Cully Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 I was at Blue Mountain this week, and I couldn't believe how many people still ski/snowboard without a helmet. I know that a lot of people have the, "it won't happen to me" mentality, but it surprises me how many educated people don't wear one. Some of my friends won't wear one because of style, and others cause they are stubborn. I worked with some individuals who have brain injuries, and have seen what can happen first hand. Pretty scary actually, how one blow to the head can change your life forever. I just wonder why so man folks don't think of the consequences.Every time I pick up my helmet and see all the dings/marks, I am so happy that I have one!I am just wondering what folks here think of the issue. Do you think that helmets will be manditory soon? I hope so... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cully Posted January 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 Perhaps I should have posted this in the sports forum, but not everyone checks those threads out... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phorbesie Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 what are you hitting your head on?i have been on the hill since i was 4 (so 30 years) and never worn a helmet. great if you want to wear one. i don't plan on starting now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cully Posted January 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 Ice, a tree, another person on the hill... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AD Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 i always wear a helmet when snowboarding. i don't understand why some people don't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarinGarage Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 Out here in colorado, I think everyone should for sure wear one. There's much more dangerous terrain and such around here. But even helmets won't always save you. 2 people in CO so far this year have died from hitting trees while wearing helmets, you can still get severe head and neck injuries, but of course, your chances are much better of surviving with a helmet. It doesn't matter how could a skiier or boarder you are, you could still hit a patch of ice or bump that you can't see and could send you outta control. Plus i think helmets keep your hfead warmer than hats alone! What really surprises me around here is the number of people that go backcountry skiing without the proper equipment... beacons, probes shovels; especially this yera because the avalnche risk is very high this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvet Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 Of course I wear a helmet.My head is my most striking feature. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Wooly Mammoth Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 i started wearing a helmet two years ago. I make my kids wear helmets, and I fugured that i should take my own advice. No matter how good a skier you are, somebody else can hit you. (Someone ran into my 6 yr old today at Camp fortune, for example. actually broke a piece on his binding.)And I know a really good skiier who had a major wipeout on Hegtveit a couple of years ago when he misjudged the edge due to the lighting conditions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmic ChrisC Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 Oh my...people wear helmets now on ski hills?! Times have changed! When I skied, it wasn't even an option! Do people still drink beer on chairlifts? Betcha you can't get away with that anymore! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarinGarage Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 Oh my...people wear helmets now on ski hills?! Times have changed! When I skied, it wasn't even an option! Do people still drink beer on chairlifts? Betcha you can't get away with that anymore!You can, just gotta be sneaky. I find carrying a flask is much more convenient, and yet another reason I wear a helmet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmic ChrisC Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 I used to hide Budweiser cans in every pocket of my ski jacket and drink as much as possible on the chairlift. Once, I puked when getting off the chairlift and had to push around snow with my skis to clean up the mess. That was night skiing; I think it was easier to get away with stuff at night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hartamophone Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 I still don't wear a helmet when I ski. To be honest, until recently it just hadn't occurred to me despite seeing other people wear them. As I've seen them become more common, though, I've been thinking more and more about it. I'm sure I'll take the plunge this season or next. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AD Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 No matter how good a skier you are, somebody else can hit you. And I know a really good skiier who had a major wipeout on Hegtveit a couple of years ago when he misjudged the edge due to the lighting conditions.ummmmmmmmm........ accidents can happen to anyone........ skill has absolutely nothing to do with the reasons for or against wearing a helmet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaggyBalls Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 can they be rented? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geomouse Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 (edited) Helmets are for people expecting a rough ride.my .02 Edited January 11, 2009 by Guest I can't spell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adambrot Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 when I snowboard, I like to ride at the edge of my capabilities, which keeps me pushing my limits, improving and I enjoy going for the adrenaline... it also means I fall a lot.Just after the rain over the holidays, I seriously whacked my head on hard packed snow (basically ice) when I fell over backwards when going at a good speed. I was very happy to have my helmet on and rode away with just a sore ego.I also like to go off the trails and zip around in the powder in the woods. I've hit a tree or two in the past and wouldn't recommend trying that without a helmet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancingbear Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 Of course I wear a helmet.My head is my most striking feature. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burnt Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 Only time I ever wore a helmet was when I used to race. When I hit the FIS level helmets were no longer mandatory and I stopped wearing it. Never liked wearing helmets mostly because they are very uncomfortable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AD Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 fwiw, FIS standards were changed in 2006 and since then helmets have been mandatory for all disciplines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burnt Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 fwiw, FIS standards were changed in 2006 and since then helmets have been mandatory for all disciplines.Well it's been approx 14-15 years since I raced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaggyBalls Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 So you can't rent them?I wonder why not. It'd be totally worth it for the hill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StoneMtn Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 I always wear my helmet riding. It is the most comfortable hat I've ever owned, and is wired to my iPod. At this point I couldn't imagine riding the mountain without it. It would feel weird. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boiler Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 A helmet may have saved my buddies life last year in Whistler. He hit some rocks, went down and rolled over a rock field. He broke many bones and had a pretty lengthy hospital stay, but luckily, no head injuries b/c of his helmet. That being said, I've never wore a helmet on the hill and I used to be a mad man out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AD Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 So you can't rent them?I wonder why not. It'd be totally worth it for the hill.i don't know about other hills, but you can rent helmets at Edelweiss (near Ottawa). you can buy a good one for under $100. i wouldn't feel comfortable in a rented helmet.and yeah, like stonemtn said, my helmet is super comfortable, warm, and is wired with my ipod.can anyone determine what the downside of wearing a helmet is? do you think anyone who's been in an accident where they hit their head has said 'man, i sure am glad i'm not wearing a helmet?' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hartamophone Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 Helmets are for people expecting a rough ride.my .02So are seatbelts for people expecting a car crash? Whether or not your wear a helmet is your own business (and like I said, I haven't yet started wearing one), but it would be foolish to expect to be able to avoid all crashes on the hill and always know when you're likely to have one. There are just too many factors at play aside from the individual skier/rider. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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