 Poster: A snowHead
|
| tuxpoo wrote: |
This all defies logic to me, sorry.
They will reduce the severity of an injury, hopefully enough to prevent death |
actually the increase in people wearing helmets has not reduced ski related deaths
I sometimes wear a helmet 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
Axsman, God would board anyway
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I might start wearing a rugby skull cap
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
Axsman, only when not playing at inside center for Wales 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Having skiid before turning to the dark side I never wore one until after my first week boarding when i slam dunked the back of my head on the hard packed snow too many times to remember; the lid looks o.k., keeps my ears/head warm,keeps my goggles in place, gives me that extra confidence on the icy stuff and when attempting the odd kicker and my new one even has headphones built in for those times when i want to hear a bit of music.
Personally I'd say its now seen as quite usual for boarders to wear them. Skiers tend to frown on them as they dont tend to end up smacking their heads when they have a mishap unless there into jumps and extreme stuff.
Like wearing cycle helmets it should be your choice whether you wear one. However Mrs Q.C has one ( in pink obviously) and the 2 kinder wear them, my youngest (7yrs) has a green dragon cover for hers which she thinks is cool
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
| rayscoops wrote: |
| God would board anyway |
Well, he does move in a mysterious way
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
Mollerski, one of the reasons I started wearing a helmet was because I was skiing with Rob while he was wearing his at least three years ago, and so I thought, OK, its not so geeky...
If he chooses days and reasons not to occasionally, then that's OK too.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| rob@rar wrote: |
| alex_heney, well said, again. Those people who post contrary positions to helmet use often seem to argue that because they don't make you invincible there is no point in wearing one. ...... |
But I do not.
| achilles wrote: |
| I have already said that I do wear a helmet when skiing through trees to protect myself from minor injuries. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
I'm always entertained when people laugh at the idea that skiers might push their limits more when wearing a helmet. I certainly tend to ski a bit less hard if I'm not wearing a helmet.
I wear a helmet most of the time when skiing. Like Rob, sometimes I dont if I know that I will be pootling about with lower level skiers. I've done this and then had an opportunity to let it rip (e.g., they go in and I stay up for a couple more runs). Guess what? I've been more cautious about my speed without my lid on.
I wear a helmet on my bike. One day I left it in he office. I was EXTRA careful on that ride home with cornering speeds, avoiding ironwork, paintlines, etc (and I'm quite a cautious cyclist - always ride as if other road users are going to do something stupid).
If I wasn't wearing a seat belt would it change my driving? I think it would. I like to think I'm a pretty sensible driver anyway but I would probably keep an even greater distance to the car in front, do my braking a bit earlier rather than carry speed, etc.
Surely this is absolutely rational? If the consequence of a fall/crash are likely to be worse you'd invest a bit more effort in avoiding the fall/crash?
The extreme thought experiment is, how would you drive if instead of a seatbelt and airbags you had a six-inch spike in the middle of your wheel. Anyone who says they would drive the same as usual is either a liar or an idiot.
There's another analogy here. Skiing off-piste, the avalanche risk is never clear cut and never zero. If I see a nice patch of powder beside the piste that I judge to be safe then I will ski it even if I'm not carrying avvy gear. But I wont ski terrain that is further away, steeper, etc without the kit. I will take more avalanche risk when I am carrying safety gear.
In my view, "risk compensation" (taking more risk if you are more protected) is a very real issue (and incidently has been demonstrated in lots of research). I think people who laugh at the concept are probably not doing enough to challenge themselves about whether THEY are actually risk compensating to a dangerous extent. I try to actively think about it - "now, would you ski that quickly in those trees without the lid? No? May be you should ease off a bit".
By the way, the argument that the only reason not to wear a helmet is vanity is bogus. I don't wear one ski-touring for example. It would be a useful safety tool but just too hot to wear on a 6 hour climb and to awkward to have on the back of your rucsac.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
Agenterre, As well as the flames on my helmet, I'm thinking of getting nice sharp spikes on the front of it, a bit like Jonathan E's in Rollerball. Gloves to match of course. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Agenterre, no that is not what I have said, I board responsibly with a lid and do not take risks that would endanger others, but I board even more conservatively with out a helmet - slower in fact.
edit Agenterre, most on piste deaths are from collisions, so if helmets were banned peeps would ski slower and there would be less collisions (as most collisions are due to speed), and there would be less deaths - QED
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Wed 7-01-09 20:03; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
rayscoops, i know you havent but others have alluded to it... and I confess to twisting the argument ( just a little!)
