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Ski and snowboarding

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Original poster

Helmets for adults. Advisory or compulsory?

71 replies

clam · 06/02/2010 15:07

Goes without saying that the DCs are togged out with them.
But what about us adults? What do you do? DH point blank refuses to comply with my current panic about fatal head injuries. But was just chatting in Snow & Rock with another customer who said that the current thinking in his circle of mates who are serious skiers is that you'd be insane not to wear one.

What do you reckon?

OP posts:

Lilymaid · 09/02/2010 15:49

I went into that Snow and Rock branch 3 weeks ago asking about helmets. At that point they had a few left and the assistant said that they had reordered 3 times this year.
I bought DS a helmet two weeks ago in Ellis Brigham in Covent Garden and it was mayhem. No opportunity to browse as a lot of people were trying on the remaining stock -I expect there wouldn't be much left there now either.

Lexilicious · 09/02/2010 15:50

I have one by Roxy and it is really good. a couple of seasons old but agree with others who said they're as good as woolly hats and why would you deliberately not wear one.

An out of control skier is not going to be capable of choosing to aim at the person wearing a helmet to reduce the collateral damage they're causing.

seehere for cheap helmets by post. Why not buy your DH one on the sly in case he changes his mind.

Speak to your travel insurers to see if they have any clause about helmet wearing. Or even if they make a discount if you declare you'll be wearing helmets?

When it comes down to it, you are setting an example to your children that where protective clothing is available it is sensible to wear it. Skiing isn't dangerous in itself but other people's misjudgement of their abilities is. Car seatbelt is precisely right analogy.

jen127 · 28/02/2011 13:43

We are just back from Canada yesterday and I seem a 70% in crease of the usage of helmets across the board.

RunforFun · 28/02/2011 13:49

I've been wearing one for a good few years now...

and like someone said earlier it doesnt feel any different from a woolly hat. In fact after one lunchtime cafe stop I had to ask DD if I was wearing it as I couldnt tell !!

deste · 01/03/2011 21:29

We all wore them this year except my DH (dont ask). They were comfortable but we wore fleecy headbands over our ears to stop the wind.

meditrina · 01/03/2011 21:41

I've noticed, since I've been ski-ing with the DCs, that in the last 5 yrs or so it's gone from about 10% adults wearing helmets back then to less than 10% who don't these days. All the ski instructors wear them, and they're compulsory for racing (you would void the necessary additional race insurance if you weren't wearing).

Children had to wear helmets as they weren't allowed onto the lifts without one. Only exempt area was the extremely gentle (ie nearly flat) nursery slope which didn't connect with the main pistes. Even then, helpmate had to be worn during lessons.

Skifit · 02/03/2011 14:21

Yes I think we should all be made to wear them....My DP and I did consider it on the last trip then we didnt bother....tut tut !
Young DS always wears one.

Skifit · 02/03/2011 14:23

I dont think I have ever seen a Ski instructor wear one. . .hhmm! We ski in French Alps.. . . .
Meditrina where do you ski that all instructors wear them ?

meditrina · 02/03/2011 16:44

Switzerland.

I haven't skied in France for over 20 years (aaagh - I feel really old now).

LIZS · 13/03/2011 07:33

dh and I bought some from Decathlon yesterday. They come with a selection of varying thickness pads which you can change to suit. Still not convinced I've got it quite as snug as could be though, how much movement should there be ?

FlingonTheValiant · 13/03/2011 08:01

I think they can encourage people to ski beyond their ability.

I'm a very good skier so never bothered. Until I had an awful accident where my absolutely excellent skier, 6'3", 15 stone, younger brother skied full out into me as I was stopping.

1 dislocated hip, 1 displaced foot, 3 torn ligaments in the knee, full body bruising and a concussion later I now think it's madness not to wear one. Especially in Europe where the slopes are so crowded!

My whole family wear them now as well. Including younger brother who loves his look on the slopes and thinks they look rubbish.

They're very warm as well. And teamed with goggles they are perfect for blizzard/heavy snowfall skiing.

hogsback · 13/03/2011 08:19

I and all my friends wear them. We are all advanced off-piste skiers and boarders. They don't make you invincible but do protect your head from rocks and ice in case of a stack. And they keep your head nice and warm.

exoticfruits · 13/03/2011 08:42

Last year I skied with two doctors from an intensive care unit and they said that anyone was mad to ski without and explained the nature of the injuries.
I went and hired a helmet and it felt much better than expected. I would always wear one now, especially with their words ringing in my ears and the fact that they both helped at an accident on the slopes and were not too happy at the French way of dealing with it.
I don't think that it makes you ski beyond your capabilities. It might with certain teenage boys but they do that anyway!
When I fell headfirst down a black route, and was trying desperately to stop, the thought going through my head was 'thank goodness I got the helmet'.

exoticfruits · 13/03/2011 08:43

You are quite right about keeping warm hogsback-great for January!

exoticfruits · 13/03/2011 08:44

Teenage DCs are completely won over to them-I think it will come for everyone.

MrsGuyOfGisbourne · 14/03/2011 18:12

clam - I had another thread about whether to re-use mine.. This is the first year I have worn one and am glad I did, because I fell over whack! on the back of my head, (twice ) just like Natasha Richardson .
It is warmer that a hat , and I don't give a stuff anymore about how stylish or cool I look - anyone can slip on ice, however good a skiier you are, and while I still have DC dependent on me, will do it, just as I wear a seatbelt when driving and cycle helmet whn on my bike (and I drive & ski considerably faster than I cycle...)

Skifit · 15/03/2011 10:59

I have just bought myself one yesterday. Sports Direct shop in the sale which made my day. Its a NoFear one originally priced at £59.99 and sold to me for £10.
I didnt want to look geekly but i know its sensible.
Ds always wears one and I hope my older DS (22yrs) wears one next week.

Come on EVERYONE wear a helmet,,,,, you know it makes sense.
It should be compulsory !

43Today · 15/03/2011 11:14

Just got back from a week in Austria and all the ski instructors were wearing helmets. I hired one after 3 days, because the slopes were so busy and I felt worried that I might get skiied into. Waiting in the lift queues, it looked to me like 80% of all ages were wearing them. Very few woolly hats left!

Skifit · 15/03/2011 11:21

Interesting 43Today .....

vesela · 21/03/2011 22:09

I wore one this year for the first time (didn't ski last year). Apart from anything else, it was way more comfortable than a hat. I didn't really notice how many other people were wearing them (Austria) - I was wearing mine, and that was that. Carrying it around wasn't an issue - I just left it on my head because it was so comfortable, even when it was about 12 degrees.

halfcaffodils · 21/03/2011 22:25

Just got back from French Alps and not one ski instructor wearing a helmet. About half of adults wearing them, I'd say, and not many of the older geneation. I don't wear one even though I wear a bike helmet - guess it's just that nobody wore them when I started skiing and when I was a chalet girl 21 years ago. I've never had a head injury or known anyone who had one. I did get crashed into on a drag lift when I was about 15 and was hurt, but a helmet wouldn't have helped. The only thing that puts me off is more gear to carry around - a big downside to skiing already!

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