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Helmets!



 
 
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  #1  
Old January 10th 05, 01:32 PM
Champ
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Default Helmets!

On 10 Jan 2005 12:46:12 GMT, Switters wrote:

On Sat, 08 Jan 2005 21:45:17 GMT, "John Ricketts"
allegedly wrote:

Nice picture!....granted, I wouldn't contemplate racing without one,
but isn't this just the nanny state philosophy kicking in yet again? I
reckon its less about protecting the individual than about minimising
the risk of litigation!


It's interesting that in the more litigious USA, helmets are not
compulsory but are certainly more common. The ski areas haven't mandated
their use out of fear of being sued, yet the majority appears to wear
them.


That's cos yanks are weenies :-)

Waiting in the queue for lift 10 at Kirkwood to open a few days ago,
there were about 50~60 diehards - all up early, and prepared to queue
to get first tracks (on a run that hadn't been open for 36 hours, with
lots of fresh). Me and Iain, both British, didn't have helmets. Of
the rest (all American, as far as I could tell), around 90% wore
helmets. Maybe those guys *really* rip, but I couldn't see their
justification, myself.
--
Champ
Ads
  #2  
Old January 10th 05, 01:43 PM
Ace
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On Mon, 10 Jan 2005 13:32:00 +0000, Champ wrote:

On 10 Jan 2005 12:46:12 GMT, Switters wrote:

On Sat, 08 Jan 2005 21:45:17 GMT, "John Ricketts"
allegedly wrote:

Nice picture!....granted, I wouldn't contemplate racing without one,
but isn't this just the nanny state philosophy kicking in yet again? I
reckon its less about protecting the individual than about minimising
the risk of litigation!


It's interesting that in the more litigious USA, helmets are not
compulsory but are certainly more common. The ski areas haven't mandated
their use out of fear of being sued, yet the majority appears to wear
them.


That's cos yanks are weenies :-)

Waiting in the queue for lift 10 at Kirkwood to open a few days ago,


Hey, I thought you were at Squaw. What did you reckon to Kirkwood then
(apart from the five feet of powder you texted me about)? We were
muchly impressed when we skied there in November, and that was with
only the middle four chairs running. Loads of off-piste stuff, both
open and in the trees, and quite a lot of it pretty steep too.

there were about 50~60 diehards - all up early, and prepared to queue
to get first tracks (on a run that hadn't been open for 36 hours, with
lots of fresh).


Which run?

Me and Iain, both British, didn't have helmets. Of
the rest (all American, as far as I could tell), around 90% wore
helmets. Maybe those guys *really* rip, but I couldn't see their
justification, myself.


I guess it becomes so automatic they wouldn't think of _not_ wearing
them.

--
Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
Ski Club of Great Britain - http://www.skiclub.co.uk
All opinions expressed are personal and in no way represent those of the Ski Club.
  #3  
Old January 10th 05, 03:17 PM
Champ
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On Mon, 10 Jan 2005 14:43:55 +0100, Ace wrote:

On Mon, 10 Jan 2005 13:32:00 +0000, Champ wrote:
Waiting in the queue for lift 10 at Kirkwood to open a few days ago,


Hey, I thought you were at Squaw. What did you reckon to Kirkwood then
(apart from the five feet of powder you texted me about)? We were
muchly impressed when we skied there in November, and that was with
only the middle four chairs running. Loads of off-piste stuff, both
open and in the trees, and quite a lot of it pretty steep too.


I loved it - never too crowded, even during the US holidays, *loads*
of tree skiing (which, considering the visibility most of the time,
was a good thing), and plenty of steep stuff. A couple of runs we
took off "The Wave" when they finally opened it on my last day there
were as good as an heli runs I've done (tho considerably shorted).

there were about 50~60 diehards - all up early, and prepared to queue
to get first tracks (on a run that hadn't been open for 36 hours, with
lots of fresh).


Which run?


We got 2nd chair (!), so in those circumstances, with several feet of
fresh, I think the only choice is to ride back under the lift,
whooping as you go :-)

The subsequent runs we did were all down the various Wagon Wheel
chutes, and then a little later they opened up Eagle Bowl and we did
some runs over there.

Me and Iain, both British, didn't have helmets. Of
the rest (all American, as far as I could tell), around 90% wore
helmets. Maybe those guys *really* rip, but I couldn't see their
justification, myself.


I guess it becomes so automatic they wouldn't think of _not_ wearing
them.


I think that's it exactly. And, as I said elsewhere in this thread,
if you've grown up wearing a helmet, then you're probably less likely
as a young adult to say "hey, I can decide for myself now - do I want
to wear this thing?".
--
Champ
  #4  
Old January 10th 05, 05:10 PM
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About 6 years ago one of the lifites at Kirkwood (Seth) spun out racing
down to chair 4 (ask Iain about that..). Seth died from side impact on
his head. Since then helmets have been acceptable and proper at
Kirkwood. Like you said, almost everyone wears them.

Especially snowboarding where we are vulnerable to catching an edge a
helmet is more valuable. I know it has saved me from at lesst a
serious headache more than few times.

You, Champ, don't ride that fast or jump so I suppose you are less
vunerable to impact.

Other reasons for wearing a helmet:

1. Prevents head from sticking to the snow while sliding (neck injury)
2. Suspends goggles so the don't squeeze your head.
2. keeps you warm so you don't need a goofy head gaitor.

