Why don't you wear a helmet?

Is it because you're stupid?

( For Phil)

Actually people, I own a helmet and wear it quite a bit. I wore it everyday when I was Ski Patrol. I think I kind of got away from wearing it everyday because I felt like it was part of my Uniform. I actually had some hard falls over the years. anyone who averaged 100 days on skis was pushing the envelope as far as injury to one's self. I had my share. Knocked myself out one night. Bought a helmet a week later. First one on Patrol to do so. I found that most of the times it did protect me was from lift bars and jealous husbands.

From my experience, after I quit the Patrol, I found myself getting a false sense of security from it's use. I'm not saying everyone does, but I felt this way. I was becoming invincable. Skiing the edges on the edge. Skiing trees and lines without fear of anything. Today, I wear my helmet only when it's really cold. When I'm skiing backcountry, when I'm skiing really steep shit, and when I'm skiing new terrain. Just recently, on my Washington trip, I was skiing some stuff that a fall would mean certain injury. Especially to my head. I didn't have my helmet with me. There were thoughts creaping into my head while looking for a line through some chutes rock lined, where I wished I had my lid. But, hell, if I bought the sale, I'd have gone having fun right?

Look, I'd never be the one to tell any of you not to wear a helmet. My fear is having someone force me to wear one. And, I object to anyone calling anyone stupid for not wearing one, ok? It's a right of freedom for me and you. Lest I remind you all, that a helmet is not failsafe, not security. You may feel safer but there is no exchange for learning how to be an expert skier. Even then, jumping off cliffs with skis can be disasterous. As we all know from recent threads.

So, if I chose to wear my helmet or ski the day without one, it's my choice and i shouldn't be called an idiot or stupid for that. And most of all, there should never be a law that forces me to or that makes that choice for me.

I wear a helmet because its sweet!

duh?

Lars,

Because I choose not to.

I don't know. Thinking about it Been sking for about 40 years. Old habbits die hard? Pun intended.

I just bought my 9 year old one (a ski one with the ear flaps). He's starting to rip through the tees. I'm in the minority wearing one (plus knee pads and wrist guards) at the skate park. I insist that my kid wear his in the skatepark. Besides the ear flaps, any real diff between an ski and skate/bmx lid?

Maybe you should wear a helmet to avoid starting identically-titled threads 20 minutes after the original.

Anybody listen to an acapella group called The Bobs?  They had a song called "Helmet":

I can remember how it started
I followed the firemen -- I dreamed of the astronauts
They looked so happy in their shiny metal headgear
I knew that inside they were smiling

My mother feared I was abnormal
I'd take out the colander and put it on my head
People are happy when they know that they're protected
Just let me tell you why I'm smiling

   I've got my helmet on
   Nothing can do me wrong
   I've got my helmet on
   Ya-da-ba-da-ba-da-ba-da-ba

   In shining rows they sit in every beauty parlor
   Down in the coal mines -- lighting the way
   From distant battlefields to the tiniest motor scooter
   There is peace on every single face

My friends all tell me I'm retreating
But how can they argue with true serenity?
If they would only try just once to wear a helmet
The world would soon be a better place

   Come try my helmet on
   Nothing will do you wrong
   Come try my helmet on
   Ya-da-ba-da-ba-da-ba-da-ba

   In shining rows they sit in every beauty parlor
   Serenity on every face

   Come try my helmet on
   Nothing will do you wrong
   Come try my helmet on
   Ya-da-ba-da-ba-da-ba-da-ba
      (Repeat)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acrophobia 

Anybody listen to an acapella group called The Bobs?  They had a song called "Helmet":

 

Surely that's a rhetorical question?

Still, I don't know where you came up with that, but it's perfect.

I'm not sure how one sings "My mother feared I was abnormal"

Is this the anthem to the helmet threads?

My friends all tell me I'm retreating
But how can they argue with true serenity?
If they would only try just once to wear a helmet
The world would soon be a better place

I think we should send this to Vail Resorts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by thesoggycow 

I wear a helmet because its sweet!

 

duh?

You posted on the wrong thread? ;)
 

1. Helmets are hot.

2. I can't hear when I'm wearing a helmet.

3. Poor visibility.

4. A helmet won't protect me from high speed collisions (and I *ONLY* go faster than the helmet threshold would be).

5. I'm immortal.

6. I'm stupid.

7. They weigh too much.

8. I don't want to risk spinal injuries due to having something heavy on my head that will enhance whiplash.

9. Only wussies wear helmets.

10.I enjoy being a poor example for children and other developing brains.

Quote:

Originally Posted by thesoggycow 

I wear a helmet because its sweet!

