To take the conversation away from whether or not we should be all doing it, could anyone comment on the specifics of kitesurf helmets and why I shouldn't use my skiing one? It is lightweight, fits me like a glove, seems to have as many holes in it as the water specific helmets and the ear pieces are removable. What am I missing?
Just speculating, could be too hot and not salt water friendly.
Or it could work very well, I don’t know, but generally ski helmets tend to be heavier/bulkier. Mine certainly is, wouldn’t wear it for kiting.
I don't know a single helmet user, or non helmet user in kiteboarding that has ever called for making some sort of legally enforced rule that kiters of any discipline should be required to wear helmets. It seems like virtually everyone, including me, is for freedom of choice on this one. However, one of the things I do advocate for is that every kiter should encourage every other kiter to take care and engage in our sport in the safest and most responsible manner possible within reason.
And given that there are no downsides to wearing a helmet, helmet use should be encouraged, while being too self conscious to wear one should be discouraged.
If you are barefoot and look where you are going you will avoid stepping on glass.
When fatality or serious accident occurs you also have it backwards.
First question to ask is not did he have a helmet ?
The first question is why did he stay attached to his kite ?
Bah...maybe you think kitesurfing is the single human activity where 1) humans can all be perfectly trained and educated, and 2) humands never make mistakes and will always perfectly behave.
Now, there is no single existing human activity where the above conditions are true. Not even pro-level activities/sports or, say, airliner piloting.
And this said, you still would have the completely unforeseeable and uncontrollable event like a freaking brand new mystic spreader bar snapping on you.
It's not like seatbelts are a substitute for learning to properly drive. You can and should have both.
I don't know a single helmet user, or non helmet user in kiteboarding that has ever called for making some sort of legally enforced rule that kiters of any discipline should be required to wear helmets. It seems like virtually everyone, including me, is for freedom of choice on this one. However, one of the things I do advocate for is that every kiter should encourage every other kiter to take care and engage in our sport in the safest and most responsible manner possible within reason.
And given that there are no downsides to wearing a helmet, helmet use should be encouraged, while being too self conscious to wear one should be discouraged.
Spot on
Didn't they mandate use of helmets for any park-riding comps a few years ago (Triple S etc)?
Not sure if that was 'in general' or just for a particular organizer of those events.
I don't know a single helmet user, or non helmet user in kiteboarding that has ever called for making some sort of legally enforced rule that kiters of any discipline should be required to wear helmets. It seems like virtually everyone, including me, is for freedom of choice on this one. However, one of the things I do advocate for is that every kiter should encourage every other kiter to take care and engage in our sport in the safest and most responsible manner possible within reason.
And given that there are no downsides to wearing a helmet, helmet use should be encouraged, while being too self conscious to wear one should be discouraged.
Spot on
Didn't they mandate use of helmets for any park-riding comps a few years ago (Triple S etc)?
Not sure if that was 'in general' or just for a particular organizer of those events.
Didn't they mandate use of helmets for any park-riding comps a few years ago (Triple S etc)?
Not sure if that was 'in general' or just for a particular organizer of those events.
Sure, for park riding, be it kite or wakeboard, it is the norm pretty much everywhere to wear helmets as there is a substantial possibility of hitting your head on hard objects like kickers and sliders. In the context of events also, organizers want to reduce any kind of liability, and they are in a position where they can set some hard rules.
