;)
Steve Wells, equipment buyer at Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports is anticipating an early rush on helmets, after many retailers had completely sold out even before the peak season half term break last year.
Helmet sales have increased rapidly over the last decade but several high profile incidents last season accelerated this. In Europe, sales increased sharply in January 09 after the death of a Slovakian woman who collided with a leading German politician, Dieter Althaus. He was wearing a helmet and survived, but she was not wearing one and died before reaching hospital. This incident had some effect on helmet sales in the UK but it was not until the death of Natasha Richardson – after a slow speed fall on a beginner slope – that demand peaked. And it’s not just the safety aspect that is driving sales; improvement in comfort and fit and an acceptance of a helmet as a standard piece of wintersports kit are also factors. Advances in technology mean that helmets are now light-weight and many have customisable sizing such as the clever In Form fit system on the G9 and G10 models from Giro. ProTec use a dial at the back of their Vigilante helmet which gently closes cables to evenly distribute pressure. Salomon have come up with the innovative Custom Air system across a range of helmets. Slim air pads sit around the head and are inflated by a tiny integrated pump until the helmet perfectly cradles the head. A small valve lets pressure out. Says Steve, “We’ve definitely seen barriers surrounding helmet use vanishing. Helmets are no longer just for athletes, experts and professional riders, they are accepted by all sections of the skiiing and snowboarding community. Our focus has been on providing the most comfortable fit for anyone taking to the slopes this season.”
