realskiers

Jim,

After a fall that I took last winter, I am a firm believer in helmets.? I was skiing down a slope with icy patches on a heavily overcast day -- one of those eastern gray days when there is no relief evident in the terrain -- everything flat.? You couldn't see the bumps until you were on top of 'em.? Well I hit a bump that I didn't see, compensated coming off of it OK, but hit a patch of ice on the other side.? So, like your fall, rather than falling sideways, my feet went out from under me forwards, I flew up into the air and landed flat on my back.? Apparently, according to my kids, I caught great air and had lots of hang time (very sympathetic? ).? I hit the back of my head on the ice with enough impact that must have knocked me out for a few seconds, as all I remember of the entire event was opening my eyes and seeing the sky.? No memory of the fall at all, or even going over the bump.? Consequences were limited to a stiff neck and a headache and aching body, but I was able to get up straight away and ski to the lodge for a break, and ski the rest of day again.? I am convinced that had I not been wearing a helmet, it would have been a tow behind the Ski-Doo and a ride in the boo-boo truck for me, with a significant concussion or worse.? Anyone who has ever been ice skating and/or played shinny hockey will know that if you whack your head on the ice without a helmet, you're probably getting carried off on a stretcher.? I'd never ski without one, and you're right, they're warm and comfortable, even at minus 20 deg. and howling wind.

BR,
Svend