It's just a matter of how bad it can be without it. If I do hit my head without a helmet, I could suffer permanent brain damage or die. Why would I risk that, even if the risk is small, when the risk mitigation measure (wearing a helmet) is so simple and easy? (And has the side benefit of helping to keep my head warm without needing a hat or balaclava.) Without a helmet, I need to be skillful, or at least lucky, 100% of the time. A single mistake could destroy my life. With a helmet, I can absorb quite a few mistakes and walk away from them.
Your perspective just sounds like someone refusing to wear a seat belt in a car because when you were a kid they weren't mandatory or common in cars. I would hope we can agree that would be foolish.
> If you're an advanced practitioner and not doing anything crazy, the risk seems low.
It seems pretty arrogant to assume that you'll never have a bad fall just because you have a lot of experience. On top of that, you can't control other people; maybe someone less experienced than you, who is stretching their skills a little farther than they should be, collides with you and you slam your head into an icy patch. Your advanced experience might not be able to help you there.
> I learned (and taught) at a time where people didn't wear helmets.
I really hope, for the safety of your potential students, that you don't teach anymore.
> It's just a matter of how bad it can be without it.
No, it's a matter of how bad it can be without it, but also, how likely you are to fall on your head. For instance, concussions are still common in car accidents despite the safety belt. Do you wear a helmet in your car? following your reasoning, you should.
> I really hope, for the safety of your potential students, that you don't teach anymore.
Everyone is free to decide what level of risk they're willing to take. This is true of wearing a helmet while skiing, but many activities are potentially dangerous (driving, cycling, sunbathing...) and we don't accuse people doing these activities of being foolish.
I'm not advising anyone not to wear a helmet, but as long as I don't have the obligation to do so, I won't, because I feel it's more enjoyable to not wear them.
> I really hope, for the safety of your potential students, that you don't teach anymore.
You are like those government, forcing some BS like sopa/pipa/etc. Of course, helmet promoting always gets much of upvotes online - but isn't it so hard to open your eyes for looking some cons, not only pros?
Bigger inertia of a head and bigger hitbox, that's why there are lots of videos called "i love helmets" with braking helmet shown, despite the crash was not any serious. If using glasses, they always limit and distort your peripheral sight. Also it is wrong to recommend _anything_ to a man you do not know nothing about. Maybe I want to train only maneuverability, not riding fast and not riding where fast riders may be happen. Maybe I love falling-prone disciplines and have some ability to fall down correctly. Maybe my wear has kind of head-protecting options like several hoodies and a tough knot of hair. Also do not forget that head damage is not the main issue in snowboarding - if someone has not been taught to fall down correctly, snowboard is not an easy way to start that learning because of bounded legs and skill-demanding brake (if some speed has been got and slowing is needed).
> I'd rather not be one of those "he died doing what he loved" guys when it is entirely preventable.
I do know such a guy, it was my schoolmate who rode a motorcycle and somehow he has rammed a car with his head. Good helmet might have saved his scull from a crack. Not being drunk on that moment might have save him IMO more likely.
You are wearing the wrong helmets if it's not enjoyable/comfortable. I wear a helmet when I ride a bike, motorbike, snowboard etc. I'd rather not be one of those "he died doing what he loved" guys when it is entirely preventable.
Your perspective just sounds like someone refusing to wear a seat belt in a car because when you were a kid they weren't mandatory or common in cars. I would hope we can agree that would be foolish.
> If you're an advanced practitioner and not doing anything crazy, the risk seems low.
It seems pretty arrogant to assume that you'll never have a bad fall just because you have a lot of experience. On top of that, you can't control other people; maybe someone less experienced than you, who is stretching their skills a little farther than they should be, collides with you and you slam your head into an icy patch. Your advanced experience might not be able to help you there.
> I learned (and taught) at a time where people didn't wear helmets.
I really hope, for the safety of your potential students, that you don't teach anymore.