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| Q&A: Michael Brooke - Publisher, Concrete Wave Magazine (7141 Posts)
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other people's business
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On 4/6/2006
slim
wrote in from
(71.146.nnn.nnn)
When I was a high flying vert skater, I rarely wore a helmet. None of the photos of me from the 80s feature a helmet. Just didn't even think about it. Don't remember ever hitting my head. Later I rarely wore one when riding my motorcycles either (only on the highway). Crashed spectacularly, totalled my Triumph and my shoulder along with it. Head? Not a scratch. Some people are just lucky.
Now I am a father and would like my kids to wear helmets at the skatepark and so encourage it and wear one myself, even though I don't bust many airs these days. To my kids, it's now totally normal to put on a helmet, even when just skating on our block. Where I didn't even think about wearing one, they don't even think about not wearing one.
But my kids are the only people whose helmet wearing habits I'm interested in. The rest of you should try that and stop being so interested in whether other adults or kids that don't belong to you are wearing helmets or not.
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Helmets
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On 4/6/2006 Kludy
wrote in from
United States
(64.60.nnn.nnn)
If you dont wear one you roll the dice. I can tell you one freind will never may never walk again, no helmet on. I have another who started flux skateboard lights so skaters could be seen at night died just skateboarding around and the board came out from under him, hit his head not wearing a helmet. Not wearing one is dumb and you can die, think about it as you drop your board under your feet. I also feel that a safe helmet can not be just one type , THERE ARE NO SAFE HELMETS FOR SKATEBOARDERS! The slow to no speeds is a harder hit
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helmets
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On 4/6/2006
buddy rawls
wrote in from
United States
(128.158.nnn.nnn)
I really cant believe these arguments. If you dont want to wear a helmet, then dont! case closed, end of discussion. If you happen to roll into a park that requires a helmet, either put one on (and deal with it) or leave, case closed.
But, saying a helmet's safety aspect is non-existent based on statistics is a pretty ballzy move. Every head contact does not result in an injury. But on the off chance that the contact is just perfect for an injury to occur, a helmet distributes the load and takes the point contact away from the incident. Does it prevent an injury? thats a debateable. Can it lessen the effect of a point contact? yes, and thats not debateable.
People that wear helmets do so because of:
1) they appreciate the added safety
2) they are required to
People that dont wear helmets do so because of:
1) it interferes with their skating
2) say they never hit their head, they dont need one
3) nobody else wears helmets
Which one has the better common sense basis? I know which one I would trend toward.
Something else I have picked up on. Everybody seems to always talk about putting on helmets in deep vert terrain. It has been my experience that shallower terrain causes the problems.
You know, helmet arguments never used to be an issue, some people wore them, some didn't. Heck even in the ramp 80's, there wasn't an issue with helmets. In the 70's park era, helmets were always required, and most of the time full pads. It only became an issue as skateboarding became a fashion trend.
Lets talk cups-
How many times have you been hit in the balls while not wearing cup? did it hurt? sometimes yes, sometimes no. How many times have you been hit in the balls while wearing a cup? did it hurt? sometimes yes and sometimes no
In certain activities do you put one on anyway? yes. why?? There does not seem to be any proof that they actually prevent an injury.
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Helmets
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On 4/6/2006
jaybyrd
wrote in from
Mexico
(207.17.nnn.nnn)
Bugs,
You said, "Now I know people love to trot out the "helmet saved my life" stories, but seeing as you cannot compare the accident you had while wearing the helmet with the accident you may or may not have had if you weren't wearing the helmet, these stories have no weight." When my son busted his helmet and not his head, that carried alot of weight with me.
You also said, " helmets don't make you safer, but they might make you faster. And if the perceived safety effect of the helmet is greater than its actual safety effect, the level of safety will actually decline when wearing a helmet." I put a helmet on because I want to keep from having someone have to flick my gray matter of their clothes when they get home. I put a helmet on so that I can go home. I put the helmet on so I won't become a burden on my family. It does'nt make me think I can go faster now just because I'm wearing a helmet, but the faster I want to go the better helmet I will need.
