Helmets

[g3greg]

As I've always said...

This 50-Year Study Reveals Surprising Insights on Ski Helmets and Injury Prevention

“My position on helmets is that if you are in the typical fatality scenario of impact with a fixed object such as a tree, a helmet is not likely to have any benefit. The forces involved will simply overwhelm the helmet’s protective abilities,”

Ski Helmet Use Isn’t Reducing Brain Injuries

“ On the other hand, if you are involved in the more typical head injury scenario; a fall to the snow surface, the helmet can offer significant protection and can convert what could be a serious concussion to either no injury or very minor injury.”

If you’re driving 150mph an airbag or seatbelt won’t do much either. However if you’re going 80, different story. Protective equipment is designed to reduce injury severity under normal circumstances. I’ve whacked my head a few times where I would have been left with a nasty headache but I was fine. Even for powder, prime example would be Grilo.

[eleveneightnate]

I personally would take the idea that they protect against skull fractures with a Alaska sized grain of salt..

My fall put a big gash/crack in my Maze, so I guess I'm just glad it didn't get past that haha.

I think the only new helmet tech innovation that has my interest is Koroyd because it acts like a crumple zone in a car. Haven't seen much data on it, though.

[grandpalacko]

Even for powder, prime example would be Grilo.

Grilo hit his chest on a rock and his aorta basically exploded. He died immediately. The media started spreading the false information that he hit his head and didn't wear a helmet. The latter was true, but in his case it would not have helped him.

[Kevington]

As I've always said...

This 50-Year Study Reveals Surprising Insights on Ski Helmets and Injury Prevention

“My position on helmets is that if you are in the typical fatality scenario of impact with a fixed object such as a tree, a helmet is not likely to have any benefit. The forces involved will simply overwhelm the helmet’s protective abilities,”

Ski Helmet Use Isn’t Reducing Brain Injuries

“ On the other hand, if you are involved in the more typical head injury scenario; a fall to the snow surface, the helmet can offer significant protection and can convert what could be a serious concussion to either no injury or very minor injury.”

If you’re driving 150mph an airbag or seatbelt won’t do much either. However if you’re going 80, different story. Protective equipment is designed to reduce injury severity under normal circumstances. I’ve whacked my head a few times where I would have been left with a nasty headache but I was fine. Even for powder, prime example would be Grilo.

Grilo’s tragic passing was not actually caused by head injury, as multiple media sources originally claimed, but by a torn aorta. His brother posted about it on instagram to clear up the confusion.

To reply more specifically to @vanni I think the beanie and goggles under works for a lot of people as you ‘feel’ the helmet less.

[Kevington]

Even for powder, prime example would be Grilo.

Grilo hit his chest on a rock and his aorta basically exploded. He died immediately. The media started spreading the false information that he hit his head and didn't wear a helmet. The latter was true, but in his case it would not have helped him.

Sorry! This just popped up after I posted.

[Vanni]

I'm not here to debate with @pow_hnd about wearing the helmet or not, and I agree with everything he is saying, but I have a couple of points:

1) I'm involved in boxing, and if you follow it a little bit, you should have noticed that they removed the helmets for male amateur boxing contests (if you follow the olympics, also they removed it for at least a couple of edition, if I'm not mistaken). They removed it because, quoting pow_hnd: "a helmet will have little to do with slowing down or stopping the brain from moving in the skull when accelerations are applied to the head". Also, not having an helmet, the boxer is less prone to try to absorb punches behind an high guard and the helmet (absorbing the punch doesn't avoid the brain movement in the skull) but is encouraged to parry the punches or slip them.
But then, in a boxing ring, you are getting hit by punches in boxing gloves, and the worst case scenario, you get knocked down/out, and you hit the canvas, the ring ground with the head.
So you shouldn't have damage on your skull.

2) I'm also a motorcylist, and the helmet is mandatory. Even if the brain, if you fall down, moves in to the skull, and you can have a serious concussion, there is no argument about removing it. Why? because in case of a fall you break your skull.

To me, snowboarding falls in between the two activities. Sometimes is more relatable to motorcycle (or even mtb) riding. You go usually faster than on a bike, and if you fall on groomers or on hard snow, sometimes it is similar to concrete/tarmac/asphalt. Or even in pow, you can fall and hit a rock.
The helmet wouldn't help with the concussion, but definitely would help to keep the skull intact (at reasonable speed, of course... if you hit a tree at 80/100kmh for example, I think wouldn't make a lot of difference)

[benjinyc]

as long it's not a ruroc, I dont think it's necessary to rehash the helmet debate here.

[Oldhead]

Not here to debate either.
But, these stats IMHO should line up with skiing and snowboarding.
Helmets are estimated to be 37% effective in preventing fatal injuries to motorcycle operators and 41% effective for passengers.
They reduce the risk of head injury by 69% and the risk of death by 42%.
Helmets greatly reduce deaths and serious head injuries, including traumatic brain injury, in crashes.

Moving fast and hitting an object with a motorcycle helmet on, looks like it helps a lot.
Maybe the construction of ski and snowboard helmets is the problem.

[pow_hnd]

Maybe the construction of ski and snowboard helmets is the problem.

This is exactly the problem.

[casjcade]

I've hit my head with and without a helmet, I prefer it with the helmet . That, and lil helmet police won't allow it:)