Olympic Skateboarding - helmets

[ElecticBetty]

AIBU for thinking that you shouldn’t be able to compete for skateboarding Olympic medals unless you’re wearing a helmet?

Not only do a lot of children enjoy skateboarding, there are a lot of them competing as well. Obviously skating organisations regulate themselves etc but I feel like the Olympics should be positioning safety as important in a sport.

One of the Olympic principles is to promote sport. It’s not a good look.

gitnux.org/skateboarding-head-injury-statistics/

I missed some earlier but I’m watching the women’s street final now and they are all wearing helmets.

Think it’s Poe Pinson for the USA team not in a helmet.

In the women’s street final as well I think. DH says he thinks she’s in 3rd place?

Poe Pinson isn't wearing one, that's how i found this thread cos i noticed and was searching for the reason why. As i was doing so coco yoshizawa hit her head!

Sorry yes iv just seen that Poe pinson doesn’t have one.

yes I agree with your point.

all sports should be safe

We thought it was the case that all the under 18s are wearing helmets, but the 19 year old wasn’t, so maybe adults get the choice.

As much belief as I have in my kids, I'm going to guess that an Olympic skateboarder is slightly more experienced and better able to protect themselves in a fall than my 9 year old.

I'm just watching it now and they're all falling. I'm not finding it very exciting.

They are wearing helmets.

Some of those that are wearing helmets have the straps so loose that they’d fall off anyway.

I was surprised it’s not mandatory, especially as they’ve spent more time falling over than landing.

My DC picked up on this, they thought it's daft not to wear a helmet when you're falling from a height onto concrete!

More faux outrage. Hands up who skateboarded and rode bikes up to the 90's and didn't die.

It’s hardly ‘faux outrage’ to think it’s a bit fucking stupid to be chucking yourself off a rail, onto a concrete floor, without anything to protect your head! Especially as at least half of them fell over doing the tricks.

It’s not faux outrage , I think they should be compulsory as it sets a bad example.

Faux outrage would be “shocked because she could hit her head and die”.

toni... yes 60s bike.70s skateboards and dirt bikes
80 to90s harleys truimphs

amazing i lived 3 broke bones over the years

They're not there to set an example though, they're there to compete.

Hands up if you don't understand survivor bias

I’d hazard a guess that the c9mpetitors may practice without helmets and reckon that’s what they’re used to and that a helmet may affect their performance/throw them off balance as not used to it. 🤷‍♀️

All other events where head injuries are likely (horse riding, cycling etc) have to wear safety equipment.

Why is skateboarding any different?

Helmets are only mandated for competitors under 18. Over 18 can choose.

They’re less likely to be unbalanced or feel they are by a helmet, or have their field of vision restricted…..they’re not doing multiple backflips. Apart from maybe the bmx riders, do they wear helmets?

What a load of bollocks - they would get used to it.

If that were true, older competitors have an advantage, which is unfair.

I was amazed they didn't have to wear helmets! I can't think of any other sports where that would be acceptable.

They will have to wear them eventually but unfortunately I suspect only after someone has been seriously injured or killed whilst millions watch.

There's obviously a risk/benefit analysis made somewhere. There are other Olympic sports where head injuries are a meaningful risk (gymnastics and figure skating spring to mind but no doubt there are others).

Diving, too - there have been horrible injuries with mistakes off the fixed, concrete diving platforms. Can’t see anyone suggesting divers should sport helmets, though.

We had the same conversation early it should be mandatory to set a good example.

the cracked helmet of one of the skiers in Sochi is case in point. No helmet that would have been her head. It’s not much different what they are doing.