Survey indicates continued upward trend in ski helmet use

Nearly half of all skiers and snowboarders now wear a helmet
on the slopes according to a recent survey.
                                                 Photo: AP/Matthias Schrader 

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Percentage of ski helmet wearers
by demographic group

• 48 percent: All skiers and riders

• 77 percent: 9 years old or younger

• 66 percent: 10-14 years old

• 32 percent: 18-24 years old

Helmet use goes from 43 to 48 percent

The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) released its 2008-09 National Demographic Study that showed helmet usage at 48 percent of all skiers and snowboarders. The figure represented a 12 percent increase over last season's percentage of 43 percent. The annual Demographic Study is compiled from more than 130,000 interviews of skiers and riders nationwide.

Helmet use and skiing safety received increased media attention following the fatal skiing accident involving actress Natasha Richardson in March. The accident occurred in Quebec, Canada, where legislation is being considered involving mandatory ski helmet use.

In April, Vail Resorts instituted a new rule for next ski season that any employee working on the slopes must wear a helmet. All children, 12 and under, also must wear a helmet in ski school at any Vail Resorts area. The same rule for children has been in place since 2002 at Aspen Skiing Company ski schools. Although mandatory helmet use laws for children are enforced in portions of Europe, no such governmental regulations currently exist in the United States.

According to the SnowSports Industries America (SIA) retail 
audit, adult helmet sales have increased 50 percent since
the 2006-07 season.                                             Photo: POC

Ski helmet use has nearly doubled over the past seven seasons

This past season's results follow the trend of increased helmet use. During the 2002-03 season, only 25 percent of skiers and snowboarders wore helmets, meaning that helmet use has almost doubled in the past seven seasons.

The broad effectiveness of helmets to prevent serious injuries or fatalities is a subject of debate among skiers and researchers. Nonetheless, the NSAA and its member resorts do promote the use of helmets as one component of skiing safety considerations.

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