[NA] Head injury while skiing

Let'sgoflying!

Let'sgoflying!

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Dave Taylor
I was able to find that head injuries accounts for 20% of all skiing injuries, but not the chances of a head injury in general, or on any one day.

This thought came to me this weekend when it seemed to me that helmet use has exploded at the ski hill I was on. (felt 'old', having a lack of the latest safety improvement)

Do you use a helmet for Green/Blue day skiing? Rent or own?
 
Let'sgoflying! said:
I was able to find that head injuries accounts for 20% of all skiing injuries, but not the chances of a head injury in general, or on any one day.

This thought came to me this weekend when it seemed to me that helmet use has exploded at the ski hill I was on. (felt 'old', having a lack of the latest safety improvement)

Do you use a helmet for Green/Blue day skiing? Rent or own?
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When I first started snowboarding almost 20y ago I didn't wear a helmet because I thought it looked silly and was overkill. Figured I'd wear one if I ever went to the terrain park or did crazy stuff (which I never did).
All it took was a pathetically slow, maybe 3mph crash while gently maneuvering through some trees in to change that opinion. Helmet ever since. Own. Always wear it whether in trees or on fresh green circle groomers.

Still have a photo from right before I had that crash... This was maybe 60 seconds prior to impact lol.
From not having a care in the world in a picturesque wintry landscape to "OWWW!!! MY F***** HEAD!" in no time.
1739216565216.png

Edit: Also paging @X3 Skier since I think he spends a lot of time at Steamboat.
 
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fwiw - I don't ski. But why wouldn't you use one? and own it, so that you know it fits properly.

how long ago did the downhill sking racers start wearing helmets?
 
Didn't wear them growing up. Had a 20-yr hiatus and went skiing on some mild stuff (Central PA) with co-workers and everyone wore helmets. I thought it was a bit silly, but I wasn't about to push back against my peers who did a lot more skiing than I. Seems the snow skiing community is all-in on helmet use and will often haze non-helmet-wearers until they assimilate!
 
I wear a helmet not because of the lack of my skiing ability, but because of those that have, almost have or potentially will run into me.

And it also makes sense if when you're skiing through the trees.
 
SoonerAviator said:
Didn't wear them growing up. Had a 20-yr hiatus and went skiing on some mild stuff (Central PA) with co-workers and everyone wore helmets. I thought it was a bit silly, but I wasn't about to push back against my peers who did a lot more skiing than I. Seems the snow skiing community is all-in on helmet use and will often haze non-helmet-wearers until they assimilate!
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I never wore a helmet when I used to ski, and I, too, have as surprised when I went to Greek Peak a couple years ago with my brother in law and everyone was wearing them. I rented skis and a helmet. My old skis are long, straight, and narrow and not parabolic like all the new ones.
 
I ski 3-5 days a week at Beaver Creek. Usually I am the only person without a helmet on the slope.

I own one. I used to wear it, but stopped after I lost my son. If you have experienced that, then you might understand why.

Sometimes, when I am weaving through the trees, I contemplate my stupidity. I won't insult anyone's intelligence by trying to rationalize it.

They are cheap enough now that renting seems silly. Nowadays everyone has a fancy helmet/goggle combo like they are flying an F-16.
 
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I have heard people say that they don't need a helmet because they don't ski fast or ski on extreme terrain. In my opinion a helmet protects you not only if you fall or mess up. It helps protect you from the skier/boarder, doing 50mph, who hits you from the side or behind.
 
Many years without, now many many years with. Required for all employees at Steamboat Ski Resort, from patrollers to lift workers to cooks skiing/riding to/from work. Both on duty or free skiing. The Resort offer reimbursement for helmet purchase.

Current designs are very comfortable on below zero days to spring Bluebird days. Mine has a few scratches from close calls with trees. Better the helmet than my bald head.

I have picked up a few folks on the hill back in the day as a patroller that would have been better off wearing a Brain Bucket. Nothing really major but sure could have been.
 
David7700 said:
I never wore a helmet when I used to ski, and I, too, have as surprised when I went to Greek Peak a couple years ago with my brother in law and everyone was wearing them. I rented skis and a helmet. My old skis are long, straight, and narrow and not parabolic like all the new ones.
Click to expand...
Helmets are pretty much required for mountain biking on any established trails, so I don't bother fighting the helmet rules too much. I've never crashed hard enough on snow to worry about too much damage from a fall, but I also stay on the blues for the most part, and don't go off piste. I've hit some ice patches that have sent me flying pretty fast a few times, but came out unscathed. All it takes is once though.
 