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
jedster, as a fellow lidhead I agree with you but think the reason we ski more cautiously when we're not wearing a helmet might be because we exercise even more caution than them what never does.
| jedster wrote: |
I wear a helmet most of the time when skiing. Like Rob, sometimes I dont if I know that I will be pootling about with lower level skiers. I've done this and then had an opportunity to let it rip (e.g., they go in and I stay up for a couple more runs). Guess what? I've been more cautious about my speed without my lid on.
If I wasn't wearing a seat belt would it change my driving? I think it would. |
Same here but is it possible that we both started skiing a few years back (without helmets) so that when we are without them now, it feels a bit like driving without a seatbelt (except for that annoying alarm noise every time you go over 5 mph). My Dad drove like a nutter for years (especially after a skinful), without a seatbelt for him or his passengers (me and my siblings) and wouldn't have thought once about it. I suspect he might actually think about slowing down now if he wasn't using one - not because times have changed so much as it being what he (like you and I) has got used to.
| jedster wrote: |
| By the way, the argument that the only reason not to wear a helmet is vanity is bogus. I don't wear one ski-touring for example. It would be a useful safety tool but just too hot to wear on a 6 hour climb and to awkward to have on the back of your rucsac. |
Same here but when ski touring, I am usually on my own so there're no Muppets to crash in to me, there aren't any trees to ski through (here in Scotland at least) and the snow is always soft and untracked, not hard, icy and head banging. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| moffatross wrote: |
jedster, as a fellow lidhead I agree with you but think the reason we ski more cautiously when we're not wearing a helmet might be because we exercise even more caution than them what never does.
| jedster wrote: |
I wear a helmet most of the time when skiing. Like Rob, sometimes I dont if I know that I will be pootling about with lower level skiers. I've done this and then had an opportunity to let it rip (e.g., they go in and I stay up for a couple more runs). Guess what? I've been more cautious about my speed without my lid on.
If I wasn't wearing a seat belt would it change my driving? I think it would. |
Same here but is it possible that we both started skiing a few years back (without helmets) so that when we are without them now, it feels a bit like driving without a seatbelt (except for that annoying alarm noise every time you go over 5 mph). My Dad drove like a nutter for years (especially after a skinful), without a seatbelt for him or his passengers (me and my siblings) and wouldn't have thought once about it. I suspect he might actually think about slowing down now if he wasn't using one - not because times have changed so much as it being what he (like you and I) has got used to.
| jedster wrote: |
| By the way, the argument that the only reason not to wear a helmet is vanity is bogus. I don't wear one ski-touring for example. It would be a useful safety tool but just too hot to wear on a 6 hour climb and to awkward to have on the back of your rucsac. |
Same here but when ski touring, I am usually on my own so there're no Muppets to crash in to me, there aren't any trees to ski through (here in Scotland at least) and the snow is always soft and untracked, not hard, icy and head banging. |
As the insurers ramp up their risk aversion there will come a time when they will refuse to pay out or cut the award in respect of any claim resulting from head injuries where the injured was not wearing a helmet. If that's not the case now then it's only a matter of time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
snowheadajw, Welcome. Yup, agree with that - In a few years time it will probably be as unthinkable not to wear a helmet skiing as it is currently not to wear a seatbelt in a car.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| allanm wrote: |
| snowheadajw, Welcome. Yup, agree with that - In a few years time it will probably be as unthinkable not to wear a helmet skiing as it is currently not to wear a seatbelt in a car. |
I don't think it will go that far, that quickly. It will become more common for a range of factors, but I think the only thing which will make it as unthinkable as not wearing a seatbelt is legislation, which is the only thing which made wearing seatbelts ubiquitous.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
rob@rar, Ditto motorcycle helmets.
But I do agree with snowheadajw's point that it will likely be insurance costs/terms that drive increased helmet wearing while skiing, rather than legislation . That said, an Austrian Ski instructor told me last year that helmet wearing was becoming a legal requirement for them and their pupils of whatever age in the next year or so.
I suspect that in any situation where someone could be held 'liable' for any damage that could have been mitigated by the wearing of a helmet, helmet wearing will by one route or another become 'compulsory'.
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
I'd rather not wear a helmet because I just prefer wearing a hat but I do recognise that I should wear my helmet much more than I actually do.
