Helmets

Prompted by a previous post, what do people think about skiing helmets?

On my last couple of trips to N America helmet use by adults seems to be
approaching 30-50% (very rough guess). When I was in France a couple of
weeks ago it was very close to zero.

Personally, I'm a convert, but a trip to Jackson Hole is very pursuasive
(very steep, lots of tight trees, scary cliffs etc). I guess it still
very much a matter of debate and I am not in favour of making them
mandatory but I'd be interested to hear what anyone else thinks.

On the plus side:
They probably reduce the chance of serious head injury in an accident.
(although I know of no proof)

On the down side:
Can be uncomfortable (mine current one isn't, the first one I bought was
a real pain, literally).
May encourage a wearer to take more risks (I doubt this, but I've heard
it said).
Too warm in spring/summer.

Thoughts?

Steve

"Steve Haigh" wrote in message
...

| Prompted by a previous post, what do people think about skiing
helmets?

For kids I think wearing helmets should be pushed more than it is....
The ESF calls it 'highly advisable' but not compulsory - maybe they
don't want to lose business..

Kids - mainly those on holiday - often go faster than their ability
allows, change direction at random, generally seem to be in a world of
their own on the pistes. When it's congested this can be really
hazardous. I've seen plenty of children taken out from behind by large
teenagers and the occasional adult, who don't allow enough overtaking
space.

A good thing about getting kids used to wearing a helmet right from the
start is that they're less bothered about the image thing as they get
older.

As for those doing a bit of competition... well there's no choice if
you're a club member. Still it's only partially reassuring when you're
watching 11 year olds going down the high speed 'kilomètre lancé' run at
Les Arcs at over 90 mph..... ,falling over is not recommended. And the
risks are just as high on days like today when the club spent the
morning skiing off piste through the forest.

Pete
http://www.skiclublesarcs.com

Steve Haigh wrote:
Prompted by a previous post, what do people think about skiing
helmets?

On my last couple of trips to N America helmet use by adults seems to
be approaching 30-50% (very rough guess). When I was in France a
couple of weeks ago it was very close to zero.

Over new year, at les 2 Alpes I wore mine every day, and there seemed to be
a increasing number of people with helmets, but the reason I wore mine is
that it was cold and windy and a helmet is far more effective than a hat! on
the other hand I would not dream of racing or training through poles without
mine it just feels unsafe now.


Personally, I'm a convert, but a trip to Jackson Hole is very
pursuasive (very steep, lots of tight trees, scary cliffs etc). I
guess it still very much a matter of debate and I am not in favour of
making them mandatory but I'd be interested to hear what anyone else
thinks.


they are mandatory for dry slope racing and on many slopes for training
through poles or using jumps.
this is mainly brought on by the insurance companies.

On the plus side:
They probably reduce the chance of serious head injury in an accident.
(although I know of no proof)

On the down side:
Can be uncomfortable (mine current one isn't, the first one I bought
was a real pain, literally).
May encourage a wearer to take more risks (I doubt this, but I've
heard it said).

this was a claim made against the compulsory wearing of motorbike helmets
and (Car) seat belts, AFAIK the oposite has proven to be the case ie the
accident rate (in the UK) has decreased not increased.

Too warm in spring/summer.

Too true, Adults tend to put their helmet on at the last possible time and
remove it as soon as they stop in Summer races, though children don't seem
to be so affected.


One reason I know some people won't wear helmets (or complain continuosely
about them if they have to wear them) is restriction of vision. personally I
don't notice this and One racer I know who would not wear a helmet for
training for this reason now does. ( The rather large dentist's bill for
replacing the crowns on both his front teeth may have had something to do
with this though.)


--
Chris *:-)

Downhill Good, Uphill BAD!

www.suffolkvikings.org.uk

On Tue, 20 Jan 2004 16:39:39 -0000, "MoonMan"
wrote:

On the down side:
May encourage a wearer to take more risks (I doubt this, but I've
heard it said).

this was a claim made against the compulsory wearing of motorbike helmets
and (Car) seat belts, AFAIK the oposite has proven to be the case ie the
accident rate (in the UK) has decreased not increased.

Take it from me - if you ride a motorcycle, you ride *much* more
carefully without a helmet.

I'm generally against helmets when on the snow, tho I wouldn't argue
with anyone's personal choice. For me it slighly removes one from the
immediacy of the environment, and I also fear that eventaully they'll
be compulsory, perhaps in a de facto way like you can't get insurance
without one.
--
This sig under construction

On Wed, 04 Feb 2004 22:25:27 +0000, Champ wrote:

On Tue, 20 Jan 2004 16:39:39 -0000, "MoonMan"
wrote:

On the down side:
May encourage a wearer to take more risks (I doubt this, but I've
heard it said).

this was a claim made against the compulsory wearing of motorbike helmets
and (Car) seat belts, AFAIK the oposite has proven to be the case ie the
accident rate (in the UK) has decreased not increased.

