Power Kite Forum

My brain says " thank you " to my helmet !

Bladerunner - 7-7-2013 at 10:29 AM

Well ...... it happened again.

Smooth point between gusty winds. Relaxed and riding slow with only a 2.5 . Take a moment to soak in Beautiful B.C. !

WHAM ! :o:mad::o

Before I knew it my wheel went into a small deep ? hole and I slammed my head hard as I hit the ground. It was amazing how hard I hit and how fast my head ended up moving by the time it was tossed to the ground. I was able to shake it off and keep control of the kite. I am certain that I would have been seeing stars without my trusty brain bucket !

This is at least the 4th time in my kiting life that my helmet has saved me from potential concussion. :thumbup:

3rd time it has happened when going slow with a small kite . :duh:

:cool:

BEC - 7-7-2013 at 11:01 AM

Just some quick thoughts.....not trying to open Pandora's box here but....

Some helmets are only meant to take a blow or two....ex. bicycle helmet types usually the ones with styro- foam in them....Obviously others like motorcycle helmets can take a bit more...I just wanted to make that point...it's usually in the directions on the helmet that we toss as soon as we get home with the new toy...


:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: A BIG ONE FOR SAFETY....and....WEARING A HELMET....Thanks for setting an example of why you wear one...cause you just never know......

Scudley - 7-7-2013 at 11:33 AM

Quote: Originally posted by BEC  
Just some quick thoughts.....not trying to open Pandora's box here but....

Some helmets are only meant to take a blow or two....ex. bicycle helmet types usually the ones with styro- foam in them....Obviously others like motorcycle helmets can take a bit more....


No motorcycle helmets cannot take more. If you drop a motor cycle helmet, it's done.
The most recent studies find that helmets do nothing to prevent concussions; they prevent skull fracture.
S

soliver - 7-7-2013 at 01:13 PM

I had a fall yesterday myself...

A friend and his family came to the park to watch me on the bug, but typical of the Atlanta sucka wind,... It died down as soon as my buddy showed up. So I thought I would at least try to get the kite off the ground for a show,... so I reeled back on the handles and ran back to get the kite up, but stumbled and fell flat on my back bashing my head on the ground and making a complete fool of myself... To add insult to extremely bruised pride, I had to go back to the field an hour or 2 later when I realized I no longer had my wallet in my pocket (it obviously fell out when I hit the ground)....

Deep in prayer as I walked back and forth across the field, to my amazement, I found it after about 20 minutes :o:o:o

I suppose it wasn't all that bad of a day. :D

djinnzfree - 7-7-2013 at 03:45 PM



Remember me... received the back rest of the buggy on the back of the head... a direct hit on the helmet i broke my clip-on for sun on my glasses. A Red shawn white signature hi-fi. Two crack... for sure if i was not wearing a helmet i ain't write those line...


always becarefull and wear safety gear.

Cheddarhead - 7-7-2013 at 06:56 PM

A prime example to any kiters to always wear a helmet. I'm glad your ok blade, it could have been a trip to the hospital or worse if you weren't wearing one. Cuddo's to you!

Kamikuza - 7-7-2013 at 07:12 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Scudley  
Quote: Originally posted by BEC  
Just some quick thoughts.....not trying to open Pandora's box here but....

Some helmets are only meant to take a blow or two....ex. bicycle helmet types usually the ones with styro- foam in them....Obviously others like motorcycle helmets can take a bit more....


No motorcycle helmets cannot take more. If you drop a motor cycle helmet, it's done.
The most recent studies find that helmets do nothing to prevent concussions; they prevent skull fracture.
S

Splitting hairs, but yes and no.

So long as the liner isn't seriously compressed or the shell damaged, it will still "work" and be effective.

I'd recycle motorcycle helmets when land-kiting, depending on the impacts or age of the helmet.

... I wouldn't risk it on the bike though. And because of that, I baby my helmets and make sure they don't get knocked or dropped, or even roughly handled :D

It's your head in the helmet; how much you're willing to risk it, is still up to you.

IMO the plastic shelled, rubber lined ProTec-type wake/kite helmets will take a good ol' pounding without affecting their protection... but again IMO they don't offer the same amount of protection as a bike helmet.

Bicycle helmets - worthless for kiting IMO again. Almost worthless for cycling too... fashion accessories.

macboy - 7-7-2013 at 10:58 PM

Great thread and glad you're OK BR. I rode my bicycle last week without a helmet (because we have no idea where they are from the move). Felt wrong and worse, made sure my daughter didn't see me. I much prefer to lead by example....and always prefer to wear my lid!

abkayak - 8-7-2013 at 06:04 AM

I took a shot to the head last week, a real good one....after reviewing the entire event and having an understanding of what actually occurred... I broke out the wetsuit neoprene, glue and scissors....my helmet protected me from the impact but nearly broke my nose when it didn’t stay in place...now I have way more protection in there and no chance its moving...I know RED the mfg might not approve of what I have done and I’m sure I just completely released them of any liabilities....but I feel way better about whats protecting my skull now..no I’m no engineer so don’t hate on me....but it's on my head and I know I have a better product then came out of the box

doneski - 8-7-2013 at 07:08 AM

Im glad your ok.
I wear my helmet whenever I'm on skis, skates, bikes and buggies. People laugh when I use one for ice skating but I've taken hits that would have sent me to the hospital. Accidents can happen anytime and anywhere.

Proletariat - 8-7-2013 at 07:56 AM

Seconded on the dropped-helmet = retired-helmet point of view. Personally I think that the other helmets can take a bit more abuse because a) they're lighter and b) dropping usually occurs on softer-than-pavement surfaces. I've taken quite a few bangs on my Bern and I don't feel the need to retire it unless I take a really nasty fall.

But yes... it happens fast. ATGATT = all the gear all the time. Saved my arse more times than I'd admit in public.

macboy - 8-7-2013 at 10:25 AM

Do all you guys find it amazing when people laugh at the lids (kite, bike, water, ice or otherwise)? I find it stunning. I'll NEVER forget the way our neighbours laughed at me coming out of the Kite Coach at NABX with armour and MX helmet on. It was the day after the first big speed record and people were still flying 1.5 - 2.5m kites. Laugh? I respect anyone who gears up - no matter the conditions but on THAT day? Laugh?

I'll stop there before I describe too many details that might reveal who the neighbours were...suffice to say they went out an hour or so later wearing nothing but shorts and goofy grins.

Bladerunner - 8-7-2013 at 05:15 PM

I agree that helmets don't completely prevent concussions . I wear Bern and have heard stories of folks who have died wearing the same brand. What my helmet did on Sat. was prevent me from getting a big bang to the skull. Protecting me enough I could keep my wits and my kite under control. ( in a busy park )

Now I have a big cherry on my hip because I chose not to wear my A$$ pads Sun. and blew it hopping over a set of lines. :crazy:

At least I have the helmet thing down ! :duh:

TEDWESLEY - 13-7-2013 at 09:25 AM

As one who has been saved from what would have been terminal, I'd go a step further and make that a full face helmet. I haven't met anyone in this sport that doesn't have a story to tell about hitting the ground in some fashion.

Bladerunner - 29-5-2014 at 08:18 AM

Well...

Brain says thank you to my helmet again ! My A$$ thanks Hillbilly !

This time I was running the beach on the board near high tide as a car passed. I was going more than 15mph for sure. The tops of some bumps were dry and soft. 1st one sent me into a speed wobble. The second sent me down hard . 1st on my hip and then my head. Thanks to the pads I just got a good shot to the head and minimal enough damage to my hip that Tylenol made the rest of the trip tolerable .

I am certain that my bell would have been seriously rung . Even more certain that without the padding on my boney hips I would have been out of action for the rest of the trip.

I seem to fall different than others ? While I were knee and elbow pads, it seems it is my a$$ pads that save me most often ? Next to my helmet.

Feyd - 29-5-2014 at 05:02 PM

Between biking and kiting I spend more time in a helmet than not it seems. Another thought, Keep in mind poly helmets are supposed to have a 5yr life span. Should be retired after that crashed or not. I'm guilty of running longer than that for sure.

Molly's helmet saved her for sure in the last crash. Temporal lobe, actually broke some of the crystals loose in the inner ear that help you with balance. She had room spinning vertigo up until a week ago when they did an Epley Maneuver with her. Worked awesome, very relieved.

Glad you're okay BR. :D

3shot - 29-5-2014 at 05:09 PM

Glad your OK BR!

Chris, glad Molly is doing well!

soliver - 29-5-2014 at 07:19 PM

New lessons learned for me this week...

A. Tall grass + big tires + big kite = OBE
B. Kiting it tall grass SUCKS
C. Helmet + OBE + a well managed reaction = it doesn't hurt as bad as I was afraid of
D. There is practically NO WHERE decent for buggying in a Lynchburg, Va

I've always held onto a healthy fear of getting hurt... But it's been a little TOO big of a fear and I think it's held me back some, so with my 3rd official OBE this week, I'm coming out of that fear and am ready to grow a lot more. Helmet and all... Body armor is in the Amazon cart too :D

Thanks for bumping this thread back up BR.

Feyd, I'm really really glad to hear about Molly's recovery, even though I don't know you guys personally, I have been thinking about y'all and wondering how she's been recovering.

