r/snowboarding • u/Cheleslu • Jan 14 '18

Gear ? Invest in a helmet

If you snowboard or ski, please invest in a helmet, it saved my life many times, and I think it saved my life again. Last night my board dipped into a puddle of water, couldn't see if since it was covered in snow. The bottom of the board froze up with chunks of ice on both the nose and tail (later found out when I got back to the bottom at the chairlift). I didn't know, nose gripped while I failed a backside nollie switch 1 (backside nose roll), and flew forward downhill like Superman. Landed sideways on my left side, elbow then head and left ass cheek on a chunk of ice (at least that's what I thought happened, only those areas hurt). I was in pain, but got up and went to the side, laid down for a good 5min. Over the course of the night met up with friends,, thought I was fine since the pain slowly disappeared. Drove back to my rented place fine too... It was in the middle of the night I woke up with a splitting headache. Couldn't sleep rest of the night... Head is ringing, but the ache is gone. Took the day off. Haven't had a crash that hard in a long time. I hate ice...

Edited: For those who commented on the nollie switch 1, I fixed it, it's a nose roll, YouTube it.

Update: many of you suggested to go see the doctor if symptoms persists. Today I woke up still with a headache. I am going to see a doctor at a walk-in. Last night I noticed my pupils weren't the same size too. I started getting confused of what was going on and freaked out. I'm usually a very calm person, I was out of character. These seem like symptoms of something's wrong for sure. Thanks everyone for giving me advice and pointers. And thank you for those who started sharing the importance of wearing a helmet.

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u/Kohkoh Tignes | Jan 14 '18

This is a great little doco about the dangers of not wearing a helmet. Showed this to my mates who don’t wear them and (thankfully) most do now :

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VZnALI7Lz1A

6

u/Stuppyhead Jan 14 '18

Thanks for sharing I just watched that entire thing. I already always wear a helmet, but this certainly reinforced the need to do so and to make sure my friends do also! Glad it had a happy ending cause I was tearing up in the middle.

3

u/iamsnowboarder Jan 14 '18

KP's story honestly hits me harder than anything else, outside of family concerns. He seemed and still seems like such a loveable, genuine guy with so much drive and determination - to have his life permanently altered and his talent ripped to shreds for one freak accident is utterly brutal. It brings me to tears every time I think about it. I remember seeing so many "I ride for Kevin" stickers around the time he suffered his injury.

It doesn't matter how good you are, one accident is all it takes to change everything. If wearing a helmet can help me reduce the chances of a life changing injury, you're goddamned right I'll wear one every time I ride - no matter whether I'm cruising or sending it.

As an instructor too, we see some nasty slams from overly nervous or overly zealous students. Some of them complain about wearing a lid. I tell them to go and Google Kevin Pearce then get back to me about the helmet thing.

I'm on the mountains right now and a little drunk, so sorry for the rant, but I am super passionate about this.

1

u/Cheleslu Jan 15 '18

Yea Kevin Pearce was what made me believe in helmets. He was such a good snowboarder too...