Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Ski and snowboarding

For ski chat, join the Mumsnet Ski forum. Check out our guide to the best resorts in Europe and our family ski holiday packing list.

Original poster

Adults - do you wear a helmet?

84 replies

scopello · 04/04/2016 05:04

It's been over a decade since I've skied. I've been a handful if times so not a novice but choosing to take intermediate lessons as a refresher. Hat only in the past - I've never worn a helmet. Do you choose to wear one as an adult?

OP posts:
Stillwishihadabs · 04/04/2016 07:47

Gooru where are you skiing ?

WanderingTrolley1 · 04/04/2016 07:47

I lived in Switzerland for 2 years (within the last 4 years), had native friends, went skiing in France and Switzerland and helmets were rare.

OSETmum · 04/04/2016 07:50

Yes we do now and as everyone else has said, so most people. I think Michael Schumacher's accident changed a lot of attitudes. Plus you can get some really cool looking ones nowadays. Mine is white with purple flowers, dh's is black with Monster stickers and ds needs a new one before we go again but there's loads of choice.

BrightandEarly · 04/04/2016 07:51

This is very interesting. We went skiing recently in Sweden and all children wore helmets, but most adults were not.

I didn't ski - I can't but I plan to take lessons next year so that I can join DH, and DC who are currently learning (and wearing helmets!). I really want to wear a helmet but I think it will look unusual. Don't care though!

GalensOyster · 04/04/2016 07:58

Gooru, where are you ski-ing? We are in Switzerland and 95% of people wear helmets.

My husband's helmet saved his life. He walked away (well, more carried away on a stretcher) from an accident that would probably have killed him.

museumum · 04/04/2016 07:58

Yes. I didn't six years ago. I'd say then it was 50:50. Now I'd say 80% ish of adults wear them.
Skied in France Italy and Switzerland in that time.

Stillwishihadabs · 04/04/2016 07:59

French resorts we have visited in the last 10 years, where helmets were commonplace are:
SerreChavailier
Les Coches/la plange/les arcs
Chamonix (loads)

Also Austria , but I think they are more common there.
I ask again where are people skiing in France where helmets aren't worn ?

Whochangedmyname · 04/04/2016 08:24

Just back from a week's skiing in Austria - really, you could count on one hand the number of people not wearing a helmet, and they were in their 50s/60s.

IsletsOfLangerhans · 04/04/2016 08:30

We were in the Italian Dolomites in February and, like most others on here, barely saw anyone without a helmet.

IsletsOfLangerhans · 04/04/2016 08:35

gooru - the stories regarding bike helmets doing more harm than good are with regard to motorists driving habits - drivers are assuming a cyclist is better protected, so will take more risks around them. I can't see this transferring to ski slopes due to lack of cars on them??

Unless there is some more recent medical evidence about helmets damaging skulls?

ProjectPerfect · 04/04/2016 08:38

I think the popularity of snowboarding really added to helmets becoming common place - since it's very rare to see a boarder w/o a helmet.

If all the "cool young things" were prepared to wear a helmet it seemed to improve the image of helmets Grin

Solasum · 04/04/2016 08:40

I never used to wear one, for skiing or riding (horse) if completely off road. Now I have DC I will certainly use one when finally I get to go again, not least because I find it simpler to be consistent, e.g. We all eat vegetables, we all wait for the green man. I also feel I have far more to lose these days.

As an aside, have you found your skiing style has changed since DC? I used to be very much of the 'might as well give it a go, I will be able to get down somehow' philosophy, but not sure I will still have the nerve.

maitaimojito · 04/04/2016 08:43

We snowboard and have always worn a helmet. I'd say 90% of snowboarders wore one last time we were in France.

Less so for skiers but like others have said it is mainly the older generation that done.

Why take the risk - helmets are light and comfortable so no reason not to wear one IMO.

Frazzled2207 · 04/04/2016 09:01

Wow.
Never worn one but not been for 3 years. Expect I will do next time, especially now we have kids.

sparechange · 04/04/2016 10:02

Yes.
Not because I think I'm any more likely to fall over and hit my head than I used to.
But because the majority of people on the slope now wear them, and if I collide with them, my bare head will come off a lot worse than their helmeted one.

