Do any of you guys wear them? Are there any benefits to wearing one other than to protect your melon from hitting the board?
The reason I ask is because last summer I took a real hard fall and ended up with a concussion. I didn't hit the board or anything it must've just been how I hit the water. Then, this year, the last time we went out I caught my heelside edge and fell backwards and I really felt the fall in my head. I assume that this will be an ongoing problem. If I start wearing a helmet will it help absorb these impacts and help make it so I don't worry so much about falling and whether or not my head is going to hurt or get hurt?
I don't do any crazy tricks or anything just really learning to ride. I ride at about 21mph and I can go regular heelside wake to wake and that is about as 'big' as I can go right now. However I feel like the fear of falling and my head hurting is preventing me from progressing. I can't ride switch at all and I fall everytime I try and work on it...sometimes the falls are tough. I know that is REALLY holding me back. In just the few times we went last year my riding improved dramatically. There was a noticable difference from the first ride of the season to the last, or so I was told. So, I'd really like to get over this hurdle/fear and see how far I can take my riding this season.
*Note* For any of you real or internet Doctors out there the concussion I received last year was my second physician diagnosed concussion I've had in my life. The first one was about 15 years ago. I doubt that matters since they are so far apart...