Quote:
Originally Posted by YYCBoarder
A helmet has more surface area creates more drag and impact when hitting the water which could increase the chance of whiplash.
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I find this statement confusing. I took a serious whiplash back edge slam a few weeks ago behind the boat. From a physics standpoint I can only imagine that a helmet would have lessened the injury. Following the conventional logic that a larger surface area would have reduced the penetration of the back of my head into the water, my neck would have not been snapped backwards as much as it was. Also the thickness of the helmet would have reduced the amount of backwards snap just by the fact that my head would have stopped sooner.
That's the same logic that people use to claim a helmet would increase the chance of concussion because it would decelerate your head faster. However they leave out a parameter in that assessment. That being the helmet has internal padding.
And while your instructor may have seen the worst eardrum injury with a person wearing a helmet. You didn't mention if the helmet had ear flaps. My personal experience with ear impact riding the cable is that the flaps are of a benefit.