Helmets

Tony_H wrote:

Mark c wrote:. Most people who hire are beginners and more likely to be out of control.

Interesting comment. I'd be keen to hear (Admin....?) if this is the case.

Maybe we can get something useful out of a helmet thread after all, or is it Groundhog Day, again?

ZZZzzzzzzzzzzz :wink:

Tony_H wrote:

Mark c wrote:. Most people who hire are beginners and more likely to be out of control.

Interesting comment. I'd be keen to hear (Admin....?) if this is the case.

Not the case at all, apparently - according to SkiSet (who do hire one or two ski packs each season!) only about 15-20% of hirers are beginners, 20-25% are expert level with the rest inters. If anything the hire market seems weighted toward the more experienced skier in fact.

Back on topic - hiring helmets is not really a good plan; the person hiring has no idea of the history of the lid, and the guys in the shop have no idea what's happened to it when it comes back off the hill. Given that helmets should really be replaced after any hard knock (the lining compresses to absorb impacts, so will work less effectively next time), hiring should be seen as a fallback but not the solution.

If you want to wear a helmet - buy one. 8)

Admin you forgot to say that they stink too

I really can't believe people hire lids :shock: :shock:

Just bought a couple of Salomon lids for me and the Wife....I checked in a few different places to find sizes/types etc and they all said that helmet sales have virtually trebled compared to last year - the reason we bought them isn't so much due to oursleves falling over but getting wiped out by someone else.

Will be interesting to see just how many people are wearing them (off to Les Gets on 15th Jan!!). Was really surprised by how light and comfortable they are actually.

Admin wrote:

Tony_H wrote:

Mark c wrote:. Most people who hire are beginners and more likely to be out of control.

Interesting comment. I'd be keen to hear (Admin....?) if this is the case.

Not the case at all, apparently - according to SkiSet (who do hire one or two ski packs each season!) only about 15-20% of hirers are beginners, 20-25% are expert level with the rest inters. If anything the hire market seems weighted toward the more experienced skier in fact.

I wondered if this might be the case, thanks for clearing that up.

Admin wrote:Back on topic - hiring helmets is not really a good plan; the person hiring has no idea of the history of the lid, and the guys in the shop have no idea what's happened to it when it comes back off the hill. Given that helmets should really be replaced after any hard knock (the lining compresses to absorb impacts, so will work less effectively next time), hiring should be seen as a fallback but not the solution.

If you want to wear a helmet - buy one. 8)

Sound advice indeed, for those that want to wear one.

I really do believe in safety but wearing helmets voluntarily makes it easier for control freaks to impliment it as law.
Before we all know it, we will be facing the ever increasing British Health & Safety laws on the slopes and then eveyone will be moaning they are too strict and spoil the fun we all seek.
I used to ride a Fireblade and by putting leathers and a helmet on gave me a false sence of security that convinced me riding at 160 mph was safe. (Think about it)
Like someone has already commented, helmets will convince people that they are safe at any cost and will ski accordingly, this is what gets other people injured.
Having said all that I am thinking about buying a helmet this year but if I wear it or not is yet to be seen.
Ski to your limits!

Acko, with respect I gotta disagree with a couple of your points.

I really do believe in safety but wearing helmets voluntarily makes it easier for control freaks to impliment it as law.

I don't get the connection. But lets assume it's true. Does that mean that in order to make it more difficult for legislation to be made, that nobody should wear a helmet? That's bizarre! I completely disagree with it being made compulsory - all adults should be free to make their own choices. But your point is a bit topsy turvy even for my (off the wall) mind.

I used to ride a Fireblade and by putting leathers and a helmet on gave me a false sence of security that convinced me riding at 160 mph was safe. (Think about it)

Really? Acko, when you're doing 160mph on a bike, leathers and lid or not, you know you're not safe :lol: I'm not having a go here. I've had bikes myself, the last one being a Fazer 600, and have been on the back of an R1 doing in excess of that speed. Nothing about the experience generates a feeling of safety - the forces exerted on your whole body are immense and pretty difficult to ignore to that extent!

Others have also made the point about wearing a helmet skiing giving people the feeling that they're safer or invincible or whatever. It's not true of everybody I can assure you. It's a generalisation. Some may be affected like that, but I do believe they're in the minority, and I find it difficult to believe that they weren't a bit reckless to start off with. I don't buy into the concept of the immediate transformation from timid sensible considerate skier without a lid, to arrogant aggressive mentalhead with a lid. Sorry.