Helmets for Rec Riding?

Howdy,

I just saw a recent thread about type of helmets for PWC-use and it reminded me I have been meaning to ask y'all this question. I figure its winter and this seems like a good off-season topic

Should you wear a helmet for recreational riding?

I know that is a multi-faceted question that is impossible to answer generically and I am not looking for a generic answer. Instead, I would like to find out in what scenarios its better to wear a helmet. For example, is it good for people that ride primarily in crowded surf jumping fifteen foot waves to wear helmets. What about people that do nothing but 60+ MPH speed runs all day on empty glass lakes.

Also, without going into too many gory details, I would like to hear stories that made people change their minds and decide to start wearing helmets.

For the record, I am newbie and I mostly ride inland lakes and I don't (currently) wear a helmet. Now that I think of it, I don't think I have seen anyone in my area that does either.

This should be enlightening...

Thanks,

Jarrett,

I've been racing locally for a couple of years, but have been riding since '91. It wasn't until 2 years ago that I started to use head gear, even though I owned one since 1997. I thought it was foolish and I was 'forced' to wear one when I began racing in IJSBA races. It didn't take me long to get used to it. In fact, when I am rec. riding, I wear it about 90% of the time, especially in winter (for obvious reasons).

There is a certain amount of security that it gives to you when you wear it. It is like wearing gloves while riding your ski, and then trying to ride without them on. You do not feel as confident much less as comfortable without them.

One thing that really caught me off guard when I spoke to a tenant of mine who happened to be a deputy sheriff in the 'marine' division where I live. He patrols the local water ways. In so many words, he told me that when he sees PWC riders with race numbers on their boats and head gear on that he as a rule does not bother them because even though they are generally speaking riding fast, they do not interact much with the general population. In other words, they are usually going someplace to race with their buddies, not go off and get stupid around a bunch of people who have no use for and are not impressed by PWC's.

He also said that he believes that they are generally the safer riders and that wearing headgear promotes safety. If you look at it that way, it makes sence.

A local kid who was riding around me asked me to ride his new Polaris and give an assesment as to if it were worthy of local racing (I think he just wanted to ride my GPR). When I returned to shore to talk, two deputy Sheriffs came up and wanted to see registration papers because the boat was so new, it didn't even have numbers. I briefly told him why I was riding the boat, then he talked to the owner. He said to me it was obvious to him that I knew how to ride because I was standing the whole time I was riding, and because I had head gear. But, he said, I broke the law because I rode to close to a ship channel marker. He told me to stay futher away from them and let me go. That is not usual.

I have no doubt that if I were riding without a helmet, that I would have been fined. I'm sure that in his mind I was operating the boat safely and within my abilities, even though he didn't ride that way. I believe that law enforcement, in certain cases, are willing to cut you some slack if you promote safety by wearing helmets. That's a breath of fresh air when you consider the bad rep. PWC'c have with the law.

Salty

this thing is killing me!!

I believe in wearing a helmet at all times. I was involved in an accident about 5 years ago. An eleven year old ran into me on his parents sit down while I was riding my stand up. At the time my helmet was in my my truck because I felt 'safe' that day. I broke my arm and recieved a few bruises. The sit down went right over my head as I went under the water. Except for the arm I was alright. It could have been much worse. This incident is scheduled in January for a jury trial. Falling with a helmet does not cause me any discomfort but has saved my face while riding in the surf. Consider the alternative to a sore neck !

Thanks for all the responses so far.

Would y'all mind stating what kinda water you ride in so we know where you are coming from? Thanks.

Also, what about falling off going 70 MPH with a helmet? Is there a realistic possiblity of the straining/breaking your neck?

Thanks,

In article

I'd much rather take my chances with a helmet. No doubt, you will be hurt at that speed reguardless of what you wear. Head injuries should be less traumatic.

Salty

this thing is killing me!!

Jarrett,

I've been riding for over 8 years and racing the last five (closed cousre as well as endurance). The conditions I ride in are inland lakes, rivers, and the open surf...so pretty much anything you can imagine.

A quick bit of detail: Two years ago a drunk driver plowed through a red light and basically broke my neck. After spinal fusion surgery I was told I'd never ride again - not even in a recreational capacity. 45 days later I was back on my ski (riding VERY carefully).

