Ouch!

Somebody is looking out for me. For years - decades - I've skied with a hat, not a helmet.  Yesterday I finally broke down and bought a ski helmet (until yesterday I'd never worn one).  I'm only skiing the bunny slopes staying with Tad (my 6 year old son) and frankly skiing so many levels below my ability that it seems pointless.  But I wanted to set the example for my kids and the other kids in the program and it'd keep my ears warm too.

At the end of the day (Fridays are our elementary school's winter sports day), Tad was getting pretty tired although he was still skiing really well.  As he got off the busy chairlift, he fell and didn't even manage to slide off the steep part.  The lift operator immediately slowed it down and I went back to get Tad up.  Too surprised and tired, he really didn't help himself out, so I had to lift him to upright.  I looked at the operator who went to hit the stop switch.  For whatever reason, he hit the regular speed switch instead--just as I stood up in front of the next chair.

I tried to duck at the last second, but it was too late.  My head with attached helmet did not noticeably slow multiple tons of cable, chairs and riders as it flattened me, instantly to the ground.  The poor guy had the chair stopped in less than a couple of feet, and was scared to death wondering how badly hurt I was.  I was dazed, but coherent.  He got Tad upright and I got me upright.  And we both skied off the hill.  My 3 hour old helmet survived too, but it now has scratches on it.

So the injuries aren't always the classic getting hit by an out-of-control skier or going off the trail and into a tree.  It can be the mundane too.  Had I not been wearing a helmet, I certainly would have been badly concussed.  Instead it was just a motrin incident.

So I implore you, please wear a helmet while skiing or boarding, even if you're an expert on the beginner slope.  It'll also keep your ears warm too.