"Ride for Seth"
"Let Seth Ride"







Champ wrote:
On 10 Jan 2005 12:46:12 GMT, Switters wrote:

On Sat, 08 Jan 2005 21:45:17 GMT, "John Ricketts"
allegedly wrote:

Nice picture!....granted, I wouldn't contemplate racing without

one,
but isn't this just the nanny state philosophy kicking in yet

again? I
reckon its less about protecting the individual than about

minimising
the risk of litigation!


It's interesting that in the more litigious USA, helmets are not
compulsory but are certainly more common. The ski areas haven't

mandated
their use out of fear of being sued, yet the majority appears to

wear
them.


That's cos yanks are weenies :-)

Waiting in the queue for lift 10 at Kirkwood to open a few days ago,
there were about 50~60 diehards - all up early, and prepared to queue
to get first tracks (on a run that hadn't been open for 36 hours,

with
lots of fresh). Me and Iain, both British, didn't have helmets. Of
the rest (all American, as far as I could tell), around 90% wore
helmets. Maybe those guys *really* rip, but I couldn't see their
justification, myself.
--
Champ


  #5  
Old January 10th 05, 06:28 PM
Jason Medeiros
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Me and Iain, both British, didn't have helmets. Of
the rest (all American, as far as I could tell), around 90% wore
helmets. Maybe those guys *really* rip, but I couldn't see their
justification, myself.
--


huh?
are you saying you don't see the justification for a helmet? are you
kidding?

have you ever taken a big hit to your head? have you ever been run into by
another rider/skier? do you ride in the trees? do you launch air off cat
tracks, cliffs and elsewhere?

i find it extremely difficult to believe that you cannot fathom
justification for wearing a helmet when riding. am i missing something?

--


jmed
(who doesn't get on a bike or boards w/o a helmet, and didn't wear one as a
kid)



  #6  
Old January 10th 05, 06:37 PM
tg
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"Jason Medeiros" wrote in message
...
Me and Iain, both British, didn't have helmets. Of
the rest (all American, as far as I could tell), around 90% wore
helmets. Maybe those guys *really* rip, but I couldn't see their
justification, myself.
--


huh?
are you saying you don't see the justification for a helmet? are you
kidding?

have you ever taken a big hit to your head? have you ever been run into
by another rider/skier? do you ride in the trees? do you launch air off
cat tracks, cliffs and elsewhere?

i find it extremely difficult to believe that you cannot fathom
justification for wearing a helmet when riding. am i missing something?


It was worth the cost of my helmet alone when I hit an ice patch and caught
my heelside which was downhill at the time. I fell backwards hit on my rear
and then my head accelerated quickly to the ground and hit the ice. It still
rung my bell even with the helmet. Couldn't guess what it would have felt
like with out it.



  #7  
Old January 10th 05, 07:09 PM
D
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Champ wrote:
That's cos yanks are weenies :-)



Recent research has concluded that concussions result in permanent brain
damage. In other words you get stupider. That applies to brain injuries
from soccer, football, snowboarding, skiing, etc.

If you've seen as many people taken off ski resorts (and ice skating
rinks) with concussions or other head injuries as I have then you might
have a different opinion about wearing a helmet. My most vivid memory,
which is what resulted in my wearing a helmet, was a mother frantically
trying to find the closest medical facility after her daughter (about
10) fell and hit her head while skiing. Based on the kid's behavior, she
had a bad concussion.

Shortly after I started wearing a helmet I nearly got hit in the head
with skis while standing by the lodge before I got on the snow. The skis
were over a person's shoulder. The person turned. I saw the skis
(head-high motion) in my peripheral vision and ducked. Had I not ducked
the helmet that was already on my head would have prevented a headache
and a lacerated scalp.

Another time I nearly got hit in the head by a chair while exiting and
trying to avoid the pile of people at the bottom of the exit ramp after
people two or three chairs in front of my chair fell. The stupid lift
operator didn't stop the lift and people kept piling into each other. I
probably should have stayed on the chair and tripped the emergency off
switch.

Dean
  #8  
Old January 10th 05, 07:22 PM
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http://www.cpsc.gov/library/skihelm.pdf

  #9  
Old January 10th 05, 07:45 PM
Neil Gendzwill
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D wrote:

[snip]

I find my Giro helmet comfortable, warm and light. I've never hit my
head riding, but that doesn't mean I won't sometimes. Also, it gives my
wife peace of mind (she thinks I ride way too fast) and doesn't
inconvenience me. My kids of course are helmeted. The biggest argument
to me is protection from out of control assholes.

The only downsides are that the extra size causes me to get clanged by
the safety bar coming down if I'm not paying attention, and that you
can't wear a hood. If it's really windy/cold I sometimes ditch the
helmet so I can wear my hood.

Neil

  #10  
Old January 10th 05, 08:49 PM
Jason Medeiros
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If it's really windy/cold I sometimes ditch the
helmet so I can wear my hood.



get a new jacket. i have 3 jackets that allow me to wear the hood w the
giro nine.9: marmot thunderlight, burton ak, and arcteryx softshell hoodie.
there is no need to ditch the helmet on cold days. heck, my helmet is
warmer than any hat/hood combo.

--


jmed


 




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