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Research

Indeed, every age bracket has seen consecutive increases A number of factors have coalesced to result in such high
in helmet usage since the beginning of NSAA’s study 14 helmet numbers. First and foremost, ski areas have long done
years ago. a tremendous job of encouraging helmet use, including them
within ski rental packages, requiring them in lessons, or push-
While Millennials (i.e., 18 to 34 year olds) have consis- ing helmet use during National Safety Month in January, along
tently remained the age demographic least likely to wear with helmet giveaways and other promotions. The manufactur-
helmets, even three out of four in this group (74 percent) are ers have also done an incredible job making helmets more styl-
nonetheless wearing helmets. And the trend in growth has ish and comfortable, with a wide variety available at so many
been encouraging: Back in 2002-03, only 18 percent of this different price ranges. Undoubtedly, the media has played a
age group was wearing helmets, which is particularly chal- role too, focusing a spotlight on the issue of head injuries in
lenging given that this demographic has long been known to all sports, particularly with high-profile ski injuries involv-
be high risk takers. ing Hollywood movie star Natasha Richardson in Canada and
European race car driver Michael Schumacher in France.
NSAA also breaks down this data along regional lines
for the six geographic regions used in NSAA research— While the ski industry deservedly has earned high praise
Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Rocky Mountains, and for its efforts to encourage helmet use, there’s more to do.
the Pacific Northwest and Southwest. Not surprisingly, the There is still an important, and ongoing, education effort to
Northeast and Rocky Mountain regions lead the others in encourage skiers and snowboarders to ski and ride in control,
helmet usage, with 86 percent of all guests wearing helmets within their abilities, and at a relatively safe speed. Helmets,
in those two regions, above the overall national average of after all, are mostly protective at slower speeds—in the range
80 percent. This is likely attributable to the larger volume of of 12 to 15 miles per hour—whereas most skiers/snowboard-
skiers and the higher number of ski resorts in those regions ers typically average higher speeds. NSAA and our mem-
where the sport is more deeply ingrained. ber resorts repeatedly remind their guests that while they are
encouraged to wear a helmet, they should ski or snowboard
And the overall helmet usage rate in the United States is as if they are not wearing one.
comparable to ski helmet rates in other countries, including
Canada (87 percent) and Switzerland (80 percent).

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8 | NSAA JOURNAL | FALL 2016