 

duh?

Take a wif of my skate helmut and pads. They are anything but sweet smelling. Double duh!
 

Cause my wife told me to.

You know what's wonderful about this new Epic Ski?

Here we are discussing helmets, and there's an add at the bottom trying to sell helmets.

it's uncanny isn't it?

It appears to me that enough people don't wear helmets to allow non-helmet wearing to still be a viable, non-controversial option. And enough people do, even here in more-traditional Europe, that the helmeted option is no longer a discussion point either. So really, it's a choice, not a soapbox issue anymore.

Here's what I think. There doesn't appear to be any data suggesting that it's more dangerous to ski with a helmet than without.

If you're not bothered by the helmet (don't think it's too heavy, hot, etc., which I don't, using a Giro 9), you should probably use it.  

But you're not making a statement anymore either way.

Enough snide comments... the #1 truth why I wear a helmet.

I know I'm not going to hit a tree, loose an edge, fall off a cliff, screw up a landing, etc.

But!

I've been hit by other riders (not skiers, riders) too many times (wearing a bright yellow vest every time too, ironic?) not too.

I've also seen what happens when you get hit (slow speed collisions) and don't have a helmet on.

Arguments

For all those people who use the argument, "I ski too fast to wear a helmet"... that's a logical fallacy... Non sequitur to be exact.

As for poor visibility, huh? do you wear goggles? Red herring

Weigh too much? You've never backcountry skied (or carry 80 pounds of shit, 10 miles through the woods, up 3000 feet of vertical so you can ski ONE run) have you? Just pick up a modern helmet. I'd say they are pretty light.

Same goes for: I don't want to risk spinal injuries due to having something heavy on my head that will enhance whiplash.

I can't hear? You better not ever wear a hat then....

 Quote:

Originally Posted by Lars 

Look, I'd never be the one to tell any of you not to wear safety brakes. My fear is having someone force me to wear them. And, I object to anyone calling anyone stupid for not wearing them, ok? It's a right of freedom for me and you.

Long after the introduction of the spring loaded ski brake, I'm not aware of any ski areas that will not allow you to slice yourself up with safety straps if you so desire.

No one is going to force you to wear a helmet.  The ski industry has in my lifetime gone to great lengths to ensure that skiers can take ever greater risks with better terrain, crazier terrain parks, better grooming, and so on.  There are things that would get your pass ripped most places just ten years ago that no longer will.  It would be business suicide for a ski area to require helmets for adults.

Yeah, sure, we know you live in the Nanny State.  A state that makes it a crime not to lower a mandatory safety bar.  A state where the best lift served is owned and operated by the state.  Consider that you might overestimate how much the rest of the country is willing to step in and treat adults like children.

Lars,

I'm less inclined to think you're stupid for not wearing a helmet than for starting another asinine helmet thread because it gets people going.  We have five helmet threads in the top ten in General Discussion right now.  Enough already!   

Quote:

Originally Posted by Do Work 

Lars,

 

I'm less inclined to think you're stupid for not wearing a helmet than for starting another asinine helmet thread because it gets people going.  We have five helmet threads in the top ten in General Discussion right now.  Enough already!   

 

Maybe we should have a "Why do you engage in helmet threads?" thread.
 

And then a "Why don't you engage in helmet threads?" thread. Except by definition, anyone who doesnt' engage in helmet threads would be self-policing and not post in the thread, so it would be a short one. For once.

I just bought one on my trip to Utah. Skied 44 years without one. Back in the day, only downhillers wore helmets. That mindset is more than rebutted with the head injuries that occur every year.

I think the things that finally took me to the ski shop to buy one were the elbow to elbow traffic on Alta's groomers, because there was nothiing else believe it or not that was skiable for mere mortals when I was out in March (it snowed about 175 in. in 2.5 weeks after I left) and the tragic death of Natasha Richarson at Mont Tremblant. First five minutes I had it on I hated it, then it was like it wasn't there.

Why not do what you can to protect yourself ? I didn't for years, maybe I think I pressed it so to speak long enough.

aka, the "Brain Bucket".  I've had a couple. My first was a LEEDOM®.  My current helmet is a BURTON® R.E.D.® and I've been using this one for 4 or 5 years.  It's not heavy, its my brother.  It is also a canvas to sport one's favorite 'stickers'.  Have graduated from the beloved banana seat on my childhood stingray which was where one had to show their loyalty to STP, Valvoline, Bardahl, etc... Today my R.E.D. helmet sports its custom BURTON sticker (free with the helmet...), TRIBAL, the G.4 Grenade logo, UCSB Gauchos, Looney Bean, and the M6 Falcon and there is still room for a couple more.

