Helmet "Study"

[M@]

Got this alert from google, it flagged on the term "sugarbush"
Article (http://www.knoxstudio.com/shns/story.cfm?pk=SKISAFETY-12-24-04&cat=AN)

Sugarbush has an excellent first aid clinic - they do a lot of studies on skiing related injuries.

However: I read this one and the statistics really pissed me off. You could repalce the term "long underware" for most of the times they say "Helmet" and it would be just as pertinant. People do not understant statistics. I've taken graduate level stats classes, and I still don't claim to be an expert - but the numbers in this article just make me angry that a professional journalist would use them.

Most people wear helmets. Almost everyone who skis a lot in the trees wears a helmet.. anyone whos had his hat ripped off by a trig, or a branch scratch your head a few too many times realizes they are great for the small twigs and stuff. To then go and quote crap like this
they found that skiers wearing helmets had worse concussions than those who didn't.

Here's another one:
He found that 65 percent of the helmeted skiers had injuries worse than a mild concussion, compared with only 23 percent of the unhelmeted.
That is the one that really set me off - There is so much missing from that statement... is this "all skiing related injuries?" If so I would expect the people with helmets to be the more expierenced skiers and thus end up with the worse injuries because they go faster. Beginners would end up with more "skiers thumb" and knee injuries.

The whole thing just upsets me. I ski with a helmet becuase it keeps the little branches from whacking my face and head. Hats get ripped off in the trees, and fall off when I fall. Twice I have been SMASHED on the helmet with someone elses skiis while getting off a bus or near a ski rack.

I got beeped into work today, had a nasty stomach flu yesterday... and am not impressed with these kind of articles. How about just ONE fashion aware skier decides not to wear a helmet - and hits a tree with his head, and dies.

M@

[Skilasnow]

Yup, that's pretty bad.

Sorry to hear you have to work.

[PWDR8S]

Wow... sounds like this guy had a concussion himself and lost all logic and reasoning! Idiots should NOT be reporting the news... they should only be the ones the stories are about!

Either way, helmet or not, I still see the same accidents over and over without bias of anyone wearing one. It only makes perfect sense that helmets help protect the noggin in more ways than one!

[DMC]

I'm not %100 concincinced that helmets protect me either... Like the article said - I tend to ride faster and take more risks with a lid on... And above a certain MPH the helmet will just make your corpse look better... Where I think it would really help me is on heelside slams where the head snaps back.....

Does it protect you....? yes...
Under all circumstances...??? no...

[RR]

I'm with M@ on this...the hat staying on the head is important...I look at Helmets as the best dam'ned ski cap ever invented. Waterproof, warm or cool as needed, and it won't fall off....what more do we need?

The padding against injury is pure gravy!

[Rider.Steve]

I'm with M@ on this...the hat staying on the head is important...I look at Helmets as the best dam'ned ski cap ever invented. Waterproof, warm or cool as needed, and it won't fall off....what more do we need?

The padding against injury is pure gravy!

Yo Ho,

When I was riding at Brighton in Utah two seasons ago and my buddy had a new red Burton Skycap. While we were strapping in before one run this nice ski-lady came off the lift straight over to us and complimented his helmet; Joe and I were looking at each other...and then she said "I have the same Burton helmet, what do you think of mine?" She turned her head and the side of her helmet was crushed in about 4 inches long by 1 1/2 inches by 1 inch deep. :eek: She said that she bought the helmet that morning at the liftside ski shop and on the previous run a snowboarder dropped a 10 foot boulder from the side of the trail and landed on the side of her head as she went by on-piste. Miraculously he didn't break her neck, and only left the deep gash in her helmet. She said she would love to chat, but was skiing down to the shop to get a fresh helmet. Makes sense to me!

Since then I haven't paid much attention to silly macho chatter about whether helmets "work" or not. I've got mine and my kids wear theirs.

A helmet won't prevent a broken neck, and you can get a concussion from rattling your brains around in your skull hard enough, but no-one could convince me that the odds aren't in favor of the brain-bucket wearer in most collision scenarios.

Steve

[DMC]

Since then I haven't paid much attention to silly macho chatter about whether helmets "work" or not. I've got mine and my kids wear theirs.


That actually sounded "macho"...

[Mumster]

Except for some debate about really young children, the stats are painfully clear that you are likely to do better after injury when wearing a helmet. Really young children have relatively weak neck flexors, so some people thought they could get more whiplash and c-spine injuries. But, I think Whistler did a study and showed that was wrong - even kiddos do better. You couldn't pay me to ski without a helmet. :doh:

[M@]

One out of One T4T Doctors recommend wearing a helmet. Good enough for me.

