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Helmet: do you?

Poll Results: Do you wear a helmet when you ski?

This is a multiple choice poll
  • 69% (94)
    Yes, all the time
  • 11% (15)
    Yes, but only for tree and cliff skiing
  • 2% (3)
    Yes, but only when I race
  • 17% (24)
    No, never
136 Total Votes  
post #1 of 33
11/15/04 at 11:25am
Thread Starter 
Do you wear a helmet when you ski?
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post #2 of 33
11/15/04 at 11:31am
I wear one on and off in the park. I picked up a full helmet (Briko Forerunner for $19.99 !!!) this year for the mach looney speed runs.

-T
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post #3 of 33
11/15/04 at 11:40am
OK... I'll say it, Flawed! What about yes except when it's warm and sunny and you don't want anything on your head.
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post #4 of 33
11/15/04 at 11:51am
My IQ seems to drop significantly when I put a helmet on my head. When just free skiing, I tend to do -really- stupid things when in a helmet.

So I tend to keep the helmet for just GS racing and faster. Slalom racing gets the helmet when I look at the course and get a little scared.
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post #5 of 33
11/15/04 at 12:28pm
I really enjoy the helmet I got soon after I swiped a child up off her skis during a flurry. ( to the flurry)

It keeps my hair out of my face, my head warm and somewhat protected from the edges of snowboards should we collide, and when it rains or sleets......well, lets just say it collects the ice instead of my head!

It gives me a place to carry EpicSki stickers (available in HELMET SIZE on this website!).

What's not to like?:
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post #6 of 33
11/15/04 at 12:30pm
Its just not worth it worrying about when to wear and when not, so all the time.
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post #7 of 33
11/15/04 at 12:42pm
I wear it pretty much all the time, but it does sometimes get to be too much, even with as many vents as it has, so only occasionally will I ski now without it.
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post #8 of 33
11/15/04 at 12:59pm
Started wearing one 2 years ago, and use one most of the time now, but some sunny warm days....
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post #9 of 33
11/15/04 at 1:18pm
I also would have selected "except for warm, sunny days." I really like in cold weather or when skiing on windy days at Loveland. Lew
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post #10 of 33
11/15/04 at 1:21pm
I also wear mine all the time, except when it is too warm out. Last year that was almost all of March and April. Need more vents.
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post #11 of 33
11/15/04 at 2:22pm
When my son started skiing I made him wear one. I did not want to be a hypocrite, so I wear one all the time.
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post #12 of 33
11/15/04 at 3:26pm

helmets

Just bought one on ebay. I'm hoping it'll be warm on cold windy days.

But here's another question-- Has anyone noticed that practically no one is shown wearing a helmet in SKI magazine? Why not?
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post #13 of 33
11/15/04 at 3:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spectre
My IQ seems to drop significantly when I put a helmet on my head. When just free skiing, I tend to do -really- stupid things when in a helmet.
I've seen that in a LOT of skiers and snowboarders. I have come to the conclusion that helmet wearing skiers are a hazard on the slopes. But I don't know whether reckless skiers tend to wear helmets or helmets make people more reckless. SUV syndrome?

I got a helmet last year and wore it all last season and the first half of this season, but after one warm day I had to take it off and I noticed I was paying much more attention to what was going on around me without it, so I never bothered using it again. I never felt reckless when I was wearing it, but looking back now I realise I was more blasse about the risks and hazards involved in skiing than I am now.
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post #14 of 33
11/15/04 at 3:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robtjm
But here's another question-- Has anyone noticed that practically no one is shown wearing a helmet in SKI magazine? Why not?
Because ski magazine skiers can't get up enough speed on the green runs they ski to be able to injure themselves and they definitely do not ski on cold days.
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post #15 of 33
11/15/04 at 4:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bonni
I really enjoy the helmet I got soon after I swiped a child up off her skis during a flurry. ( to the flurry)

It keeps my hair out of my face, my head warm and somewhat protected from the edges of snowboards should we collide, and when it rains or sleets......well, lets just say it collects the ice instead of my head!

It gives me a place to carry EpicSki stickers (available in HELMET SIZE on this website!).

What's not to like?:
Bonni, Where on this website? I looked earlier in the store but didn't see any. I want some so maybe I can meet some bears on the slopes. LewBob
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post #16 of 33
11/15/04 at 5:45pm
I started wearing a helmet this season. Wearing the helmet doesn't make me take more risks, infact my helmet is so comfy that I actually forget that I'm even wearing it.
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post #17 of 33
11/15/04 at 5:51pm
Yup, wear one all the time. Feel naked and vulnerable without it. On warm days I take it off for the lift ride up to let my head air out.
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post #18 of 33
11/15/04 at 6:16pm
Look at the bottom of this page for the EpicSki Store logo link.
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post #19 of 33
11/15/04 at 8:00pm

whtmt

I wear my helmet all the time. What convinced me to go with a helmet was when I was in a bicycle crash 5 years ago. I had an older style helmet on that broke in four places and saved my head. I definately would not have walked away under my own power without it. I was almost knocked unconscious even with it on.

I'm also very familiar with traumatic brain injury. I teach disabled skiers, some of whom have survived bad car accidents and falls.

