Does Wearing A Snowboard Helmet Really Make A Difference?

Posted by: PoolGrind | Aug 27, 09

Truth be told I didn't start wearing a snowboard helmet until around 2007. I resisted by thinking it was kind of lame. Plus it just felt so much better to ride without one. You can hear your surroundings better and your head just feels "lighter". Not having a ton of stuff attached to you just feels better period. Like a hydration pack. As much as I love being hydrated when riding all day long it does feel a lot better to ride without it. But as some point I got smart and decided it was probably a really good idea to wear one. Ripping through steep trees and early-late season riding definitely call for a brain bucket. But what do the stats say about helmet usage?

According to an unpublished study by Dr. A. Stewart Levy, chief of neurosurgery and neurotrauma at St. Anthony Central Hospital in Denver, Colorado confirms that helmets reduced the risk of brain injury by 75 percent. The study was referenced in the following CNN article:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/03/19/ski.safety/index.html

Well that sounds really assuring that wearing a helmet is a no-brainer (pun intended for those who don't yet ride with one). The study ran from 1998 to 2005. The details weren't available but his conclusion was a 75% reduction in brain injuries. The caveat though is the following; wearing a snowboard helmet only really helps when riding at 14 mph or less. That really only accounts for getting on and off the lift! Here is a quote from the CNN article, "He says helmets tend to be helpful in preventing lesser head injuries such as scalp lacerations or mild concussions. Recreational ski and snowboard helmets are manufactured to a standard that provides protection at 14 mph or less, whereas it is common to ski and snowboard between 25 and 40 mph, he says."

So that doesn't really seem like a strong case for wearing one. It seems that a helmet is your best ally in staving away a concussion but probably not serious brain injury. So will I continue to wear one? After wearing one for a few years I would feel pretty vulnerable without it, so yes, it'll probably always be a required piece of equipment for me.

If you aren't wearing one yet and think it might be a good idea, check out our snowboard helmet selection.