," Brownlie said. "I think that ski helmets do provide additional safety in certain circumstances." The protection provided by helmets, however, decreases with the speed of the skier or snowboarder, he added. "Helmets definitely add to safety and they lower risk but they don't protect in all high-risk situations."Some ski-safety experts have argued that helmets can backfire by giving skiers and snowboarders a false sense of security that causes them to go faster and take more risks. Brownlie said technology has advanced to the point where helmets don't impede hearing or decrease peripheral vision -- two elements that could become factors in accidents. Brownlie added that the use of helmets grows every winter at Whistler Blackcomb. "It's been a change in the culture."
http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/...les+helmet+skiers+boarders/2058795/story.html

 

[St. Bear]

Interesting. Maybe it's my NH blood, but I hope we don't ever get to a point where a helmet becomes mandatory.

I personally don't wear a helmet. When I was growing up, only racers wore helmets. When I picked skiing back up, it wasn't even an option in my mind, and I was surprised by the number of helmets.

 

[WWF-VT]

These policies are for Intrawest resorts which include Stratton in VT, Mountain Creek in NJ and Snowshoe in WV

 

[PomfretPlunge]

I don't wear a helmet and prob. never will.

But I help run our school ski club and last year, on the last run of the last day, two 7th graders decided to race each other down, bumped into each other and one flew off the trail into the rocks. He was wearing a helmet and it probably saved his life. He escaped with a badly broken leg.

 

[Glenn]

It'll be interesting to see how this progresses. It's a hotly debated topic on this forum; that's for sure.

If you wear one great, if you don't great. Life is all about choices; and we should be free to make them on our own.

 

[legalskier]

These policies are for Intrawest resorts which include Stratton in VT, Mountain Creek in NJ and Snowshoe in WV

Ah, then let me rephrase the question: "New helmet rules from Canada...will they start a trend?"
Would the mods modify the thread question?

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

wearing a helmet has never given me a false sense of security...its not like after 23 years of skiing without one, on the day I put one on I suddenly felt 8' tall and bullet proof. The one thing it did do was allow me to just duck my head to avoid small branches in the woods as opposed to having to throw my hands up to block. In the 10 years since I started wearing one, I've been very glad it was on about a dozen times. Plus, they're warm, comfortable, and IMO, much less of a hassle than a hat...you move your goggles and a hat slides all over your head...always sliding around and riding up...helmets stay in place much better. My $.02

I'm not some timid scaredy cat that does everything as safely as possible like Ben Stiller in that movie with Jen Aniston...I played rugby for 10 years, not exactly a low impact sport...but when doing something risky I think its good sense to do what you can to mitigate any negative consequences...riding a motorcycle, helmets a damned good idea, using a table saw...eye protection is a good idea...one night stand...a condom is a good idea...hauling ass down snow and ice, surrounded by rock and trees...helmets are a good idea. I don't get the whole "I'll never wear one" schtick that some of our members are on...do you think it makes you look less cool? Less core? They aren't heavy...there are enough variations in fit and style for every head shape and get up you're rocking...so why not? Don't get me wrong, I think you should have the choice...I just don't understand how not wearing one is something that otherwise smart people choose to do. My soapbox...your melon, your choice...but if you don't do it for yourself, think about your parents...kids or significant other.

 

[campgottagopee]

Awesome---nuther helmet debate

 

[St. Bear]

wearing a helmet has never given me a false sense of security...its not like after 23 years of skiing without one, on the day I put one on I suddenly felt 8' tall and bullet proof. The one thing it did do was allow me to just duck my head to avoid small branches in the woods as opposed to having to throw my hands up to block. In the 10 years since I started wearing one, I've been very glad it was on about a dozen times. Plus, they're warm, comfortable, and IMO, much less of a hassle than a hat...you move your goggles and a hat slides all over your head...always sliding around and riding up...helmets stay in place much better. My $.02

I'm not some timid scaredy cat that does everything as safely as possible like Ben Stiller in that movie with Jen Aniston...I played rugby for 10 years, not exactly a low impact sport...but when doing something risky I think its good sense to do what you can to mitigate any negative consequences...riding a motorcycle, helmets a damned good idea, using a table saw...eye protection is a good idea...one night stand...a condom is a good idea...hauling ass down snow and ice, surrounded by rock and trees...helmets are a good idea. I don't get the whole "I'll never wear one" schtick that some of our members are on...do you think it makes you look less cool? Less core? They aren't heavy...there are enough variations in fit and style for every head shape and get up you're rocking...so why not? Don't get me wrong, I think you should have the choice...I just don't understand how not wearing one is something that otherwise smart people choose to do. My soapbox...your melon, your choice...but if you don't do it for yourself, think about your parents...kids or significant other.

