AcroPhile

Well, there was another fatality inbounds today in Colorado and like most other inbounds fatalities the rider was wearing a helmet. So what's with the disproportionate amount of deaths involving skiers/riders? Are beginners more likely to wear a helmet and also more likely to crash due to inexperience? Or are helmet wearers lulled into a false sense of security and ride more recklessly than they would have if they were not wearing one? IMO, it's the latter. In my experience, all my friends who always wear helmets regularly bump their helmets on something in the event of a fall or crash and the talk about how lucky they were to be wearing a helmet. Me on the other hand, I never wear a helmet. I have been riding since I was in the sixth grade (I'm 25 now) and in all that time I have only hit my head once snowboarding and that was during my first year of riding. I feel that people who do not wear helmets tend to be more careful to not injure themselves while riding and more mindful of the way they fall (if possible). Anyone concur or am I way off on this one? What does this mean for any future legislation or rule changes mandating helmet use at resorts?

jdang307

My friends who started with a helmet hit their heads all the time. I now wear a helmet but started without one. I think the mind is very powerful and subconsciously protects your body

cjcameron11

I too started snowboarding NOT wearing a helmet but i decided to buy one for that off chance that it might save me from serious injury. So now that i wear one i do not feel i ride any differently in fact i believe i am still cautious and ride within my abilities. Obviously i can't speak for others but i believe that most people wear helmets as a preventative measure and i would assume that they would not ride a double black as opposed to their regular blue runs just because they have a helmet on.

In fact i still don't think i will wear one all the time but i did mainly get it so i could start getting into jumps and park some more, if i wasn't going into that i probably wouldn't wear one.

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my names's Petey and i have gigantic balls

AlexS

You go big while wearing a helmet, sure sometimes too big thinking it's a lifesaver. I don't know if you're bragging about not wearing a helmet or saying wearing one is wrong but you'd be dumb to do either. I hope for your sake you do start wearing a helmet if you're doing any difficult riding

BurtonAvenger

You know most serious injuries and fatalities happen on greens and blues and less in the park or on blacks right? Helmets have their place it's individual users that are stupid. I'm from the generation that grew up with helmets are uncool yet I wore one in the late 90's early 00's then stopped then wore one again, then stopped, and now I'm going back to one. They save lives for sure but they aren't some invincibility cloak to protect you from anything. I remember when I blew my spleen apart in 02 and I quote this verbatim from the doctor, "if you were wearing a helmet this wouldn't have happened!" OK Doc how would an internal injury behind my stomach have been prevented by this. That right there shows the stupidity behind things.

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Angry Snowboarder Because someone has to call it how they see it!

killclimbz

I forget what the exact number is but if you are traveling over 15-20 mph and take a square blow to your head, a helmet is not going to make a difference. You can't make a helmet to protect against that. It would have to be huge. For glancing or low speed impacts they are great.

They add a measure of protection, but that's about it. People need to get realistic.

Donutz

I remember reading that once mandatory seat belt legislation was brought in that people started driving faster because they felt safer. Same thing happened with air bags. Same thing in states/provinces where motorcycle helmets are mandatory. But here's the thing -- In none of those cases did the increase in risk-taking come even close to netting out the benefits of the safety devices. It only reduced the overall statistical benefit slightly. Overall, by a HUGE margin, we're better off with seatbelts, airbags, and mandatory seatbelt helmets. I'd bet it's the same with snow-sport helmets.

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Illegitimi non carborundum

Mountain Days: 30

slyder

AcroPhile or anyone, the people dying, what are their injuries???
Head trama or blunt force to the torso??

I know the helmet for me is just like a seatbelt. I feel safer but don't do stupid things because I'm wearing a helmet. I consider it part of the equipment to do this sport, much like pads in football. I would think this is a similar case for most riders.

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Thanks
-Slyder

AlexS

Exactly but you always have the exception who think theyre empowered by their pea brains and the freak accidents..

Argo

Today was massive facial and brain trauma.... All others have been torso trauma this year. Keystone is having a rough year.....