Talk about accidents.

[evil0ne]

I would think that you would be the one to contact if I were looking at buying a wake related helmet .

[SPBFAN]

I would think that you would be the one to contact if I were looking at buying a wake related helmet .

Your right. I started to work on that this morning. I have contacted a couple of Manf. and waiting responses. I plan to carry them and I will have them on the front page of the web page now.

[Yessup]

Count me in for some helmets. I've been wanting helmets on my boat for awhile. This story confirms the need.

[Dan and Christy]

Sounds kind of mean but we laugh at anyone on our boat that crashes hard without a helmet. We've been wearing them for a couple seasons now and won't ride without it.

[SPBFAN]

Sounds kind of mean but we laugh at anyone on our boat that crashes hard without a helmet. We've been wearing them for a couple seasons now and won't ride without it.

No your not mean. Your smart for listening to TallTigeGuy. That is all. I already have a order list once I get the paperwork done with the helmet company. Anyone else interested let me know we can get a group buy going if the volume is enough.

[TigeTrojan]

Okay, I will play devil's advocate.

Does anyone agree that as long as you're not riding rails or around other solid objects a helmet is a bad idea?

Of course there is a risk of hitting your head on your board and a helmet would certainly offer protection in that instance, but for the other 99% of falls it can cause problems.

The increased surface area of the helmet is going to cause a lot more resistance when your head goes into the water and will put more strain on your neck. Also, depending on how you fall (imagine the board sliding out while trying to powerslide) the helmet will catch water in it and act like a parachute trying to pull your head off.

I'm not trying to convince you not to wear one, but just one other angle to look at it from. I have a ProTech helmet and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for one, but I never wear it unless I plan to have hard objects in close proximity to my dome.

Am I crazy with that theory or does anyone feel the same?

[SPBFAN]

Okay, I will play devil's advocate.

Does anyone agree that as long as you're not riding rails or around other solid objects a helmet is a bad idea?

Of course there is a risk of hitting your head on your board and a helmet would certainly offer protection in that instance, but for the other 99% of falls it can cause problems.

The increased surface area of the helmet is going to cause a lot more resistance when your head goes into the water and will put more strain on your neck. Also, depending on how you fall (imagine the board sliding out while trying to powerslide) the helmet will catch water in it and act like a parachute trying to pull your head off.

I'm not trying to convince you not to wear one, but just one other angle to look at it from. I have a ProTech helmet and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for one, but I never wear it unless I plan to have hard objects in close proximity to my dome.

Am I crazy with that theory or does anyone feel the same?

Well that was kinda of my thought until this happened. He was not doing anything special. He did not hit his board. He hit the water and was not even jumping real crazy for his level of riding. He is good at the W2W all though he is over 6' tall and a big guy but very much so in shape and not over weight. This was a activity he does on a regular basis with out any problem until now. So you never know what it will take. TallTigeGuy could give us a better answer on what it would take as I am sure he seen it a few time through his office doors. .

I talked with the victim today. The doctor has said now wake boarding or sports of any kind for at least 6 months. His summer and fall seasons and activity's he likes to do are all over for the year because of one fall and maybe for ever. His balance is all messed up and he is having a hard time focusing on things. He is not back at work yet and not sure when he will go back. His wife does not work so he is the only income for the family. Now I have to think that a Helmet is a smart choice and a less risk than not having one IMHO .

The other bad thing about this is he teaches basket ball and sports for a living. So I hope he gets it all back together soon.

[dingleberry]

Okay, I will play devil's advocate.

...

Am I crazy with that theory or does anyone feel the same?

Yeah, that's always the debate for/against helmets, which I touched on in an earlier post (see below). Does anyone have any idea how many brain injuries occur while wearing helmets? Unless there is a startling number, I feel better exposing myself to a strained neck instead of a scrambled brain.

Well, I started wearing a helmet this summer, and I haven't rung my bell yet this year. Unlike the 4 or so near-concussions I took last summer (which is why I started wearing one). Of course, it helps that I haven't been catching an edge as badly, either.

Just to play devil's advocate - some will argue that a helmet won't help any because the larger surface area means that hitting the water will result in a greater deceleration, which offsets the benefits. If nothing else, though, it makes me feel more secure, and I feel that I am doing what I can to protect my health.

[skyski_tige]

Okay, I will play devil's advocate.

Does anyone agree that as long as you're not riding rails or around other solid objects a helmet is a bad idea?

Of course there is a risk of hitting your head on your board and a helmet would certainly offer protection in that instance, but for the other 99% of falls it can cause problems.

The increased surface area of the helmet is going to cause a lot more resistance when your head goes into the water and will put more strain on your neck. Also, depending on how you fall (imagine the board sliding out while trying to powerslide) the helmet will catch water in it and act like a parachute trying to pull your head off.

I'm not trying to convince you not to wear one, but just one other angle to look at it from. I have a ProTech helmet and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for one, but I never wear it unless I plan to have hard objects in close proximity to my dome.

Am I crazy with that theory or does anyone feel the same?

What about a busted ear drum?

[Tequilasun]

I think the potential advantages of a helmet out weight the minor risks mentioned above.

[TigeTrojan]

Fair enough. I will certainly reconsider putting my helmet on next time I'm out, and thanks to you guys I will definitely throw the helmet on the boat as an option for anyone with me.

[G-MONEY]

I'm against the helmet for wakeboarding for the same reasons that TigeTrogen said above. Brain injuries are caused by the brain slamming into your skull. The only thing a helmet helps with falls is so you don't crack your head open on hard surfaces. The brain will still move around and with a helmet on and IMO it will slam harder inside you skull now that you have created more surface area to slow you head down. I use a helmet every time I snowboard because of the rails, boxes and hard packed snow/ice of socal. On the water is no helmet for me.

[turbonine]

I'm against the helmet for wakeboarding for the same reasons that TigeTrogen said above. Brain injuries are caused by the brain slamming into your skull. The only thing a helmet helps with falls is so you don't crack your head open on hard surfaces. The brain will still move around and with a helmet on and IMO it will slam harder inside you skull now that you have created more surface area to slow you head down. I use a helmet every time I snowboard because of the rails, boxes and hard packed snow/ice of socal. On the water is no helmet for me.

X2.

On snow I usually wear a helmet, unless its a powder day and I am not going in the trees or a day I plan on not falling. Yes, I can plan on not falling.

On water I don't wear a helmet, unless I am hitting rails, which I don't.

Most wakeboard videos have a crash section. Watch it. You will not see one helmet unless a rail is involved and these are some of the gnarliest falls you will ever see.