Lack of interest in wearing protective gear. Just not cool?

[Bub]

Just wondering, you never see surfers wearing helmets or such. I know of many people whom have taken major blows to the head...and these are guys in small/medium surf, I'm sure in big surf alot of guys have taken serious injuries to the head. Stitches by one guy, another said he was struck and knocked out/dazeds for about 5 seconds or so before he came to his senses. It just seems like there would be more interest in some sort of head protection.

I've not surfed too much and most definitely am still a beginner. I prefer wearing my 3/2 wetsuit and boots compared to boardies and barefoot, just because I like the extra protection between me and the board. I've ripped the skin off my feet and ankles several times in the summer with bare feet on the rough sandy wax, took a major blow to my butt with a 3/2 full suit on (major bruise with internal bleeding....if I was in my boardies only I would have had a major gash in my butt that would have needed bandaged up, and also I've cracked my ribs (when not wearing my 3/2). Perhaps I'm just a wimp, but I like having some protection/layers between me and the board. Anyone else know of folks who wear helmets (and are respected, not teased) and/or prefer more protection over less?

[RJD]

I dont wear a helmet but I see the point of them.

I do wear a helmet when snowboarding most of the time. And theres been times where I've surfaced from a wipeout and my longboard has slammed down right next to me.

But screw it lifes too short.

[Hang11]

I always seem to get a fin/rail in the fleshin'. Everything else has been fine. I don't think it's worth worrying about for surfing unless you're riding shallow reefs etc.

I always wear a helmet and wrist guards for snowboarding though.

[pkbum]

You're gonna die.
When and how painfully.

[Otter]

Wearing a helmet is kookish if you are relatively skilled and experienced IMHO. I've surfed for 41 years now and never even considered getting one. We call them BRAIN BUCKETS in So Cal. I've gotten my nose busted twice, that's about the extent of "major" injuries, plenty of cuts, scrapes and abrasions though. If you're afeared of getting beaned by your own board, just stay under water a bit longer than your board can fly.

[O_Danny_Boy]

i toyed with the idea of wearing a cup. nothing worse than straddling the rail of your board while going over the falls. then getting out back again to find your testicles are at naval level while your johnson is still down below. anyone find this happening or is just that ive a stretchy sac?

[Hang11]

i toyed with the idea of wearing a cup. nothing worse than straddling the rail of your board while going over the falls. then getting out back again to find your testicles are at naval level while your johnson is still down below. anyone find this happening or is just that ive a stretchy sac?

I've kept a wettie on for a few hours after a surf, convinced that my nuts were gonna drop off if I removed it.

It's the no.1 worst surfing injury IMO. It happens to me all the time too.

[O_Danny_Boy]

whats a wettie? sometimes i get a stiffie but i dont think your on about one of them

[Hang11]

wetsuit

[Sillysausage]

wouldn't really wear a helmet and that...looks a bit daft although wouldn't mind that its just the price..may consider it when i take a big blow

[Dr Rev]

Wouldnt wear a lid while surfing, not much upstairs to protect !!

[O_Danny_Boy]

wetsuit

[temptations_wings]

always wear protection

[Milo]

I do, but only at spots that are a bit rough and rocky

[Sillysausage]

i surf mostly reefs though, and havn't really got injured too badly, a couple of scratches and ripped a wettie and dinged a board, but nothing serious

[isaluteyou]

i dont tease surfers for wearing helmets n such no skin off my nose Whatever make you comfortable. I still think it looks kinda odd though

[PapaW]

Wearing a helmet is kookish if you are relatively skilled and experienced IMHO. I've surfed for 41 years now and never even considered getting one. We call them BRAIN BUCKETS in So Cal. I've gotten my nose busted twice, that's about the extent of "major" injuries, plenty of cuts, scrapes and abrasions though. If you're afeared of getting beaned by your own board, just stay under water a bit longer than your board can fly.

Very true... I did wear one for a few sessions once but if anything made me wipe out more... Never hit my head yet... same as you, just bumps and scrapes...

if there was ever going to be danger it would be from other people and their boards.

[Sillysausage]

saying that though, a helmet doesn't look much stupider than wearing a blob on your head in the winter!

[PapaW]

Blob? that a twat cap/ hood yeah?

Never used them :p but I agree

[Sillysausage]

Blob? that a twat cap/ hood yeah?

Never used them :p but I agree

lol, yea. i use them up here on the east coast somtimes (unless its not too cold, air temp) but gotta admit, i even used them at home sometimes and it wasnt even that cold. plus they make me surf even worse