I always say wear one. Especially if it's your first time.

 

You dont have to...

Try riding with no goggles though, see what happens

 

I bought a helmet for this coming season because I am getting into park seriously. Previous to that I had free-ridden on groomers (greens blues and blacks) for four seasons w/o a helmet. I never had a fall that caused a head-related impact. I would say it's always a good idea to wear one as it's like insurance, but I wouldn't really be worrying about it if I wasn't doing park/anything more than groomers.

 

It's not necessary but it's highly recommended. Most people think that it's safe because it's "snow". It can still crack your skull open if you hit your head hard enough against hard packed snow. I personally don't wear a helmet and I've hit my head many times and it hurts. Unless you're riding in deep pow it's good to take precaution. Since it's your first time I think you should wear one.

 

reasearch kevin pearce.

 

Yes - but I'll be sticking to the beginner slopes - no crazy tricks on the half-pipe....

 

I look at it this way. I only have one head. My brain is soft and easily damaged. Dr's for the most part can't do much if you fuck your self up head wise. Have a look at Natasha Richardson. She died last year in Quebec in a freak accident. She was on a bunny slope. You don't need to be doing a cliff drop on a double black to hurt yourself.
Natasha Richardson - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

As for the snow. It can get rock hard especially if its man made. If you are new to it wear one. Mine has saved me a few times from clipping branches in the trees.

 

Better to wear a helmet when snowboarding, if for no other reason than ice patches.

If you happen to be turning hard or carving over an ice patch then you are going to hit the ground very hard and too quickly for you to react. Helmets will keep incidental knocks from ruining your day and keep hard hits from ruining your trip (or entire season).

I have tried an outing once or twice without a helmet. Sometimes it is more comfortable to just wear a beanie, i do feel more vulnerable without a helmet.

 

Better to wear a helmet when snowboarding, if for no other reason than ice patches.

If you happen to be turning hard or carving over an ice patch then you are going to hit the ground very hard and too quickly for you to react. Helmets will keep incidental knocks from ruining your day and keep hard hits from ruining your trip (or entire season).

good point

 

I wear one now. I've never had a fall where one would come in handy, but you never know. Plus it actually has pretty good insulation to keep the heat in.

 

Like mentioned above....ice patches/hardpacked snow.

 

when i think about it....since it's your first time you'll be spending the whole day sitting on your butt or plowing the snow at 1 mph. still good to be on the safe side :laugh:

 

Unless he's a phenomenon like me, and manages to pick up speed with absolutely no direction control at his third run and smash against a woman or a family who didn't even know what happened.
True story.

 

Do you know what happens when you catch a heelside edge with your back towards the downslope? Imagine grabbing a child's doll by the ankles and slapping it down against the ground. That'll be you.

I've cracked my head way harder during snowboarding than during any other sport. You're going to fall down more as a beginner than at any other time.

 

Do you know what happens when you catch a heelside edge with your back towards the downslope? Imagine grabbing a child's doll by the ankles and slapping it down against the ground. That'll be you.

I believe I will wear a helmet

 

My cousin died at Breckenridge a few years ago. Fractured skull dodging off to the edge of a groomer for a few fresh turns, lost an edge, and did a header into a tree. He hit so fast there was no damage at all to his hands (aka he didn't get them up). I swore to my family the next day that I'd always wear a helmet from then on, and I have.

 

Sad story. OP said he's going to wear a helmet. No need to scare away from boarding.

 

troll much?

he seriously posted 2 identical threads containing identical text except for goggles/helmets and none of you have caught it

 

His questions seem legit when I read them.

 

Not to discourage you, but the common theme is that when you first start snowboarding you will get your ass kicked:
http://www.snowboardingforum.com/sn...nowboarding-general-chat/33657-how-your-very-first-snowboarding-experience.html

Obviously we here all loved it enough to stick with the sport despite that initial painful learning curve. If you don't have a lesson planned with a real instructor (not your pals or dad or whomever you're traveling with) you may want to sign up for at least a half day lesson to get started on the basics. It'll pay off in spades.