Now, with that in mind....you've asked about high speed 'get off's' vs. full face helmets. Well, I can tell you this much. Though it doesn't happen very often, there have been times I've gone for an unintentional skip on the water - thank God I had a helmet on! The full faced helmet didn't bother my rather sensitive neck in the least.

I only wish they'd made a full body helmet and I was wearing it the day I wrapped my back side around the nose of the XPL. Can you say 'Bombardier' tatooed in a big bruise on your butt????

Like everyone else here, I would strongly suggest you get used to riding with a helmet. Yes, a full face helmet limits visability a bit, but obviously not so much that IJSBA would rule out their required use in their races. It also keeps you warm in those pesky winter months, and for us chicks - keeps a lot of the knots out of the hair.

I also think the idea of helmet laws and PWC usage may come up in the legislative forum soon. Like motorcycles, our watercraft place us in a higher profile position of head injuries. I'd prefer to be safe, than sorry, and if wearing a helmet now also happens to impress cops or the general public enough to think we're even more responsible and safe than we already are, then so be it.

Make sense?

That might be the realm that you need to start waring a neck brace. Like the ones that speed boat racers ware (this is just a thought). I wore one on a friends jetbaot (bigblock 454 w/ NOS) we were in the 80+ MPH range ( got there faster then hell). The neck brace was a part of the PFD. It was like a big foam horse shoe that was on the neck of the PFD and I guess would keep your neck from going too far back. I have also seen stand alone braces for sale in Mags. Other then the one time I wore one, I have no dealings w/ the neck brace so I can't give you any real info...sorry..Just an idea.

If I had to make a poor analagiy for helemts. I would say they are like airbags. Some people do get hurt? But a lot more are saved? Just my opinoin. I hope to never prove that opinion wrong

Regards, Matt Burkhard

I have worn helmets for all my life (36yrs) In mx they have definetly saved my life!! I wear helmets 90% of the time jet-skiing. I should wear them 100% of the time. Getting off of a jet- ski at 60mph+ can be extremely dangerous especially if instead of skipping across the water you end penetrating the surface. Your body goes from 60mph to 0mph instantly(hurts like hell and can cause serios injuries-i have first hand knowledge of several). As far as the helmet causing neck injuries that is definetly possible- however some precautions can be made:

1. Remove the visor as it will catch the water and force your neck backwards- this can occur without even crashing such as when wave jumping you submarine unintentionally and water shoots over the bow it can force your head back and that also hurts. 2. If your want a full face helmet then find one that has the faceguard as close to your face as possible. Street helmets typically are this way. 3. wear a neck brace or buy a life jacket that has a neck collar built in (seadoo and others have these)

It is true what Salty said about police being easier if you are wearing a helmet. It is also important to teach kids to start out wearing helmets then for the rest of their lives they will feel nacked without one- my kids won't ride anything without a helmet.

Most of all use common sense- you would never jump out of an automobile at 60mph+ on purpose without protective gear so wear it on a pwc.

Best regards Tom Bledsoe

LOL !

Who in the world would be using common sense AND jumping from an automobile at 60 MPH + on purpose??????

Darwinism ??

LOL!

Bill O'Neal

Yes this is a most interesting discussion.

I rode a GSX for 3 years and now ride and HX. I don't race (nowhere to race in Nova Scotia) so I have never really thought about buying a helmet. I ride mostly on lakes and while carving turns and practicing tricks a helmet would be a major bummer. Being in and out of the water alot plus needing the visibility to watch for boats... to me a helmet doesn't make sense. I can see the benefits if you run into a boat or something. I am in no way putting down helmet use. It could save your life. Reasonably though if you are going to wear a helmet for rec. riding shouldn't you also wear a helmet for water skiing, tubing or just driving around in you boat. If someone feels safer with a MX type helmet they should go for it. I would never make fun of them. I would not wear a full face motorcycle helmet. I have taken a few high speed headers and having that big heavy helmet catch in the water might do a lot of harm. Especially if it fills up with water.

I also ride the surf sometimes. I probably should wear a helmet. I have seen guys get clunked on the head with someone else's ski after they fall off. If you are trying to rescue someone in the surf it is hard to maneuver. Hopefully someone will come out with a lightweight inexpensive PWC helmet so I can be safer when riding the surf.

Is winter over yet?

Jamie, Some guys wear bicycle helments in the surf. Light, cheap and do offer some protection with no visibility problems. Probably better than nothing.

Bill O'Neal