I also wear my bike helmet when in-line skating. My ski helmet is no different. Pavement and eastern ice have just about the same hardness, both of which I found out are harder then my head.

whtmt & Mackenzie 911
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post #20 of 33
11/15/04 at 8:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by EasternSkiBum
OK... I'll say it, Flawed! What about yes except when it's warm and sunny and you don't want anything on your head.
Giro Nine.

I don't ride my bike without a helmet because its warm and sunny. Heh, our snow is often just as hard as pavement, and I ski a lot faster than I bike.

I get what you are saying though. It is nice to be helmetless, just not worth the risk (perceived as it may be) in my mind.
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post #21 of 33
11/15/04 at 8:25pm
I first started thinking about a helmet when cat skiing. The tail guide had concussed himself earlier that year when he hit a tree. If a pro did it, and he was a much, much better skier than I, maybe I needed to worry.

I was later skiing at Jackson on one of those hard snow days. We were skiing fast on one of the flat lower runs with large pine trees at the edge of the run. A fall meant an out-of-control slide for several feet.

I bought a helmet that (a)was a good fit, and (b) had the gizmos I thought I wanted.

I'm so comfortable in the helmet that I haven't skied without it since.


Ken
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post #22 of 33
11/16/04 at 5:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by LewBob
Bonni, Where on this website? I looked earlier in the store but didn't see any. I want some so maybe I can meet some bears on the slopes. LewBob
http://www.cafepress.com/epicski.10318707

Get your helmet stickers here, Bears, and advertise your favorite website!:
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post #23 of 33
11/16/04 at 5:59am
Marker M3.

Knocked myself out cold in a beer league race 2 years ago. It started simple enough - I leaned in, lost my edge, started to slide on my right side, and took an ice cookie to the forehead. Woke up in the ER. Worn one ever since.
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post #24 of 33
11/16/04 at 6:40am
I wear a helmet 80% of the time. However, there are some days when I am skiing groomers with my wife and kids that I just want to wear a light hat and sunglasses. My major problem is that I wear Rx. glasses. When I wear goggles, I usually wear them over my glasses. This causes the glasses to fog. Contacts don't work for me. As a result, mostly, I wear a helmet with Rx. Oakley sunglasses (M frames...they have good coverage).
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post #25 of 33
11/16/04 at 9:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Canyons
My major problem is that I wear Rx. glasses. When I wear goggles, I usually wear them over my glasses. This causes the glasses to fog. Contacts don't work for me. ...
Kind of off-topic here Canyons, but you should open yourself to the miracles of modern medicine..Lasik. Did it 5-years ago and never regretted it. No more fog, water drops obscuring vision, and much better periferal vision. no cuts on the bridge of the nose and no TAPE!

I still wear the helmet and goggles, and on sunny days, Ray Bans! (non-prescription)
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post #26 of 33
11/16/04 at 10:31am
I've never skiied with a helmet before, but I just ordered one for this season (Giro Nine.9). So I guess my poll answer would be: never before, now always.
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post #27 of 33
11/16/04 at 5:25pm
I started wearing one 3 years ago, couldn't have the kids use one with out the old man in one. Plus was skiing with a friend in the trees at Jay when he tripped on small stick and fell into a tree, happened so fast, big gash, blood everywhere, I love skiing woods and I didn't want a similiar experience, so got one for the safety. Works great when its cold, get warm when temps rise but still better than having even a small accident ruin a day of skiing or your life.
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post #28 of 33
11/16/04 at 6:22pm
Been wearing a helmet for years. Taken a few dings from branches and the ground/snow. Having ridden motorcycles I know you can't control what your head does in a fall.

The only time I fell without a helmet was a few years ago. Going out for dinner after skiing. Walking out to the car I slipped. I can remember seeing how pretty the stars were as I was laying out backwards. Then bang, a bright flash of light. (The ski patroller I talked to said thats when the minor concussion occured.) Then the pretty stars came back into view. DAMN, I hurt for a week afterward. Never want to do that on the slope.
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post #29 of 33
11/16/04 at 6:26pm
All the time. I don't really notice the difference except when people lower the bars on me without telling me (I have a big noggin and it nails me every time) and when I don't see stars after nailing ice or trees. Always worn one on my bike, so its no different style-wise for me.
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post #30 of 33
11/16/04 at 7:59pm
Haha, i nail MySelf in the head when I lower the bar... go figure.
Personally I wear my bike and ski helmets when I'm doing low risk things... Which usually involves my friends, who aren't the greatest skiers/ snowboarders. Its nice to be able to hear people and I do feel more connected with the world. Yeah, i could probably fall and hit my head (i'll usually have some TT's on and trying to ski backward etc.) but the speeds are pretty slow and short of hitting a tree a real traumatic head injury isn't very likely
When I ski alone or with better skiers its a different story... it becomes less of a fun/social time and alot more challenging and dangerous. In the trees, High speeds, tight places, I'll have my Giro 9.9...sometimes with/somtimes without the music
For me its not weather, the sun doesn't protect you and "helmet" isn't a word for "Really big and thick winter hat to be used when your ears might get cold".
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