Staying Ahead of Hype

Helmets: Free Choice or social obligation?

My rating: ****

Ski Canada published an interesting article about ski helmets. It really stuck in my head because I skied bareheaded until I was roughly seven or eight. My mom still goes bareheaded, and it sort of makes me feel left out. She’s not the only one: plenty of skiers go sans helmet. I am also not alone, it’s more or less mandatory for pros to wear helmets on the slopes. That doesn’t stop me from feeling left out.

I see a bunch of pictures of people skiing and compare them to myself. I think what separates them from me, and then I come to yeah, they’re not wearing helmets. They should be, though. While it’s true that a helmet provides some degree of protection, it’s not going to make you invincible. And it shouldn’t be abused as a moral litmus test (in fact, I’m really fed up with these people saying that magazines should depict all skiers with helmets, because these magazines have a duty to portray things as they really are).

Taking all of this in, it was a good article, and it seemed to portray the issue in a neutral light. Well written, and makes a good point.

Works cited

Koch, George. "Helmets: Free choice or social obligation?" Ski Canada. 12 Feb. 2008: n.pag. Web. 28 Dec. 2012. <http://skicanadamag.com/2008/02/12/gear/helmets-choice-or-obligation>.