Protect Your Head or Lose Your Job
I ride at Vail resorts because their pass is the best bang for the buck around here. Looks like next season, all the employees I see on the slopes will be wearing helmets. From the GJSentinal:
Starting next winter, all employees at each of Vail Resorts’ five ski areas will be required to wear helmets when skiing or snowboarding on the job.
I’ve long had the helmet debate. Personally, I hate riding with a helmet. I’ve had some close calls where I’ve almost hit solid objects (trees & rocks) where a helmet could potentially save my life. However, I have issues with my head overheating while wearing a helmet on all but the coldest days. I’ve had this issue to the extent of making me dizzy and lightheaded. I’ve also hit piles of soft powder in what would have been an uneventful crash only to have the helmet cause minor injury.
I can’t really sit here and argue against the value of a helmet. Still, I really can’t give kudos to Vail for requiring them. Snow sports are dangerous. If you’re there, you’re already risking your life. From an operations point of view, I can accept requiring employees to wear safety gear. I just worry this will soon be applied to all riders.
Maybe I’ll change my mind when I find a helmet that works well for me. Photo credit to kandyjaxx.
Man, I love riding with a helmet. I’ve got a nice Boeri and have never had problems with overheating, and it always is reassuring that my noggin is safe when I go down at high speed. I rode without a helmet for a long time, but I really find that the helmet gives me the confidence to go just a little harder. I particularly can’t imagine doing rails without one – I’ve dinged the helmet against that steel on a couple of occasions, and been very very glad I had it on.