To Helmet or not to Helmet?

[McHenry]

I'm still fairly new to wakeboarding, I really only took it up 'seriously' this summer but I've definitely made lots of progress. Well, this past weekend I had my first really nasty crash ... I thought I'd had bad crashes in the past until this one. I was doing a fairly basic trick, trying to jump W2W, but my nose came down too steep and dug in and slammed me down onto the left side of my head. All I remember is the sound of someone holding a bell right next to my head and banging it (I now know where the term 'got your bell rung' came from). When I surfaced I had to fight to remain conscious. Once I got back into the boat my husband started asking me questions about things we did the day before and that morning and I had absolutely NO recollection of these events! For some of you hardcores out there this is nothing, I'm sure, but for me my first brush with concussion was a little more than disturbing ... not to mention the headaches that I've had all week. Anyhoo, does anyone know if wearing a helmet would have helped to minimize the effects of this crash? I started wearing a helmet snowboarding a few years ago after several really good head checks but I just didn't think it would be as useful wakeboarding. Maybe I was wrong ...

[AidansDad]

My friend got his first concussion three weeks ago. After talking to to the ER doc, we went and bought helmets. they definitely help, but according to the doc don't make you concussion proof. first time with on, I took a nasty TS edge faceplant, and came up, pain free, except for my chest. Definitely recommend them.

[99 Air Warrior]

I was getting concussion's for a while so Ibought a helmet the nex't time I had a hard fall I hurt my neck worst than any concussion . I had tingling in my arms down to my fingers for six months. I got rid of that helmet and slowed down a little and things are great now. I do not reccommend a helmet unless you are on rails . Joe

[dalderman]

A helmet won't help on a face plant unless you are wearing a motocross helmet. I slammed the right side of my cheek and had scrambled brains and a headache for two days.
Definitely if you jib structure though.

[n00bBoardeR]

A helmet would only be good only if it hits something such as a structure or your board. Other wise it really wouldn't make much difference.

I don't think wearing a helmet will cause you whiplash tho. I think that would have happened regardless of the helmet.

[bass69]

i just had 2 seizures that the doctor said coulde been related to taking blows to the head wakeboarding

[Aussie boarder;]

they've got to do something. They are padded, they take away the "shock" a fair bit. if they protect you on rails, they have got to protect you a fair bit in water

[tylerdwhite]

I ride cable at texas ski ranch and everyone has to where a helmet there. they definately DO make a difference. Maybe not very much when you slam FACE first but any other angle and they help a lot. I mean think about it the water is making contact with the plastic then the shock is dampened through the padding before it gets to your head. They also make helmets w/ ear protectors built in that i've seen guys where that look like they would be even better at armoring your from a nasty slam. I would say don't buy one of those helmets with a fancy (read trendy) sun visor built in. That will definitely catch water and cause some whiplash (i race personal watercraft and wear a full face motocross helmet, visors are bad news). long story short, helmets help. no downside to wearing one.

[Medina]

I also wear a helmet. I Made one faceplant that was so hard i had 3days a headache...

Last weekend i made a faceplant aswell, and it was so hard that the protection for my ears was completely ripped off Happy that i weared a helmet...