Poll & Discussion : Steeze Vs Safety - Do you wear a helmet?

Mizu Kuma - 05 August 2014 09:53 AM

I think that with the introduction of Sandbox’s funky peaked helmets, its really boosted the “cool” factor of wearin a bucket on ya head 100 fold!!!!!

I think that the Pro’s of the Snowboarding World really should step up to the plate, and don a helmet!!!!! After all, if kids see their idol wearin one, there’s a good chance they’ll follow suit!!!!!

1. I’m against the brims on helmets now after a crash I had 2 seasons ago, caught an edge whilst messing around on a cat track, faceplanted and the brim snapped off. This fall gave me a concussion that had me off work for a week afterwards. This was actually the 2nd concussion from this type of fall that I’ve sustained and the 2nd sandbox that I’ve broken in a simliar way. But yes I will agree that they’ve made helmets ‘cooler’ which is a step in the right direction. I now ride with the other sandbox that doesn’t have the brim and would say that I prefer the fit of it, as it comes down lower on the back.

2. Definitely agree on the Pro comment, they’re starting to wear them more and more though in competition which is good as thats what the newer people to the sport are looking at especially years like this with the winter olympics where theres far more media coverage.

rider26 - 05 August 2014 11:04 AM

Whistler Blackcomb used to let us teach in beanies, which I always did. Then they introduced compulsory helmets if you’re teaching in the park. Now it’s just compulsory for instructors to wear helmets all the time.

This was actually changed as of April/May 2013 actually, all staff that ride on snow must wear a helmet at all times regardless of what department you work for.

I haven’t ridden in aus since 2012 but can say that in Whistler the number of people wearing helmets has definitely increased significantly. There’s definitely more people wearing helmets than those not wearing them. I think the key thing is helmet design, each year the helmets are getting better along with the goggle integration so it hardly even feels like you’re wearing one anymore.

Me personally I won’t go up the hill without a helmet now, and it’s not just because I’m worried about what I may do but more so about those around me and quite simply you don’t bounce off trees.

cords - 06 August 2014 04:51 AM

I’m a non-wearer.

I’m 100% on the everyone should wear one bandwagon, I just haven’t made myself be one of those people.

To me it doesn’t look like you are on the bandwagon then at all?!

Hi I’m Rod, I like to party!!!!!

deanobruce - 08 August 2014 05:20 PM

cords - 06 August 2014 04:51 AM

I’m a non-wearer.

I’m 100% on the everyone should wear one bandwagon, I just haven’t made myself be one of those people.

To me it doesn’t look like you are on the bandwagon then at all?!

haha you got me there - poor wording. What I mean is that I don’t see helmets as too uncool or anything. I think its good that people wear them…so I guess you could say I’m 99.9% on the bandwagon.

Righto, I wear a helmet, my kids wear helmets. BUT, I really hate this Nanny state we are creating. You know what, if someone does not want to wear a helmet, fine. I might point out its a dumb move, but thats it.

Everything in this world is getting wrapped in cotton wool. Guess what kids? There is this bloke called Darwin, he has / had a theory which I think is pretty spot on.

The only reason that we have all this bullshit of OHS etc etc is because of lawyers, money hungry mother fucking LAWYERS. Those thieving scums are all “oh, I am doing it to save somebody” or “it’ll make this poor souls life better” (when I line both of our wallets with coin)

What the hell happened to responsibility for ones own actions?

Rant over, my pizza is ready

Agree 100%!!!!!

Azz - 08 August 2014 08:18 PM

Righto, I wear a helmet, my kids wear helmets. BUT, I really hate this Nanny state we are creating. You know what, if someone does not want to wear a helmet, fine. I might point out its a dumb move, but thats it.

Everything in this world is getting wrapped in cotton wool. Guess what kids? There is this bloke called Darwin, he has / had a theory which I think is pretty spot on.

The only reason that we have all this bullshit of OHS etc etc is because of lawyers, money hungry mother fucking LAWYERS. Those thieving scums are all “oh, I am doing it to save somebody” or “it’ll make this poor souls life better” (when I line both of our wallets with coin)

What the hell happened to responsibility for ones own actions?

