Off-road racing dog has skill and a need for speed

Opee is only 8, but he's already a popular veteran in the down and dirty sport of motocross.

He can pull 6 Gs. He's been the centerfold for Cycle News and poses regularly for fan photos. He's a survivor of the grueling Baja 500 and has racked up more than 10,000 hours on a dirt bike.

Sometimes, you can barely see the 70-pound pooch - a blue merle Australian shepherd - through the dust on his goggles and his custom helmet, complete with cam.

"I am his biggest fan," said Mike Schelin, Opee's owner, race partner and a purveyor of used motorcycle parts from a shop next to his mobile home.

Schelin got the dog in 2001 shortly after his divorce. He raises him with other dogs and two horses at a spread he calls Miracle Flats. Known as "The Dogfather" to some in the sport, Schelin always takes a back seat to Opee.

"He was my instant best friend," Schelin said. "He slept in my tool bag. There was something about him. He's had charisma since Day One. I knew I had a dog who could make a difference."

Schelin, 41, realized he had a four-legged motocross fan as a pet when he started riding in the desert with Opee on the chase.

"I felt bad for him, he would run so long." So Schelin bought a four-wheeler and they went desert riding together. The dog didn't like the dust in his eyes, so Schelin got him goggles. One day, Opee ditched the four-wheeler and hopped on the motorcycle tank, where he's been ever since, Schelin said.

If the bike isn't moving, Opee will just fall asleep on the tank. They keep it bare because they've never found a covering that's comfortable for the dog, Schelin said.

Reaction to Opee was magic. He was an instant canine ambassador to off-roading. Finding sponsors was no problem and soon Opee had his own custom gear, including a specially made neck brace, inflatable vest, backpack, water supply and several jerseys. He got his American Motorcycle Association card and his SCORE International card, the latter so he could race in Baja.

The dog does lots of other things, too. He's been a search and rescuer, a California assistance dog and visits kids in hospitals with Schelin. They regularly work crowds at races in the area, including the Supercross in Anaheim.

Opee appears to be Schelin's biggest fan as well. "From what I see, he loves Mike and would go anywhere with him," said Ricky Johnson, a seven-time national motorcycle champion who owns Perris Raceway near Schelin's place.

Opee and Schelin race, but not to win. Because they're different and for safety's sake, they always start in the rear and they only compete with the cyclist in front of them, Schelin said.

Schelin's greatest triumph came when his five-member team - with Opee in the driver's seat for 276 miles - finished the cross-country Baja 500 with 10 minutes to spare - in 17 hours, 49 minutes, 36 seconds - and ahead of half the pack.

"The average person races eight times before he finishes," he said.

In the beginning, Schelin had trouble seeing around Opee, but they worked out shifts and leans and it's seldom a problem now. Schelin also uses voice commands.

"When we come up to a jump, I tell him to set it up and he will drop down and give me more of a view," Schelin said. If they're at the bottom of a cliff or big hill and there's too much weight, he just tells Opee to get off and meet him at the top.

Schelin doesn't go racing without Opee these days. "I can't go as fast without him. I can't jump as far without him. I don't feel as safe without him. He's become a natural part of the bike with me. We have this natural rhythm."

Even the most skilled motocross racer has a plaster cast past and Opee is no exception. His worst crash came in the 2006 Baja 500.

"We took a spill at 75 mph in the dirt and went into a 40-foot skid," Schelin said.

The dog isn't attached to the bike or Schelin in any way. He skinned his nose and scraped his paw. Schelin sliced his leg. The injuries weren't enough to put them out of the race though.

"I would never do anything to hurt my dog," Schelin said. "Opee keeps me in check at all times. If he doesn't jump up on the bike, we don't go."

Schelin is not only racing partner but stage dad for his dog, with a few goals for the future: Do a back flip with Opee into a foam pit ("he would hold on the same way I do - gravity"); see Opee recognized as the fastest dog on the planet (he's written to Guinness); take a tandem skydive; and go to the movies to see Opee in a major motion picture.

Schelin answered a Hollywood agent's TV ad three years ago, but he hasn't heard back and is looking for representation. Opee, he said, is too talented to go undiscovered.

