windsurfing helmets

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General Gps & Speed Waves Foiling Gear Reviews Lost & Found WA NSW QLD SA VIC TAS

Gestalt

QLD

14968 posts

Gestalt

QLD, 14968 posts

29 Apr 2006 12:46pm

does anyone know of a shop that sells windsurfing helmets. i am not keen on the gath type. was looking for something more like the maui magic etc. a bike helmet from kmart was one suggestion?
something a bit more open than the gath would be nice.

any recommendations?

cheers gestalt.

lungs

QLD

492 posts

lungs

QLD, 492 posts

29 Apr 2006 2:05pm

a hells angles style motor bike helmet would do the trick,and it would be good to see you get it off one of them

sorry can,t really help.

mineral1

4564 posts

mineral1

WA, 4564 posts

29 Apr 2006 1:17pm

Peli Point (WA) used to sell a helmet similar to a soft padded rugby type for the teabag crew. Not sure if they still do

grumplestiltskin

2331 posts

grumplestiltskin

WA, 2331 posts

29 Apr 2006 1:44pm

what about they kayak white water style helmets.
Must be safe enough to bash your head on the rocks but there open enough to let the water out quickly.

lookkc

QLD

69 posts

lookkc

QLD, 69 posts

29 Apr 2006 4:52pm

The relatively new Gath convertibles are awesome the surfers wear them too, you don't even know you have them on, they come with removeable ear protection, see Damo at Goodtime

Kurt at BKB also wears a soft style which look pretty good too, Protec I think which you can order online and are a bit cheaper

decrepit

12885 posts

decrepit

WA, 12885 posts

29 Apr 2006 4:21pm

Big thing with surf/windsurfing helmets is area.
The increase in head size creates much more force on your neck when you hit the water at speed. The gath isn't too bad, but even with that you can feel the extra strain on your neck. So don't get anything bigger, or you might save your skull at the expense of your neck.

Gestalt

QLD

14968 posts

Gestalt

QLD, 14968 posts

29 Apr 2006 8:04pm

thanks for all the help everyone.

like the look of the gath convertibles. and the pro-tecs too.
guess i will go to goodtime. was a bit worried about the neck thing. but have broken a boom with my head before.

cheers.

bmanners

40 posts

bmanners

WA, 40 posts

29 Apr 2006 7:41pm

I use my kayaking helmet for windsurfing, its a protec. If your in Perth check out Mainpeak Paddle Sports in cottesloe. I also find a kayaking lifejacket is good as well as they sit higher and leave room for a harness (seat harness at least). The lifejacket is great for big days when you want to save energy on the water starts.

Cheers
Brett

Harrow

NSW

4521 posts

Harrow

NSW, 4521 posts

1 May 2006 9:07am

Don't see many guys wearing helmets. Are they only needed if trying loops, etc? I have had the mast crack me on the skull twice and thought it would not be nice to be knocked unconscious.

Pugwash

7733 posts

Pugwash

WA, 7733 posts

1 May 2006 7:50am

I wear a helmet when:

the wind/surf is big
the wind is unpredictable
I think I may go fast
there are kiters in amongst the poleys

racycoot

315 posts

racycoot

WA, 315 posts

1 May 2006 7:50am

Helmets are pretty popular for windsurfing here in Perth

DavMen

NSW

1510 posts

DavMen

NSW, 1510 posts

1 May 2006 10:37am

You could always try rugby style headgear. A Canadian (I think) windsurfing company use to market this style - maybe the still do.

DavMen

Waiting4wind

NSW

1871 posts

Waiting4wind

NSW, 1871 posts

1 May 2006 2:43pm

Have a look at your nearest surf shop. I was walking by one the other day and spotted one in the window display. It was the soft type which looked pretty comfotable and low profile.

elmo

8894 posts

elmo

WA, 8894 posts

1 May 2006 3:30pm

Any helmets a good helmet

I've destroyed 2 Gaths and am currently working on my third.

Best money I've ever spent! I won't go surfing or windsurfing without it.

Got them for my young blokes as well.

The new Gaths are a lot differnt to the old ones lot more padding and thicker Plastic.