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huh!
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On 4/5/2006
caddy
wrote in from
United States
(206.135.nnn.nnn)
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Helmet skeptic
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On 4/5/2006 Bugs
wrote in from
Australia
(203.36.nnn.nnn)
I'm a helmet skeptic. That comes from my reading of the literature regarding bicycle helmets, particularly the experience in Australia and New Zealand when bicycle helmets became mandatory in those countries in the 80s. Although there was a reduction in head injury rates, the reduction was less than the reduction in overall bicycling numbers caused by the mandatory helmet law.
Not only that, but the ratio of head injuries to non-head injuries remained constant after helmets became mandatory. You'd expect that if helmets were effective then non-head injuries would rise in proportion to head injuries, but they didn't.
Now I know people love to trot out the "helmet saved my life" stories, but seeing as you cannot compare the accident you had while wearing the helmet with the accident you may or may not have had if you weren't wearing the helmet, these stories have no weight. They can't compare to the bicycling statistics involving hundreds of thousands of people, with a valid control group, gathered over years.
But maybe bicycling is different to skateboarding? I don't discount the possibility. I'm not anti-helmet, just sceptical.
And then there's the issue of risk compensation, which is where each individual has a "risk level" they are comfortable with. If they increase their perceived safety (through wearing a helmet for example) they'll compensate by taking greater risks elsewhere (riding faster for example). In other words, helmets don't make you safer, but they might make you faster. And if the perceived safety effect of the helmet is greater than its actual safety effect, the level of safety will actually decline when wearing a helmet.
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Helmets
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On 4/5/2006
Bud
wrote in from
United States
(68.57.nnn.nnn)
For my part, I tend to wear a helmet when my inner pangs of fear tell me that it's wise to do so. Being the moron that I am, it's not particularly often.
It's probably a function of the fact that, for most of my life, I solely street skated- not much need for a helmet, there. When I started skating minis, it was helmetless. But, when I got into vert- now, there's a place I'd never go without it.
Or, maybe it's a function of experience. Now that I'm older, I have a far more realistic grasp on my capabilities, and of the risk that I'm facing at any given moment. This is why the hypocrite in me forces my 3,4, and 8 year old nieces to wear helmets, when I habitually do not. I tell them that, when they've been skating for 20 years, then, they can make their own choices. Until then, I'm the boss.
As far as agendas go, helmet companies (and their interests) will always be trying to sell you stuff, 'cuz that's what companies do. If they can make it a law that you HAVE to buy/wear their stuff, even better for them. On the other hand, the uber-cool types that say that you're a retard for wearing a helmet under any circumstances just don't have any damned sense, as I see it. As for myself, I don't give a fart either way about agendas, because I choose to think for myself. And, that's why the buck stops with me.
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helmets
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On 4/5/2006
Brady
wrote in from
United States
(68.215.nnn.nnn)
Having takin one spill with a helmet on at speed, I`ll always wear one when doing so...at speed.
I know, it may be stupid and foolish, but when I take a longboard and go to the beach for a cruise, it`s sans brain bucket. Heck, I have NO safety gear and I`m usually wearing flip flops.
But slaloming, hill cruising, ALWAYS a helmet...
(black box code ~69~,,,oh honey? heh heh!!!)
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flicking the grey matter ....
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On 4/4/2006
Michael Brooke
wrote in from
Canada
(65.95.nnn.nnn)
FLICKING THE GREAY MATTER....
Damn, that would make a fine scary column...or a good ad headline for Protec!
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Safety Gear
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On 4/4/2006
David Verduin
wrote in from
United States
(67.41.nnn.nnn)
As a public safety professional, I cringe every time I see someone at the skatepark not wearing any gear--especially the helmet! I liken those situations to all the motor vehicle accidents I've attended where drivers didn't wear seatbelts and my fellow FF/EMT's and I go home flicking gray matter off our clothes. Remember folks, most reported head injuries are those from the standing height of the person affected, and alot of them are fatal! I'd hate to come up on a kid who just fell head-first from way above the coping down to the bottom of the bowl or the one who endo's while bombing a hill! I think Sean Penn's character Jeff Spiccoli once said, "No shirt, no shoes, no dice!" I'm sure helmets fit in there somewhere!
