An Ode to Helmet Hair and the Vanity of the Fools. Don’t be a dumbass, wear a helmet.
Despite only being a family of four, as of last count we own 24 helmets. Maybe more. There’s probably a ‘couple old ‘dain-duckets hanging out in the basement somewhere. That’s an average of six helmets per family member. Ridiculous?
I’m the last of the generation that grew up bouncing around in the back of a pick-up trucks and riding shotgun without a child safety seat. And despite learning to ski and ride bikes before I could read, it wasn’t until we had the LoganCody that the ever-present helmet-hair entered our life.
 |
“Today, my kids only look normal to me with helmet-hair. That matty-sweaty-knotted hair is a look of health, activity and safety.
The LoganCody have an almost ever-present mildewy smell in their hair, and it’s that smell that I’ll probably remember them most for. I can smell it now as I write this.” |
Helmets weren’t new to me. We wore helmets for downhill and super-g races skiing. But that was it. Never for freeskiing. When climbing, we wore them on big walls, ice climbs and chossy mountaineering routes. But never for standard routes and it wasn’t even a consideration for floofy sport-climbs. And it was never the subject of debate whether you strapped on the ‘ol brain bucket on for flying hang gliders or paragliders. Still, I rode thousands of miles on my mountain and road bikes throughout the 80’s and 90’s without a helmet as cars whipped by at 60mph or I rattled down 409 or the Tahoe Rim Trail on a no-suspension mountain bike.
It’s not like I don’t know the consequences. I’ve had my concussions. I’ve seen the sun-dried brains splattered on the rocks at the bottom of a route in Yosemite. And I helped transport the brain-dead body of a fellow paragilder that died despite wearing a helmet. There’s not much to protect that lifegoo inside our egg-shell skulls. One good smack and you’re a vegetable. Or worse.
Once the LoganCody arrived to the LaPlante Family Junkshow, it finally clicked with me. Helmets were mandatory. ‘Nuff said.
While Jessica and I joke that if I could surgically install helmets on the noggin’s of our every-bouncing LoganCody, it’s only a half-joke. Since we don’t own a TV or have cable, the LoganCody seem to always be getting their schralp on with their bikes and skateboards. We buy band-aids in bulk. Someone is always bleeding or at least picking at a scab. That’s our life.
I get pissed off and yell at parents that let their kids hit rails in the park at Alpine Meadows without helmets. Yeah, I’m an asshole. But I can show you the coma-inducing dings in the back of my helmet to perhaps convince you to the otherwise. One bad hit and you’re eating via a foodbag the rest of your life.
Today, my kids only look normal to me with helmet-hair. That matty-sweaty-knotted hair is a look of health, activity and safety. The LoganCody have an almost ever-present mildewy smell in their hair, and it’s that smell that I’ll probably remember them for. I can smell it know as I write this.
Even as late as four years ago I would still ski without a helmet. Jumping on rails and boxes changed that more than being that "role model" for the kids. Nowadays I can’t even pedal three blocks to Bibo’s coffee shop on the townie without the kids yelling at me to make sure I have my helmet on. While as dorky as it feels riding the red townie, it’s the right thing to do as a Dad. 
I wrote a business plan in 1993 while in college to make smaller/stylish helmets that would appeal to kids and wish that I had followed through on that now. High profile deaths due to head injuries are a persistent reminder to shed the vanity and strap on the egg-shell. Yesterday’s unfortunate death of Actress Natasha Richardson following complications from the brain injury she incurred while skiing without a helmet should drive the point home. Her two grieving sons and husband can’t help but ask themselves why she wasn’t wearing a helmet while she was taking skiing lessons.
For the hundreds of hours I’ve logged on skis, bikes rock climbs without a helmet I feel both lucky and like hypocrite to become that much more of an advocate for helmets. While I’m not sure making it the law is always the answer, it surely is becoming a statement of stupidity to not wear one. Especially if you have kids.
Go ahead and leave me a comment about how "Helmet Laws Suck" and why not wearing a helmet is cool. I’ll still give huge props to Tony Hawk who skates with a helmet. He’s a Dad. He gets it. Athlete icons like Tony Hawk, Shaun White, and Tanner Hall who ride with helmets make it easier for us Dads to keep the helmets in the mix. It’s not like I don’t want to sympathize, I just can’t be an idiot anymore AND be a good Dad.
Still not getting it? Check out some vids of helmets in action. I’m not going throw up the gory scare videos. These should make the point!
These are my kids. These are my kids with helmets on.
Comments
By Robert Payne on March 19th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Great post, David. I took a really bad digger on a road bike when I was 15. I was knocked unconscious long enough for the ambulance to get there, and I still bear some scars on my face 20 years later because of it. But I was wearing a helmet, and I am quite confident that it saved my life. I can’t imagine going out like that – wear a helmet!
By Brian Crosby on March 19th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Nice post. I just might share it with my class.
Brian
By Lynnette on March 19th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
FINALLY, another brilliant post from one of my favorite bloggers! I know this story has been the talk of our family recently as well. My brother has endured two concussions while skiing with a helmet in the past year. I cringe to think what would have happened without the helmet!
Lynnette
By David LaPlante on March 20th, 2009 at 8:05 am
@robert thanks. i like that you’re wearing a helmet in your photo!
@brian cool!
@lynnette thanks, i know i’ve been slacking on the posts for a while. i’m baaaaack! great photo of you and the Little Miss!
By Belindalouwho on March 23rd, 2009 at 1:17 pm
The post title says it all….great job and timely too!
BTW, love the changes to your site (but please don’t make us wait this long
for another post-you digital genius you!).
-Belindalouwho
By Jennifer Gardner on April 9th, 2009 at 10:40 am
Thanks for reassuring me that helmut hair is cool. I try to tell myself that every hot and sweaty afternoon that I safely dismount from my horse — the cute one who almost always goes sideways whenever he can in an effort to keep me on my toes, or on my head (but I don’t want to give him credit for being that calculating). Often my head is throbbing from the sun and heat, and I have to drink what feels like a gallon of water to feel fine again, but it’s well worth it. Last Sunday, I looked up to see my friend Kate flying through the air after her horse bucked her off. The first thing she said after she landed on her shoulder as her head hit the sand, “that’s why I wear this stupid, ugly thing.” 5 days later, it turns out, Kate is fine. I skiied for years and never thought to wear one. Then, Natasha Richardson. Need I say more. Thanks for reminding us that helmuts are not only necessary, but cool. They help us take a load off our minds so that we can play harder, literally.
By Mark Langer on August 18th, 2009 at 7:24 am
From one helmet advocate to another – thank you for writing this. My daughter pointed out the article to me this morning.
Four years ago I hit the deck coming down a local hill on a training ride at 40+ mph. My helmet shattered in several places as was its design. My skull did not. I would not be typing this if I hadn’t been wearing a helmet and my kids would be fatherless. I didn’t escape unscathed, but I did survive a rather nasty crash. Here’s the helmet – http://ow.ly/krBj
RE: helmet hair – it’s so much more easily remedied than having your head shaved to stitch it up
Trackbacks