No helmets at Sherman?!?

[Fassn8]

Personally, I think the arguments/rationale for not wearing a helmet because you're "not trying xyz freestyle tricks", "you know how to kite", and "I'm not a beginner", ARE REALLY WEAK! That's like saying "I don't wear a seatbelt in the car because I'm a good driver and know the road really well.

I agree with Z 100% in that people should do what they want. Just don't make silly excuses as to why you don't wear one. Better to just say, "Helmets don't look cool" or "Helmets bother me when riding".

My primary reason for wearing one is because of everyone else out on the water. What if someone else snaps a line, tomahawking their kite into your head? What if you snap a line, break a foot strap, etc.?

[friggin old guy]

I don't wear boardshorts either and I hope that doesn't get anybody aggravated.

Honestly this is just a little bit of getting too much into other people's knickers. I used to wear a helmet, always use one snowboarding, never wear one surfing (won't fit over my hood for one thing) so now I've fallen out of the habit kiting too.

If you feel like wearing one, good on you but jeez. If you see my pink harness, you know I'm too old to give a crap about style points.

I don't do grabs either.

[windhorny]

In reading Zeev's post it made me think about helmets and how they are designed. It's not too unsimilar to the motorcycle laws where you see harley guys riding with the absolute minimal protection to pass law and still look like and angel of death.

But to take this thread into a different direction, I think the helmet is not that protective without a face guard. My dirtbike helmets have that front piece there for a reason. I cant tell you how many times I have been thrown forward on something where that little piece of plastic has saved a nasty face modification. An ex of mine as well had this happen, where her face missed being sliced on a rock yet her chin was sheared wide open instead. As our heads may be protected, we tend to look in the face of danger. Meaning, our incidents are usually directed at our face. Not one of the helmets out there would do anything to help this with the exception of Zeev's hockey mask.

I also think that helmets are in general not that comfortable and seem to cut out a sense of freedom when riding. When it is hot they make you hotter, it is hard to hear around you, and it can hurt more landing in the water with one due to the larger amount of surface area.

So do we all start wearing waterproofed dirtbike helmets or face masks? Of course it is a good idea but until it is a law, it is human nature to put looks before safety.

[mephastopholes]

I stopped wearing a helmet for the comfort factor (or lack thereof) and after reading here about the increased surface area tweaking your when smacking the water as mentioned above.
Funny that you mention the face protection aspect as I was just thinking about that yesterday at 3rd: one of my feet came out on a backroll and I botched the landing. Next thing I know my board somehow springs back up at my face fin first and I’m missing a sizable chunk of my upper lip and my tooth gouged out the inside of my lip… not that big a deal besides riding around the next hour pressing down on face to stop the bleeding and I look like Elvis today... but prior to that I never would’ve thought of faceguards….

[sloughslut]

i wear my helmet so i look like a kook(kinda am) and people stay away from me on the water and they dont ask me for launches or help or advice,and i dont wear boardshorts because i want dry shorts to drive home in. :twocents-02cents:

[OliverG]

[quote="zgur" I put on a helmet - with a face guard.

[/quote]

Might be good even when walking over a log at the beach without any kite at all!
:P

[zgur]

Ollie - good one my friend ;-) That was my daughters suggestion as well.

Z.

[kailuakiter]

Not all helmets are hot and constricting, just choose one that isn't as full coverage. That is what I have and it has served me well. As for face masks, I wouldn't want it for everyday riding, but every time I think about playing on that slider by the upper launch at 3rd I wish I had a football helmet! I've split my lip open on one of those before

[cedralpass]

helmets for me came from skiing incident. I am a way better skier then kiter. my friend was way better than me. On a traverse, she caught an edge, not paying attention, and was in coma for 2 days. very scary. My dad sent me a helmet that week. hell, i like the warmth.

Kiting, when my head gets hot, i drop in the water. way easier than skiing... Yes, you awesome kiters, get wet and crash!

I should think of a face mask, as i knocked all of my front teeth out water skiing way back when, but hell, my smile is better than Tom Cruise, and insurance paid for that!

geoff

[yojimbo]

I cannot stand a helmet, I find them totally effeing annoying. Plus they look totally goony. It must be a gear thing or something, cause usually anyone that wears a helmet also has a whole load of other goofy gear on hand as well.

I had to wear a helmet for my lesson in Alameda, I almost killed myself. The thing blocked my view of the kite if I tried to look up, great, just what I needed.