 

Personally, I only wear one when I ride park. Mainly, for rails. But yea, it is definetly smart to wear one. One of my friends hit the ground so hard that her helmet actually cracked. Now imagine, what would've happened if she wasn't wearing one

 

I used to ride without a helmet, mainly due to me having the hardest time finding one that fit properly (odd shaped and huge head).

Hit the back of my head on ice after bricking a landing. Mild concussion.

Have a helmet now and last season... I was just on a groomer, hit ice patch full speed, caught edge, and slammed face first. The top front of the helmet and my goggles took the brunt of the damage. I still walked away with a bloody lip and pain in my nose. I can't imagine what my face would have been like if I didn't have those two pieces of gear on my head.

Careful with your wrist guard choices. Some cause worse damage rather than protect it. The best protection is to learn how to control your urge to stick your hands out when you fall. I let my forearms and elbow take the brunt when I fall. Better impact dispersion. Plus, broken arm > broken wrist. I broke my wrist and two bones in my hands (non-snowboarding related) on my dominant hand. It was something that I could have prevented and I regret ever doing it. My hand has never been the same and I can't bend it as well now (push ups hurt me now). Plus I have an early onset of arthritis to boot.

 

This thread is starting to scare me into wearing a helmet.


Is it necessary? is it necessary for me to drink my own urine? no, but i do it anyways because it's sterile and i like the taste.

 

Should I play football without a helmet? To me the question is a similar one.

My wife works with peeps that have TBI's (Traumatic Brain Injury), and yes some of them got their TBI from snowboarding. Safe to say a TBI most definitely ruins a persons life. I hear so many boarders say they don't wear one because its uncomfortable or whatever. I say wear one from day one and it just becomes a part of riding for you. IMO its absolutely better to be on the safe side than the TBI side.

As far as wrist guards go IMO they're a must too. I read that 9 of 10 wrist injuries in snowboarding occur from beginners that have never taken a lesson with a certified instructor. With that in mind I would recommend a lesson also. One thing I was told was to make a fist while riding or falling which will lessen the impact on your wrists and move most of the force up the forearm. :dunno: Any one else ever hear this?

 

One thing I was told was to make a fist while riding or falling which will lessen the impact on your wrists and move most of the force up the forearm. :dunno: Any one else ever hear this?

I've never heard that statement (not to say it couldn't be true) but making a fist at least helps to protect your fingers from getting sprained or fractured.

 

Q: Is it really necessary to wear a helmet while snowboarding? ????

A: NO

Explanation: While it is not "necessary" as u ask. its safer to ride with one than with out.. i don't wear em, but i see other people wearing them, doesn't mean u need to.. if you ride the great blue ice of the eastcoast it might be wiser. but it is not "necessary"

 

At times necessary but generally not sufficient

 

I wear one for several reason. In no particular order:

-helps keep head warm

-helps keep goggle in place

-more places to put stickers

-keeps head safe from, (a) my own wrecks, (b) other people crashing to me, (c) that one asshole who brings the bar on the lift down too fast and whacks you on the head

-helmet, goggles, and face mask, you just can't beat SWAT-team fashion (just kidding).

 

I wear one because I seem to have a tendency to overestimate my own abilities, and I will advise anyone to wear one, but I won't push it on anyone. It's everyone's own choice.

With that said, hasn't this been gone over again and again? Where's that dead horse picture? :cheeky4:

 

In a way I wish there was snowboard helmets in 1988 when I first learned because I did do the ole heel edge to rag doll on the back of my head. But you learn quick after one of those.

I wore one for a season but I hated it, felt like it sat too high and left a big gap between my goggs and lid. And it was a pain in the ass wearing a turtleneck. My beagle did me a favor and ate the straps one day. I'm way more comfortable in a toque. I'm not much one for the park either otherwise I probably would wear one.

 

I wished I would have starting boarding in 1988...lol...I would have been 12 years old that would be awesome...

I wear a helmet....I have from the beginning. Even with a helmet, when I first started my head took numerous hits.

I noticed in snowboard movies most of the pros don't wear helmets...I guess it just not cool.

 

Yeah I was 13. I guess when you know what your doing you don't need a helmet, unless your just a cautious person or setting an example for your kids or something I guess.

 

I always wear a helmet...so it must be cool!