As to the safety factor, too many idiots out there on the hill. Gotta wear a helmet. And the occasional 'doh' moment like a few weeks ago as I was unclicking and then fell back on my right shoulder followed by my helmet hitting the snow... The helmet saved my noggin but the shoulder and neck required aspirin and alot of ice.  Or say you slip on ice while walking into the lodge to grab a cup of coffee and your feet fly up in front of you and you land flat on your back and your head and neck snap back... been there, done that !

The helmet saved me.    And then there is a good friend who hounded me to always wear my 'brain bucket' until I said "Uncle, ok, you win !"  I am now hoping Schat's Bakery in Mammoth starts printing up two inch glazed donut replica stickers with the Schat's Glazed Donut Ski Team logo as I've got room for that.  So you see, its not just a brain bucket... its a sticker platform.  I've even got room for an EPICSKI sticker if they make one... hint to editor.  Over, SeasonPass11053.

Quote:

Originally Posted by roundturns 

I just bought one on my trip to Utah. Skied 44 years without one. Back in the day, only downhillers wore helmets. That mindset is more than rebutted with the head injuries that occur every year.

 

"Back in the day" there weren't terrain parks with features that anybody with a lift ticket could hit with no coaches or instructors supervising.   Back in the day off piste and tree skiing wasn't the in thing to do.  In fact, I recall most areas with trees being fenced off.  Back in the day ski and snowboard technology didn't enable so many folks going from "never evers' to bombing down blues and blacks (now with trees and terrain park features) over a the course of a weekend.  Skiing has changed.

Back in the day, skiers only occupied the space in front of them.

Now there's people zig zagging all over the freakin place. Ya didn't have to be concerned of being blindsided by some carver at warp speed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lars 

Back in the day, skiers only occupied the space in front of them.

 

Now there's people zig zagging all over the freakin place. Ya didn't have to be concerned of being blindsided by some carver at warp speed.

Damned shaped skis making skiers turn so easily...how dare they! 
 

I dont remember skiers skiing as fast when I was a kid as they do now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richie-Rich 

 

Damned shaped skis making skiers turn so easily...how dare they! 
 

 

I dont remember skiers skiing as fast when I was a kid as they do now.

That's because they didn't wear helmets Richie.

 

Because I wear a baseball cap instead when the weather is warm enough. 

It tells me when I'm skiing too fast by flying off my head.

Been skiing over 40 years, never worn a helmet, I cannot offer a logical reason why I do not wear a helmet except that I do not like them!

Wear a helmet on the bike!

Wore a helmet when I raced cars.

I've had two concussions from skiing accidents, interestingly enough I was the only skier involved.

Recently spent a week skiing at Whistler, I was surprised at the number of people wearing helmets. On the final day after skiing I had to change a lightbulb in the roof of the deck, fell off a 3 foot stepladder and hit my head on the decking....my third concussion, guess I should wear a helmet to change lightbulbs!

Cheers

Da Flav

You may also just be uninsurable !  :-)

Get a helmet and sticker the heck out of it as a way to express

your independence.  Lots of varieties of helmets now that are very

comfortable.

Better get some of those forever light bulbs too...

Careful up there.

SeasonPass11053.

I have to report that I'm very disappointed with this thread.

Lars asked very politely for people to post on WHY THEY DO NOT wear helmets. 

Of the 26 replies so far, the vast majority are from helmet-wearers who insist on explaining (like we haven't heard ALL the arguments before) why those of us who don't wear helmets really, really should wear helmets.

Don't we have plenty of other threads where you can do that?

Whenever I save up enough money for a helmet I spend it on a lift ticket.

I did the math. The probability of getting a significant whack on the head while skiing in on the order of .00000whatever. After that, the helmet only cuts the odds of serious injury by around half. I'm perfectly comfortable with those odds. Like Ghost, I'd rather buy a lift ticket, especially since I only get to ski a few times a season. I get hit on the head a lot more often doing other things. I have a friend who got a traumatic brain injury falling out of a golf cart. Helmets for golfers, maybe, eh?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Peters 

I have to report that I'm very disappointed with this thread.

 

Lars asked very politely for people to post on WHY THEY DO NOT wear helmets. 

 

First of all, with like a dozen threads on the topic, Lars be trolling.  Politely trollin, but trollin nonetheless.

My post responded to Lars actual point, as opposed to the strawman.  He doesn't actually care about the question in the title.  He wants to complain about how some evil "someone" is going to force him or others to wear a helmet.  My analysis is that this isn't likely.

I'd never, ever be arrogant enough to tell Lars, or you, or any thinking adult what they should put on their head on a winter day.