How Much Protection Do Ski Helmets Offer?
The study was conducted by the Swiss public broadcasting channel, Radio Télévision Suisse, RTS.
Researchers collected 16 models of helmets from various brands, including Oakley, Uvex, Atomic, Head, Salomon, Albright, Giro, POC, and Wedze.
All meet the European standards for protection against impacts of speeds up to 12.4mph (20km/h).
An analysis of skiers and snowboarders carried out between 2019 and 2023, however, revealed that skiers and snowboarders typically travel faster than that, with 75% of skiers descending slopes at more than 31mph (50km/h).
18% of people will go as fast as 46.6mph (75km/h).
“None of the helmets tested — models from Oakley, Uvex, Atomic, Head, Salomon, Albright, Giro, POC, and Wedze — can withstand these speeds.”
Specifically, the models were tested for impacts against an obstacle or a collision between two skiers descending at 35 km/h.
One researcher involved pointed out that a collision at 50 km/h, in which the brain reaches 2400 G, “could be lethal.”
One proposed solution coming out of the study is to revise the standards given to manufacturers.
It is acknowledged there are limitations to what those manufacturers can accomplish when measured against the higher speeds everyday skiers and snowboarders are reaching.
“I don’t think we’ll be able to make helmets that are effective up to 50 km/h, but we could do much better than 20 km/h,” said Professor Dominique Pioletti at the Laboratory of Biomechanics in Orthopedics.
“The big problem with the standards is that they test linear accelerations, and that’s not the most dangerous for the brain.
“The most dangerous is an impact that induces head rotation.”
Professor Pioletti questions the usefulness of the MIPS rotational impact protection system, indicated by a sticker on many helmets.
“Having the little yellow or orange sticker doesn’t mean the helmet is good,” he said.
It is widely believed helmets are effective for glancing blows and at slower speeds but the new survey seems to conclude there is room for improvement in design.
It also seems skiers and snowboarders should be more aware of the actual and real protection helmets offer.
See here for the full report on RTA.
This winter Italy has made helmets compulsory across its ski resorts:
PlanetSKI’s Jane Peel and James Cove in Pila, Italy. Photo © PlanetSKI
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