I don't think anybody is making fun of you for wearing a helmet. Your second paragraph sounds very defensive, I don't know where it comes from. I think all of us are mature enough to make our own decisions.

 

[MogulQueen]

I wear one. I started because my kids started questioning me on why I don't practice what I preach. I wasn't thrilled about doing it, but I've gotten used to it. I kinda feel funny without one now.

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

I don't think anybody is making fun of you for wearing a helmet. Your second paragraph sounds very defensive, I don't know where it comes from. I think all of us are mature enough to make our own decisions.

not defensive at all...just wanted to explain that I'm not by nature someone who is risk averse and goes out of my way to not do anything risky. I'm not a nervous nellie who seeks to protect myself in any and every way possible...but that there are some things that are kind of obvious. I really couldn't care less if anyone was making fun of me for wearing a helmet...I can get down the hill well enough that its not an issue.

 

[andyzee]

Awesome---nuther helmet debate

Hey, you could never have enough!

Don't matter to me since I always wear a helmet anyway.

 

[millerm277]

Couple of things:

1. This doesn't seem new. They aren't regulating what their normal paying customers wear. They are making staff wear them when working, which makes sense. "setting a good example". And, I see no problem with doing that, just like a normal company can regulate uniform, they can regulate what employees wear when they're working. For all children in lessons seems a bit excessive, but that's it.

2. I don't think any ski area will ever turn away paying customers by making them wear helmets....it doesn't do them any good to.

 

[wa-loaf]

Awesome---nuther helmet debate

Hey, debate or not it's your choice. Just don't try to make me debate if I don't want to. Although it's good for other people to debate, just not my cup of tea.

You sound kind of defensive about the debate. What's up with that?

 

[Puck it]

I think it should be a choice. My helmet saved me two years ago from getting messed up at I caught a tip in snow drift in the fog and got turn around. I proceed to slam the back of my head on the ice after the drift. I saw stars even with a helmet on. I did not see anybody come by me at all. I would have been out there for a while. I will not ski without it unless it is very warm.

 

[speden]

Helmet debates are great.

I think it makes sense to require children to wear helmets. They aren't old enough to make the decision not to wear one, it's not in their control if their parents understand the risks or not, and peer pressure to look cool is a strong risk factor for them. Also habits formed during childhood will carry over into adulthood. For example, when I grew up it wasn't common to wear seatbelts in cars. To this day my older brother distains wearing them, and I think it's because we never had to when growing up. And he's a smart guy (who I hope never gets into a fender bender and cracks his head open).

It also makes sense for resort employees to wear them. They set the example for kids and everyone else who visits the place.

For adults with their own health insurance I think they should have the freedom to choose not to wear a helmet once in a while. It does set a bad example for others, but it's their head, and hopefully they won't make others pay to cover their injuries (or sue the resort).

Resorts should make helmets available in their rental shops as well. It's one thing for an adult to choose not to wear a helmet. It's another thing when they don't wear one just because they don't have one.

 

[Glenn]

"""If you wear one great, if you don't great. Life is all about choices; and we should be free to make them on our own."""

Are you willing and able to live with and accept the consequences?

Absolutely. If I hit a lift tower at mach 6, I won't sue the ski are for putting it there. That's how I roll.

 

[campgottagopee]

Hey, you could never have enough!

Don't matter to me since I always wear a helmet anyway.

No matter here either because I don't wear one---all the more reason to stay out of Canada, eh???

 

[campgottagopee]

Hey, debate or not it's your choice. Just don't try to make me debate if I don't want to. Although it's good for other people to debate, just not my cup of tea.

You sound kind of defensive about the debate. What's up with that?

Best defense is a good offense---no helmet for me, no debating about it. I enjoy watching/reading people trying to change each others minds. I think it's kinda funny.

Carry on

 

[campgottagopee]

Helmet debates are great.

I think it makes sense to require children to wear helmets. They aren't old enough to make the decision not to wear one, it's not in their control if their parents understand the risks or not, and peer pressure to look cool is a strong risk factor for them. Also habits formed during childhood will carry over into adulthood. For example, when I grew up it wasn't common to wear seatbelts in cars. To this day my older brother distains wearing them, and I think it's because we never had to when growing up. And he's a smart guy (who I hope never gets into a fender bender and cracks his head open).

It also makes sense for resort employees to wear them. They set the example for kids and everyone else who visits the place.

For adults with their own health insurance I think they should have the freedom to choose not to wear a helmet once in a while. It does set a bad example for others, but it's their head, and hopefully they won't make others pay to cover their injuries (or sue the resort).

Resorts should make helmets available in their rental shops as well. It's one thing for an adult to choose not to wear a helmet. It's another thing when they don't wear one just because they don't have one.

Why should kids be "required" to wear helmets. I didn't, and look at me I'm fine :dunce: