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Do you wear a helmet when you ride?

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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,633
We were having this discussion at the office today, and I'm wondering what the general populace of newschoolers says.

I remember back in like 2001-2004 or so, what I would consider the "heydey" of my skiing ability... very few people wore helmets when they were riding. I mean even guys like Tanner and Candide would wear hats when competing in the x-games.

Hell... I never wore a helmet unless someone forced me. I don't even think I had a good reason. When I ask myself why, really it all came down to fashion and comfort. Didn't like the feeling or look of helmets.

However, more and more these days I see helmets almost everywhere. Of course part of that is because here in Quebec, wearing a helmet in the terrain park is mandatory. I know its the same in some places in Ontario, and at Whistler... but how many other parks are like that?

So I pose the question to you - do you ride with a helmet? What fuels your decision either way?



Oct 22 2010 11:00AM
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skiminnesota
Posts: 9093 - Karma: 429
the only time i dont wear one is if im coaching. otherwise i wear one.
Oct 22 2010 12:40PM
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T-Holt
Posts: 5020 - Karma: 639
It's really easy to snag your ski under some hidden brush of something and superman into a tree. I did that back when I was in 7th grade. I got a concussion with a helmet, I don't even want to know what would happen if I wasn't wearing one.

I wear my helmet almost 100% of the time. Helmets have saved my ass on multiple occasions. The only times I don't really wear one is on nice spring days when I'm just shredding moguls and the mountain (still wear one in the park) and when I'm hitting my backyard set-up. I care about my brain too much to not wear one.
Oct 22 2010 12:43PM
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Banane.
Posts: 3102 - Karma: 414
Same for me
Oct 22 2010 12:44PM
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BootySpunk.
Posts: 8148 - Karma: 84
Jesus Christ Jack just wear a helmet all the time!

But I didn't used to like wearing a helmet when I was younger because I thought they were dumb. But I have been wearing one for about 2-3 years and never ski without it. I feel so much more confident and safe wearing a helmet...and I getta put cool little stickers on it...but there have been many a times when I have went head first into a rail or side of a jump where I would have been fucked without a helmet.
Oct 22 2010 12:45PM
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stunt_ditch
Posts: 196 - Karma: 13
Every day since I tomahawked off a trail and came to rest with trees three inches from either side of my head.
Oct 22 2010 12:46PM
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Yung_Gnarley
Posts: 9092 - Karma: 3,022
haha like about 79% of the time I do.
Oct 22 2010 12:51PM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,386
yea haha - I've smashed my head fucking around on foot tall mini shred rails. The stupidest things happen.
Oct 22 2010 12:59PM
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Guavajelly
Posts: 197 - Karma: 34
I have on and off ever since i started skiing, but the older Ive gotten the more Ive worn it. It just makes since if you already own one.

Longboarding has also make me start wearing a helmet much more often because a fall on asphalt at any speed could be devastating and i think that will defiantly have an impact on my gear decisions when heading to the mountain this season.
Oct 22 2010 1:02PM
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Abc567def
Posts: 8756 - Karma: 801
i wear one except for when i'm instructing but this year my mountain is making it even mandatory for the instructors to wear one.
Oct 22 2010 1:04PM
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Whaley
Posts: 712 - Karma: 24
I Wear a helmet because after Cr and quite a bit of other skiers have died i always wear a helmet even though Cr was wearing a helmet
Oct 22 2010 1:10PM
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wintersway
Posts: 5115 - Karma: 128
basically all the time. during the spring, i dont use it very often but i almost always bring it with me in the car in case of bad conditions.
Oct 22 2010 1:11PM
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BlackcountryBill
Posts: 955 - Karma: 576
I always do, never thought of not wearing it.
Oct 22 2010 1:11PM
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Malne
Posts: 2 - Karma: 10
Every single fucking day. I've seen too many people get fucked up and had too many hard falls not to. I picked up a back protector last year as well and wear it every day, low profile, doesn't interfere with movement, keeps my back warm, and just overall kicks ass.
Oct 22 2010 1:12PM
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hoodratz47
Posts: 12020 - Karma: 9,475
i had one when i raced. and one time the chair hit me in the back of the head and cracked it.. so it saved my ass that time. but i have not had a helmet for a long. time. but then again. i'm just spinning 3' 5's most of the time and i'm really good at jumping. the only time i feel i should be wearing a helmet is in the trees and gnar runs.

i am thinking about getting one. this year.
Oct 22 2010 1:18PM
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steve0
Posts: 1131 - Karma: 1,312
Yes, unless I'm really not doing anything crazy. I've seen and taken too many hard falls.
Oct 22 2010 1:22PM
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jason...
Posts: 9006 - Karma: 780
rails dont get softer when the snow gets soft...



I wear a helmet, I've hit my head too many times to not wear a helmet. 2 Concussions in the past year, 1 of which put me in the hospital means I'll definitely not be forgetting it at home this season.
Oct 22 2010 1:23PM
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rudager
Posts: 11335 - Karma: 4,624
Everyday!!
Why? I ski a lot of steeps and big mountain, I've caught myself on roots and stuff before, so happy I have a helmet. Nothing is worse then coming off a cliff and smashing your noggin into the earth.
Oct 22 2010 1:26PM
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Yung_Gnarley
Posts: 9092 - Karma: 3,022
Haha it sounds cocky but I dont really fall on rails.
Oct 22 2010 1:29PM
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Joonas
Posts: 568 - Karma: 230
It freaks me out to even watch a box or a rail without a helmet.. hitting my head on those sharp nasty corners gives me the chills.. so yea i use a helmet whenever im on skis
Oct 22 2010 1:40PM
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JTL
Posts: 2275 - Karma: 338
i wear a helmet 98 percent of the time
Oct 22 2010 1:44PM
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Twig
Posts: 6409 - Karma: 60,051
Now i would like to say i wear one every day, but looking back on my footage, turns out i don't.. when i'm wearing my ski jacket and skiing lines then i do, but when i'm skiing park wearing a hoody, i mostly don't.. no explanation for that either..
Oct 22 2010 1:49PM
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Elmo.
Posts: 4317 - Karma: 663
i wear a helmet except in my yard on my pvc rails... other than that yes cuz the rails r metal and u go high and far with jumps so theres a lot of force there

plus i think its warmer than hats and i like the comfort of it
Oct 22 2010 1:51PM
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DockEllis
Posts: 1131 - Karma: 1,745
I never wore one before last season, got one in the beginning of last winter and was stocked on it. Warm and comfy, not to mention the functionality aspect of it.
Oct 22 2010 1:54PM
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ben_southworth
Posts: 1063 - Karma: 447
used to be pretty good about it
then last year i fractures my skull in two places longboarding without a helmet
and since then, i have been quite good about it
Oct 22 2010 1:57PM
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Willard
Posts: 5117 - Karma: 429
REPOST NOOB USE THE SEARCHBAR
Oct 22 2010 1:59PM
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3mania
Posts: 2613 - Karma: 10,361
I did an experiment. I skied over 3000 days with out a helmet. I have never had a concussion. I would never tell anyone what to do when they are on the hill. If you want to wear a helmet, wear one. It's none of my business. But don't tell me what you think i should be doing for my safety on the hill. MYOB. I know what i'm doing.
Oct 22 2010 2:06PM
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GayWolf420
Posts: 37403 - Karma: 120,362
I wear one because its my choice and I like to keep my juggular properly working.
Oct 22 2010 2:09PM
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ChadThundercock
Posts: 3071 - Karma: 830
nope, i usually dont wear a helmet aside from competition. i have had a couple close ones though... so whenever i try new stuff or im experimenting ill wear a helmet now
Oct 22 2010 2:11PM
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hue.
Posts: 1518 - Karma: 220
i always wear a helmet, it gives me a sense of security, even though it wouldn't fully protect me in a gnarly crash
Oct 22 2010 2:22PM
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quixotic
Posts: 6937 - Karma: 2,978
Been wearing one ever since '04 when I started to ski. I wear it simply because I don't want to fuck up my head. I realize that can happen with a helmet on too, but 99% of the time, wearing a helmet will have reduced the damage that could have happened.

Also, confidence. I'm not saying just because I'm wearing a helmet I think I can do a triple cork. It's just that I feel safer and confident with my abilities.

Last, they actually look pretty dope these days and aren't that heavy. I have a RED Trace and it's super ill.

Last season I got out 59 days and all but one I was wearing my helmet. The only day I didn't was when I was cruising some greens and blues teaching my cousins how to ski.
Oct 22 2010 2:39PM
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blindside
Posts: 5619 - Karma: 1,201
yes.

reasoning: why wouldn't you?
Oct 22 2010 2:42PM
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GANDALF
Posts: 6303 - Karma: 6,578
i honestly feel naked without one. my helmet isnt even that comfortable, but i always wear it because you never know. its so easy to bonk your dome.
Oct 22 2010 2:44PM
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ORDEAL
Posts: 6386 - Karma: 75
I always wear one.

Minnesota landings are ice. Let me reiterate. Ice.
Mine is POC and is amazing. The cheap ones that are basically bike helmets work for one serious hit. The more intense high quality ones actually protect you for a few seasons. Also, I always do shit like butters and tree skiing, so branches and catching an edge is always plausible.
Oct 22 2010 2:45PM
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.AR6rider.
Posts: 15976 - Karma: 8,799
I wear my helmet 100% of the time.  There's no reason not to.
Oct 22 2010 2:48PM
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Doug.
Posts: 2236 - Karma: 457
I always do. Had too many concussions, dont want to risk it.
Oct 22 2010 2:50PM
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fratskier69
Posts: 1868 - Karma: 1,272
what?
Oct 22 2010 2:51PM
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manzear
Posts: 843 - Karma: 849
I never used to ride with a helmet, I felt the same about comfort and look. I wear only because I was forced too, the parks I skied had the rule in place. I know ride with one always, even if I am not riding park. For me, I like the helmet I have and I think I am better off.

The question now is, whether to wear a mouth guard as well. I coach freestyle and almost every kid is wearing a mouth guard except me. What do you all think about that?
Oct 22 2010 2:52PM
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titsLOL
Posts: 7485 - Karma: 396
Took me a while to get used to the idea of a helmet, but about 4 years ago I started rocking one and am fine wearing them now. I try to wear one whenever I ski park, and generally not for pow. Not that pow is safe without a helmet.

Oct 22 2010 2:57PM
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timmi
Posts: 12874 - Karma: 3,460
I wear one any time I'm in the park. It's paid off enough times. Last winter I actually broke my helmet in half, probably wouldn't have turned out well without one.

If I'm just cruisin groomers with my dad, sometimes I'll lose it just so I can feel the wind in my hair. It's pretty nice and I'm damn near certain I won't get hurt just skiing.
Oct 22 2010 2:59PM
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Holte
Posts: 10740 - Karma: 7,816
I've broken two helmets from falls through cliff bands. The crashes would absolutely have killed me if I wasn't wearing a helmet. Even just skiing park I would feel really uncomfortable without a helmet though.
Oct 22 2010 2:59PM
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Kapital
Posts: 504 - Karma: 38
I always wear a helmet cause my mom tells me too...
Jk but I wear one cause I got it and dont' like the thought of someone changing my dippers for me the rest of my life cause im a REEEETARD
Oct 22 2010 3:02PM
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Mules
Posts: 595 - Karma: 97
i always do
Oct 22 2010 3:36PM
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kzrstf
Posts: 2778 - Karma: 695
repost
Oct 22 2010 3:48PM
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binturong-qwerty
Posts: 1506 - Karma: 146
I wear one and I have worn one. It has seriously saved me from possibly bad concussions. The only time I do not wear one is when i am seshing a backyard setup or urban (50% of the time)
Oct 22 2010 3:49PM
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skiminnesota
Posts: 9093 - Karma: 429
coaching little D team racers.

you dont spend THAT much time actually skiing. its more acting in an advisor role and a helmet limits what i can hear. however if im gonna do more than set gates and slip the course ill go put it on.
Oct 22 2010 3:50PM
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oneflow
Posts: 427 - Karma: 23
yup i sure do
Oct 22 2010 3:57PM
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austinmetsch
Posts: 525 - Karma: 17
i always wear a helmet and would never ride with out. i almost died wearing helmet and it saved my life. i shattered it. it did exactly what it was supposed to do and therefor i'm still here.
Oct 22 2010 4:11PM
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Jaggy_Snake
Posts: 2287 - Karma: 1,418
There was a similar thread a while ago in GT, but you're red and the haters can hate.

I always wear a helmet now after various "incidents." I even wear a helmet if I'm charging the groomers.
Oct 22 2010 4:13PM
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dan4060
Posts: 1458 - Karma: 847
I always wear one.  I can't remember the last time I didn't.
Oct 22 2010 4:29PM
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