"The only thing missing is the cape."

Reference: SUE MANNING,  Associated Press Writer

Photography by: Chris Carlson, Associate Press Photographer

A snowboarder's accident casts a shadow over the upcoming Olympics

Maybe you've found yourself wondering, while watching the Olympic halfpipe every four years: Where can they possibly take the sport from here? In the months leading up to the Vancouver Games, the answer became clear: The next frontier is a family of exceptionally challenging off-axis spins called corks. Right now, the best riders in the world are executing double corks—stunts with Jabberwocky names such as "switch double Haakon flip" and "double McTwist."

Last June, Kevin Pearce (SI, Dec. 7, 2009) sat cross-legged on the backside of California's Mammoth Mountain, sounding like a pioneer. The 22-year-old Vermonter, a rising star in the sport, had invited a handful of his snowboarding friends to train with him. (They call themselves Frends—the absent i denoting selflessness.) With Pearce, Danny Davis and Luke Mitrani dialing in an assortment of double-corked moves, there was a sense of euphoria in the air. Pearce marveled at how quickly he and his Frends had gone from "just thinking about these tricks to actually taking it to the wall."

That progression was slowed last Thursday. In the process of landing a cab double cork—a trick he's nailed before—Pearce caught his toe-side edge, slamming headfirst into the wall of the halfpipe at Park City, Utah. Pearce, who was wearing a helmet, suffered a serious head injury; as of Monday he was in critical but stable condition at the University of Utah Hospital. "Kevin sustained a severe traumatic brain injury," said one of his doctors, Holly Ledyard. "[He] has a long recovery ahead of him."

How long a shadow will Pearce's accident cast over the Olympic halfpipe, scheduled to begin on Feb. 17? Through a spokeswoman, the Frends declined to comment. But, while discussing this latest generation of "heavy" tricks with Denver Westworld last month, Davis said, "One thing that I've realized is that you've got to commit.... If you think you're gonna freak out and open up halfway through it, don't try it."

Best wishes for a healthy, speedy recovery Kevin

Reference: Sports Illustrated, January 11, 2010 - written. by Austin Murphy

Missoula man killed in skateboard crash

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons encourages physical activity as part of an overall health and fitness plan. You can have fun, but it is always important to be safe!

To improve skateboarding safety, a growing number of communities provide supervised skateboard parks. These may have professionally designed "bowls" and "ramps" or other designated skateboarding areas that are located away from motor vehicle and pedestrian traffic.

Skateboarding is an activity in which you move quickly over hard surfaces. It can lead to injuries that range from minor cuts and bruises to catastrophic brain injury. Each year in the United States, skateboarding injuries cause about 50,000 visits to emergency departments and 1500 children and adolescents to be hospitalized. (Source: AAP, March 2002. )

Most hospitalizations involve head injury. Even injuries that heal quickly can cause pain and anxiety, cost time, and money and may lead to disabilities. This can include loss of vision, hearing and speech; inability to walk, bathe, toilet, dress or feed yourself; and changes in thinking and behavior.

Skateboarding is not recommended for young children. That's because they are still growing and do not yet have the physical skills and thinking ability a person needs to control a skateboard and ride it safely.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP):

• Children under age 5 years old should never ride a skateboard.
• Children aged 6 to 10 years old need close supervision from an adult or trustworthy adolescent whenever they ride a skateboard.

When young children are involved in skateboarding accidents, they are often injured severely. Skateboarding is a special risk for young children because they have:

• A higher center of gravity, less development and poor balance. These factors make children more likely to fall and hurt their heads.
• Slower reactions and less coordination than adults. Children are less able to break their falls.
• Less skill and ability than they think. Children overestimate their skills and abilities and are inexperienced in judging speed, traffic and other risks.

Serious skateboarding injuries happen when you lose control and fall or run into a motor vehicle, road hazard, pedestrian, another skateboarder or bicyclist. You are at risk for injuries:

• If you don't use protective equipment.
• If you don't keep your skateboard in good condition.
• If you skateboard on irregular surfaces.
• If you attempt "tricks" beyond your skill level.