I wear a helmet simply cuz it is super warm and comfortable IMO. I have ear flaps that I can take on or off as well as have a vent that I can open or close depending on temps...plus having a built in goggle holder where the strap is snapped in is convent. Cold days I can trow the hood over the helmet and my head and ears are nice and warm.

I have yet to hit my head on the ground to warrant the safety on the slopes...I have however indeed smacked my head into the ski lift and had and out of control skier plow into me while I was sitting on the side and his skis hit my head...so yeah, I am all about helmets 100%.

There is absolutely no coolness factor any more to going no helmet nowadays...in fact so much so now I see no helmet riders and figure they are not serious legit riders...or are just a complete natural selection dumb arse.
 
Helmets weren't a thing when I used to ski back in the 1980's and 1990's
Went for the first time in all these years last spring. helmets were included with our ski rentals. I knew it was coming so not a surprise and I was already prepared to wear it. It did feel a little silly at first but I got used to it fast...no biggie
 
topgun260 said:
I have heard people say that they don't need a helmet because they don't ski fast or ski on extreme terrain. In my opinion a helmet protects you not only if you fall or mess up. It helps protect you from the skier/boarder, doing 50mph, who hits you from the side or behind.
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That is pretty much the accident that took out one of my friends from flying. he was stopped on the ski hill when he was hit by a high speed skier. He flew a few times after recovering from a broken hip. He ended up selling me his plane which I am now flying and he has fully retired from flying.

Brian
 
David7700 said:
I never wore a helmet when I used to ski, and I, too, have as surprised when I went to Greek Peak a couple years ago with my brother in law and everyone was wearing them. I rented skis and a helmet. My old skis are long, straight, and narrow and not parabolic like all the new ones.
Click to expand...
ha when I first started renting, I'd ask for non-shaped 220's - the 'kids' would look at me like I had two heads lol.
The first time I used their new fangled stubby parabolics, I about did some unintentional 360's!

I guess the helmet thing is like the seat belt introduction - I can get on board with helmets.
I was a bit surprised however that unlike seat belts, it was not mandate but has a huge following. I recall a ton of seat belt controversy. I guess we do better when we are not 'told' to do something.
 
Ed Haywood said:
I used to wear it, but stopped after I lost my son. If you have experienced that, then you probably understand why.

Sometimes, when I am weaving through the trees, I will contemplate my stupidity. I won't insult anyone's intelligence by trying to rationalize it.
Click to expand...

With much sympathy and kindness, let me suggest you might consider how your other son will feel if he loses his dad, or how your wife might feel while she spends her life caring for a vegetative husband.

Grief can certainly be overwhelming, but try to make rational decisions.
 
Helmets work, but not when you drill holes into them to attach a GoPro mount.
Read on Michael Schumacher's (7-times F1 world champion) skiing accident, whwre he fell trying to navigate some rocks. Still pretty much a vegetable out of public sight to this day. The opinion is that the changes he made to the helmet to attach the camera sent the impact forces straight to his skull.
 
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Did a lot of skiing mid-80’s thru late 90’s nobody wore helmets then. If I ever get back into the sport, I will certainly wear a helmet.
 
Let'sgoflying! said:
Do you use a helmet for Green/Blue day skiing? Rent or own?
Click to expand...
I can't answer the first question because I'm generally on single and/or double black diamonds. But I use my bike helmet. It's readily available, so why not?
David7700 said:
My old skis are long, straight, and narrow and not parabolic like all the new ones.
Click to expand...
When I was a kid, my skis were really ancient hand-me downs from someone that was a few inches taller and a few pounds heavier. I was on those for years several times a season. I don't remember if they finally broke, but I didn't take them with me after I grew up and moved out. :(
Let'sgoflying! said:
The first time I used their new fangled stubby parabolics, I about did some unintentional 360's!
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Although I didn't have any problem adapting, I'm not particularly happy with the newer style. Pointed straight down the hill, I never could build up as much speed on shaped rentals than I could on those long bombers.
 
AV8R_87 said:
Helmets work, but not when you drill holes into tgem to attach a GoPro mount.
Click to expand...

I roll my eyes when I see guys skiing with GoPros. Because what the Internet really needs is one more video of a groomed blue run at Vail.
 
