Hey guys.

Quick question... who wears a helmet when surfing??

I usually find myself surfing my local break early by myself. Had a couple of close calls with board bouncing near my head and face..

Thoughts ???


Thanks !!

If I am by myself I do - unless it is very tame conditions. Yesterday I was at a remote beach and the surf had a "bit" of size so I wore my helmet. If the conditions are tame and there are others out there then I probably won't. But if it is very windy, or pretty big, I will even if the lineup is crowded.

I wear a gath helmet all the time. Every year I have a close encounter at least once with my board, surf mostly alone early morning perhaps out 70-80 sessions a year. Even when it is crowded in the lineup I doubt anyone would get to me in time if I was concussed by my board. I come from a kayaking background where everyone wore a helmet. I know I charge harder wearing a helmet whether it is skiing, kayaking or surfing. No real downside to it other than looking a bit different than the proners. In general our boards have significantly more mass and getting hit in the head can have consequences.

Bob

YEP i surf alone a lot ,when its big i always wear it ,and if its cold keeps ya head warm .GATH JEDI , is made for round heads like me .
also a great sun hat .let the force be with you .

I never SUP / Wave sail without one. This season I have seen some good head cuts at various surf spots and a mate got a 8cm cut directly in the middle of his forehead when the wind got under his board after he fell off and on resurfacing.... bam. I've personally had several heavy bumps where I've seen stars and this was wearing my Gath. Years ago you would never see a helmet on a ski slope.. now its rare to see someone without one. There is a vid of a pro freestyler in shallow water who gets knocked out doing a simple move he must have done a hundred times. Floating face down until people run through the water to get him. Only luck he didn't drown. Would be interesting to have some statistics on KO drowning fatalities.
From memory the last Margaret River fatality was from being Ko'd in the water.

A no brainer IMHO but each to their own.

I'm not cool... helmet for sure.

My mate got smacked in the head with his board in 1ft slop and got momentarily knocked out and me being a short ass and then trying to get a 6ft + 90kg guy to the shore them up the beach and across a channel to help was no fun. Good size gash but I doubt a helmet would have saved him. The debate went on about getting a helmet or not. I decided that a wake board vest would be better when surfing alone so at least it would keep my head out of the water if knocked out.

Thanks for the feedback guys... i think ill be investing in one this weekend!!!

Yep always wear one as I often surf away from others.

I wear it in all conditions because a mate just about drowned in a 1 foot shorebreak.

Also once I started wearing it I don't feel right not wearing it, like not putting on a seat belt. I'd also agree that I charger harder wearing it.

Cheers Mark

I wear one when on reef break..if the water depth is low..

I wear one when on reef break..if the water depth is low..

I almost always were mine with a cap & sun glasses if sunny (see photo:-)

Select to expand quote

Johndesu said..
I almost always were mine with a cap & sun glasses if sunny (see photo:-)

Great shot!

Gath when it's huge.

I have three Gath Helmets, an old light one that I have modified (cut out the front rubber so I can where a visor/peak cap under it as in the photo), a regular fixed visor and a deluxe with movable visor (that I were when it is raining:-)

Sometimes if the surf is six inches high I don't wear a helmet. But basically feel kind of naked and vulnerable without my Gath
And as for those windy days when your board goes spinning through the air.....to come down "who knows where"?
Better bet to buy a helmet than a lottery ticket I reckon

Who try's before they buy for sizing ?
Or are size guides generally accurate ?

Gath helmet ordered today.. i opted for the EVA and not the RV (visor). I tried on an XL RV at a local dealer which was a good fit. It was also right in the middle of the measurement guide.

I found it difficult to find them in stores though, so ordered on directly from GATH. Only one local surf shop had a couple in stock. No one else had them..

Use mine every time I;m out. Also cut my hair to suit(every full moon)

Wore my Gath for the first time yesterday . Conditions were crap. Big and really blowy. I didn't even realize i had my gath on. Felt comfortable. And i did feel better within myself for having it on. Its a goer for me from now on..

Little tip for making helmet comfortable and snug is a helmet cap as used by cyclists and other sports. I had trouble with my bald head and this was the answer to making my helmet fit nicely.

www.wiggle.com.au/endura-thermolite-skullcap/?lang=au&curr=AUD&dest=27&sku=5360773642&kpid=5360773642&utm_source=google&utm_term=&utm_campaign=Shopping+-+All+Products&utm_medium=base&utm_content=mkwid%7CsYfPEEXlQ_dc%7Cpcrid%7C295374706442%7Cpkw%7C%7Cpmt%7C%7Cprd%7C5360773642au%7C&pgrid=56096234101&ptaid=pla-576383970607&dest=27&curr=AUD