Rant over, my pizza is ready

I have no issue with this except guess who pays the idiots’ hospital bills? (idiots generally don’t have private health insurance.  it’s because they’re idiots.)

I live in hope that the idiots don’t need use of a hospital and employ the services of an Undertaker.

Azz - 08 August 2014 09:23 PM

I live in hope that the idiots don’t need use of a hospital and employ the services of an Undertaker.

I wonder what happens to dead idiots who can’t afford an undertaker?  We probably pay for that, too!

Problem is that we still pay for “Nanny” to look after the idiots no matter what!!!!!

We all know to wear a seat belt, we all know they’ll save our lives, we all know it’s Law, yet we still need to pay to have a Police Force to make sure the idiots abide by the rules!!!!!

Either way, idiots are gonna cost us!!!!!

First few days after I learnt to cruise I caught a heel edge at low speed on a relatively mellow run and hit a chunk of ice with the back of my head. I was wearing a helmet and almost got knocked out. I crawled off the track and needed around 5 minutes before I could stand properly. I reckon if I wasn’t wearing a helmet I would have split my head open for sure and that could have been a very different outcome for me.

So simple.. wear a helmet.. If the only reason you don’t wear one is cause you think it’s not cool, you are way too up urself IMO.

  the timing of this topic!!!

I was a helmet wearer from day one, but recently became too cool for my snowboard boots.  I loaned my ski gear to a friend on a girls trip (including my helmet) and boarded with a friend who was riding in a beanie, so I did too.  It was a convenient excuse that my ski friend needed it more than me, but the reality was I was happy to be the ‘cool kid’ in the beanie.  Reality is it wouldn’t be too cool having my kids wipe the drool off my face (or worse).

I got called out on it by a large number of my friends (mostly skiers or snowboarders) but it didn’t stop me…went to NZ and went heli in a beanie…  Got called on it again, and finally bought a new helmet (my old one is still in Japan) and wore it.

I was still thinking I could easily swing either way - beanie or helmet, but knew I had to wear it when I went to Hotham as my ex patroller friend would defo go all helmet nazi and refuse to ride with me!  First lift, first day, some poke thru snowflex on the ramp grabbed the nose of my board throwing me off balance, cracked my helmeted head hard enough to hear tweety birds.  Lightbulb moment! 

Ended the Hotham week with an epic stack, bit of a cartwheel, huge slide and broken arm - but didn’t even think about my head as it was safe inside my brain bucket.  Lesson learned.  Helmet from now on.

Now if only someone could belt my offspring upside the head - before the box or rail does it for him. 

We should get Jez to summon Matty Galina & Geoff Brown (SandBox Pros) to come on here?????

Maybe ya young bloke will listen to what they’ve experienced, and why they choose to ride with a helmet?????

Oh, and welcome to Boardworld Lady Mumma Bear!!!!!

Mizu Kuma - 09 August 2014 12:14 PM

We should get Jez to summon Matty Galina & Geoff Brown (SandBox Pros) to come on here?????

Maybe ya young bloke will listen to what they’ve experienced, and why they choose to ride with a helmet?????

Oh, and welcome to Boardworld Lady Mumma Bear!!!!!

cheers Mizu, I’ve missed your presence elsewhere
Hopefully offsprings head will stay in tact for the next 3 weeks until I get to Jindy.  I’ll shout him a new brain bucket and hope he chooses to wear it.

my first season, my first kicker went well, except for the landing wasn’t so great.. K2 would have been proud. Right under the chairlift, so plenty of witnesses to my epic fail .  One kind gent passing over me, as I was struggling to regain unforced breathing, called out “If you can survive that, you can survive anything!!”. I waved my thanks.  an hour and a half later as I was finally getting home could no longer turn my head from the neck pain. Skipped dinner, went to bed and slept for a day and a half.  Luckily told Mom I had crashed and she checked on me regularly (apparently), but she’s a nurse so I was in good hands.  Have had a couple award winning stacks since, but have never ridden without a helmet after that first one.