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HELMETS
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On 4/4/2006
Stubbs
wrote in from
United States
(70.251.nnn.nnn)
Just bought a full-face motocross helmet for Albuquerque and her ditches. Function over fashion any day.
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the skate media's role...
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On 4/4/2006
Michael Brooke
wrote in from
Canada
(65.95.nnn.nnn)
As most of you realize, CW has really one goal - to showcase all types of skateboarding and skaters. The fact that some riders wear safety gear and some don't is clearly shown in our editorial - and in some of the ads. Here are my views...as a publisher and skater:
In the case of Transworld, it's about delivering shareholder value-this is code for selling a SH*TLOAD of advertising. Time/Warner employees who work at Transworld may love skateboarding or they may just like the fact that they have a steady paycheck. Whatever the case, the machine they have built earns a considerable amount of money. As a group publisher, it is your responsibility to ensure that the machine does not malfunction and continues to be profitable. The same goes with Skateboarder (which is owned by Primedia). The only way mags like these will change their agenda is when it becomes profitable to do so.
If you look at Thrasher, the agenda is a little different. Thrasher is privately owned. They have their own beliefs and quite frankly, my sense is that safety gear is really not top of their list. Sure, they will occasionally show a skater in safety gear, but their attitude is about skate and destroy. If anything, the one thing that you can say about Thrasher is that it is consistant. They have not only survived, they've flourished....for 25 years! This alone is a remarkable feat.
Concussion - well I think that title basically speaks for itself. They have some real issues with CW, but I just laugh and I am sure most of you do as well. They are NOT about to start showing anything remotely different than their current agenda which is skate and destroy (but notched up a few levels from Thrasher).
The Skateboard Mag - this is private company which produces a magazine that is rivalling Transworld. It's glossy, expensively produced and is filled with most of the ads you'd see in Transworld minus hairgel and zit cream. I don't think they are afraid of running skaters with safety gear, but it's really not what they are about. They are about competing with Transworld - and from the thickness of their book, it would appear they are doing a hell of a job!
My gut tells me that the skate mags out there will only change if there is a financial reason to change...and right now, the vast majority of shoe and clothing guys are making a huge profit by promoting street skating without safety gear.
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Safety is for you!
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On 4/4/2006 cappy
wrote in from
United States
(82.83.nnn.nnn)
Skateboardingpics without safetygear look cool, but there always come the point when its no "Cool" anymore, its just dangerous!
I think, publishers and advertisers have some sort of responsibility. Pictures and Videos
inspire other People (and kids!) in skateboarding.
What would happen when a kid jumps a big ramp without any safetygear, cause he had seen Danny Way, jumping the big wall without safetygear?
Before such thing would happen, publishers should think about, if there is not room in interviews, for a question like:"Danny, you jumped the big wall, how importent was it to have good safetygear?"
Something like that..
The next thing is, how good are the skatehelmets (or these braincaps like on bicycles)?
And how the buyer (or parents) and the seller make sure, for example a helmet, that is really safe and not gives some sort of fake safety!
There a so many helmets on the market, but are they all really safe?
If you ride a motorcycle in the EU with a Helmet that does not fit the ECE-Norm, the insurance companys will not pay for your injury.
I hope someday, these rules go for all types of helmets. (to get the crap stuff out of the market).
And its not only the case which is importent, its the bealt and that the helmet fits good on the head.
(found only a motorcylcehelmet for example)
Many skaters have the helmet "loose" or dont close the belt. Which is not some kind of "coolness".
Its very dangerous! You better wear not a helmet, as like this.
The "headrotation" goes always up because of the weight from the helmet, and probably your "human reflex" will not act to protect your head, because you think, i wear a helmet - "what could happen? I´m safe!"
For yourself, and especially your kids, always make sure the bealt and helmet sits correct on your head!
