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| Love Your Brain* |
We think helmets for snowboarding and skiing are a good idea. We also think that helmets don't replace common sense, they do not make you "bulletproof" and won't help in every type of impact, but we know many, many people who have benefited directly from the use of a helmet,whether it be minimizing the effects of a hard slam, or clipping a limb riding in the trees.
I started wearing a helmet in 1998, the same year Sonny Bono died from a head injury while skiing. I was accused of jumping on the Bono Bandwagon, but the truth be known, I had already decided to wear one before his accident. I wouldn't get on a bike without a helmet, yet on the snow I was going just as fast if not faster on the snowboard, with just as many hard things to hit, so figured a snow helmet was a good idea.
That first helmet was like wearing a bowling ball on my head. It weighed a ton, had no ventilation, and was uncomfortable as hell. As bad it was, I have never ridden without a helmet since, and can't ever imagine doing it.
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| 2001 Riding in my bowling ball! |
Fortunately, helmet technology has come a longways in 20 years. The newest generation of helmets are lightweight. Most of them offer opening and closing vents for temperature control, and many have a Boa or similar system for dialing in the fit. Almost all helmets are goggle compatible and vise versa.
The majority of helmets use a EPS foam to absorb impact, but some are starting use a honeycomb material for even greater protection and durability. One of the newest innovations is MIPs, which is designed to protect your brain from rotational injuries in a fall.
One of the most important aspects of a helmet is the fit. Your helmet must fit correctly. If the helmet doesn't fit or is fitted incorrectly, there is a chance it will come off or reduce its effectiveness in a crash. The best way to ensure fit is to try it on and have it adjusted by a professional. The right sized helmet should fit snugly without the straps fastened. It should not move around on its own when you shake your head. At East of Maui, our staff can help you pick a helmet that fits your head, your budget, and performance level.
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| Today's helmets protect your head,are light, comfortable, and stylish too. photo: SmithOptics |
When do you need to replace your helmet? All manufactures recommend replacing your helmet after any major impact. The EPS foam bubbles are designed to crunch down in an impact to cushion your head, meaning you need to replace your helmet after just one crash. Even if you have been lucky enough to be crash free, most manufactures recommend replacing your helmet every 3-5 years. Sweat, hair products, use, all break down EPS over time. The interior padding also breaks down, which will affect how the helmet fits.
We realize that wearing a helmet is a personal decision, but we think it is a good idea.
We have been helping our customers have more fun on boards since 1979. We can help you have more fun (and keep you safe) too!
Aloha-
Mark Bandy
* Love Your Brain is an organization founded after Kevin Pearce suffered a horrible accident training for the 2010 Oympics. One of Love Your Brain's missions is to improve the quality of life and recovery for people that have suffered TBI. Love Your Brain also endorses and recommend the use of helmets for snowsports. For more info: www.loveyourbrain.com . Also be sure to check out Kevin's story and the movie Crash Reel.
In January 2011 snowboarder Danny Toumarkine clipped a tree doing some filming with his brother Conor and some friends. Conor is a friend of one of our former employees Graham. We followed Danny's story closely. There was a good chance Danny would not live, much less recover. Conor documented both the accident, and the story in the movie "Moving Forward". You can still watch it it on YouTube :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZnALI7Lz1A
Ride safe! See you on the snow !
