In winter the helmet keeps my ears warm and slows down the onset of surfers ear - Im not looking forward to getting my ears drilled out :-(
So there you go Plummet - another good reason to wear a helmet !!

Skate helmets (pro-tec and similar) can be had pretty cheap and are fine to wear in the water. I have 2 that are meant for skateboarding (not the water versions) and they have lasted me years at the cable. Only difference between water version and not is that the padding is usually not water resistant in the skate models. Skate models are generally quite a bit cheaper.

Me, my kite, board, harness, blue water, sky and wind means I’m enjoying life. If my luck runs out and my misses posts a RIP on here because I knocked myself out while kiting, don’t worry because I went out happy, knowing the risks and wouldn’t have changed a thing… live the dream

Honestly, wearing a helmet is not too bad. Also you get the poss of capturing nice GoPro footage if the camera sticks on your head. I got my self a NP helmet which is easy to adjust. There are some cheaper options available if you look into other activities (e.g. rockclimbing):

www.trekkinn.com/outdoor-mountain/petzl-picchu/570834/p?utm_source=google_products&utm_medium=merchant&id_producte=641986&country=au&gclid=CLreydD_28UCFUFwvAodsokATQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

Cheers

kiteboy dave said..
Which one do you suggest? I think it's a no-brainer (lol) for learning to foil..

I'm thinking pro-tec maybe..

I normally dont wear a helmet but I bought one for learning to kitefoil. Most people seem to bigup the pro-tec and red thumd the Gath. Regardless I went with a Gath Gedi becuase of the close fit. As I have a whole rigmaroll of sunnies/ earplugs I hoped that having close fitting ear coverage and a built in sunnies/visor would negate my need for earplugs and sunnies, which it did. Of course you dont get as much of a seal as earplugs but its enough to stop water rushing in your earhole and the overall effect works well. In fact so well that I decided even if just for the benefits in regard to negating surfers ear and having sunnies /eye protection on demand that I would wear it all the time.. even when not foiling. People seem to say that they offer less protection but after checking one out its obvious it will offer well and above what is required for smacks into the board, glancing blows from the foil , water surface slams etc..,

alverstone said..
I love my helmet. Went out at Woodman's Point when it was belting 25-30 knots northerly the Saturday before last. At one point I was standing waist deep at beach 3 - having a pee, as you do - and a wave and the wind lifted my strapless North Whip and slammed the nose into just above my ear. There's a blue paint scrape on the helmet now.

Thanks for letting me know its strapless, now i know you are "one with nature" and have much greater board riding skill than everyone else.

flyingcab said..

alverstone said..
I love my helmet. Went out at Woodman's Point when it was belting 25-30 knots northerly the Saturday before last. At one point I was standing waist deep at beach 3 - having a pee, as you do - and a wave and the wind lifted my strapless North Whip and slammed the nose into just above my ear. There's a blue paint scrape on the helmet now.

Thanks for letting me know its strapless, now i know you are "one with nature" and have much greater board riding skill than everyone else.

I'm so good I wear a helmet..... strapless


I just balance it on my head all session long

You're crazy , it would just ruin my whole ensemble !! I just bought new boardshorts to fit over my wetty this winter!

Gath Jedi for me, don't even notice it when it's on.
But I forgot it a while back and my head was freezing, a warm noggin is the bonus in winter

I dont wear one, but in the colder states it would be a must in winter.

Helmets are fantastic. They keep me safe. I don't wear one, but they help me spot who to avoid kiting near.

THE DONG said..
Maybe ill recycle and strap a 4L icecream container to my head with shoe laces. An old local bloke did that when helmets were compulsory for bicycles.

What's the point of that? Might as well wear a proper helmet and not die.

MDSXR6T said..

Plummet said...
Haha.... No. The blows I took to the while wearing a helmet would have killed me had I not been wearing one.......

That's because you're kiting in 75knot winds with 100ft swell and giant squid and killer whales trying to attack you

95% of other kiters are just trying to have some fun in 15-30.

"Plummet would go"

If you don't think you need a helmet In 15-30 your wrong. Many people have died due to head trauma when hitting a solid object and not wearing a helmet in these winds. I have not seen one case of someone dieing because they wore a helmet.

This guy died close to where I used to live. 28 years old. 15kts. Helmet would have saved him.

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/General/Redcliffe-Kitesurfer-Slams-into-Concrete-Wall/