The Ski Helmet Debate

Tony_H wrote:I really get annoyed when I see people skiing in hats with fake red hair, court jesters hats, or something stupid like a big fluffy bobble like my (Gran)Dad

EFA, no charge. 8)

Tony_H wrote:I really get annoyed when I see people skiing in hats with fake red hair, court jesters hats, or something stupid like that. I cant explain why.

It'll be an age related thing I expect :P )

I just had a quick read through some of the postings in this thread - Some arguements I agree, some not..
I've posted about this incident before, but found it relative to this thead so here goes..
Yes, it is personal decision - But in my honest opinion - we MUST put personal safety first.

I had an experience in September 2008 - I landed on my head from 10 feet on hard packed snow.. (My own fault I guess, I went off a kicker onto an airbag and shot straight off it) At the moment of impact, I was completely paralized, the medical crew were adamant that i'd broken my spine..
Couple of hours later I am lying hospital and after the Morphene wore off, I got feeling back in my hands first - slowly coming back round and got feeling in my upper body..

Yes, when I started to get the feeling back, I felt such severe pain it was unbelievable - My entire body siezed up and it wouldn't let go again which then made my spine hurt even more..
It turns out I'd badly damaged a muscle at the bottom of my spine - the L4 section.

I was wearing a helmet when it happened - I was told by the doctors and surgeons who came in to see me that had I not worn a helmet, I could well have been permenantly paralized..

So for me, that changed everything in relation to skiing - I now wear a helmet even when just going to the Xscape for an hour or two.
Of course, not with falling 10 feet in mind - but I wear a helmet nonetheless because the posibilities of hitting your head are endless - be it falling awkwardly or coliding with another skier/boarder.

I like to enjoy personal experiences of such incidents, to give people another view to see from in terms of personal safety.. but I guess as always, nobody ever learns until it happens to themselves.

Happy and safe skiing :D

tino_11 wrote:.

I exclude activities such as throwing down tricks, catching big air and generally being rad from this analysis )

The sad thing is that many kids/young adults doing tricks in the park, don't wear helmets because they think it isn't cool. I always shudder watching them sliding on steel rails, and bonking metal post.

Bonking is banging your skis, or snowboard against something while in mid air, for those uneducated in park parlance :wink:

Trencher

Trencher wrote:

Bonking is banging your skis, or snowboard against something while in mid air, for those uneducated in park parlance :wink:

Trencher

Really? When I was young bonking was something quite different, although people did do it occasionally in the park - but not usually wearing a helmet :lol:

Ally

Baillie, you wear a helmet because you hit your head. And you hit your head because you were doing things most skiers wouldnt. If you are going to do tricks, I think a helmet is good advice as the chances are you will have a fall.
Increase the risk means taking better precautions.

Tony_H wrote:Baillie, you wear a helmet because you hit your head. And you hit your head because you were doing things most skiers wouldnt. If you are going to do tricks, I think a helmet is good advice as the chances are you will have a fall.
Increase the risk means taking better precautions.

Here Here :wink:

Baillie, that's quite a story. I hope you recovered 100%. I'm assuming you bought a new helmet?

A guy we met in our chalet started wearing a helmet after a bad fall on piste, hitting his head on a tree and having to have stitches leaving blood all over the snow. Things like this can change your mind I suppose.