Safe equipment is the ‘must have’ for perfect skiing pleasure.

Hans Knauß’s expert tip

The former Austrian top athlete Hans Knauß stresses the importance of safety! His slogan ‘You have a brain – it’s up to you to protect it!’ Statistically, every second skier wears a helmet now and the trend is growing fast. The only question really is which model to choose from all the variety

Hans Knauß explains the easy way to find the perfect helmet

Basically, a large selection and variety is always a blessing. Providing of course, you know what you are looking for. Here are a few tips from the man himself.

Knauß: ’When I buy a helmet, there are 3 aspects to which I pay the upmost attention!’

1. The Fit

The most important criteria is the fit. Therefore it is advisable, to have plenty of time to choose. The reason is quite simple: Everyones head is different, not every helmet is different though. The helmet fits, if it sits tightly on the head but doesn’t squeeze, and despite headmovement, doen’t slip when the chin strap and neck fixation are open. 
Important: The ’head-strap quick adjustment’ of helmets with this feature is intended
for fine adjustment only.

More comfortable necessities: A chin strap that’s easy to use with gloves on. 
The same applies to the venting slides. The chin strap should come with fixed padding and the chin strap as well as the ear pads must be easily adaptable.

2. Helmet Styles

The basic distinction in style is between a full shell helmet and a short shell hemet. The full shell helmet is recommended for racing and professional skiiers. Modern half shell helmets however, provide plenty of comfort and feature an impact resistant outer shell as well as an inner shell made out of polystyrene foam. Both are firmly connected. New on the market are injection-shell design helmets, which offer even more protection and comfort. And recently helmets with actively controllable or passive venting systems have become available which guarentee a cool head.

3. Sunglasses and ski goggles

Goggles are the natuarl friend of the helmet. That’s why they perform together. Goggles must fit well on both the helmet and the face but not restrict the visual field. Pay attention to the right fit and sophistaced brackets.

Tips for children:

In order to make sure the little ones are protected, attention in choosing the right helmet is of highest importance. The moto here is: Only a perfectly fitting helmet protects. A helmet should never be chosen ’to grow with the child’and modern adjustment mechanisms should only have to be used for minimal adjustments. Simple and easy for little hands to use locking mechanisms are also important criteria.

Tips for the Smart ones:

Listening to music or phone calls while skiing are an absolute ’no-go’. Just like a helmet that doesn’t fit.

’If you consider these steps when buying a helmet, nothing stands in the way of a safe and fun skiing experience’ says Knauß.

What to look out specifically when choosing a helmet!

Wearing of a helmet, and the importance of doing so, has long been beyond doubt. Therefore, we dedicate ourselves to following tricky questions about choosing the right model. It’s a given that helmets sold in today’s Europe are safe. After all they have to meet the stringent safety requirements of EN 1077. Even when it comes to weight and comfort, a lot has moved into the right direction. Meanwhile it should be understood that a helmet needs to be replaced after a crash, but in any case after three to five years of being used. A reason for a premature, fall related replacement of a helmet, are invisible hairline cracks that may occur later and compromise the safety. Even without a fall, the aging of the material, exposure to moisture, perspiration and UV rays has to be taken into account

In the name of the law!

The helmet law is a hotly debated topic in many countries. For your safety here is a brief overview with some remarks according to the law.

• Austria plays it safe when it comes to children and young people up to the age of 15 years old. The law was adopted by the federal government, however, implementation is up to the federal counties. In Lower-Austria it is by law duty to wear a helmet.
• In Italy a helmet is compulsory for children up the age of 14 years. There are police checks on the slopes. Not wearing a helmet could lead to confiscation of the ski pass and a substential fine of up to € 200,-
• Croatia and Slowenia have also introduced the helmet law. It is valid in both countries for children and young people up to the age of 15 years.
• Switzerland has successfully implemented awareness training. Despite the absence of a statutory law, the country has one of Europe’s highest ’wearing-rates’
• Sweden also hasn’t got a law in place. Children without a helmet are simply not allowed on to a ski lift.