Face protection needed... any advice?!

Hi Guys and Gals,
A couple of weeks back i broke my cheekbone playing rugby, and have since had surgery to have a titanium plate put on the cheekbone. Obviously, this will take some months to heal, but I'm going skiing over new year!!!!

Basically, I think the only way i can go is if i find something to protect my face. I have thought about a slalom helmet with the chin protector, a paintball mask, a neoprene mask (won't provide enough protection) and now i am out of ideas! :(

Is there anything you lot can think of? I do normally wear a helmet and goggles, but they won't provide protection for the cheekbone...

Thanks,
CleverIdiot

If you already have a helmet, you can buy various "guards" which can screw on helmet.

There are many on market. You can chose the model you wish. One comment if you do not mind.

The more you cover the face the greater problems you will have with "fog" mist! You must allow air from lungs to circulate well and away from glasses or goggles. I prefer the wire mesh models.

See Reliable racing!

What position do you play ! I suspect a forward. Now if you were a back........

I was thinking the slalom thing although you also need a skin tight suit and race skis to carry off the look )

I noticed in Tignes last month, up on the training lanes, Race suites and baggy shorts are very popular this season. Any my didn't they look fetching :shock:

actually, i'm a full back :P

i have a uvex helmet at the moment, with some bolle goggles. i'm afraid i don't know the model of the uvex helmet... i can't seem to find a matching image anywhere on the internet :( but, i can't see anywhere where one would attach a guard to it... unless i went DIY with a srill, whcih would surely ruin the structural integrity of the helmet, rendering it worthless.

cleveridiot wrote:actually, i'm a full back :P

i have a uvex helmet at the moment, with some bolle goggles. i'm afraid i don't know the model of the uvex helmet... i can't seem to find a matching image anywhere on the internet :( but, i can't see anywhere where one would attach a guard to it... unless i went DIY with a srill, whcih would surely ruin the structural integrity of the helmet, rendering it worthless.

You will need to choose a helmet suitable for slalom competition to get the chin guard option. Or, find one suitable for skiercross which are like moto-x helmets. Here's a couple of examples.

Slalom
http://www.maplus.com/product.php?productid=121&cat=113&page=1

Skiercross
http://stores.channeladvisor.com/sports-closeouts/Snowboarding/Helmets/Big%20Mountain/

can't really advise but i would like to commend you on not being deterred at all despite having a plate attached to your jaw!! That's what i would call having your priorities right!!

:D

cheers souldrive :D

had some fairly bad luck with skiing last year over new year... was in Wengen. On some icy moguls, only a red, took 1 wrong and caught an edge. As i fell, i managed to plant my right hand pole, and then fell on to it. With my eye. I had double lensed goggles, the pole (handle end) broke the 1st layer, and the 2nd layer bent into my eye. Left me with an almighty black eye... and 2 tears in my retina which required laser eye surgery to repair, otherwise the retina would have become detached and i would have been blind in 1 eye.

But hopefully i'll be luckier this time, I managed a week in St. Anton without any freak accidents!


:D