Helmet Rant.

[oragejuice]

Alright. I'm getting angry. I need help.

I've been trying to talk my roommate (snowboarder) into getting a helmet, and wearing it. She thinks I am just a 'know it all' and that she doesn't need one, because she doesn't do anything 'extreme'. But... she's comfortable on black runs, and some double diamond.

Hellllloooo?!

 

[Jillian]

If you don't need a head you don't need a helmet...
but, your ears are so comfy and warm and your goggles are held in place with no slippage - once you try one you never go back!
Oh and for those interested they come with music/ phone setups (not necessarily a good thing)

 

[shnu]

She thinks I am just a 'know it all' and that she doesn't need one, because she doesn't do anything 'extreme'.

She doesn't get the whole picture I think. It's not only her who is on the slopes, there are always other. And I'm of the opinion that you can only rate your skills, but never the other ones. Has she never seen two guys crashing into each other? Or that one falls down on an icy slope, can't stop and crashes into another person? And even if she doesn't do anything extreme, something can happen everywhere, erverytime (Last year I hit my had at least 5 times when I got into the gondola because the cabin was pretty small )

A true story, and I'm happy that I wasn't there. Some years ago my bf attended a skiinginstructor course. One day they just saw 2 person really crashing into eacht other. Both fell down, but one didn't stand up again. He was bleading out of the ear. Their instructor administered first aid to him. The students went down and just saw the heli come. Since this accident my bf is wearing a helmet. And after telling me this story I also don't ski without. Sure, beanies often look much better and cooler. But nowadays there is such a wide range of helmets, and many of them look really good.

What I wanted to say again is, that it's not only your skills and skiing it's also just the presence of other persons on the slopes.

 

[SnowHot]

I'm going to be on the wrong side of this discussion

Oragejuice, you are a wonderful friend and I'm glad you care about the safety of your room mate, but whether or not she wears a helmet is none of your business.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a helmet advocate!

I'll give you a couple of my real life scenarios:
One:
I ski with some friends here in Michigan who never wore/wear helmets. Within the past few years a few of them have moved over to the helmet wearing side of the hill, while a few others still don't/won't wear a helmet.
I may, casually mention that I think they would love a helmet if they tried it, and even encourage them but if they say no, I drop it. None of my business!

Two:
Epic Friends -
Many of the best skiers I spend time with from epic don't wear a helmet. Cgeib, Bob Barnes, nolo, Robin Barnes, to mention a few. I hold these folks in very high regard, and don't even give a second thought to their choice of helmet or no helmet when I'm skiing with them. Heck, I can't keep up with them long enough to notice what they have on their head(s).

If I were to be pushy about helmet use with my non helmet wearing friends, I think I would likely miss out on some great times with them.

Love your room mate, suggest a helmet, even offer her the chance to try yours, but don't push it. If you push it, then you are a know-it-all
Most of all, enjoy your time with her on the slopes whether she wears a helmet or not.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Gonna agree with SH on this one.
OJ, it's a touch subject.
We did 10+ rounds on this subject right here last winter.
It got ugly.
Very "political" (guess I have that subject on the brain today?)
Just do your own thing.

We were sort of in this same situation some years ago before wearing seat belt was the law (in most states, I believe -- not in NH if over 18...????).
Choice, etc. Not wearing one wouldn't be my choice (either seat belt OR helmet).
Nonetheless, it is a choice.

So heed SnowHot's advice.
It's not worth testing the friendship, despite the dire possibilities to your friend. Hopefully, that will never become an issue either.

 

[Jillian]

I agree with Snowhot - and when she falls backwards, onto her backside, then back, then clunk on the back of the head, a couple of times on the same day, you may be asked where is the best place to look at helmets!(Husband changed his mind this way)
Dare I ask - does she wear wristguards?
MaineSkiLady is also wise - be patient with her.

 

[Robyn]

Yep, I agree with SH, MSL and Jillian, you've made the suggestion but you can't force her to do it and it's not worth risking your friendship and the peace in your home to nag about it.

 

[SkiNurse]

Yes, have been round and round about this subject both here and over at epic.

First of all, the research proves time & time again that helmets are good for you.

