There was a tragedy a few days ago, involving Natashya Richardson ( i thnk) . She was skiing on a bunny slope and fell and hit her head. Refused
treatment And ended up DYING later on. I think this proves very well that we all need to wear our "BRAIN BUCKET" no matter what kind of terrain
we're on. It's all to easy to bash your melon when flying "powerkites" I have a green mark on my helmet from an axle to the head in a OBE. I am a
believer , I hope you are too. WGarchkiter - 19-3-2009 at 04:49 PM
Totally agree. I have had a mildish concussion after a good OBE that slammed me into a sand dune- that was soft sand with a helmet on! I have visual
disruptions and a killer headache that lasted for several days. I can't imagine what would have happened without my "brain bucket" as you say.
Plus just think about it- your brain is worth a lot!AD72 - 19-3-2009 at 06:49 PM
I have a Pro-Tec Ace Wake on order. I was searching message threads earlier this week and it seems like a good choice for water and land. I was also
looking at a Gath Gedi.
Just like riding a motorcycle - it is not for if you have an accident, it is for when you have an accident. OBE is inevitable.macboy - 19-3-2009 at 11:51 PM
Wow - was that that movie star that wiped out in Quebec? It's so sad, I didn't know she didn't survive. Surely he has tons of support but my heart
goes out to Liam and his family. Movie star or not - it's a shame. A sad, sad shame.
Brain buckets FOR SURE!BeamerBob - 20-3-2009 at 04:14 AM
I had a routine physical yesterday and the doc commented that I had lost about 12 lbs since my last visit a few years ago. That led to a discussion
about my new hobby in the buggy. One of his first questions was whether I wore a helmet or not. I told him every time, unless the wind was so low I
was fighting to keep the kite in the sky. He said our brains are able to withstand an impact of about 15 mph. After that, things start to go wrong.
That isn't how fast we go when we crash but how fast our head is moving when it hits an immovable object. I haven't hit my head on the ground yet
with a kite, but I've been hit in the head by a back tire on the buggy. I was just riding along, minding my own business and it decided to dump me
out the left side. Then the buggy flipped over and the right tire came down and whacked me hard in the back of the head. I was light headed for
awhile after that. Glad I had the helmet on.kitedog - 20-3-2009 at 06:47 AM
This Natasha Richardson tragedy hit home pretty hard for me. Like her, I'm 45 and I took a good header snowboarding with my family sans
helmet about three weeks ago. Luckily, it had been snowing a lot so when I got spun around on a steep slope, caught an edge and snapped backwards
downhill whiplashing the back of my head into the ground, it wasn't fatal. But it rang my bell BIG TIME! It took almost a week to recover...I was
seriously worried I had done some damage.
In retrospect, not only should I have worn a helmet (which I usually do), I probably should have had myself checked. It's one thing to have an
accident and check out immediately, but the slow lingering death...
Kinda gives the truly extreme sports like wingsuit base jumping a certain appeal. If you do blow it, you're probably not going to be too aware of the
final outcome. On second thought, I'll stick to kiting with a helmet.
Bottom line: WEAR A HELMET!lad - 20-3-2009 at 07:14 AM
Someone mentioned here adding a "neck nut" to their protection gear.
I added a "mullet" style helmet to my trunk. I wonder if these, or neck-wrapping motorcycle style helmets, will actually prevent whiplash and serious
neck injuries?geojones - 20-3-2009 at 08:35 AM
great advice!on a secondary note, i dont bang my head on the bar as hard as i used to when doing max squats and deadlifts anymore....i guess its time
to mellow out a little.....RATS!!!
Helmet /gear 4 sure
RTR - 20-3-2009 at 03:21 PM
+1 AD72.....Dress for the wreck not the ride.Sthrasher38 - 20-3-2009 at 04:59 PM
It only takes one time!! I ALWAYS wear my helmet!ragden - 20-3-2009 at 07:31 PM
Was talking with a friend about getting into power kiting, she asked if i wore a helmet and I said every time. And then I commented that if her son
was gonna give it shot, he wasnt going to touch a single one of my kites without a helmet on... There are some things you just cant play around
with...
In junior high i used to laugh about the helmet thing. "aw mom, do i have to?"
Then I had an accident when I went over the handlebars and landed on my head. Helmet probably saved my life.. Never joked about it again...Todd - 21-3-2009 at 01:25 PM
Well lets see...
1986 250R three wheeler ATV, snapped an axle around 70 mph catapulted 50+ feet landing head first. Full face helmet saved me, 3 days 3 nights in the
hospital with a serious concussion and a broken collar bone.
1990 750 GSXR vs S-10 pickup that wanted the lane better than what I did won that hands down. Full face helmet and leathers saved me, not without toll
though. Broken femur, radius and ulna +2 months in the hospital I'm still here to talk about it.
Bottom line is safety gear, sure living on the edge is cool and all but I would rather be here tomorrow still talking about it.Scudley - 22-3-2009 at 03:34 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by WELDNGOD
I have a green mark on my helmet from an axle to the head in a OBE. I am a believer , I hope you are too. WG
You need to replace that helmet now. They are only good for one hit. After that one hit, not much point in wearing it as the protection factor is no
longer known. (Helmets protect you by reducing the amount of energy transmitted to your skull. The helmet absorbs the energy by the creation of
fractures in the helmet material.)
If there is visible damage, you certainly need to replace it.
Your helmet has a working life of only a few years. Exposure to sunlight, sweat, and minor knocks all work to reduce the the fracture energy of
helmet materials.
SWELDNGOD - 22-3-2009 at 05:42 AM
Good point, Scud
it is no longer in use. I got a full face motorcycle helmet I use for buggyin' now. You are very right, any helmet or hard hat that is subjected to a
blow,is supposed to be replaced ASAP.lad - 30-3-2009 at 08:34 AM
copied from the flexiforum ("I won't wear a helmet, it makes me look stupid" "I don't like wearing a helmet, it ruins my hair" I never wear a helmet, they don't look
cool")
acampbell - 30-3-2009 at 09:38 AM
I like Bell helmets because they will replace a helmet after an accident for a nominal charge. You just have to send in the one that got whacked with
an explanation of what happened so that they can use it for R&D.tracktROB - 30-3-2009 at 12:44 PM
I wear helmet at all times for kite buggy sport plus snow skiing as my second hobby in the winter season. Never know the mishaps... Pro Tec helmet is
my favorite as light/comfy/full head cover and use paragliding / hang glider full face helmet for going faster or in race. Hang glider helmets have
more wide open view around the face to see the whole blue skies (of course - where's kite at while riding) and lighter than motorcycle helmets.kitedemon - 30-3-2009 at 01:36 PM
I too ALWAYS wear a helmet! I have very rarely not worn it in light wind days but as it was pointed out to me that that sets a bad example for kids in
my area. Since I have always worn one full face at that no matter what the wind is doing.
Has anyone been using a sausage? A little roll around your neck that prevents massive movement of the helmet in an accident. Every OBE I have had I
ended up on my head with the buggy on top of me. I have thought about one I figure it would be truly sad to be saved from major brain thing but end up
with a broken neck.WELDNGOD - 1-4-2009 at 07:05 AM
I fly w/ handles and unharnessed mostly. When I OBE ,I'm usually supermanned and then the buggy lands on top of me!:wee:
