Ski helmet

Risks

In terms of injuries per 1,000 skier or snowboarder days, Switzerland reports around 3.5, Norway 1.5, Vermont, US, 1.9, and Canada 2.5. The death rate in the US is about one per million visits, of which more than half are related to head injuries.

Studies from Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Norway and Canada show that the proportion of head injuries is estimated at 15% for ski injuries and 16% for snowboard injuries.

Usage

Germany, Austria, and Switzerland report 40%, 63%, 76% helmet wearing rates respectively. Switzerland reports a 95% helmet wearing rate among children. In France, 65% of children wear helmets.

North Korea and Italy are the only countries where ski helmets are universally mandatory. North Korea initially set the standard (presumably at the time the Masikryong Ski Resort was opened), with Italy following the North Korean example in summer 2025, after intense campaigning by some local liberal parties.

No other country worldwide is known for mandating ski helmets universally, although some countries made them mandatory for children (such as some states of Austria, and the state of New Jersey) or for particular uses (such as employees at Vail Ski Resort in the US,). Additionally, helmets may be mandatory at a local level, such as in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, or at certain ski resorts.

The use of ski helmets in terrain parks. or for competitions is also very frequently mandatory, worldwide.

Standards and testing

Product certification norms include the European CE standard CEN 1077, issued in 1996, The American Society of Testing and Materials F2040, and the Snell RS-98. CEN 1077 permits an impact speed of about approx 20 km/h, which is far below average skiing speeds. Helmets are tested for effectiveness at about 14 mph, but the typical maximum speed of skiers and snowboarders is approximately twice that speed, with some participants going much faster. At such speeds, impact with a fixed object is likely to be fatal, regardless of helmet use.

Effects

A meta-analysis, mostly of case-control studies, showed that skiers and snowboarders with a helmet were significantly less likely than those without a helmet to have a head injury. However, Swiss statistics on rescue services provided to people injured in snow sports show a fairly constant proportion of head injuries, while the observed rate of helmet wearing increased from 16% in 2002-3 to 76% in 2009-10.

Helmets have been shown to reduce the incidence of head injuries. Helmets have not been shown to reduce the number of fatalities. According to Dr. Jasper Shealy, "We are up to 40 percent usage but there has been no change in fatalities in a 10-year period."

It is not known whether helmet use results in risk compensation, i.e. skiers and snowboarders behaving less cautiously when they feel protected by a helmet, as studies give conflicting results. One study found that helmeted skiers tend to go faster and helmet-wearing has been associated with self-reports of more risky behavior. Other studies find that helmet use is not associated with self-reports of riskier behavior and does not increase the risk of other injuries.

References

References

1. "Policy briefing: Snow sports helmets". European Association for Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion.
2. (October 1, 2012). "Facts About Skiing/Snowboarding Safety". National Ski Areas Association.
3. (2009). "Skiing and Snowboarding Head Injuries in 2 Areas of the United States". Wilderness & Environmental Medicine.
4. February 4, Filed under: Uncategorized {{!}}. (2014-02-04). "Ski in North Korea at Masik Pass".
5. Amante, Martina. (2025-07-29). "Via libera della Camera al decreto sport. Dal casco sugli sci obbligatorio per tutti agli Atp finals: tutte le misure".
6. (2025-07-16). "Sicurezza sulle piste da sci, Sala (FI) presenta un emendamento per rendere obbligatorio il casco".
7. "Stay Safe on the Slopes".
8. (April 13, 2009). "Vail resorts to require helmets for all on-mountain staff when skiing, riding next season". RealVail.
9. "Helmets". Ski Club of Great Britain.
10. (2010). "The effect of helmets on the risk of head and neck injuries among skiers and snowboarders: A meta-analysis". Canadian Medical Association Journal.
11. Fletcher Doyle. (4 March 2008). "Use your head on the ski slopes". The Buffalo News.
12. Johnson, Robert J.. (2006). "Skiing Trauma and Safety: Sixteenth volume". ASTM International.
13. (October 2019). "Self-reported risk-taking and sensation-seeking behavior predict helmet wear amongst Canadian ski and snowboard instructors.". Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science.
14. (2005). "How Fast Do Winter Sports Participants Travel on Alpine Slopes?". Journal of ASTM International.
15. (2011). "Risk-taking Behavior in Skiing Among Helmet Wearers and Nonwearers". Wilderness & Environmental Medicine.
16. (2007). "Testing the risk compensation hypothesis for safety helmets in alpine skiing and snowboarding". Injury Prevention.
17. (2010). "Factors associated with self-reported risk-taking behaviour on ski slopes". British Journal of Sports Medicine.