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Legislation introduced making ski helmets mandatory for minors

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RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25443 - Karma: 13,844
http://www.katu.com/outdoors/featured/81981352.html

Story Published: Jan 18, 2010 at 11:46 AM PST

Story Updated: Jan 18, 2010 at 11:46 AM PST

Click for larger image startclickprintexclude endclickprintexclude

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Children taking to the slopes in California would have to take a helmet along under a new law proposed in Sacramento.

California Sen. Leland Yee introduced the bill last week. It would require children under 18 to don a helmet. If they don't, their parents would face a $25 fine.

The San Mateo Democrat says he drafted the bill after seeing a study that showed helmets can cut in half the risk of serious head injuries in children 15 and younger.

The California Ski Industry Association has pledged its support.

At least one lawmaker, however, is opposed. Republican Tom Harman told the Los Angeles Times the bill brings up the question of how far government should go in protecting people from themselves.

The bill is still weeks away from any discussion.


Jan 18 2010 10:37PM
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hawaiiansteeze
Posts: 3255 - Karma: 3,226
i bet all the little groms that dont want to wear helmets in the tahoe and mammoth areas wont be happy
Jan 18 2010 10:38PM
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dwhite
Posts: 1499 - Karma: 32
Fight the Power!
Jan 18 2010 10:38PM
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griffin.paisley
Posts: 1520 - Karma: 38
wow!
Jan 18 2010 10:42PM
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AzzisaF@G
Posts: 19 - Karma: 10
helmets = pussy
skiiers = pussies

do the math retards
Jan 18 2010 10:43PM
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Drail
Posts: 14012 - Karma: 10,010
if studies show 15 and under, than make it 15 and under, not 18. you guys and your craziness... i mean - 21 years for drinking age? that's just stupid.
Jan 18 2010 10:44PM
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Deletedtoday
Posts: 4060 - Karma: 398
kinda like wearing a helmet on a bike... debatable

Jan 18 2010 10:44PM
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Karma_Police
Posts: 2655 - Karma: 1,628
Shit I bet the majority of ns'ers that don't wear helmets are going to be pissed.....
Jan 18 2010 10:45PM
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Jamestown
Posts: 4002 - Karma: 51
You are not wanted here troll, go back from whence you came.
Jan 18 2010 10:47PM
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@skiinmitch
Posts: 2781 - Karma: 78

evryone should wear a helment no matter what.

Jan 18 2010 10:47PM
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kzrstf
Posts: 2778 - Karma: 695
helmets are mandatory in park everywhere in quebec.
Jan 18 2010 10:48PM
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AzzisaF@G
Posts: 19 - Karma: 10
quadriplegics can ski, 'nuff said
Jan 18 2010 10:48PM
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Jwenz
Posts: 8893 - Karma: 7,633
true statement
Jan 18 2010 10:49PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
everyone should be able to spell helmet no matter what. i mean seriously. 6 letters. how fucking hard is that...
Jan 18 2010 10:50PM
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Thenowhereman42
Posts: 5682 - Karma: 65
Thats fucking dumb.

1) If you aren't doing park or backcountry you don't need a helmet. I skied for 13 years without one and I'm fine, didn't buy one till I got into park.

2) The government needs to stop being so intrusive and let people take care of themselves. Same deal with the drug war, seatbelt laws, all that shit.

3) The $25 dollar penalty makes me think this is one of those things that won't be enforced, but is just so the government can say they passed it.

Skiing isn't like skateboarding or riding a bike, you fall on snow, not concrete.
Jan 18 2010 10:52PM
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wiglaf
Posts: 4877 - Karma: 141
big brother at it again. 
Jan 18 2010 10:53PM
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Thenowhereman42
Posts: 5682 - Karma: 65
He obviously accidentally hit the "n" when he hit the "m". You fail at being a grammar nazi.
Jan 18 2010 10:53PM
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Thenowhereman42
Posts: 5682 - Karma: 65
wait disregard that lol
Jan 18 2010 10:54PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
to number 1. remember whats his faces wife last winter? the famous dude? she died hitting her head on the bunny slope.
Jan 18 2010 10:54PM
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Karma_Police
Posts: 2655 - Karma: 1,628
Well if socialized healthcare comes about in the next 10 years or w/e then there are going to be a lot of things like this happening, think about it.....
Jan 18 2010 10:56PM
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@skiinmitch
Posts: 2781 - Karma: 78
calm your shit dude. why be a grammer nazzi last time i checked this isnt school
Jan 18 2010 10:56PM
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skiminnesota
Posts: 9093 - Karma: 429
i skied without a helmet today. what now California?!?!?!?!

