The Ski Helmet Debate

Stewart Dowling wrote:PS. I dont care if anyone wears a helmet, a woolly hat, a bowler hat, a fez, a baseball cap, a beanie, a panama hat, even a jimmy hat.
It is an individuals choice in what they wear and how they are going about their business.
My choice is mine and mine alone.

I wish someone who doesnt wear either would join this debate and give a 3 dimension to it.

I would rather never wear a hat at all. They just don't suit me.

I don't care if someone wears one or not either. Agree it is personal choice.

Got a helmet last year, looks as crap as a woolly on me, but I did take a fall on ice and saw stars. So for me, see point in them. But am in total agreement - each to their own.

ir12daveor wrote:

Tony_H wrote:

There is clearly a sway towards wearing them, mainly because of media hype over the Natasha Richardson incident. It has not been proven that a helmet would have saved her life at all.

There are quite a lot of flaws in arguments you post in the helmet debate, but to me a statement like the one above shows how little time you actually really spend in ski resorts. There has been a Sway towards using helmets for at least the last 6-7 years, probably more. There were already people wearing helmets the first year I started snowboarding in 2001, the number has increased steadily every year since. Since 2003 I reckon I visit at least 10 different resorts in Switzerland a year, this year it has already been 17. I may be talking about only one country, but in Switzerland the sway towards wearing helmets goes back many years, and certainly long before Natasha Richardsons unfortunate accident.

Mate, I am a recreational skier from England, and am lucky enough to spend maybe 3 weeks a season in a ski resort. To me thats pretty good going, but I appreciate its nothing in comparison to the lucky ones like yourself.

I do however think you are being a little disrespectful, as I have simply said that the numbers of helmets you notice has been on the increase recently, but I have seen people wearing helmets since I started skiing back in 2001. Mainly kids it has to be said, but also plenty of backcountry skiers.

I notice now there are far more pots on boarders heads, and that many more recreational skiers wear them too. In comparison to maybe 3 years ago, I'd say there was probably 5 or 6 times the number of people now wearing them. But thats got nothing to do with how often I ski, or makes my opinion less worthwhile.

Anyway, I think we have ascertained the points I raised previously.

Tony_H wrote:

ir12daveor wrote:

Tony_H wrote:

There is clearly a sway towards wearing them, mainly because of media hype over the Natasha Richardson incident. It has not been proven that a helmet would have saved her life at all.

There are quite a lot of flaws in arguments you post in the helmet debate, but to me a statement like the one above shows how little time you actually really spend in ski resorts. There has been a Sway towards using helmets for at least the last 6-7 years, probably more. There were already people wearing helmets the first year I started snowboarding in 2001, the number has increased steadily every year since. Since 2003 I reckon I visit at least 10 different resorts in Switzerland a year, this year it has already been 17. I may be talking about only one country, but in Switzerland the sway towards wearing helmets goes back many years, and certainly long before Natasha Richardsons unfortunate accident.

Mate, I am a recreational skier from England, and am lucky enough to spend maybe 3 weeks a season in a ski resort. To me thats pretty good going, but I appreciate its nothing in comparison to the lucky ones like yourself.

I do however think you are being a little disrespectful, as I have simply said that the numbers of helmets you notice has been on the increase recently, but I have seen people wearing helmets since I started skiing back in 2001. Mainly kids it has to be said, but also plenty of backcountry skiers.

I notice now there are far more pots on boarders heads, and that many more recreational skiers wear them too. In comparison to maybe 3 years ago, I'd say there was probably 5 or 6 times the number of people now wearing them. But thats got nothing to do with how often I ski, or makes my opinion less worthwhile.

Anyway, I think we have ascertained the points I raised previously.

Spending a most the of time in a small number of resorts does have an effect on what you see. If the resort is predominately people with the same background and opinion as you then I would expect you to see less helmets. But look at the bigger picture. I have been to some resorts that are more heavily populated by overseas tourists then others. I do notice less helmets on the tourists then I do on locals, and in the resorts mainly visited by locals it is almost becoming a rarity to see someone with no helmet whether they are skiing on or off piste.

Don't get me wrong, I actually would hate to see a legislation demanding people to wear helmets. You are entitled to not wear one. I have no problem with that. What I do have a problem with is the attitude that I am a good skier, I don't need one because I will never hit my head. Noone, and I really mean noone can have so much confidence in their own ability that they can avoid anything unforeseeable happening on the slopes. You are free to not wear a helmet, but accept that you are human and stop putting out the attitude that if you are good enough you don't need one.

For what it's worth (seeing as this topic's been trounced already) my hair looks godawful after a day's skiing whether I wear a wooly hat or a lid! :cry:

As far as stats go, I'll leave the analysis of these to people with more time.

Wore a lid for the first time this year (only my third time skiing) following a pretty firm 'request' from my other half, which I chose not to challenge.

Verdict - it's sweaty and I looked like a bit of a pleb. However, if it helps me just once over my skiing life to avoid a bump turning in to a big deal involving hospital visits, 'fit to fly' notes etc during my precious holiday time then I guess it's worth it. If it prevents something even worse then better again. I know the odds are stacked against an accident of this type - but it's gotta happen to someone, and I don't remember getting a ticket guaranteeing I will be excluded from the law of averages :wink:

So I am resigned to forever being a sweaty pleb on future ski hols - give me a wave when you see me :D

Hi EmmaEvs,
Welcome to the Forum :D

It's nice to hear something from someone new here. This year was my first year for wearing a helmet as well - but my head didn't get sweaty. My new helmet has lots of holes in the top of it, for vents I suppose.

One of the good things about helmets and hats, is that they hide one's bald patches and grey hair, which is something becoming increasingly important to me as I get older. It was quite a shock when my afternoon instructor took us all into a mountain cafe for a hot chocolate (because it was snowing quite heavily and he was being nice) to see what everyone looked like without their hats/helmets on :shock:

Ally

I had posted a weblink link to a photo of a J2skier who was wearing a helmet way back in 2001, but the owner has taken the photo down, sorry folks.

AllyG wrote:Hi EmmaEvs,
Welcome to the Forum :D

This year was my first year for wearing a helmet as well but my head didn't get sweaty.


Ally

I agree with you Ally, it is just like my feet they never get sweaty hence the one pair of socks :lol: :lol:
So there must be a comparison somewhere between my feet and Ally's head :lol: :lol:

Ian Wickham wrote:

AllyG wrote:Hi EmmaEvs,
Welcome to the Forum :D

This year was my first year for wearing a helmet as well but my head didn't get sweaty.


Ally

I agree with you Ally, it is just like my feet they never get sweaty hence the one pair of socks :lol: :lol:
So there must be a comparison somewhere between my feet and Ally's head :lol: :lol:

Perhaps your socks have lots of holes like Ally's helmet? )