Saw A protec helmet the other day which looked pretty impresive
~~http://www.pro-tec.net/water.html~~

Myself I'd like to try and find the Uvex helmets in Aus, these are the ones which the snow skiers use for their controlled (and sometimes uncontrolled) plummets down mountains, streamlined, padded and with huge impact resistance.
www.uvexsports.com/category.aspx?categoryID=2

Alby

Gestalt

QLD

14968 posts

Gestalt

QLD, 14968 posts

1 May 2006 5:57pm

i like the look of the pro-tecs too....

the reasons for getting a helmet can be summed up by todays conversation...

misses..."where is your gear"
Gestalt.."I left it out on the sandbar"
misses..."What did you break this time?"

the other reasons are

for attempting the illusory flat water loop
the very painfull when it goes wrong back loop
more time in the surf trying things i probably shouldn't try...
broad reaching the formula gear in 15+ knots (can be scary)
plus any future speed sailing i might be able to enjoy.

i've come close to knocking myself out before. mini me's tend to change the outlook somewhat and if all else fails it would make a great toe ball cap.

thanks again for the suggestions.

elmo

8894 posts

elmo

WA, 8894 posts

1 May 2006 4:02pm

quote:
Originally posted by Gestalt

i like the look of the pro-tecs too....

the reasons for getting a helmet can be summed up by todays conversation...

misses..."where is your gear"
Gestalt.."I left it out on the sandbar"
misses..."What did you break this time?"

the other reasons are

for attempting the illusory flat water loop
the very painfull when it goes wrong back loop
more time in the surf trying things i probably shouldn't try...
broad reaching the formula gear in 15+ knots (can be scary)
plus any future speed sailing i might be able to enjoy.

i've come close to knocking myself out before. mini me's tend to change the outlook somewhat and if all else fails it would make a great toe ball cap.

thanks again for the suggestions.

Wise man!

Once you get one and get used to wearing it, you'll feel naked going out without it.

Alby

shi thouse

1159 posts

shi thouse

WA, 1159 posts

1 May 2006 4:52pm

If you ever wanted a decent reason for getting a helmet check out the eulogy on page 36 of the March 2006 edition of Wind Surfing magazine (American one).

I have the new Gath helmet with the removable ear covers. Got rid of the old style Gath helmet because I couldnt handle the wind whistle and being unable to hear properly. These new helmets are awesome, to the point where you dont even realise your wearing it.

All scary stories and comfort factors aside I probably only wear it 5% of the time. Probably a bit like the booties I bought three years ago after stepping on a sting ray... still havent even tried these on!

Risks are definitely an inherent part of this sport.

decrepit

12885 posts

decrepit

WA, 12885 posts

1 May 2006 5:56pm

This post just appeared on rec.windsurfing.

quote:
I've been using a helmet since November, mostly to keep my head warm in
winter. Yesterday I got an injury to my face. It was one of those
classic rag doll, over-the-handle-bars crashes.... I landed in front
of the board, and the board ran me over. Without the helmet, I always
sank immediately below the board.... no problemo. With the helmet,
the buoyancy of the helmet held my face against the bottom of the
board.... the fin sliced a cut just below my eye. Could have been
much, much worse... could have taken out both eyes.

That's it for me..... no more helmet !!

-- Wind Mtn. Pete

Not sure what sort or helmet he was wearing, but I've never noticed my Gath increasing my buoyancy. Could be another factor to take into account when choosing a helmet thou.

lookkc

QLD

69 posts

lookkc

QLD, 69 posts

1 May 2006 8:00pm

In the 80's when my misses was sailing the only accident she had was in about 10 knots fooling around on flat water and the mast hit her in the head, my mate saved her. My skinny recently belted me in the ear, these masts are lighter but maybe are more dense with more angular momentum? Don't really know but it hurt!
Anyway wear a helmet

mineral1

4564 posts

mineral1

WA, 4564 posts

1 May 2006 7:27pm

OK OK so you convinced me, if nobody else, so now I own a new GEDI Gath.
Misses reckons I look bad enough without busting heads with board, boom, mast and that little thingy down the back under the board that’s shaped like ugly big butchers knife.

Hay Alby, been any pressure down there? Flat as a tack in Metro.

Mike

lungs

QLD

492 posts

lungs

QLD, 492 posts

2 May 2006 7:03am

have never worn a helmet since started many many years ago, after a return to the sport after half dozen years of forced retirement,there was a gath with some gear I bought when started sailing again, tried giving it away, but it returned like a boomerang, was too small or lookkc's head was too big

anyway tried it a couple of weeks ago and kept hitting my head on the mast when gybing,couldn't hear and couldn't shake the water out of my ears, took it off and everything was back to normal.will probably keep it for trying loops again (when the fear barrier dissappears)

grumplestiltskin

2331 posts

grumplestiltskin

WA, 2331 posts

2 May 2006 6:32am

The new style Gaths with removable ear covers ... is the consensus to leave the ear covers in, or take them out.