I think the biggest risk on the slope is out of control teens and young adults bashing into me at speed. Especially now ski technology means it is quite easy to go faster than you can reasonably control.

And all of those out of control teens will be wearing helmets, so it just isn't worth the risk to me any more. I don't think it will be long before insurance mandates it as well...

MrsGuyOfGisbo · 04/04/2016 10:12

Yes.
I do miss the dolce vita days of yore, and you still see the odd leatherl;y looking older French/Italian person without them, but would no now ski without.

namechangedtoday15 · 04/04/2016 10:13

OP - similar position to you, we hadn't skied for a decade before we went to Italy this Christmas. Had never worn a helmet.

Ski hire shop looked at me like I was a lunatic when I said I didn't want one (but got them for the children). Ski hire man persuaded me to take one - free of charge - just in case I changed my mind.

As it turned out, went straight from hire shop to slope (so ended up wearing it). I was gobsmacked. Everyone (and I mean everyone) was wearing one. Really conformable, no issues at all.

We were in Cervinia over Christmas week - skied Switzerland side and Italian side and I agree with pp - I could count on my hands the number of people we saw all week without helmets. Things really have changed.

TheOptimisticPessimist · 04/04/2016 10:18

Yes we all do. I've been on a couple of trips where I didn't but I'm glad I'm back in them now. As pps said, in places like France and Switzerland absolutely everyone does.

Swissgemma · 04/04/2016 10:19

I ski instruct for ess in Switzerland. I wouldn't ski without a helmet even on the nursery slopes. I've seen enough bad crashes to know that helmets save lives. Last season I was clipped by a snowboarder, went flying, cracked my helmet. That crack could've been my skull. You have one brain protect it!

massistar · 05/04/2016 10:35

When I started snowboarding 15 years ago I didn't wear one and hardly any adults did. Over the last few years I've skiied in France, Italy and Austria and I'd agree that the majority of snowboarders and most skiiers do wear them. I couldn't go without one now and it has saved my noggin on more than one occasion!

Original poster
scopello · 08/04/2016 11:25

I was the only one in my group without a helmet on Day 1 so after feeling a tad self conscious, I bought a ski helmet and also managed to persuade DH to wear one too. 2 days of full on skiing before falling and pulling my calf muscle. Should have worn a knee brace! 2 days rest and a rather tentative attempt today on the greens with my leg strapped tight. Will stay on the greens/blues for our last day tomorrow and take it way easy.... Wear a knee brace people! Haven't put us off since both DC loved their first time out. Sunshine and snow in the Alps - a tad slushy by the afternoon but glorious for our first family ski holiday.

OP posts:
PestoSkiissimos · 08/04/2016 12:50

Yes I do now. Never used to though and was worried about how I would feel wearing one. However, turns out I feel 'complete' once my helmet's on and it keeps me cosy. I didn't overheat with it on, but I couldn't hear as well due to my ears being covered!

Enjoy your last day skiing scopello. I too hurt my calf whilst skiing last week, but I continued to ski and now I'm home I'm just hobbling a bit. GP reckons it'll take 6 weeks to heal.

andadietcoke · 08/04/2016 13:49

I do. I went skiing with some doctors a few years ago and I laughed when they asked me if I wore one because I skied so cautiously. They'd been on a previous trip and been first at the scene when a lady was stood at the side of the piste waiting for her skiing buddies and was taken out by someone coming down out of control. They strongly believed that a helmet might have saved her life. You're not wearing a helmet for your style of skiing but also to protect you from other people's.

lovetoskimum · 08/04/2016 15:35

Never used to until falling pregnant 6 and half years ago, now hubby me and daughter defo do, would not even think about not having it on, I must admit skied Les Arcs first week of March this year and did actually a few people without ?? Swissgemma, well said x

Scopello, glad you are having fun, kids are great skiing, good holiday fun enjoy your last days :)

Always, will do, just about to book for 2017, yay :)

FishOn · 08/04/2016 16:10

Here in Canada very few people don't wear helmets - Lovely and warm on cold days Grin