Not about helmets, but apparently in Vic it is law to wear a PFD whilst kiting on the water, its even meant be be a PFD type 1 (including neck support). I don't see anyone wearing one, except me in my illegal PFD type 3, which happens to provide good impact protection. I'll have to get a helmet soon.

Doesn't answer your question at all.

Sorry

Hey Magilla,

A friend of mine was pulled by a gust kiting and slammed into the beach once. Thank god they were wearing a helmet because it saved their head....when we looked at the helmet it was severely cracked. They had to go to hospital to get checked for concussion and thankfully all was OK.

I personally don't understand people who go out with no protection and I often get told that I over react...which I probably do but I put a high value on my head and body staying intact whilst doing extreme sports and therefore don't go out without my helmet or my PFD. Protecting myself is far more important than how good I look to others.

lets just say I look "special" when I'm out there but I know if something happens I've done everything I can to look after myself with protective clothing.

Would you go out on a motorbike without a helmet or leathers? If you would then you're just plain stupid. Kiting is similar in the fact that you lots of people around you that you can never know what they're going to do, and you can smash as hard as if you were on a bike and do as much damage.

Nuf said!

Being a poley and a paramedic I think the people who wear helmets are the ones that have got something to protect (brains) As for the old increased surface area could increase the chance of injury .. if you hit hard enough to do that kind of damage a helmet means nothing. Helmets are designed to stop hard things (boards, walls, rocks) smashing into your head..

My 2 cents..

Helmets are dorky but so is a brain injury - cue windsurf vs kiteboard insults about brains....just kidding

I'm a big fan of helmets and always post on them having been saved a couple of times by them.

I think a lot of people make the common mistake regarding helmets that they only offer you protection from brain damage, some people would look at us and say it's to late anyway.

The real danger we face is from drowning, a helmet offers that extra bit of protection which when things go pear shaped may stop you being knocked out. We had a windsurfer last year come back to reality face down in the water with a lung full of brine, he was lucky not to end up as a newspaper article.

Wear a helmet if you got one, and yes seat belts also work.

Alby

I wear one, because it protects me from the Sun
and keeps me warm in Melbourne's Winter.

i dont always wear a helmet because kitesurfing is more fun and natural without it. i feel free.
HOWEVER, when the wind is blowing hard, or im in a new spot, or im going to go for some new tricks, or big jumps, there is hard stuff downwind of me , or there is anything that makes me think there is something to worry about.
i wear my helmet.

a helmet most certainly can save your life.
but you're not invincible in it.

I use one, they arent that much of a annoyance, the only bad thing about it that I could say is that it restricts my hearing (a gath basic one)

On the up side, its some measure of protection, blocks a fair bit of sunlight (sunburn protection) and I barely know its there.

quote:

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Not about helmets, but apparently in Vic it is law to wear a PFD whilst kiting on the water, its even meant be be a PFD type 1 (including neck support). I don't see anyone wearing one, except me in my illegal PFD type 3, which happens to provide good impact protection. I'll have to get a helmet soon.

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The loop hole in this is law is if you are within 400meters of the shoreline and wearing a wetsuit you are exempt. This has come straight from Marine Safety Victoria and the Water Police.

The male I spoke to at Marine Safety Victoria said statistically speaking most kiteing accidents happen on shore.

I now where a brain bucket as I was a part of Damien McKay Memorial event. It was compulsary to wear a helmet and it did not seem to effect my kiteing ability. The helmet had no ear covers.

Yep I wear a Gath (there are some better options out there these days) and a vest.

Sure I look like a bit of a kook but better kooky than dead I reckon. Fashion has never been my forte anyhoo. *see foot note*

I am a sound guy (no not sound of mind - sound engineer) and a bonus of the Gath is being able to stop water gushing into the tools of trade (ears). Last night I mis-timed a run at a wave and caught the impact as it pitched - bamm OUCH!! - side on and no blown eardrum. . I have also been whacked by my bar on the helmet heaps of times and have thougt go, go Gathy every time!

The downside is not hearing others clearly and I find you feel a bit 'divorced' from the wind direction - especially if you have a wetty on. Weird I know.

Upside is of course live to ride. Oh and it used to keep my hair outa my mush and eyes. Very handy indeed.

Go the helmet so you can go harder I say.


PS I am currently sporting a 'forgotten member of Wolfmother' hairdo. A bogun at Flozzer trying to impress his mates last night asked me "Hey mate where did ya get ya haircut? nerf nerf nerf" response "Somewhere cut-price obviously" Bogun looks at mate for some kind of explanation "erm righto"

Hey thanks magilla, didn't know that. I'll still wear the vest though, helped me the other day when I snapped a line in a hot launch, floated back in for 20 mins.

Also, getfunky, are those helmets good for ear protection, after just busting mine, I dont think I want to do it again, can't sneeze, can't blow my nose, can't clear the passages at all, can't bloody kite surf.

Waaaaahhhh

I wear a gath all the time, mainly because I'm short-sighted and it is a foolproof way of keeping the (prescription) sunnies in place even through the biggest crashes.
If you look at the recent thread on pterigia on the eyes, and the pain involved in having them removed, then you could make an argument that saving your eyes is the best job the helmet is doing.
Also wear it while surfing and it has saved me from at least 3 knocks to the head from other people's boards on crowded days.
Essential equipment I reckon!

Hey guys and girls,

All three of the guys on the Intermediate Riders Clinic, Downwinder from Lano to Wedge yesterday were asked to wear a helmet for communications purposes as I followed on the beach calling out instruction and information.

One of the guys whilst attempting a double back roll transition stuffed it up a bit and his board came off solidly wacking him in the back of the head. He came in smiling saying he had been hit in the head with the board but only new of this because of the sound of the thump and a mild knock, he felt no impact!

I believe helmets are a great idea for anyone who chooses to wear them. A quality helmet definately offers better protection for impact, sun exposure and cold.

All our students are made to wear them for both communication and impact resistance. The Headzone helmets are designed to take an impact, not so the Gath which are only bump hats for fin chops and reef encounters.

Good winds,



Oh and Gruezi, if the helmet is restricting your vision, you have it on backwards

What does 'communciation purposes' mean, did they have a radio or somehting in there, or was it so you could identify them from the shore??

Also, do the Headzone helmets also offer good ear protection. I'm paranoid after just busting my eardrum. A couple of weeks and i'll be back.

Thanks

When I'm rich, it'd be a nice to have, chat with your buddies on shore while kiting, but that is unlikley to happen. Oh well.

Thanks

This is amazing!
One year ago if I was bringing such a subject, I wuld be "shut down" immediatelly by a chorus of "disgrunteled people sayng that Helmets anr PFD/impact vesta are gay, not necessary and make you look like Lord Vedar.
We came a long way, and I am pleased.
I am using helmet and PFD/impact vest from the day one (seven years ago, gee the time flys).
They helped me in several occasions so, the helmets and PFD/impact vests ARE GOOD.