Take it from me - if you ride a motorcycle, you ride *much* more
carefully without a helmet.

Ho yuss. And also when riding in shorts, tee-shirt and flip-flops,
neh?

I'm generally against helmets when on the snow, tho I wouldn't argue
with anyone's personal choice. For me it slighly removes one from the
immediacy of the environment, and I also fear that eventaully they'll
be compulsory, perhaps in a de facto way like you can't get insurance
without one.

Pretty much echoes my thoughts on the subject.

--
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.

"Ace" wrote in message
...
| On Wed, 04 Feb 2004 22:25:27 +0000, Champ wrote:
|
| On Tue, 20 Jan 2004 16:39:39 -0000, "MoonMan"
| wrote:
|

| I'm generally against helmets when on the snow, tho I wouldn't argue
| with anyone's personal choice. For me it slighly removes one from
the
| immediacy of the environment, and I also fear that eventaully they'll
| be compulsory, perhaps in a de facto way like you can't get insurance
| without one.
|
| Pretty much echoes my thoughts on the subject.

Hey, let's abolish the compulsory seatbelt laws while we're about it,
why not ???

Pete

On Thu, 5 Feb 2004 09:48:49 +0100, "PG"
wrote:


"Ace" wrote in message
.. .
| On Wed, 04 Feb 2004 22:25:27 +0000, Champ wrote:
|
| On Tue, 20 Jan 2004 16:39:39 -0000, "MoonMan"
| wrote:
|

| I'm generally against helmets when on the snow, tho I wouldn't argue
| with anyone's personal choice. For me it slighly removes one from
the
| immediacy of the environment, and I also fear that eventaully they'll
| be compulsory, perhaps in a de facto way like you can't get insurance
| without one.
|
| Pretty much echoes my thoughts on the subject.

Hey, let's abolish the compulsory seatbelt laws while we're about it,
why not ???

Why? Apart from the few allowed exceptions, like pregnant women, I
can't see why anyone would want to _not_ wear one.

--
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.

On Thu, 05 Feb 2004 08:48:49 GMT, "PG" allegedly
wrote:

Hey, let's abolish the compulsory seatbelt laws while we're about it,
why not ???

Let's not stop there. I'd like to see a big spike installed on the
steering wheel.

- Dave.

On Tue, 20 Jan 2004 16:07:53 +0000, Steve Haigh
wrote:

Prompted by a previous post, what do people think about skiing helmets?

Personally, I'm a convert, but a trip to Jackson Hole is very pursuasive
(very steep, lots of tight trees, scary cliffs etc). I guess it still
very much a matter of debate and I am not in favour of making them
mandatory but I'd be interested to hear what anyone else thinks.

Never worn one, never likely to. I just don't feel I need it.

On the plus side:
They probably reduce the chance of serious head injury in an accident.
(although I know of no proof)

I prefer to use the accident-avoidance tactic. Anything that might
result in head injury is going to be serious in other ways, so I want
to be as certain as I can be that it doesn't happen.

On the down side:

Hearing impairment. I don't even like to ski with a hood on if I can
avoid it, as I believe that hearing is of great value in maintaining
one's personal safety. I wouldn't want this compromised by wearing a
helmet.

May encourage a wearer to take more risks (I doubt this, but I've heard
it said).

As I understand it, it's something over which the wearer has little
control. If he feels less likely to be hurt, he will be inclined to go
faster, steeper or whatever. It would take a conscious effort to avoid
this risk-compensation, which is inherent to human nature.

--
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.

In article , Ace
wrote:
On Tue, 20 Jan 2004 16:07:53 +0000, Steve Haigh
wrote:
[snip]

May encourage a wearer to take more risks (I doubt this, but I've heard
it said).

As I understand it, it's something over which the wearer has little
control. If he feels less likely to be hurt, he will be inclined to go
faster, steeper or whatever. It would take a conscious effort to avoid
this risk-compensation, which is inherent to human nature.


Yes it is inherent in human nature. People make subjective assessments
of the risks which may not agree with an objective assessment. For
example as you improve the personal safety systems in a car, such as
seatbelts and airbags, then you often find that people are prepared to
risk more and bigger accidents. Similarly if you make them feel more at
risk by convincing them that an activity seems more dangerous than it
really is they will behave more cautiously.

The same action can have differing effects on different people. So for
example if you were to compel a group of people to wear a helmet, you
might find some will now take more risks because they feel protected by
the helmet, whereas others will perceive that the need for a helmet is
because there must be a greater risk of injury than they originally
thought and hence they would be dissuaded from taking risks.
Introduction of compulsory helmet usage for cycling has reduced the
numbers who cycle in some countries.

Mike URL:http://www.path.cam.ac.uk/~mrc7/
--
o/ \\ // |\ ,_ o Mike Clark
\__,\\ // __o | \ / /\, "A mountain climbing, cycling, skiing,
" || _`\,_ |__\ \ | immunology lecturer, antibody engineer and
` || (_)/ (_) | \corn computer user"