The Ski Helmet Debate

Learn to snowboard, fall backwards down a hardpacked piste...... not wearing a helmet..... that was enough for me to start wearing a helmet (whether i'm boarding or skiing). That and when someone tries to play 'tap ma heed' on the ski lifts with the safety bar ie they sat down so everyone must be ready...

I respect the right of anybody to wear or not to wear a helmet, i prefer to, but not all my group does, but i do recommend to those learning to snowboard, where you get little warning when the edge bites back!!! :roll:

Once upon a time, I thought wearing a helmet would make me look like a wannabee racer or Eric Sperimental (say it quickly!).

But now I am not in the slightest bit self-conscious about it, having been smacked in the swede by the safety bar, with helmet on thankfully, by a very hasty German on a chairlift.

Don't feel properly equipped unless I have the lid on - and in most respects I am quite old school, having started ski-ing in 1972! I also boxed, played rugby for years, did judo to a high level, without the slightest thought of wearing head protection (wore a gumshield, though).

I accept it's a personal choice, but I have the feeling it won't be too long before wearing a helmet becomes compulsory to validate ski insurance (especially in North America).

How good (or bad) an alternative are Ribcap beanies or do they give a false sense of security ?

http://www.ribcap.ch/cms/pages/index.php?lang=4&idcat=85

Aitch

Ian Wickham wrote:

bandit wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:

ATOO wrote:I can only snowboard and have never tried skiing so I dont know how hard you fall but jeez....I've done judo and rugby but never hit the deck so hard and as fast as when i caught a wrong edge :oops:

Helmet for me thanks

I agree the decision is made on your ability level, as you have played sport you will know what it is like to be hit from the back and no one
yet has mentioned back protection ........ Roboskier here we come :mrgreen:

I think I'm seeing a certain disdain for folks using body armour Wickers? :D You've mentioned this before.

But just wait until the first back injury of the season .......... the marketing men will certainly get to work, but I do not really mind what people ware because it is individual choice,
but I would guess that the most common ski injury is thumbs and hamstrings and knees so I would wonder how much attention people put to these areas. 8)

Trying to compare apples with oranges again!!! There is one huge flaw in your argument. Back protectors have not been shown to prevent anything more then a bruise, helmets have!

I am a sports scientist, the type of trauma that would lead to a serious back injury will not be prevented by the style of back protectors that are currently available. All they can do is spread the load so that you won't get bruised as easily. There is not enough support to do anything else. Helmets on the other hand have been shown to reduce the severity of head injuries when they are worn.

LOTA wrote:

I accept it's a personal choice, but I have the feeling it won't be too long before wearing a helmet becomes compulsory to validate ski insurance (especially in North America).

Interestingly, I think you might see compulsory helmets in Europe first. There is a very strong libertarian streak in the US, witness motorcycle helmets not required, and child restraints in cars only recently becoming an issue.

Trencher

Trencher, if the insurers take the move 1st, by loading premiums for those not wishing to wear helmets, (or cutting cover for head injuries for non users) then it could push the issue. Way back at the start of 2005, when I was hit by a skier in a European resort, my insurer requested a written statement, which included the helmet wearing Q.

In Finland children who wear helmets get free lift passes. Mind you if I had kids that skiied I would make them wear one.

It's a really interesting debate...many of my thoughts about why I should get a helmet and why I don't need one have been echoed by others however, as I have been explaing to my wife why I think she should wear one (along with my children) it has become difficult to justify (even to myself) why I alone have become invincible and would survive a bad fall whereas all others would be badly injured!

Although I am fully against the health and safety brigades relentless erosion of personal responsibility I'm begining to think that it reminds me that the compulsary use of seat belts in cars was totally absurd when it was intruduced.

Needless to say, my wife will ensure that first thing tomorrow I will belt up securely and head to Ellis Brigham returning with a shiny new helmet....obviously the life insurance policy is not as attractive as I had thought.

9 days...................