Sixty percent of skateboard injuries involve children under age 15; most of those injured are boys. At highest risk are:

• Inexperienced skateboarders. Those who have been skating for less than one week suffer one-third of injuries, usually caused by falls.
• Skateboarders who do not wear protective equipment. Every skateboarder should wear standard safety gear. This includes a helmet, wrist guards, elbow and knee pads and appropriate shoes. Skateboarders who perform tricks should use heavy duty gear.
• Skateboarders who go near traffic or use homemade skateboard ramps. Both activities are particularly dangerous.
• Experienced skateboarders who encounter unexpected surfaces or try risky stunts. Irregular riding surfaces, rocks or other debris can cause you to fall. You can stumble over twigs or fall down slopes. Wet pavements and rough or uneven surfaces can cause a wipeout. Avoid risky behavior. Don't skateboard too fast or in dangerous or crowded locations.

Skateboarding injuries often involve the wrist, ankle or face. Many injuries happen when you lose your balance, fall off the skateboard and land on an outstretched arm.

• Injuries to the arms, legs, neck and trunk range from bruises and abrasions to sprains and strains, fractures and dislocations. Wrist fractures are quite common. Wearing wrist guards can reduce their frequency and severity.
• Facial injuries include breaking your nose and jawbone
• Severe injuries include concussion, closed head injury and blunt head trauma.
• You can suffer permanent impairment or even death if you fall off the skateboard and strike your head without a helmet. Most brain injuries happen when your head hits pavement. You are most at risk if you skateboard near traffic and collide with motor vehicles, bikes, pedestrians or other obstacles.

You can prevent most skateboarding injuries if you follow all of these recommendations:

Hey, it only seems like common sense that when you're 60' from someone firing a 90 MPH hardball at you, a helmet is a pretty cool thing to have covering your noodle. But like most athletes, baseball players would rather risk injury than lose even a split second's edge in competition.

History is a little misty about the first player that decided to protect his money maker and put more than a piece of cloth between his noggin and the ball.

Inventor Frank Mogridge made the first crude attempt at protective gear in 1905. He came up with something that looked like an inflatable boxing glove that wrapped around the hitter’s head. The A.J. Reach Company of Philadelphia sold it for $5. Hall of Famer Roger Bresnahan experimented with it, and did him one better.

He developed a leather batting helmet in 1908 after he was severely injured by a beaning. He's considered the papa of batting helmets, although the other players snickered at the very thought of wearing one. Bresnahan, a catcher for the New York Giants, is also credited with inventing and using shinguards. Smart guy, hey?

Despite the fatal beaning of Ray Chapman by Carl Mays in 1920, batting helmets were not made mandatory in Major League Baseball until decades down the road.

According to The Way Baseball Works by Dan Gutman, Willie Wells of the 1942 Newark Eagles of the Negro National League was the first player to wear a helmet during a regular season game. It looked much like a blue collar hardhat.

But others say that the first time players wore protective headgear came during a spring training game on March 7, 1941, and continued on through the years. Pee Wee Reese and Ducky Medwick of the Dodgers wore a plastic insert after being beaned in 1940 and missing weeks of playing time.

The headpiece was designed by Johns Hopkins brain surgeon Walter Dandy, at the request of GM Larry McPhail. Those helmets were based on jockeys' hats, and were just a normal baseball cap with curved hard plastic shells slipped into a zippered compartment.

Regardless who started the idea, the first true helmet was developed by Charlie Muse at the behest of Pirate GM Branch Rickey. Muse was an executive with the club, and Rickey asked him to design and create a helmet that would protect the players' heads.

Muse was appointed president of Rickey’s American Cap Company, and came up with the first modern-day helmet, based on a miner's hardhat. Of, course, Rickey's company produced and sold them. Just a bit of serendipity, we're sure.

In 1952, the Pittsburgh Pirates became the first major league team to permanently adopt batting helmets. And Rickey was serious about it. The Pirates were ordered to wear the helmets both at bat and in the field, though thankfully that idea only lasted a couple of seasons before the fielders could leave them in the dugout.

