Helmet & Wakeboarding

KXDave72 · Newbie Joined: 20 Jun 2010 Posts: 8 City: Jacksonville

New to wakeboarding and really dig it! My issue is that I ride MX and have had a couple of concussions and this past Sunday caught a rail while working on my surface tricks, rang my bell a bit. I told my buddy I was getting a helmet after this incident and he thinks that this will do me no good, not like MX. I know this maybe a stupid question but before I spend the money would like some educated opinions. Thanks!

intotheflats · Posted: Jul 16, 2010 9:21 am Post subject:

KXDave72, Its really a personal preferance. The only time I ever wore a helmet when wakeboarding is when I was hitting sliders. But, I haven't had a history of concussions like you do.

mala1967 · Outlaw Joined: 04 Aug 2009 Posts: 155 City: Pepper Pike

My son just started wakeboarding and on the 2nd time out he cracked the back of his head on the board and got a half dozen staples. He always wears one now. If you are getting a helmet I would only get a shred ready.

eric mf soler · Outlaw Joined: 25 Jun 2010 Posts: 118 City: LAKE STEVENS

Get a helmet bro. Catching your edge and slamming your head into the water feels 200 times better with a helmet. And as you get better and try to go for bigger tricks falling starts to hurt your head alot more.

tyty401 · Posted: Jul 16, 2010 11:29 am Post subject:

I wear a helmet. I have the liquid force flash. It looks great and is super comfy. It's only about 50 bucks too!

Definitely will save you a bunch of headaches..I know mine has.

tyty401 · Posted: Jul 16, 2010 11:41 am Post subject:

here's some pics

KXDave72 · Newbie Joined: 20 Jun 2010 Posts: 8 City: Jacksonville

Appreciate all the advice! Will be picking one up this weekend!

mala1967 · Outlaw Joined: 04 Aug 2009 Posts: 155 City: Pepper Pike

Tell corey I told you to call maybe he will give you a discount

Maddog10 · Criminal Joined: 27 May 2010 Posts: 52

Let me know how you like it. I too race MX and have had multiple concussions. I've considered getting a helmet for wakeboarding but didn't really know if it was necessary. Like I said, let me know what you think of it?

Chocoholic · Soul Rider Joined: 21 Feb 2009 Posts: 363 City: Dubai

I'm still sitting on the fence regarding helmets unless you're using kickers and sliders and stuff - the board in the head is a freaky accident.

I get different opinions from everyone I'm talking to so I guess it boils down to personal preference and whether you consider that it will help you or not.

I was the face plant queen! (not so much anymore) concussions, whiplash etc etc - guess I just have a thick skull. Although messing up a w2w last week, and catching my front edge on the knuckle and slamming myself face first into the chop was not so much fun - I think an iron bar through the head would have hurt less.

I do have a helmet - maybe I should try it once in a while.

_bruky · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 24 May 2009 Posts: 1201

Peace bro, lemonade is awesome!

KXDave72 · Newbie Joined: 20 Jun 2010 Posts: 8 City: Jacksonville

Maddog10 will do! I think I would rather error on the side of caution and try a helmet, need to keep the concussion to a minimum. Just like we say in MX, dress for the crash not the ride. It sucks not being in the water or being able to ride the bike this weekend cause my head is dinged up.

Chocoholic · Soul Rider Joined: 21 Feb 2009 Posts: 363 City: Dubai

Well after chatting to some people today we kinda came to the conclusion that it's disputable, as wearing a helmet will increase the surface area of impact, and could therefore actually give a bigger blow to the head than going without.

They are without a doubt necessary for cable parks and kickers and sliders and the ear flaps protect against blown ear drums, when learning tricks where you're likely to smack your head sideways.

But once again it boils down to personal choice. I have one, but never use it.

tyty401 · Posted: Jul 17, 2010 3:45 pm Post subject:

a_tac03 · Newbie Joined: 27 Jul 2008 Posts: 9

Chocoholic, the people you were talking to obviously have no clue when it comes to physics. Increasing the crash area with the same impact velocity will decrease the overall pressure aka pain. A helmet will almost always reduce the severity of the crash, unless you get super unlucky and choke to death from the straps or something. Not being dick, just wanted to make sure someone didn't see this and think "Oh I never need to wear a helmet".

