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In all of the pics that are posted of Sherman, I notice that no one is wearing a helmet. But in the Bay (Alameda, 3rd Avenue, Crissy Field) it seems that it is the opposite. I know I always wear one. Are riders at Sherman somehow immune to injury?

Some up there do, and they are normally people that have either had injuries or know someone close that has. But yes, between the heat and cool factor, many just don't. I suppose we insist on learning the hard way. but please don't let that stop you or anyone else who wants to wear one. You will certainly not be looked at any differently.

Helmets are MUCH "cooler" than head injuries. I wear one for the sake of my family.

I don't wear one nor do most my buds (unless huge 30mph+ days), but they are a good idea, highly recommend them. You see more at places like 3rd because you have more rocks to worry about and more beginners to dodge. Beginners should wear them as a must, and anyone still using a board leach. Experienced kiters should as well if they don't mind them. Again, do as I say, not as I do, but for me personally, wearing one bothers me, and I found they can actually hurt more when head smacks water and gets rattled in the helmet. Head smacking rocks or board though... helmet good!

I wear a helmet whether at Sherman, 3rd, or wherever. Better safe than sorry I figure. Plus if I don't I can feel my brain rattling around in my head every time I crash hard. It can't be a good thing...all that brain rattling

Tunces wrote:In all of the pics that are posted of Sherman, I notice that no one is wearing a helmet. But in the Bay (Alameda, 3rd Avenue, Crissy Field) it seems that it is the opposite. I know I always wear one. Are riders at Sherman somehow immune to injury?

are we immune? yes, the contaminated run-off from the agriculture industry stimulates a profound sinusitis which then spreads into the outer covering of the brain which provides us with a second, stonger skull. medical term for this is 'numbskull'. ](*,)

and no, I do not wear a helmet either :o cuz I'm 2 8)

It's a personal decision by each person.

When I'm riding strapless on my surfboard, I don't wear a helmet. When I go on a TT to do freestyle, I put on a helmet - with a face guard. I have paid quite a bit of dues and know what can happen to your face/mouth when freestyle moves go wrong - like a railey to blind to surface pass to board to face to teeth blown out to stitches in lips.

When learning/trying freestyle moves - hooked or unhooked - where rotations create speed/momentum, a helmet makes a great deal of sense.

There are many great riders who are pushing it, w/no helmet.

It's a personal decision to be made by each person.

Get some, Z.

my helmet helps prevent my head from ringing after bad crashes. its not so much that i worry about getting hurt on land, i know how to fly a kite, its the accidents on the water.

If i know im not going out for a session where i will crash hard then its nice not riding with helmets. helmets are good for beginning kiters especially at sherman because of the onshore wind, and other spots with dangerous obsticals.

my helmet helps prevent my head from ringing after bad crashes. its not so much that i worry about getting hurt on land, i know how to fly a kite, its the accidents on the water.

If i know im not going out for a session where i will crash hard then its nice not riding with helmets. helmets are good for beginning kiters especially at sherman because of the onshore wind, and other spots with dangerous obsticals.

Young Padawan wrote:my helmet helps prevent my head from ringing after bad crashes. its not so much that i worry about getting hurt on land, i know how to fly a kite, its the accidents on the water.

We all need to be careful with complacency. Saying you "know how to fly a kite" implies a sense of immunity to problems related to kite control. There is always the potential for problems no matter how much experience we have. Sometimes the problem may call for a helmet, sometimes it doesn't.
Its up to the rider to determine how much risk they are willing to take. If you are involved in an activity/sport long enough, you increase your chances of complacency biting you in the ass.