I've tried both and I'm not really keen on the wind whistle and retaining water around my ears with the covers in, but I've also heard about dudes bursting eardrums.

So should I leave em in or take em out?

elmo

8894 posts

elmo

WA, 8894 posts

2 May 2006 8:34am

quote:
Originally posted by mineral1

OK OK so you convinced me, if nobody else, so now I own a new GEDI
Hay Alby, been any pressure down there? Flat as a tack in Metro.

Mike

Sorry mike we're part of the Metro area to

perhaps tomorow but the wind is non existant so it looks like paddling for a wave.

quote:
Originally posted by grumplestiltskin
The new style Gaths with removable ear covers ... is the consensus to leave the ear covers in, or take them out.

I've tried both and I'm not really keen on the wind whistle and retaining water around my ears with the covers in, but I've also heard about dudes bursting eardrums.

So should I leave em in or take em out?

Grumples,
I'd leave the ear protectors on, just close the vents.

The ear has a pressue point in it, trust me on this one, IT FARKEN HURTS when you cope a boom in the ear.

I've been hit in the ear twice by the boom from getting catapulted whilst gybing at the end of speed runs. Once with sufficient force to smash the vent insert and another time when it left me in agony for about 5 mins feeling very sorry for myself.

Thats one of the resons why I'm interested in tracking down the Uvex shi helmets, they offer some serious impact protection.

Regards

Alby
(allways manageing to find new and creative methods of hurting myself)

NotWal

QLD

7436 posts

NotWal

QLD, 7436 posts

2 May 2006 10:50am

Hey Elmo,

quote from Elmo
>I've destroyed 2 Gaths and am currently working on my third.<

How did you do that, drive over them in your car or did they die doing their job?

For what its worth The only time I whacked my head (that I can remember) was when I was hugely overpowered on a big sail and catapulted in a semi controlled way onto my sail. Sail was on the water and it stopped my head like a brick wall. I broke a tooth on a batten and nearly passed out. The tooth didnt bother me (or my denti$t) but nearly passing out was kinda scary. Its the rapid deceleration that does that. The only thing that can stop it is heaps of padding and that has its own dangers.

I have a gath helmet but it bothers one of my somewhat misshapen ears so I dont wear it much. Still I will bring it out for the loop attempts (one day).

elmo

8894 posts

elmo

WA, 8894 posts

2 May 2006 10:17am

Purchased my first one after getting a dislocated jaw from being hit in the face with a surf board, that was a fun experience popping it back in I can tell you.

First helmet got a 4" crack on the front after having a the lip of a wave catch my surf board and try to imbed the rail into the top of my skull.

My last helmet was whilst windsurfing at Avalon on a 30+ day(gusts), just hooked in and into the footstraps picking up speed when a monster gust hit, catapulted into the sail, shoulder hit the sail, my head flicked and smacked the mast, result was a "Y" shaped crack from just above and behind my right ear to the front of the helmet. Nearly knocked me out close to a km of shore. Still got the helmet to show people if they doubt their worth.

Taken quite a few hits to the head over the years with windsurfing andd surfing and although painfull the helmets have still taken most of the sting out of it.

I can't speak highly enough about the benifits of wearing helmets, I know they work. They only have to save you once.

Now you also know why I can only get Hardie to sail with me, everone else thinks it's to risky.

Alby

mineral1

4564 posts

mineral1

WA, 4564 posts

2 May 2006 6:10pm

Alby, yep reckon your right, was just wondering, doesn’t look good from Esperance to Gero for a while.

Wonder if my boss needs me to go to Melbourne in a hurry. Must be something I can discuss with Caterpillar over there.

elmo

8894 posts

elmo

WA, 8894 posts

3 May 2006 3:23am

quote:
Originally posted by mineral1

Alby, yep reckon your right, was just wondering, doesn’t look good from Esperance to Gero for a while. Wonder if my boss needs me to go to Melbourne in a hurry. Must be something I can discuss with Caterpillar over there.

I believe the boys at Sandy piont are looking for some dunes to be flattened which are interefering with thier runs a bit.

Perhaps a bit of a demo day and starp your gear on the back of a large dozer

Maybe today swells on the up, if it's to windy to surf I wonder how bigger sail I can wave sail with (methinks 7.5 twin cam may a bit of a hand full)

Alby

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