Haven’t skied in many years but if I did I’d buy a helmet. On a ski club outing way back in high school I was showing off on the last run of the day, I did a backscratcher off a jump but didn’t get the tips back where they belong in time and I caught the ground. Tails of the skis went back and clocked me on the back of the head right before I face planted. Witnesses said they thought I was dead, because I stayed face down in the snow so long before I got up. From my perspective, I jumped back up immediately. Bleeding like crazy from the skull, I put my back hat on snugly and didn’t say anything to the teachers until we got home and I went to the hospital. Hat was soaked in blood and they never noticed. Had a nasty concussion and a couple stitches, but no lasting damage that I can notice. Perhaps others can. lol

Anyway, I doubt I’d do any tricks off a jump anyway at my age, but I’d still wear the helmet and I’d still take the jump.
 
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I don't ski. I can barley walk in snow and/or ice without hitting my head on something hard so if I ever were to ski, I'd 100% wear a helmet and other pads. I used to bicycle a lot, especially when I was younger. Nobody wore helmets back then but I always did. Always was the dork with the helmet when the school or church organized a bicycle trip. I didn't care. I fell hard enough once that, had I not worn a helmet that day, I probably wouldn't be here today or be in a very different state of existence at the very least. With the helmet, my head was fine... can't say the same about my leg that day though lol.
 
I don't ski but from riding motorcycles for many years I've learned that, in fact, helmets do save lives. They are not needed until they are.

I believe the same rule applies that is given for motorcycle riders and that is: "if you think you head is not worth putting in a helmet, you are correct" ...
 
Right around the time I joined this board, I had a motorcycle accident that nearly killed me. I was riding my BMW 1200RT at 110 mph and I found myself to the outside of a curving mountain road.

I knew I was going off pavement and that I would have to try my best to ride it out. I hit an asphalt drainage curb, which launched my bike in the air so hard it actually sheared the side cases off the bike. I went flying for about 100 feet, hit the asphalt and tumbled a few times, then my bike hit, and spun across the pavement another 300 feet, hit a rock face on the other side of the road and burned up.

I was wearing full gear, but not leather pants. It saved me from actually breaking anything but I had "massive blunt force trauma" all over my body plus there was a clutch lever sticking out of my side.

I actually got up. I pulled the clutch lever out, and a few minutes later a car stopped and gave me a ride in to town. He dropped me off at a gas station. I sat down on the sidewalk, and someone said "call him an ambulance!" I said "no, don't call an ambulance" then I woke up in an ambulance.

The visor of my helmet was nearly ground off and the whole thing was gashed deeply. If I had worn any less than a full face helmet, I would have been dead. In fact, my head was the only thing that didn't hurt.

I've taken some good spills on mountain bikes as well, and managed to split a helmet in two. I'm a firm believer in them.
 
You guys are cracking yourselves right up. Which cracks me up!

Very apropos for a thread about cracking up…
 
Let'sgoflying! said:
This thought came to me this weekend when it seemed to me that helmet use has exploded at the ski hill I was on.

Do you use a helmet for Green/Blue day skiing? Rent or own?
Click to expand...
The turning point for use of ski helmets on the slopes was really Sonny Bono's 1998 death due to head injuries when he hit a tree. Prior to that, I rarely saw helmets on the slopes, but within a few years most skiers wore them. That is about when I started, and I haven't been without one since. And now that I'm retired with 5 good mountains within a two hour drive, I'm skiing a lot.
 
Let'sgoflying! said:
ha when I first started renting, I'd ask for non-shaped 220's - the 'kids' would look at me like I had two heads lol.
The first time I used their new fangled stubby parabolics, I about did some unintentional 360's!

I guess the helmet thing is like the seat belt introduction - I can get on board with helmets.
I was a bit surprised however that unlike seat belts, it was not mandate but has a huge following. I recall a ton of seat belt controversy. I guess we do better when we are not 'told' to do something.
Click to expand...

Yeah, not hard to catch an edge on parabolics!!
 
Ok, so let's switch it up a bit. How about helmets while flying? I have helmets for .mil flying (two actually, one for pointy-nose and one for helos) and considered getting one of those light civilian flight helmets when I had a tail-dragger, since I didn't entirely trust the structure to hold the harness and I figured off-airport landings and ground-loops might increase the odds of a head-strike inside the cockpit. My Cherokee has a shoulder-strap now, but I suspect it wouldn't stand up too much force. Of course, I'd feel like a dumbass wearing a helmet in a Cherokee, but I wonder if a reasonable argument couldn't be made for one in bad turbulence or to improve survivability in lower-energy crashes. I wonder what percentage of aviation fatalities are due to a head-injury which might have been survivable with a helmet?
 