this is bullshit. i have a better idea, lets just legislate no snowboards. (talk to any ski patroler, its all about the wrist injuries, atleast in MN) (we could save so many broken wrists) or we could just legislate no jumps, rails, boxes, or terrain with rocks and trees?

bullshit, i will decide for myself, or my child if they need to wear a helmet while skiing. thanks.
Jan 18 2010 10:57PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
yeah. exactly.
Jan 18 2010 10:57PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
on the flipside, this could benefit you as a skier. lower insurance costs, cheaper lift tickets.
Jan 18 2010 10:58PM
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Thenowhereman42
Posts: 5682 - Karma: 65
People die all the time. Plus she wouldn't have been covered by the law anyway.
Jan 18 2010 11:00PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
i realize she wouldnt. my point was to his "you only need a helmet in the park/bc"
Jan 18 2010 11:03PM
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skiminnesota
Posts: 9093 - Karma: 429
i would imagine the ski resorts, being evil capitalists, would just pocket any savings brought on my insurance savings. probably wouldnt even pay their employees more, the owners would just keep it ;)


if its lowering insurance costs, i refer you back to outlawing terrain parks, snowboards, and removing all trees and rocks. if we all skied groomers i bet there wouldnt be as many injuries. but then again 2 weeks ago a women got really banged up at my hill after she skied into a fence post. (we are talking life flight off the hill, and didnt know if she was going to make it bad)
Jan 18 2010 11:06PM
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pornwallis
Posts: 132 - Karma: 13
Look, if your an adult and over 18 then its your choice to do what you want, but if they can cut down on the amount of head injuries to minors then more power to um...
Jan 18 2010 11:10PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
so you do admit capitalists are evil, its about damn time.


i think its acceptable for minors, i understand that some parents want to decide for their kids, but i think at a certain point we also have to step in for the shitty parent factor as well.

idk i just think its funny that skiing is one of the few sports where its "socially acceptable" to wear a helmet. (unlike say skateboarding, with the exception of vert), yet people still dont wear them.
Jan 18 2010 11:10PM
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Holte
Posts: 10740 - Karma: 7,814
Seems like that would keep a lot of occasional weekend warrior type families from ever skiing.
Jan 18 2010 11:10PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
doubtful. they often rent, and almost EVERY rental shop rents helmets now
Jan 18 2010 11:11PM
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Mr.Huck
Posts: 6096 - Karma: 14,896
Studies have shown that little girls who wipe their butts front to back are far less likely to get urinary tract infections than little girls who wipe back to front.  Next, California politicians will have cameras in the school bathrooms and fine parents if their daughters don't wipe front to back.

If a ski area makes your kids wear helmets, that's their right.  Like it or not.  But having the Government step in and force people to make kids wear helmets to ski anywhere in the state is HORSESHIT!  California is getting hit hardest by the recession and idiots like this are going to run the risk of driving away ski tourism in a bad economy.  Good luck with your re-election campaign dumbass!
Jan 18 2010 11:11PM
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mezzy
Posts: 298 - Karma: 15
its dumb that theyre making it a rule, if its a risk theyre willing to take then let em. i just dont get why people wouldnt wear them but thats their problem
Jan 18 2010 11:12PM
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TimmyK
Posts: 779 - Karma: 15
I say for park yes, but for trail riding a little overprotective, and mandatory for 18 and under is absurd, maybe like 12 and under.
Jan 18 2010 11:12PM
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Triple_Strum
Posts: 6384 - Karma: 953

Ridiculous.  Pay a fine to choose what you wear when skiing?  I am sorry, but this is out of control big government.  Studies can show that 99% of head injuries could have been prevented with a helmet, but you still can't make someone protect themself or else they pay a fine?  So much for freedom.  Totally unconstitutional.