PS I don't wear a helmet ever cause I'm retarded obviously.

sparkysparks9 · Criminal Joined: 16 Aug 2008 Posts: 78 City: North Bend

I am seriously thinking about picking one up for myself in the near future...took a nasty header yesterday, and wish i had some ear protection. I just hope all the water comes out now with no infection!!

tyty401 · Posted: Jul 19, 2010 6:59 pm Post subject:

sparkysparks9 · Criminal Joined: 16 Aug 2008 Posts: 78 City: North Bend

Thanks...lol Most of the pressure is gone...now it always sounds like im always in a tunnel...lol

LakeIolaLuke · Posted: Jul 19, 2010 7:32 pm Post subject:

a_tac03, It's not the pressure against the outside of your head that causes a concussion, It's your brain bouncing off the inside of your skull. If you increase the surface area hitting the water (like a helmet does) your head will stop faster, and increase the chance of your brain sloshing around and getting bruised. Take it from someone who rides equal amounts of boat and cable, and wears a helmet on the cable and not on the boat, I have had 3 concussions on cable with a helmet on and only one behind the boat without the helmet.

Maddog10 · Criminal Joined: 27 May 2010 Posts: 52

Sounds good KXDave... I'm new to the whole wakeboarding thing but it's refreshing to head to the lake and get some sets in after a long day of motos. I'm not very good at it yet but damn it's fun. I have to admit though, the crashes hurt a lot more than I thought they would before I started riding. Last weekend I took a pretty good shot to the head and also tweaked my need pretty bad. That's why I'm now considering a helmet lol.

tyty401 · Posted: Jul 19, 2010 8:32 pm Post subject:

On a neutral standpoint (just a thought)
I can see how the greater surface area of the helmet stops your head quicker into the water, but helmets really aren't that much larger than ones head.
Do you think it makes that big of a difference?

LakeIolaLuke · Posted: Jul 19, 2010 8:47 pm Post subject:

probably not. If your going down hard enough to get concussed, it will probably happen with or without the helmet.

Chocoholic · Soul Rider Joined: 21 Feb 2009 Posts: 363 City: Dubai

KXDave72 · Newbie Joined: 20 Jun 2010 Posts: 8 City: Jacksonville

Maddog10, I am new to this as well, so much fun! I have ridden MX for a number of years and I was seriously suprised at how wakeboarding can beat you up. Super fun but man those diggers hurt! Hopefully I can get back on the water this weekend but may need to lay low, just now getting the cobwebs out of my noodle.

cooperfly · Criminal Joined: 09 Aug 2009 Posts: 61

Is the helmet for protection from the board, back in the day when I was the age of many on this board I was barefooting and hit the water many times doing 38 mph. Not sure if a helmet would help or make it worse.

Or is the helmet only needed when you guys are doing the big jumps and air tricks.

Maddog10 · Criminal Joined: 27 May 2010 Posts: 52

Same here KXDave. I'm 19 and been racing MX since I was 6 so I've had my share of bad crashes. I thought wakeboarding wouldn't even compare to crashing in MX and while it's not usually AS BAD, it can still ring your bell pretty good. I figured hitting the water at 20 mph, how bad can it be? Turns out it's worse than I thought haha.

shaggyboarder · Posted: Jul 24, 2010 8:05 am Post subject:

Personally I think helmets put a bigger strain on your neck when you hit the water. Like Lakei mentioned concussions are from your brain getting pushed into your skull, without a helmet my head is going to penetrate the water more efficiently than with a bulky helmet on it. I would always wear one when hitting rails but thats all I think they are good for. I would love for pro tec or someone to chime in on the subjet afterall ive never EVER seen any results or data from protec regarding just crashes in the water.

rmarion · Newbie Joined: 03 May 2004 Posts: 37 City: Anaheim

Get it and wear it...

(50 y/o here), same story as yours.....

my kids make fun of me, but those spills don't hurt anymore......

also, when my kids are going big..... they put it on..... by their choice...

(kids = 22, 24, 25 y/o)

KXDave72 · Newbie Joined: 20 Jun 2010 Posts: 8 City: Jacksonville

Bought a helmet (Pro Tec) and wore it this weekend, hit the water once pretty hard, glad I have it. For me it was a good decision.

scottb18 · Newbie Joined: 10 Nov 2007 Posts: 24

a friend of mine just got a concussion last week not wearing a helmet, and has since bought one. i ordered mine today. i wear one snowboarding, i figure it cant hurt to wear one on the water.