Despite the lack of legislation, skiers and snowboarders are voluntarily protecting themselves
Ryan Cunningham

The evolution of the helmet and its usage can be seen throughout sports and recreational activities, specifically hockey, and even more recently, biking. Helmets start out as being a safe option for players/cyclists, but usually an unattractive alternative in the eyes of fellow athletes.

As accidents, specifically head injuries, continue to escalate, the movement towards the legislation on mandatory helmet use becomes more pronounced. After a while, what once was seen as a ridiculous looking piece of safety equipment transforms into part of the ensemble (hockey) and the law (biking). Skiing and snowboarding could be the next two sports to follow in this path as safety issues become more discussed.

“It’s a hot topic. Should helmets be mandatory or not?” asked Gene Matthews, area manager at Glen Eden ski and snowboard centre in Milton. “But at Glen Eden, we don’t want to just wait for legislation. We do everything we can to promote the benefits from wearing a helmet and no harm can come from wearing one.”

“I guess some would argue that for comfort’s sake, a helmet isn’t the most comfortable thing to wear,” said avid recreational snowboarder Daniel Egan. “Style has become a big part of snowboarding. You want to look cool.”
And according to Matthews, retail companies also pay attention to aesthetics and have successfully managed to manufacture equipment that is both safe and stylish.

“Retailers that we deal with are proactive in the equipment that they provide,” said Matthews. “Their helmets are safe, yet stylish, and that are hugely beneficial when working with children and trying to encourage usage.”

A recent research study done at the University of Calgary discovered that helmet usage while skiing and snowboarding reduces the risk of head injury by 35 per cent. The intercontinental study assessed the head injuries of more than 45, 000 skiers and snowboarders and determined that only one in five injured participants was wearing a helmet.

In order for helmet use to eventually become legislated, the popularity of the equipment must increase. This process has taken many years as it did in hockey; however, more and more people are using them and instructors and professionals alike are setting an example for beginners and amateurs.

“Helmets are always a good idea,” said Matthews. “We require that our entire staff wears a helmet and we encourage all of our participants to follow suit. For our school visit program, we provide free helmets to encourage their usage.”

According to Matthews, skiers and snowboarders have taken it upon themselves to wear a helmet and if and when the legislation does come through, it will almost be a moot point.

“When we look at our hill, 65 to 75 per cent of our participants are already wearing helmets,” said Matthews. “The growth in the past five years has been exponential. Knowledge is increasing across the board and helmets are looked at as being far more acceptable for use now.”

Furthermore, if history repeats itself, as is often the case, any kind of safe practice legislation will not deter participation.

“If the legislation does happen, it will not negatively impact the sport, whatsoever,” said Matthews. “Look at hockey. Two generations ago, there were not helmets or facemasks. When it became mandatory to wear both, you didn’t see a decline in the number of kids playing hockey.”

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