Jan 18 2010 11:15PM
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Mike.Records
Posts: 1311 - Karma: 756
What if you run into a tree?
Jan 18 2010 11:26PM
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fountain.
Posts: 1399 - Karma: 80
this pisses me off. although i do wear a helmet 95 percent off the time, because that is my choice, i would like to keep it my choice rather than have it be enforced.
Jan 18 2010 11:27PM
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jeremy.g
Posts: 4931 - Karma: 459
i think it comes down to personal freedom. yes its a really stupid idea not to wear a helmet, but its your right to not wear one.
Jan 18 2010 11:28PM
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skiminnesota
Posts: 9093 - Karma: 429
i just came up with the best idea i have ever had in my life.

let us legislate a national skiing ability test. every skier would be required to take a skiing ability assessment test. this test would be done to insure that the novice skier does not make it to far up on the mountain. you would take the test, and then would be given a rating, (lets say 1-10) then you would be allowed to ride all the lifts that correspond or are below your skier ability rating. this would insure that no one without the proper ability would end up riding a lift they are not ready for.

im envisioning an on snow test, as well as a written test on the skiers code of conduct, common courtesies, etc.


you dont need to tell me how smart i am NS. hehe
Jan 18 2010 11:28PM
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123ski
Posts: 7374 - Karma: 1,415
I hate anything that makes anything mandatory (including a rule that makes people buy health insurance).  However, what reasoning do people have NOT to wear a helmet?  I personally hate the feeling of being concussed and I hate the feeling of hitting my head.  My helmet is warmer than most beanies.  It doesn't weigh much.  Why not wear a helmet?
Jan 18 2010 11:29PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
as an adult it is your right. but this law applies only to minors.
Jan 18 2010 11:31PM
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Goku
Posts: 8119 - Karma: 4,223
threads for when shit hits the fan
Jan 18 2010 11:34PM
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123ski
Posts: 7374 - Karma: 1,415
I have always wanted a 95mm rule on the tram at snowbird. If your skis aren't ATLEAST 95mm underfoot (keep in mind, 98mm is not that fat), get off the tram.
Jan 18 2010 11:34PM
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Smuffy
Posts: 4686 - Karma: 3,408
word to that. i watched my friend have convulsions from a head injury with a helmet. every doctor we talked to said he would be dead without one. ive always worn a helmet, but after that i refuse to ski without one. face the facts, helmets are safer and can truly make a difference in your safety. besides, todd wallnuts wears a dome peace, shouldnt that be enough convincing for all you people?
Jan 18 2010 11:36PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
what if you are just old school though, but SLAY.
Jan 18 2010 11:36PM
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charmander
Posts: 10636 - Karma: 370
thats stupid, shut up.
Jan 18 2010 11:41PM
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skiminnesota
Posts: 9093 - Karma: 429
LETS DO IT!

2 weeks ago i saw a gaper lady with rentals that probably came up to her chest getting onto the tram. i lolzd. have fun!
Jan 18 2010 11:41PM
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123ski
Posts: 7374 - Karma: 1,415
I guess although while there is truth to my joke, i should just keep it to myself..although i think it every time in stand in line for the tram
Jan 18 2010 11:45PM
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Deletedtoday
Posts: 4060 - Karma: 398
SOMEONE HASN'T SEEN SWIFT SILENT DEEP!!!
Jan 18 2010 11:56PM
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charmander
Posts: 10636 - Karma: 370
you dont need fat skis at all...

my 64 underfoot slalom skis ski powder better than my dad 111 underfoot katanas...
Jan 18 2010 11:58PM
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TRSkier415
Posts: 137 - Karma: 71
Word. There is no reason why the government should be telling us whether or not we should wear helmets. Yes, I wear one, and yes, I think they are a very important piece of equipment that no doubt save lives and decrease injuries, but if you don't want to wear one, why the fuck should you be fined for that decision. You're not putting anyone else at risk but yourself and, as long as you know the consequences (which I think we all do when we decide to take an active role in this sport), you should be allowed to wear or not wear whatever you want. Furthermore, while I think any parent who is teaching a small child to ski or snowboard should make their kid wear head protection, if they choose to not put a helmet on their kid, why should my or your or your parents' tax dollars pay for their lack of common sense and adequate parenting skills? If their kid works their head, that's their problem, not mine. Plus, the medical bills for spinal cord and brain injuries I hope would be much more of an incentive to put a helmet on their kid than a measly 25 dollar fine. Just my 2 cents.
Jan 18 2010 11:59PM
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