Water Sports Helmet

[jsz]

I'd like to hear from those that have taken a good head shot with a helmet on. Did it hurt any less?

I can see how it would help the ears but I don't see it helping much besides that. Obviously I see the advantage for guys that ride boxes and rails but for the rest of us common guys (basic jumps and grabs at 21 MPH and an occasional 360 attempt) I'm not seeing benefits that outweigh the couple of cons that were mentioned earlier.

[MTtigekid]

ok.. so lets say that you wakeboard at 21mph.. at 30mph the force you hit the water with is close to the same force as you falling on concrete.. at 25 that force really isnt that much difference.. the impact foam in the helmets protects you from the force of the impact.. whether it be water or cement, and a concussion in the water can leave you drowning with no way to keep yourself above water.. helmets save lives just like life jackets

[Jeffe]

I have taken a board to the forehead & got (9) stitches...A helmet would not have protected me in the place I got hit.

[MTtigekid]

I have taken a board to the forehead & got (9) stitches...A helmet would not have protected me in the place I got hit.

then get a face mask.. i wear a helmet for hockey but still take sticks to the neck... there is an inherent risk!

[Yessup]

There are tons of great replies on here. I hope the keep coming! It sounds like at the lower speeds, it is a must for the kids. I am wanting to eliminate as many potential injuries to the kids. (and everyone else too) I saw my twelve-year-old daughter get her bell rung pretty good last year, and it was scary! The bucketing, and reduced drag are strong points. I wonder if there is any statistics on helmet induced injuries.

[Guapo]

Plus the aerodynamics & drag of the helmet keep me from going as big as usual.

LMAO

[jsz]

ok.. so lets say that you wakeboard at 21mph.. at 30mph the force you hit the water with is close to the same force as you falling on concrete.. at 25 that force really isnt that much difference.. the impact foam in the helmets protects you from the force of the impact.. whether it be water or cement, and a concussion in the water can leave you drowning with no way to keep yourself above water.. helmets save lives just like life jackets

I agree with the concrete coment and I wear a helmet when snowboarding because, like concrete, there is no "give" to hard packed snow or the other obsticles on the slopes.

I don't want to sound like a helmet hater but in the same way that riding at 18 MPH is a far cry 21 MPH (as far as getting air and how falls feel) 21 is way different than 30 MPH. I know skiers go that fast but do any boarders? If so, I could see a helemet for them. But at 20ish I don't see the foam helping much.

There must be some magic number (speed) where it is beneficial. We just need to find out at what speed water feels like concrete.

[MTtigekid]

I agree with the concrete coment and I wear a helmet when snowboarding because, like concrete, there is no "give" to hard packed snow or the other obsticles on the slopes.

I don't want to sound like a helmet hater but in the same way that riding at 18 MPH is a far cry 21 MPH (as far as getting air and how falls feel) 21 is way different than 30 MPH. I know skiers go that fast but do any boarders? If so, I could see a helemet for them. But at 20ish I don't see the foam helping much.

There must be some magic number (speed) where it is beneficial. We just need to find out at what speed water feels like concrete.

ohhh kay then.. i wakeboard at 24.. most people wakeboard in the mid to low 20's.. what if you say, hook and edge and whip your head into the water.. its really easy to pick up 10 mph in the 5-8 feet it takes your head to hit the water

[Dan and Christy]

I'll start by saying that for the past 2 1/2 years I have worn a helmet 100% of the time wakeboarding. I think you will be hard pressed to find any accurate statistics for wakeboarding crashes and the affects of having/not having a helmet. I am yet to find any results from an actual physicist which quantify/justify the 'pure physics' claims made by some.

So, after all that rambling, I think you should conduct your own real world experiments by jumping and throwing tricks with and without a helmet. I would be very interested to see if you end up getting tired of the head slapping and ear drum popping without the helmet.

[MTtigekid]

dan they are made by me.. its okay i will own up to them... but when you have one summer where you hit your head so hard in the water that you get a concussion, nose bleeds, trouble seeing, and migraines so bad you have trouble getting out of the water because you cant move your arms and legs you rethink wearing a helmet while doing ANY action sport

[Dan and Christy]

MT - Please don't take my response as a jab of any sort. I have just heard the physics point about drag from many guys, both here and other sites. I had a buddy blow his eardrum out because he didn't have the earpads down on his helmet. I am a firm advocate of wearing helmets! I try to talk anyone that will listen into wearing helmets, I am glad you do too.

[AdaminMN]

There must be some magic number (speed) where it is beneficial. We just need to find out at what speed water feels like concrete.

Any volunteers?

[jsz]

Any volunteers?

I'll take the low 20's... any takers for 25+?

[rushin]

I have been contiplating getting one and then after a wakeboard hit my son in the back of the head and he got 13 staples in a freak thing, catching the edge. I am going to look for one for myself, if he would have been waring his he would not have gotten injured.

So what models are nice? and where?

[solaidrider667]

My vote is for wearing a helmet! I have been using 1 since@ January of '09. The ear protectors have saved blown eardums for certain. Just my opinion.