I wear it all of the time when in the snowdomes but for some starnge reason, only wear it while on the mountain when attempting things I feel are out of my comfort zone (trees, off-piste etc). I did have an altercation with a tree and a piece of ice in Val D'Isere last month that brought home the benefit of a helmet.
It's basic; helmets look crap on the vast majority of people and it's the style that puts most people off them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Specialman wrote: |
| ....It's basic; helmets look crap on the vast majority of people and it's the style that puts most people off them. |
I really don't care how I look (as those who have skied with me will testify ) The biggest bind for me is lugging the thing around whilst travelling - however you do it, it is inconvenient. That said, for the sake of preventing minor injury, I think the effort worthwhile - just.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
rob@rar, Perhaps the fact that I wore a seatbelt in a car long before they were compulsory, go's someway to explaining why I wear a hat now, it's just individuals' differing risk assessments. Everyone to their own whilst helmet wearing remains optional, same as seatbelt wearing was.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
| Quote: |
| helmets look crap on the vast majority of people and it's the style that puts most people off them. |
I agree with the first half of that, but disagree with the second half.
I think in general, the vast majority of people look crap, helmets or not, and the really cool looking skiers/snowboarders are split fairly well down the middle as to who wears helmets and who doesn't in my experience. In Livigno, all the coolest people wear helmets as you can't get into the snow park without one, and the really skillful skiers/snowboarders make them look cool.
Same thing seemed to be the pattern in Les Deux Alpes the past few Easters, even though helmets aren't compulsory in their snowpark.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
| achilles wrote: |
| The biggest bind for me is lugging the thing around whilst travelling - however you do it, it is inconvenient. |
Stick your goggles inside it - thus protecting the goggles, and then gloves over the goggles and do up the chinstrap - pad out with a fleece top if necessary. Chuck in big bag.
How is that inconvenient??
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
I will now be wearing a helmet from this season forward, nice present for Christmas ............... not for confidence as over confidence will cause you to crash but purely for saftey and the slopes are getting busier with more "risk" takers who haven't a clue what they are doing ......................
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
RobW, BTDT. In fact it is still want I do. However, It is a hard shape which is inconvenient when laying things like a shovel handle around it. An once one has ranged reasonable padding around it so that it is reasonably protected from baggage handlers drops casing the helmet unseen damage, it is rather awkward to do up internal panel zips. It's all get round-able - it's just close on not worth the effort. Far more likely to save me real grief would be an ABS backpack - but I don't tout one of those at all. Funny old world.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
RobW, most trips I only take my board bag (rammed full) and some airlines now tend not to let helmets in hand luggage, and now that I have thought about it, this is the main reason I did not wear one last season, and if I board a bit slower without it, well I am doing my bit for slope safety
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| RobW wrote: |
| Chuck in big bag. How is that inconvenient?? |
Well it is if you don't ski with a big bag! Which I don't. I'm not a gnarly skier so don't carry avalanche equipment. I'd find it inconvenient as I'd have to take the blooming thing on and off my back every chairlift ride. Also, the times I get most hot and bothered and take off my hat, is standing up in a sunny, overcrowded, smelly gondola. Trying to get a helmet off and put it into a backpack would be impossible. And I wouldn't fancy skiing with it in my pack either, especially falling onto it.
Now I really don't care whether you all wear helmets or not. My OH wears one and skis at the same pace and in the same conditions as me and I actually think they're probably a good idea. But stop telling me stuff like it's not inconvenient. Yes, it is! 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
RobW, rayscoops, I just put mine in my boot bag, (with boots and all sorts of other stuff). B.A. don't seem to care what's actually in the 'sports' bags, even if there's obviously more than should be.
maggi, Yes it is inconvenient, I do take my lid off on lifts, though primarily to avoid strap marks. I just strap it to the bar, inconvenient, but no big deal really. I try to avoid gondolas anyway, wherever I can as, like you say, they can often be overcrowded and smelly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
rayscoops, It's obviously then easier for skiers to take a lid?? Why is it then that most boarders wear lids and most skiers don't.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
It's a helmet not a space hopper.
They fit comfortably into a small rucksack, and use as hand luggage. Flown 3 or 4 times like that without any questions.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
Something of German origin from the last war in a shade of purple? 
perfectly. And clearly the holy resort of choice would be in the mountains above south lake Tahoe. 
, now I'm addicted to endless Helmet Threads 
