After reading a few threads I was curious as to what people think on head restraints, what combo works best, attached to the suit, or under on the body... I used to use them as a Kid (alot of people did) along with a neck roll. When I got back into racing a few years ago I noticed not as many people with them. I am currently using a douglas neck roll. And want to rig up some head restraints after a bad fall at Parker last year.
I use to use 4 restraints, 2 in the front and 2 in the back attaching to my wet suit, along with a neck roll. I had no side to side or front to back movement of the head, but it was also very immobile to the point at a fall you were so rigid it almost hurt more then letting your body absorb the blow.
I'm not sure weather to ditch the neck roll for just restraints a combo of both restraints and a neck roll. I've seen people with 2 (one on each side) 3, and 4 restraints.
What are people thoughts on this. (especially experienced skiers...)
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After reading a few threads I was curious as to what people think on head restraints, what combo works best, attached to the suit, or under on the body... I used to use them as a Kid (alot of people did) along with a neck roll. When I got back into racing a few years ago I noticed not as many people with them. I am currently using a douglas neck roll. And want to rig up some head restraints after a bad fall at Parker last year.
I use to use 4 restraints, 2 in the front and 2 in the back attaching to my wet suit, along with a neck roll. I had no side to side or front to back movement of the head, but it was also very immobile to the point at a fall you were so rigid it almost hurt more then letting your body absorb the blow.
I'm not sure weather to ditch the neck roll for just restraints a combo of both restraints and a neck roll. I've seen people with 2 (one on each side) 3, and 4 restraints.
What are people thoughts on this. (especially experienced skiers...)
Safety gear in general is a personal preference, some skiers use lots of gear others don’t. Personally I use a life line head restraint with a Douglas neck roll. I have 5 straps that come from the torso belt, with 3 connection points, 2 on the side of the helmet, one the back. The front left and rear left strap to side d-ring and so on. It is uncomfortable sitting in the boat, but once I’m skiing I don’t even notice it. I have some movement but minimal. Enough to see if someone next to me and so forth. I think the 2 forward straps and the center one in the rear do the most. I have never felt like it had made a fall worse.
I have the same restraints as W.O.T. and I like them. They didn't take too much getting used to for me. Mine fit pretty snug but not so much that it's uncomfortable. It does cut down on your side to side mobility, but you don't look around much during a race anyways. I have been wearing mine for 12 years or more and have felt and heard them ( clanking stainless) during falls. They have never contributed to any pain that I'm aware of. Good for peace of mind also IMO .
i used the restaints that Ron Tesarski made for me that attached on the side of my helmet that went to the side of my suit with loops for my arms to go through,i also had the douglas neck roll it all worked really well
i used the restaints that Ron Tesarski made for me that attached on the side of my helmet that went to the side of my suit with loops for my arms to go through,i also had the douglas neck roll it all worked really well
I used the same ones that Ron Made, I forgot he is who made them for my dad a while back, but i sold them with the suit when i quit in 2003. I really liked them being attached to the suit. I found some bell ones that should loop into the suit. But maybe i should speak with Ron about getting some more made.
I like the life line set up but how does it feel wearing them under your suit?
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I would be happy to help out anyone in ski racing with what I know and understand about safety.I have been involved in trying to make this safer for the skier since 1975 when I started taping on neck collars to my life jacket. Myself and Byron Whipple were wearing them all the time back then. In 1978 I worked with Ski Master to make a Avila vest that had a neck collar built in. Neck collars as well as head restraints are very important to every skier but the right way to wear them is even more important.If you dont have them on the right way or your neck collar is not high enough or soft enough it is not going to help you very much and can cause a problem. It is important for head restraints to be mounted no higher than the middle of your ear so that you dont give your neck a hindge point and that also goes for a neck collar. The neck collar must be up to your ear or it will give your neck a hindge point. Every skier needs to adjust there safety gear in a way that make it safer for them.Head restraints need to allow your head to move in every way but they need to get tight as your head goes past 20 degrees. The restraint is there to get tight and bring your torso with your head in what ever way your head is going. People will tell you that its your front arm or its your back arm that get hurt and let me tell you first hand that all of that is bullshit. There was never a skier stronger in build than myself and I have had both arms hurt at different times. This injury has nothing to do with your front or back arm, it has everything to do with where your head goes in a fall and if you are lucky enough to have your torso go with it in the same direction.This is why football player get this injury so much as well as go cart racers because there head and shoulder go different directions and they stretch or tear there nerves.
Getting hurt or not getting hurt has a lot to do with luck. I do believe you can take some of the luck out of it by being in great shape so you can take a hit and the other is to wear the right safety gear so that if you do have a fall and you WILL at some point then you will reduce some of the luck you need with the safety gear. Some people say that your crew is your best safety gear and I do believe that is true but it is no different than you as you drive down the road in a car, you are your best form of safety by your ability to avoid a wreck. The bad part is you can not control every thing nor can your crew and that is when you need your safety gear and your training to come into action.I was never hurt bad from a fall that i saw coming. In 1983 in a drag race to the finish my line broke and I tripped over the rope and hurt my arm for the first time. I recovered from that and in 1990 while in front and hauling ass the outdrive in the boat broke causing me to again trip over the rope and hurt my other arm and it still is hurt. In 1991 I hit a piece of wood and hurt my other arm. So you see your crew and yourself can not control everything that is why you must work out and wear your gear.............I know this was long but I do feel so strongly about safety as I do not wish have a arm like mine on anyone.......................just my take......
I used the same ones that Ron Made, I forgot he is who made them for my dad a while back, but i sold them with the suit when i quit in 2003. I really liked them being attached to the suit. I found some bell ones that should loop into the suit. But maybe i should speak with Ron about getting some more made.
I like the life line set up but how does it feel wearing them under your suit?
never tried those but i did use the lifeline arm straps,bummer i dont have any of my gear left i sold it all to jeremy orchard i just play ski now no more racing for me
Troy,
Pete has straps both sides and the back. The difference is that the torso harness is built in the suit so just the straps are at the shoulders.It works very well, just ask him about the fall he had at the Graften Bridge when the boat rolled up and put him on his head. He will tell you how he felt the straps get real tight and stop his head from going further over to the side. He told me his ears even were ringing from the noise of the buckels going tight on his helmet.I have seen the clips become all the way straight from people falling and the straps stopping there head. they work and work well, I believe if I were to ski again and I could only have one safety devise I would have just the head restraints..............
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