Why I hate Sonny Bono

[Frankly]

And that stupid Kennedy offspring for making ski helmets so mandatory that people shame you for free skiing without one.



These were the days ~ 90s Alta powder day.... Rolleiflex. We all survived and even skied in the trees.

 

[fullStack]

My wife @skichickee made me get a helmet a few years ago. I said "Ok but I'm just gonna go faster and do dumber stuff..."

 

[Posaune]

My helmet is the most comfortable and practical ski hat I've ever worn. I don't miss the old days one bit.

 

[François Pugh]

Not really fair to blame Sonny. Do you blame Pacioretty because Chara steered him into the stanchion?

 

[Bad Bob]

I wear one cause told the wife I would. Do they make us safer, I doubt it; they sure are a nice profit center for the helmet manufacturers though.

Thing it does best is save the head from those folks that drop the safety bar without warning anyone.

 

[RuleMiHa]

I think the X-Factor to this discussion are the out of control/limit pushing nitwits who think they are invincible (helmet or no). I don't worry about me skiing alone on a trail without a helmet, I worry about me being on a trail (doing whatever) with nitwits and me without a helmet.

 

[Fishbowl]

This reminds me of those “like if you survived......” memes on FB. Riding in the back of pick up trucks, not wearing seat belts, riding bikes without helmets, even drinking water from a hose.

Not all survived.

 

[graham418]

Thing it does best is save the head from those folks that drop the safety bar without warning anyone.

Funny, it seems we never got hit on the head before we started wearing helmets!!

 

[antigonowhere]

You can draw your own conclusions from the link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3989528/

Anything that has even the potential to reduce my harm at a low cost is worth it, to me. I won't judge those who don't wear helmets, but I do wonder about them and their primary motivation for it. I don't go right to engaging in a conversation about it, but if it comes up I always make a point to ask.

So what is the OPs primary motivation for not wearing one?

I can only infer that the belief is that since it has never happened to them, and with a combination of experience and skill, that it will not happen to them. But I'll wait for their answer.

 

[Jilly]

Warmest thing I've had on my head skiing. Safety....not sure about that, but yes to the bar down thing!!

 

[surfsnowgirl]

I'm not sure about safety but there's no harm in wearing one. Besides it's another vehicle on which to put stickers. Plus it keeps my noggin warm on cold days.

 

[fatbob]

I was going to go for" I got U babe" the dreadful UB40/ Chrissie Hynde cover.

 

[Started at 53]

I grew up riding bicycles sans helmet, crashed a LOT
I climbed a few trees, fell out of a couple
Grew up not wearing seatbelts

Was I safer back then? Certainly not.

I will say as a newbie, I have never skied without a helmet, but I do know that it keeps my ears warm.

I do enough dumb stuff, so I may as well try to be safe while being stupid

 

[antigonowhere]

I could quote the hierarchy of hazard controls, or dive into the behaviour and culture that has been changing over the years - and the OP certainly alludes to the culture when he mentions feeling shamed for not wearing a lid (not the approach I would take, but meh)

However, the above quote does this the most justice.

Be safe while being stupid.

 

[Sibhusky]

I only owned a helmet because they were required for some summer camp I attended years ago (try finding a helmet in July that fits, it's in the warehouse behind all the boots). I always said some spring day I'd take it off to enjoy the wind in my hair. Fortunately I didn't and am still here today. Huge believer in helmets now. Ten years afterwards.

 

[Bad Bob]

Is it just me or do your glasses fog worse with a helmet on?

That is the #1 thing I like least about wearing a helmet.

 

[Sibhusky]

Is it just me or do your glasses fog worse with a helmet on?

That is the #1 thing I like least about wearing a helmet.

Think about it. The helmet keeps your head warmer than any hat. It's just way more windproof. So, the likelihood of your face getting sweaty increases especially with exertion. So, if your face is sweating, your goggles are going to fog. So you better unzip those pitzips before hitting those trees, even if it's in the single digits.

 

[RuleMiHa]

You can draw your own conclusions from the link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3989528/

Anything that has even the potential to reduce my harm at a low cost is worth it, to me. I won't judge those who don't wear helmets, but I do wonder about them and their primary motivation for it. I don't go right to engaging in a conversation about it, but if it comes up I always make a point to ask.

So what is the OPs primary motivation for not wearing one?

I can only infer that the belief is that since it has never happened to them, and with a combination of experience and skill, that it will not happen to them. But I'll wait for their answer.

That's a nice review article, but truthfully some of their conclusions have holes in them big enough to drive a Mack truck through (and I'm good with helmet use).

 

[antigonowhere]

Agreed. I think many more years of study are going to be needed, and it's not exactly easy to nail down given the variety of parameters that go into each and every injury.

 

[James]

Plenty of people teaching would still be in hats if not for required to wear a helmet.


Swiss Guide.
Common headwear. With the French too. Air bag, crampons, harness, shovel, probe, beacon, rope, hat, headband. (I'm assuming they carry a full hat too. Could be wrong)