Peaceryder

Just interested in freestyle riders thoughts on using helmets. I'm a pure freerider who hasn't had much experience with jumping/jibbing other than backcountry kickers into deeeeep pow, so I never wore a helmet, even though my mom bought me one about 12 years ago, lol. Do you guys bring your helmets along just for riding 'park' or no helmet use? I did not like the feel of a helmet on my head when I tried it way back in the day. Plus, the helmet was noticeably colder! Feel like I need to yell FREEEEEEEEEEEEDOM from the top of my lungs like William Wallace when I was wearing one. However, I do know that park riding is more deadly to your lightbulb...
I should note that despite getting into more freestyle oriented riding this winter, if it snows, I'll be riding pow, not in the park :P
Wanna protect my head while in the park, but don't exactly wanna lug a helmet around with me on my pack, already enough crap in there!

My question is, what are your thoughts on helmet use in respect to freestyle riding.

__________________
Tell the truth, even if it leads to your death. - For the truth will set you free.

FreshPrince

Here's my question,

why not?

the REASON

its uncomfortable.

hikeswithdogs

Trees, rocks and other idiots slamming into your melon will kill you , I have music and phone integration which is convenient and it keeps me warm and safe.

After a few hours you won't even notice it

__________________
makingfreshtracks.blogspot.com

Qball

It's purely your choice. I wear one and have worn one for so long that it feels weird not to be wearing one. Not uncomfortable at all.

fattrav

Hard things that you can hit your head on exist outside of the park as well. Helmets are a reasonable idea.

__________________
Never Summer SL153 & Atomic Hatchet 159
Burton CO2
Nitro Teams

lonerider

My personal opinion is always wear a helmet. When learning new tricks it is really easy to catch your heel edge and slam the back of the head on the ground. Helmets are not fool-proof you can still get a concussion wearing one... but it can also mean the difference between being a little shaken up for a few minutes... and it ending the rest of your day/trip.

Even if you are just "taking it easy" you can still get hurt. You could crash on a simple box and get a concussion due to bad luck. someone else could crash into your from behind... like Boarderholic or my girlfriend two seasons ago.

Actually when I was waiting in the season pass pickup line at Kirkwood a couple of year ago... a huge icicle broke off the roof and clobbered two guys standing in line by the season pass office. One guy had a helmet and was ok although shaken up. The other guy did not and was stretchered away. Anecdotal evidence... but still.

I agree it feels nicer and more "free" without a helmet... but a proper fitting helmet should be pretty comfortable and warm.

Krug

I would much rather not wear a helmet, but here are the reasons why I do...

1. 2 head concussions neither of which happened in the park. 1 was caused by an out of control skier and I was wearing a helmet. I still rode the rest of the day, but literally could not piece together a sentence and had a gnarly headache.
2. I like to ride through the trees...I'm guessing my head is not going to win of I hit a tree at speed
3. Double black diamonds with exposed rocks...in the even that I bite it, I would rather not tomohawk head first into a patch of them wearing a beenie...then again, even a helmet might not save me.

My main factor for wearing though, in all honesty is because I have kiddos and I'd hate for a nasty accident to take me out of their lives.

Andy

risingsun270

It's totally your choice whether you want to or not but I highly recommend it in the park with rails, boxes, bailing hard on jumps, etc. it really saves you!

I can't count how many times I'm hiking a rail or waiting to drop and a guy with a helmet falls really bad and smacks his head on the back of the rail and all I'm thinking is "if that dude didn't have a helmet..." I've had my own firsthand experiences too but just my two cents.

Outside the park there's plenty of hazards out there so again it's recommended but I usually don't wear a helmet outside of the park but I'm taking my own risk.

Peaceryder

Yeah, I'm thinking that when in the park I'll wear one or I won't try any rails outside the park. On a normal run I'm not too worried about being run into or hitting any rocks so I'll stay free in that circumstance since I've never had any issues with trees or rocks - although the base of my board might tell ya different: gotta love those exposed rocks in the worst places, lol.

Interesting to hear the different responses, but I'm a bit shocked at the responses towards wearing a helmet. In my time ripping down double blacks at kicking horse, sunshine and castle mountain, I found that most riders didn't wear a helmet. Should note that I NEVER ventured into any park terrain areas so can't comment on that, but sounds like it's exactly opposite.

__________________
Tell the truth, even if it leads to your death. - For the truth will set you free.