Safe Helmet, correct seat are the Importent things! When "need to wear a helmet", is not about the park or insurance - its for you! (or for your kid)
Kids must learn this things, so there is a need for leading them, when you are older you should know, when you need a helmet!
Last point, if you wear a helmet or not - A skater falls down (with a helmet) on the concrete, with the head!
What you do for first aid?
Can you speak with him or is he knocked-out?
Move off his helmet or not?
Can you give the right help? Can you?
There are some other stuff, from cheap made pads, which plastic chips and is also bad to wear, but enough for that
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Being Stupid And Trying To Be Clever About It
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On 4/3/2006
WT
wrote in from
United States
(152.163.nnn.nnn)
What I think is funny are the whack jobs who try and justify not wearing a lid because a helmet "interferes with peripheral vision."
Well, I don't know about downhill or street or park skating, but in slalom, I have to ask, "who cares about what's BESIDE YOU? Why aren't you looking STRAIGHT AHEAD at the cones five or six farther down the course?"
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Helmets
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On 4/3/2006 Chuck Gill
wrote in from
United States
(65.139.nnn.nnn)
To borrow a phrase from the tattoo world..."I have no qualms with those who choose not to wear a helmet, they know what their head is worth." I make my living with my mind....I wear a helmet. Period.321
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you know what, let's get the gloves off here...
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On 4/3/2006
Michael Brooke
wrote in from
Canada
(66.146.nnn.nnn)
Why don't we get into it...after all, if not at this forum, then where? There are a lot of issues here...the Vans case is just one prime example.
Marion, you raise some excellent points...
anyone else want to speak their mind on this issue?
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Helmet Discussion
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On 4/3/2006
North Carolina Longboarder-Downhillbillies.org
wrote in from
United States
(166.82.nnn.nnn)
I was not trying to get a diatribe going about helmet safety with my post but merely pointing out that whoever put out the ad specifically took the time to express that helmets are REQUIRED at that park and then uses a picture with a rider not wearing one. That seems not only hypocritical, but irresponsible, and poor business practices. I think helmet in skating as it pretains to adult riders is a matter of choice, however, I also understand how liability works. If your insurance provider says you must inforce helmet rules (like the insurance that is being obtained by A.S.S.A. for slalom skateboard racing) then it shows lack of judgement on the parts of the people putting on an event, managing/owning a skatepark, etc. to not inforce such a rule.
I personally wish all of the riders I session with locally or at outlaw races would wear helmets. Speaking from personal experience, riding without a helmet in my mind is just not wise. (Bicycle wreck in 1981 without a helmet resulted in some slight brain damage (now you know) and the loss of all the hearing in my right ear). I don't want to see anyone hurt because they were too cool, too macho, or too whatever, to not put on a helmet.
What would have happened to Ron Olson's brain if he had not been wearing the helmet below when he fell at Hobby Park going 40 miles an hour or me 20 minutes later falling at same spot?
I was not trying to get a diatribe going about helmet safety with my post but merely pointing out that whoever put out the ad specifically took the time to express that helmets are REQUIRED at that park and then uses a picture with a rider not wearing one. That seems not only hypocritical, but irresponsible, and poor business practices. I think helmet in skating as it pretains to adult riders is a matter of choice, however, I also understand how liability works. If your insurance provider says you must inforce helmet rules (like the insurance that is being obtained by A.S.S.A. for slalom skateboard racing) then it shows lack of judgement on the parts of the people putting on an event, managing/owning a skatepark, etc. to not inforce such a rule.
I personally wish all of the riders I session with locally or at outlaw races would wear helmets. Speaking from personal experience, riding without a helmet in my mind is just not wise. (Bicycle wreck in 1981 without a helmet resulted in some slight brain damage (now you know) and the loss of all the hearing in my right ear). I don't want to see anyone hurt because they were too cool, too macho, or too whatever, to not put on a helmet.
What would have happened to Ron Olson's brain if he had not been wearing the helmet below when he fell at Hobby Park going 40 miles an hour or me 20 minutes later falling at same spot?
