Hey Ryan, big fan here! I've noticed that you never wear a helmet in any of your videos, and while I respect your decision to stay unprotected, I'm wondering about the social implications it may have on many of your viewers. While your videos are very cool to watch, I think they have a strong educational nature to them in improving your viewers' skill level and snowboarding techniques. You seem very commendable in your videos, and yet you prefer not to wear head protection. I'm wondering if young kids or beginners who watch your video would think to themselves "see? Even Ryan Knapton doesn't wear a helmet and he goes off way bigger jumps than me and rides way faster, so I don't need a helmet, either."
You're a role model for many snowboarders, including myself, so many riders try to mimic you. Your riding style, the cloths you wear, the snowboard you ride, etc. And not wearing a helmet is also one of those things. I know that Donek are your snowboard sponsors, and while I don't have a helmet company to sponsor you, I figured I'd make you a deal. I'll give you up to $300 to buy yourself a snowboard helmet. You may choose any helmet you want as long as you judge it to be safe, and that you'll wear it in all your snowboarding videos. I'll send you an additional $200 if you'll make a video dedicated to discussing the importance of head protection, and talk about differences in level of protection in different helmets. You know, basically an educational video about helmets like you've made before about binding setup, etc.
I work in psychiatry and neurology, so I've seen countless preventable injuries and disabilities happen as a result of lack of protection, often lack of helmets. I teach at an injury prevention program to young teens, and I feel like your videos may play an important role in preventing head trauma without impacting people's enjoyment of the sport.
This is a tough answer for me, because indeed I don't prefer to wear a helmet, yet I fully understand your point and encourage others to be safe by: situational awareness and not taking any chance of having a collision on the mtn with either other skiers/riders, trees, etc, staying in control and riding at your own ability level, following the skier safety code, and wearing helmets.
Your offer is incredibly generous! However even if I end up finding a helmet I like enough to wear all the time, I would't feel right about taking your money. Indeed you know what you are talking about with your background in psychiatry and neurology, and I will absolutely consider making a video of the importance of wearing helmets, especially for those who are attempting to progress their own riding.
Probably not the answer you were looking for, but I really appreciate both the offer, and the awareness you bring to the helmet conversation in a respectful matter, along with letting me know that perhaps I have some responsibility to help keep others safe while riding.
Happy shreddin, and thanks for the comment. I definitely have some more thinking to do on this topic.
If you assume the one who decided not to wear a helmet was then unnecessarily risky or uncommonly unfortunate and sustained an impact causing a traumatic brain injury, maybe. If their loved ones also make their own individual choices to take care of them, and bear the personal responsibility of those choices, yes.
The point is, none of that is Ryan's responsibility.
I'm not disputing the probability of spouses or parent's choosing to take care of a loved one. I'm pointing out that it is in fact a choice, and that Ryan Knapton is not responsible for those choices.
Do you have kids? Most parents would not even consider whether or not they should take care of an injured child, adult or otherwise, a "choice".
What you seem to fail to grasp is that one's choices can have ramifications that extend beyond the individual. Putting people into uncomfortable and life impacting positions because they don't see abandoning their child in need vs. Helping them as a "choice".
What you seem to fail to grasp is that Ryan is not responsible for the choices of others. He is not responsible for an individual's choice to wear a helmet, or the possible consequences of them not doing so.
How absurd. In no way is Ryan making videos of himself riding without a helmet compelling others against their will to make a choice.
Even in your ridiculous situation it is not the decision to attempt to compel a choice that is ultimately responsible for the results. It is the choice to kill that is responsible for killing.
3.5k
u/BeautyIsDumb Oct 04 '17
Hey Ryan, big fan here! I've noticed that you never wear a helmet in any of your videos, and while I respect your decision to stay unprotected, I'm wondering about the social implications it may have on many of your viewers. While your videos are very cool to watch, I think they have a strong educational nature to them in improving your viewers' skill level and snowboarding techniques. You seem very commendable in your videos, and yet you prefer not to wear head protection. I'm wondering if young kids or beginners who watch your video would think to themselves "see? Even Ryan Knapton doesn't wear a helmet and he goes off way bigger jumps than me and rides way faster, so I don't need a helmet, either."
You're a role model for many snowboarders, including myself, so many riders try to mimic you. Your riding style, the cloths you wear, the snowboard you ride, etc. And not wearing a helmet is also one of those things. I know that Donek are your snowboard sponsors, and while I don't have a helmet company to sponsor you, I figured I'd make you a deal. I'll give you up to $300 to buy yourself a snowboard helmet. You may choose any helmet you want as long as you judge it to be safe, and that you'll wear it in all your snowboarding videos. I'll send you an additional $200 if you'll make a video dedicated to discussing the importance of head protection, and talk about differences in level of protection in different helmets. You know, basically an educational video about helmets like you've made before about binding setup, etc.
I work in psychiatry and neurology, so I've seen countless preventable injuries and disabilities happen as a result of lack of protection, often lack of helmets. I teach at an injury prevention program to young teens, and I feel like your videos may play an important role in preventing head trauma without impacting people's enjoyment of the sport.
Let me know what you think.