3shot - 29-5-2014 at 07:31 PM

Nice perspective Spencer. It's that ever present fear of being snatched up really bad that holds me back a little as well. 20 years ago wouldn't be a problem LOL. Bones healed faster back then :lol:

sand flea - 29-5-2014 at 07:31 PM

Glad you are OK Blade

Bladerunner - 29-5-2014 at 07:59 PM

I am just glad that the majority of riders are accepting that a helmet is pretty much essential gear.

I think that riding stand up combined with my general clumsy ways has made it more likely that I bang my head but I think that if you do this sport long enough, odds are great that you will eventually be glad you had a helmet. OR sorry you didn't.

Thanks for the good wishes. Having to ride the buggy on an onshore day for miles and miles made recovery a JOY ! Hip is sore but Tylenol seems to loosen it up so I can't complain.

So good to here that Molly is still getting better. If a helmet ever saved a life, I think it may have been Hers !

Sier_Pinski - 29-5-2014 at 08:48 PM

I wear my helmet for three reasons:

1. Safety, of course. I've had quite a few crashes involving potholes where I slammed my head into the ground while wearing my helmet at the right times.

2. The only way I can record first-person kiteboarding and kayaking video footage.

3. My ventilated bike helmet makes a decent substitute for a sweat-absorbing headband while also acting as a hat to keep UV rays from creating cancer-causing moles on my head. This is the primary reason I wear my helmet. :P

yeti - 29-5-2014 at 10:52 PM

My two cents into this thread is the fact that a helmet saved my melon on the ski hill this year. Wasn't even my fault. As responsible as you think you can be with safety, stuff happens that you can't prevent. I ended up having a bit of a headache for the rest of the day, and I replaced the helmet too, since it had a small dent and a crack. Probably would have replaced it even without the visible damage.

Not that I'm a helmet designer or anything (this is pretty much opinion), but a replacement is probably what you want after any bad hit. It seems like you might be able to use common sense and good judgement, but when it comes to objects of modern engineering like helmets, things are not always straightforward. A helmet that took a couple of small hits probably still works for 90% of the worst you can do to it. But I wouldn't want to be there on the day I need the other 10%.

The last time I replaced a helmet was because the padded lining was worn out. It was a 6-7 year old bike helmet that looked just fine on the outside. I was screwing around with it before it went to the trash. It pretty much disintegrated when I tried crushing it between my hands. Can't do that with a new one at all. Maybe bike helmets are more prone to damage from sweat and sun over time?

I guess the point is that with certain gear like helmets, you might not have all the safety benefit that you think you do. Like some of the others have already said, it comes down to a personal choice at some point.

Buckle it up right too

skimtwashington - 30-5-2014 at 01:56 AM


Always make sure it is fitted firmly and not loose and the chin strap is closer to snug , than loose. If you have a loose helmet on, chin strap hanging loose, and you impact...the helmet may twist around or off DURING impact and head may still impact directly, or during secondary additional impact if any.



I always thought the most of the bike style helmets were inferior to a other helmets because of it's less than full(er) coverage over the head. Partly or mostly made this way to be streamlined and lessen wind drag.

When I see kids riding a bike with hanging buckled chin strap..(all the time)...it's not good.

bigkid - 30-5-2014 at 02:43 PM

Good to hear your ok Ken even after the beach wobble fall. By the way, I can fix the wobble part for you.:D
My last accident did in my full face helmet. The chin guard is the reason for 80% of my pain, due to the damage it did to my chest. I would have to guess that a 30 foot swan dive to the beach was not so bad due to the helmet itself. The helmet has been retired, the replacement has no chin guard. Just a bucket to keep the marbles from getting lost after the next time.

Scott in WY - 3-6-2014 at 08:53 AM

hey all

This is a timely thread.
As I am new to the sport, and looking into my first buggy.
what helmets are recommended? I see HQ makes one, what about skateboard helmets?

Scott

abkayak - 3-6-2014 at 10:38 AM

any helmet will do...its just how much you value what you put in it...let that be your guideline...there are no do overs

shaggs2riches - 7-6-2014 at 11:27 PM

Brain buckets are a major major deal in my house. A few years ago (some may remember the story off here), I went to the hill to mountainboard, and forgot my helmet. I decided that I would ride only from halfway point to only ride slowly. I got a bit too comfy, and bailed while trying to ride switch. Smacked the back of my head so damn hard, that I was dizzy for a couple days (probably concussed). Ever since I will always put my lid on. My kids can't even look at a bike/skateboard/scooter/skis etc. without first putting on a helmet. I have gotten a few laughs, over the winter, when I made my kids put on snowboard helmets when we went tobogganing at the local hill. I asked the one guy if he made his kids wear helmets biking; of course, he says. I then pointed out that his kid was travelling much faster down the hill than he could ever pedal at his age. The man walked away, packed his kid up and left. Point taken.