Will you wear a helmet-new poll

McCruiskeen

Wow, I can't believe so many people don't wear helmets. I had always worn one, although never came close to hitting my head.

But last Sunday on an innocuous hill, went flying and landed on my noggin. Still had a headache after even with the helmet on, so would hate to think what would have happened without one. My helmet saved me. No matter how good a skier I think I am I will never ski without one know.

It's the kind of thing you don't think you need until you REALLY need it.

Rew

Poll was started a few years ago, I would say that attitudes have changed a bit since. My helmet has a mark where a snowboard hit it at speed.

robinph

This is a new thread for new voting, I'm actually a bit curious as to if the general trend changes over time as Rew suggests.

Have moved the last couple of posts from the last thread to start a shiny new thread for us. Previous thread and poll is here.

McCruiskeen

robinph wrote: »

This is a new thread for new voting, I'm actually a bit curious as to if the general trend changes over time as Rew suggests.

Have moved the last couple of posts from the last thread to start a shiny new thread for us. Previous thread and poll is here.

Good call. I would be curious about this. Looking around Saas Fee on the weekend, about 80% were wearing helmets, but some of my friends were not and won't. I'm not happy about it but feel like I am nagging them if I say anything about it so just said it once to them. They are grown-ups after all.

robinph

I knew there were another couple of thread from previous years which I've just dug out from the vaults. All started at varying times of year and highly unscientific, but the previous Boards.ie voting on the headwear matter went thus:

Thread started|No. of votes|Yes %|No %
Dec 2008|24|83.33%|16.67%
Mar 2009|44|61.36%|38.64%
Oct 2009|150|70.67%|29.33%


I think that the people that post on here are probably slightly more likely to be helmet wearers, as we are more likely to be a bit geeky about our love of snow and therfore a bit more aware of the reasons for it being a good idea. But I do think that in the years that I've been skiing the number of other people on the slopes wearing lids has increased, I don't think it it as high as 70% in the general skiing/ boarding population though.

Rew

I've no hassles about wearing one, haven't found one I really like though, just making do ATM. There is more potential for damage in a collision between a helmet wearer and a non-helmet wearer now so better to be protected. Friend of mine took a nasty spill and im sure the helmet saved him from doing any serious damage (vid of it in the pics and video thread).

Northern Monkey

In the 4 years I have been skiing I'd say it has increased year on year. Rough approxmations would be:

Year 1: 3-4% (Bulgaria)
Year 2: 7-10%(Andorra)
Year 3: 20-25%(France)
Year 4: 35-40%(France)

dylbert

Last year was the first time I wore a helmet, was glad of it when I caught my heelside edge and smacked my head off ice.

gaffmaster

I find the advantages of helmets go beyond the obvious protection from ice/rock impacts.

Goggles don't fog up when resting on the helmet as oppoesed to forehead/hat.
Ears don't get sunburnt.
Not as hot as a hat (depends on hat/helmet).
Something to selotape a camera to.

T-b0n3

Will always wear one. And like said above has other advantages than just protection. Also comfortable and don't see any reasons not to wear one.

creativedrinker

And now you can mount a camera to your helmet

loobylou

Still like my head just as much as the last time I voted yes.

neilthefunkeone

Have worn a helmet for the past 5 years or so..
Never had a bad knock to warrant wearing one but i like the piece of mind(or the piece it will save!!)

robinph

neilthefunkeone wrote: »

Never had a bad knock to warrant wearing one but i like the piece of mind(or the piece it will save!!)

I get plenty of knocks from the lift bar being pulled down on my head, admittedly the helmet makes you a bit taller, but not that much. I now tend to sit on the lifts with my ski poles over my shoulder so that they block anyone from pulling the bar down too quickly. Have had a couple of other incidents with getting pushed off lift queues and into the pit by idiots where I was very glad to be wearing the helmet when people then rode over me with their skis.

Can't think of many incidents on the slopes where I was grateful to be wearing a helmet, but lifts and beginner slopes are the most dangerous places on the mountain.

petethedrummer

NO CHANCE.

neilthefunkeone

robinph wrote: »

I get plenty of knocks from the lift bar being pulled down on my head

Actually good point.. i've had a few bangs from the lift bar to the helmet...

Mickeroo

I've always worn one. Pretty sure I'd have had a concusion at some stage if I didn't. THere's no defence for not wearing them in my imo, its usually just a choice of style over safety. I wouldn't go mountain biking, rock climbing or paddle a river without one and skiing is no exception.

cocker5

I've been skking about 8 times now and have to say the last two times everybody wore helmets... In fact I got funny looks for not wearing one! Personally I hate helmets they lack freedom etc... They feel funny while skiing ... But this year I have bought a nice salmon helmet and will def wear it!

The more selling you do , faster you go etc... The higher chance ir something bad happening so this year I'm caving in and wearing one

Roll on ischgl in 10 days baby!!!!!!!!!

robinph

The most dangerous place on the slopes is the lifts and the beginner slopes.

Going fast and wiping out a helmet will not save you so doesn't really make much difference if you wear a lid whilst doing some crazy speed through the trees. You crash and your screwed. :eek: It is on the green slopes that you really need to be wearing the helmet, when you're not paying full attention, a bit more relaxed and some beginner does something that beginners do and wipes you out, that is where you need the helmet on.

Rew

Head injury will kill you faster then anything else. Your body will take a hell of a pounding that your head wont. Its going to vastly improve your chances if you hit something hard at speed.

scotty_irish

just bought a helmet and knee pads today. will make me feel immune tomorrow at glencoe!

http://www.glencoemountain.co.uk/webcams.html

MadsL

I bought my helmet after packing up in the Czech republic one trip, sitting waiting for the bus and looking up at a very stationary 4x4 ambulance sitting up on one of the access roads on a blue run.

Reading the paper the next day it turns out a beginner on this blue run, crashed out on a patch of ice and smacked his head off the ice. Stone dead.

Please folks - wear a lid.