Importance of helmets for free riding?

i tried finding threads on this but i couldn't. soon enough i want to try doing some tricks to show off for the ladies :wave: and i was wondering how important it is to use a helmet or at what point i should start wearing one? Also, what kind of helmets? i have my nice 200$ mx helmet and i would hate to get it wet.
 

DR3

Xscream Braaaap
Location
palm harbor, Fl
bmx/mountain bike is what i was using... like $65

and as far as when to use it? i say whenever learning to go upside down or do something new and crazy but thats just my hunch :439:
 

Foximus

CFL Cheapass.
Location
Oviedo, Fl
Id say its a thing of chance.

I never thought I needed a helmet... but I went and got one anyway.


6 minutes after riding with the helmet the same day I bought it I also cracked it down the middle.


Havnt banged anything (except my ankle) since, but for that first time it was worth it.
 

djyox

Old school -not by choice
Location
Twincities, MN
I'm sporting a walmart helmet:
0003501187273_215X215.jpg


To be honest, as much as I hear that people feel better about wearing one, I don't really feel the need. Sure I've almost smashed my mush on the pole/hood a few times when coming down hard/wrong. But what worries me more is my legs and feet and arms.

Also with that helmet there, when doing subs I find it holds the water to your ear a bit. I'm going to be taking a knife to it over winter and testing out in the bath tub. I also removed the visor because I figured first sub it would rip it off anyhow.
 

djyox

Old school -not by choice
Location
Twincities, MN
helmet == good
Who are you kidding, you don't need a helmet with a beard like that. Everytime your face hits the ground I'm sure its like landing on a pillow.



JK, wish I could pass puberty a bit more to get a thicker beard... 6 months and I wouldn't even be close to what you have... I grow face hair like a 16 year old....
 

Frosty

New York Crew
Location
Western New York
i've always hated wearing my helmet - until i cracked it getting hit by my ski off a failed BF attempt. I bought a nice Bellistic, and it's way more comfy than what I had before. Now, i pretty much always wear it no matter what the water conditions.
 

3wheelerdude

Talk less, Ride more!
Location
Ontario Canada
I wear one all the time since my accident. Not only did it keep me from getting a concussion when I hit the water but it also protects my head against couch hulls.
 

thegoldenboy

RN Surgery... soon
Location
Toronto
I would wear a helmet anytime you are on open water (surf) or trying tricks you are not comfortable doing, or riding alone. You should never ride alone anyways.

I don't wear one, but will next season.

Don't worry about getting your MX helmet wet, unless its a pimpin MX helmet. They handle water pretty well and most of them have removable lining so it can dry properly. The foam protection should be closed cell and take on very little water. Than again I don't wear one so I can't be positive.
 

ANT

Just ride
theres really not a need for one on flatwater/jumping boat wakes. the only time i ever wear a helmet in the surf is if i'm goin to try something new like a bf. i dont like wearing one because it drags in the water and i've actually hurt my head the worst from wearing one because it hits the water harder than your head. i've overrotated rolls and stuff like that and come down pretty hard and it wasnt that bad you can shake it off in a minute, but when i ride with my helemt i'll be feeling that poop all night. just my own experience. FYI that picture in my avatar i have NO helmet on.
 
i was on an off with wearing one.. only wearing it in surf untill latley when ive been tryin to do BR on flatwater. i smacked my face so hard in the water i thought i broke my skull from my eye socket to my canine teeth. it was a scary thing how that felt and now i wear it all the time. even screwing around you can get hurt. and like some one told me on here before... being knocked unconscious in water is not somthing you want to have happen, its not like if it was on land.
 

Frosty

New York Crew
Location
Western New York
freeride in wisconsin?

y not freeride the great lakes... This is the Lake Erie Forecast for the week:

Rest Of Today
West winds 10 to 20 knots increasing to 15 to 25 knots. Chance of thunderstorms. Scattered showers. Waves 2 to 4 feet building to 3 to 5 feet.

Tonight
West winds 15 to 20 knots becoming southwest 5 to 15 knots overnight. Waves 4 to 6 feet subsiding to 2 to 4 feet.

Wednesday
West winds 10 to 15 knots. Showers likely. Waves 2 to 4 feet.

Wednesday Night
West winds 10 knots or less becoming east. Showers likely. Waves 2 to 4 feet subsiding to 2 feet or less.

Thursday
East winds 10 knots or less becoming northeast and increasing to 15 to 25 knots in the afternoon. Chance of showers. Waves 2 feet or less building to 5 to 8 feet.

Friday
Northeast winds 10 to 20 knots diminishing to 5 to 15 knots. Chance of showers. Waves 3 to 5 feet.
 

Odd Duck

Jet Vet
Location
DFW, TX
But what worries me more is my legs and feet and arms.

Also with that helmet there, when doing subs I find it holds the water to your ear a bit. I'm going to be taking a knife to it over winter and testing out in the bath tub. I also removed the visor because I figured first sub it would rip it off anyhow.

Arms and legs are not vital to live, your noggin is. If you break your leg, cast, pin, plate, whatever. Not really a big deal as far as overall life status. If you break your skull - potential death, weeks or months or years in the hospital, potential vegetative state, etc. Potential for considerable change to quality of life.

So if you guys were jumping wakes from 50 - 60 foot yachts would you were a helmet?

Absolutely, all the time. Feels weird to ride without.

ive seen guys go to the hospital after eating handlebars with their faces.. not pretty.

also the ear drum issue.. you don't want to blow out an eardrum....

Has saved me from both.

i've always hated wearing my helmet - until i cracked it getting hit by my ski off a failed BF attempt. I bought a nice Bellistic, and it's way more comfy than what I had before. Now, i pretty much always wear it no matter what the water conditions.

Yep, yet another good reason.

After you ride for a while and start trying aerial stuff, you should soon see the light. Sorry, ANT, but I think you're nuts for doing inverted stuff without a helmet. I put that down to that youthful feeling of immortality and "It can't happen to me". Haven't any of you read the "Mikey Jansen" thread on PWCToday? It's been months since his head injury and he's still in rehab, only fairly recently returned to WALKING! And it sounds to me like he was one of the lucky ones.

You have all read the Joe Kenney threads, right? He had a fluke injury that was a small fraction of what could have happened had a ski fallen on him from the heights he used to jump. How can you possibly still think it's smart to ride without a helmet? Use that noggin and make a smart choice.
 

sxi steve

Life's short, have fun.
Location
Clinton Twp, MI
Sounds like what I'm hearing and makes sence to me..., Invert = Helmet.

... And ya probably want to get rid of the visor, seems like it would have a parashute effect when entering water..., right?

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