M@

[djangoski]

All it takes is looking at motorcycle fatalities to know whether helmets help or not during crashes.

Helmets were invented for a reason, they help prevent or lessen certain types of injuries and have been proven to do so.

[Affix Snow]

I used to not wear a helmet cause i didnt think i need one.
Then one day while riding to the local hill, i made my buddy stop so i could buy one. I had this really funny feeling and had to get one.

So i bought it. We were sessioning this kicker that had an off-camber landing. I was throwing frontside 5's off it when i over-rotated one and caught my heelside edge and slammed my head into the ice. It was the hardest crash of my life. Had i not been wearing one, id be in the hospital.

So Did that article say anything about riders in the park? OR just trees?

[RR]

...OR just trees?Having the helmet doesn't help me see the spaces instead of the trees....but I feel better about it.

[PWDR8S]

Given the fact that I enjoy lurking in the trees and steeps, I should probably get a brain bucket for snowfun. It turns out upon visiting and skiing with my extended family that I am the only one without! My nephew kept commenting on how they're all going to pitch in and buy me a bucket. Isn't that sweet! http://www.timefortuckerman.com/forums/images/smilies/cool.gif

Let's see... I have helmets for:


Snowmobiling
Mtn Biking
Ice/rock climbing
Logging
Motopsycho enduro/dirtbike riding
Hockey - I don't play as often anymore.
Looks like I'm in the market to get one.... Any recommendations? I like the Giro 9's for some gut reason. Maybe because I like the many vents.

[Mumster]

I think mine is a Giro. It's really light and comfy. And, the color is nice.

[RR]

I'll second that praise for Giro9.9....skip the tune-ups ear pads...

Most comfortable ski hat I've ever had :cooldog:

[PWDR8S]

I'll second that praise for Giro9.9....skip the tune-ups ear pads...

Most comfortable ski hat I've ever had :cooldog:
My brother has the ear speakers in his..... talk about irritating... Can't say whether he couldn't hear me or just plain ignoring me(which does happen). I had to yell VERY LOUD to catch him before doing a trail switch. No ear buds,etc for me!

What ever happened to listening to the music of the wind in your ears when flying down a hill? I thought that was part of the romance of sliding? You know.... the faster you go, the louder the wind gets and it builds to a crescendo and the excitement and adrenaline builds as the wind increases. There is no substitute for the natural rush of sound. http://www.timefortuckerman.com/forums/images/smilies/cool.gif

[RR]

next to the sound of 427 Cobra working down to the Big Bend and back up through the Esses I'll take the sound of ski wind any day!

[PWDR8S]

next to the sound of 427 Cobra working down to the Big Bend and back up through the Esses I'll take the sound of ski wind any day!
WOAH! Now that's not something I get to hear often! http://www.timefortuckerman.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif Anything like http://www.timefortuckerman.com/forums/images/smilies/hummer.gif???

[Bannick]

I have a Pro-Tec, un vented chrome jobby. It is pretty low profile and fits me well. The non vent is ok as the ear flaps are removable which seems to keep me nice and cool in the spring.

It took me one trip up the tram at jay to pay for itself. Like affix I bought mine on a feeling that my upcoming trip to jay would lead me into the trees (go figure) and that I was destined for a good bonk on the head but it was someone letting go of their skis on the second tram tower that got me. If I didn't have the helmet I would have had a busted nose for sure.

I also whacked a couple of trees prety good too. I have been concused from snowboarding (sans helmet) and hockey a few times over the years and I just thought it was time to protect my self. It has paid for itself in pure warmth factor on really cold days as well.

[RR]

WOAH! Now that's not something I get to hear often! http://www.timefortuckerman.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif Anything like http://www.timefortuckerman.com/forums/images/smilies/hummer.gif???
Hummers are whimpy by comparison....underpowered overwieght loghoppers....an Toureg is way, way faster and cooler sounding (and Robby Gordon is leading the Paris-Dakkar in one).

Here is a link to a Mustang site and the modern small-block Cobra sound. http://www.themustang-net.com/dlfiles/downloads.shtml ....scroll to the bottom and download Revit.

[PWDR8S]

Hummers are whimpy by comparison....underpowered overwieght loghoppers....an LM001 is way, way faster and cooler sounding.

Here is a link to a Mustang site and the modern small-block Cobra sound. http://www.themustang-net.com/dlfiles/downloads.shtml ....scroll to the bottom and download Revit.
heh heh heh....... true about them hummers..... interesting download, my pc speakers don't do it justice.

[RR]

heh heh heh....... true about them hummers..... interesting download, my pc speakers don't do it justice.This is better:http://www.musclecarcalendar.com/FeatureCarsHome/JaysGT500/Jays1967ShelbyGT500P2.htm