GaryM said:
The turning point for use of ski helmets on the slopes was really Sonny Bono's 1998 death due to head injuries when he hit a tree. Prior to that, I rarely saw helmets on the slopes, but within a few years most skiers wore them. That is about when I started, and I haven't been without one since. And now that I'm retired with 5 good mountains within a two hour drive, I'm skiing a lot.
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You’re probably right. Try at was about the time I stopped skiing, and had never seen helmets except snowboarders.

Here I am at Greek peak 2020

14c42a1fe54e877778f7c86c4ccea48a.jpg
 
AvNavCom said:
Ok, so let's switch it up a bit. How about helmets while flying? I have helmets for .mil flying (two actually, one for pointy-nose and one for helos) and considered getting one of those light civilian flight helmets when I had a tail-dragger, since I didn't entirely trust the structure to hold the harness and I figured off-airport landings and ground-loops might increase the odds of a head-strike inside the cockpit. My Cherokee has a shoulder-strap now, but I suspect it wouldn't stand up too much force. Of course, I'd feel like a dumbass wearing a helmet in a Cherokee, but I wonder if a reasonable argument couldn't be made for one in bad turbulence or to improve survivability in lower-energy crashes. I wonder what percentage of aviation fatalities are due to a head-injury which might have been survivable with a helmet?
Click to expand...

It would make sense to at least put one on before an off airport emergency landing. I know of one fatality that a 5 point harness and/or a helmet would have probably prevented.
 
Helmets are common in the aerobatic community. The rationale is mostly for protection during a bailout. Also, some of the low and mid-wing monoplanes have exposed canopies with little rollover protection.
 
Daleandee said:
I don't ski but from riding motorcycles for many years I've learned that, in fact, helmets do save lives. They are not needed until they are.

I believe the same rule applies that is given for motorcycle riders and that is: "if you think you head is not worth putting in a helmet, you are correct" ...
Click to expand...

plus one.

I screwed up a panic stop (avoiding a *@&#^$ bicylist in the left lane of a 50mph zone) and dumped the bike. I distinctly remember thinking how glad I was that I was wearing my full-face helmet as the side of the helmet was sliding along the asphalt road. I kept the helmet as reminder.
 
topgun260 said:
I have heard people say that they don't need a helmet because they don't ski fast or ski on extreme terrain. In my opinion a helmet protects you not only if you fall or mess up. It helps protect you from the skier/boarder, doing 50mph, who hits you from the side or behind.
Click to expand...
Worst fall I ever had skiing I got hit by a snowboarder from behind at Mt Baker WA circa 96. After I picked up all my stuff and skied to the base a patroller called me over. Another patroller had seen it from the lift and called it in and the patroller picked up the boarder and gave me the pleasure of cutting his season pass in half.

No doubt as we get back into skiing we'll wear helmets. If nothing else here in New England they're warm!
 
AvNavCom said:
Ok, so let's switch it up a bit. How about helmets while flying?
Click to expand...
I've thought about that as well. I tkink they might be a bit of a problem in a typical GA cockpit, with limited head and shoulder room. If you end up in an upside-down situation, that might contribute to your death by bending your neck in ways that cause asphyxiation.
Also, most flight helmets (at least the ones I'm familiar with) don't seem to offer that much face protection, which is the main way we get head injuries in GA accidents. With some you can install a nose/mouth shield, but not sure what kind of impact that is rated to.

Drifting this topic even more, how about wearing a nomex flight suit? A lot of survivable GA accident end up being deadly (or with horrible long term injuries) because of the post-crash fire and the resulting burns over 80% of the body. A flight suit would offer enough protection for a surviver to get out, maybe in combination with gloves and a cotton balaclava.
 
AV8R_87 said:
Drifting this topic even more, how about wearing a nomex flight suit? A lot of survivable GA accident end up being deadly (or with horrible long term injuries) because of the post-crash fire and the resulting burns over 80% of the body. A flight suit would offer enough protection for a surviver to get out, maybe in combination with gloves and a cotton balaclava.
Click to expand...

how about a nomex flight suit when flying in the back of the aluminum tube?
 
I don't think they're that good at protecting you from blunt force trauma and smoke inhalation.
 
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