Second, you can't force her to wear a helmet. Just like you can't force her to practice safe sex. It's her choice.

I am a helemt advocate personally and professionally. I live this every day at work and see the devastation a brain injury can cause a family. But again, her choice.

Hey, any of you mods can find the link from last years debate for her???

 

[lucine]

Just a thought.
Do you do anything she doesn't like?
Leave dishes in the sink?
Use too much hot water?
Maybe you could make a trade If you try a helmet then........
But, I agree that you can't make someone you care about do anything they don't want to.
It is, after all, a free country.
Good luck.

 

[ski diva]

Hey, any of you mods can find the link from last years debate for her???

Here's a fairly recent one:

https://www.theskidiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4926

And here's another (is this the older one you had in mind?):

https://www.theskidiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2616

 

[geargrrl]

Regarding "it's a free country" and not being affected by other's decisions...

If someone has a brain injury and becomes permanently disabled, we as tax payers end up supporting this person through various programs that we fund as tax payers.

 

[SueNJ]

I agree with Snowhot - and when she falls backwards, onto her backside, then back, then clunk on the back of the head, a couple of times on the same day, you may be asked where is the best place to look at helmets!(Husband changed his mind this way)

Good point--that's how my SO came around to wearing a helmet. He's been a skier for +30 years and up until last year, felt he didn't need one. But when he wiped out at high speed and slammed head-first into a chain link fence, he changed his mind.

 

[PNWSkier]

I have a similar story. I gave my husband a helmet as a "gift" and while he complained A LOT he wore it. His first time out with his helmet he took a nasty fall and hit his head pretty hard. He said that without his helmet he would have ended up in the hospital. We ended up having to buy a new one b/c his fall actually dented the helmet. I guess everyone has to have that "magic moment" (and hopefully minor) when you realize you need one.

 

[SkiNurse]

Thanks SD...plus this one
https://www.theskidiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2181

This one has the article I posted from skiing magazine. Which, as a nurse who deals frequently with head traumas from no helmet, I really appreciated this docs persptective!

 

[G Hoodie]

I'll play both sides of the fence here.

No... you can't tell her what to do, and it's not worth a rift in your relationship with your friend.

BUT... You can remind her that it might not be her skill level in question. It's all the other people on the hill that might not be watching out for her. (ie: 13 year old bombing snowboarders that are so common on Bachelor and Hood).

Two years ago, someone died on Hood b/c two people wrecked and one got smacked in the head with a snowboard. No helmet. Now dead. You might check the Oregonian for the full story.

My DH started wearing a helmet when we moved here. He's an expert skier who prefers hucking cliffs, tree skiing and deep powder days on blacks and double blacks. He never wore a helmet before, but now he's afraid of someone else hitting him. :duck: So again.. maybe remind her that it isn't her skill level that's the problem. It's everyone elses.

If that doesn't work, give it a rest and maybe, like everyone else said, she'll have a close call and decide she needs one.

 

[bklyn]

...He's an expert skier who prefers hucking cliffs, tree skiing and deep powder days on blacks and double blacks....

Sounds dreamy ... lucky lady!
... nothing to add to the topic that hasn't been said...

 

[Christy]

It's very difficult to convince grown ups to do things that you think are good for them. Try getting a loved one to quit smoking or lose weight sometime. There is just no point in nagging.

 

[G Hoodie]

Sounds dreamy ... lucky lady!
... nothing to add to the topic that hasn't been said...

oooh he is! Until he opens his mouth and starts talking like Beavis & Butthead.

But I guess it's all part of the package!

 

[Quiver Queen]

The first ever Christmas gift I gave my (now) DH was a helmet, telling him, "I love your noggin just the way it is. Would you mind keeping it intact for me?" He wore it the first time just to please me, and ever since because he liked it so much. Now he's the only man I know with a helmet quiver! But if he hadn't continued to wear it I wouldn't have pushed it, even though I'd have wanted to.

 

[Jillian]

Could she be self-conscious? I have not bought loud, or really high end gear because I have not wanted to draw attention to myself (and have people notice how I actually ski - slowly!!)
Hopefully the two of you will be able to share a laugh over all of this one day!!!