Marion Karr
MC Hammer Head
Skatesville, North Carolina
DHB WORLD HEADQUARTERS
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A point about safety
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On 4/3/2006 cappy
wrote in from
United States
(82.83.nnn.nnn)
Most skateboard "safety" gear is s#@!. Normaly it has to pass international
tests before it would selled. Those cheap made stuff and even from big names
are not really safe.
From todays standard, its time to get some motorcycle(helmet)makers in that game.
Yeah, that maybe cost more, but if i would fly over a halfpipe, i would want to have the best stuff! Also, since the 80´s i´m riding motorcycles, there is a nonspoken rule:
I you crash with your helmet (and it even looks good outside), you have to get a new one - cause the structure is inside damaged.
Now, who does this in skateboarding?
Streetskating not need this, but thats another story..
Always talk correct about it or leave it!
The safety on a skateboard today, is like 20 years ago....
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Protec...
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On 4/3/2006
Michael Brooke
wrote in from
Canada
(65.95.nnn.nnn)
yes, that's even more ironic!
Vans owns Protec...
Adam (of the NCDSA) and myself have had a lot of discussion about safety gear. At CW, we print ALL types of pix, some have folks wearing gear, others, not. My attitude is that you showcase it all. What's truly sad however is that we've only had 4 safety companies advertise: S One Helmets, TSG, Pro Design, Viking Helmets. I wish we had Protec in there. I once called Capix to advertise - what a joke... the guy was not interested at all - even when I pointed out to him that CW shows more skaters wearing safety gear than all the other mags combined.
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Vans...
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On 4/3/2006 Michael (Octane)
wrote in from
United Kingdom
(87.113.nnn.nnn)
Dont Vans own Protec?
Doh!
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oh, the irony..
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On 4/3/2006
Michael Brooke
wrote in from
Canada
(65.95.nnn.nnn)
Actually, I thought about that exact same thing you did. Sometimes, our advertisers do things that come back to haunt them. Hey, karma works both ways - publishers AND advertisers!
I would write to Vans and tell them.
If you have not seen the guide, and would like to a view a complete PDF for FREE on-line, visit www.concretewavemagazine.com and follow the links
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CW Buyer's Guide
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On 4/3/2006
North Carolina Longboarder-Downhillbillies.org
wrote in from
United States
(166.82.nnn.nnn)
Michael,
This is the third CW's Buyers Guide I have seen since I came back into the sport and I think it is the best! Thanks for all of the hard work. The variety, the ads, and all of the extra stuff was great.
My only complaint, or well, maybe disappointment is a better word, was the Vans Skatepark ad. It was a full page ad that had a great shot of a skater flying out of the bowl( I am sure that is a pro but I didn't recognize him) not wearing a helmet. I guess I wouldn't have paid that much attention to that detail except for this disclaimer that was at the bottom of the ad:
”The safety of our patrons is first and formost to Vans. Each person using the skatepark is required to have or rent the following safety equipment- helmet, knee and elbow pads. If you are 18 or older you may opt to not wear knee or elbow pads but helmet is required. ……..”
Thought that was interesting.
Marion Karr
MC Hammer Head
DHB WORLD HEADQUARTERS
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Thanks Concret Wave
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On 4/2/2006
Sergio Yuppie
wrote in from
Brazil
(201.14.nnn.nnn)
Yes Michael, Iam stoked about the my cover, super nice, now I am in Brazil but soon I going again for California.
Thanks for good times.
Sergio Yuppie.
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Car Buyers' Guide
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On 4/2/2006 WT
wrote in from
United States
(205.188.nnn.nnn)
Would you buy a used car from this guy?
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ha, too funny!
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On 4/2/2006
Michael Brooke
wrote in from
Canada
(70.50.nnn.nnn)
the buyers guide is slowly trickling out...it is an additional mag that we don't charge for...a bonus issue if you will...so, the mail is sent via bulk.
If your copy isn't there by April 10, I will resend
just email me if it doesn't show up.
that goes for anyone who subscribed before March 8
cheers
Michael
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