At first, the Bucs weren't too crazy about them, and the fans got a hoot out of them too, bouncing marbles off the players' helmeted heads. But one play that year turned many players' attitudes around.

A helmeted Paul Pettit, pinch-running for the Pirates against the Cubs, was speeding toward second base to break up a DP when the shortstop's bullet relay hit him squarely in the head. "All it did was dent the helmet, and he stayed in the game," recalled Joe Garagiola, talking to SI. "Made believers out of everybody."

They became mandatory in MLB in 1971. However, they had been in use for several years before the rule. In the 1950s and 1960s, many players batted without outer helmets, but used the Dodger-style plastic inserts inside their baseball caps.

After 1971, players who were grandfathered could still choose whether or not they wanted to use a helmet. Some players, like Norm Cash and Bob Montgomery, hit without a helmet throughout their playing careers. Montgomery was the last of the helmetless dinosaurs, retiring in 1979.

Although helmets with earflaps were common in amateur sports, they were slow to gain popularity at the professional level.

Earl Battey of the Minnesota Twins developed the first helmet with an ear flap. Cub third baseman Ron Santo gets the credit for donning the first earflap helmet at the major league level, after having his left cheekbone fractured by a pitch in 1966.

BoSox Tony Conigliaro had his career cut short in August of 1967, when Jim Hamilton beaned him with an inside heater (although in Hamilton's defense, Tony C was noted for crowding the dish, and had baseballs bounce off him regularly).

The pitch hit him flush on the cheek just below the left eye. If his batting helmet had an earflap, he might have been spared from serious injury. Still, the macho attitude continued unabated.

The idea of earflaps was accepted by the players relucantly. Some batters felt that catching a glimpse of the earflap out of the corner of an eye was distracting. But in 1983, it was made mandatory for new players to use a helmet with at least one ear flap.

Grandfathered players could elect to wear a helmet without ear flaps. Tim Raines was the last player to wear an old-timey helmet until he retired in the 2002 season. His flapless Florida Marlins helmet is currently on display at the Baseball Hall of Fame with other relics of baseball's Stone Ages.

Gary Gaetti, who retired in 2000, and Ozzie Smith, who retired in 1996, also wore helmets without flaps to the end. Julio Franco was the last player eligible to wear a helmet without flaps, although he's worn a helmet with one throughout his career - and it's been a pretty long and healthy one.

MLB bat and ball boys/girls are required to wear a helmet while on the field of play. Some catchers also continue to use the no-flap helmet, wearing it backwards along with their mask, but it looks like the hockey-style mask will eventually render the old school backstopping gear obsolete.

After the 2007 death of Tulsa Drillers first base coach Mike Coolbaugh, the old-timers coaching the bases were added to the list of protected species.

The Oakland A's Rene Lachemann decided to wear a helmet out to his third base coaching position for the remainder of the 2007 season after Coolbaugh's death. This year, MLB made it mandatory for coaches to wear helmets while in the box.

Some, like the Dodger's Larry Bowa, kicked and screamed about it, but if it's good enough for the players, the league felt it was good enough for them, too.

Hey, baseball players may be hard-headed, but...

To view baseball protective gear click here

We just got our shipment in of Giro Snowboad Helmet for 2008-2009 Season.  With new features and styles now is the time to get geared up for the ski and snowboard season.  Check out the selection of Giro Helmets here.  And also be sure to check out Giro Goggles here.

They are in stock and ready to ship.

Known for the super lightweight bike helmets Giro snowboard helmets follow suit.  Super comfortable, lightweight and of course provide strong protection against falls.  Innovators in snowboard helmet technology, and the Giro G10 Snow Helmet and for you music junkies the Giro G10 Wireless Audio Snow Helmets are the way to go this year. 

The Giro G10 Wireless Audio Snow Helmet is one of our most popular freeski helmets and TuneUps Wireless is our most advanced audio system Developed in conjunction with Motorola, the system consists of a pair of modular speaker pods that clip into either the pads of your helmet or the included DJ handset. Intuitive, easy to reach controls are located on the spearker pods and are simple to use, even in gloved hands.

If aren't already skiing or snowboarding with a helmet on, you should definitely start. The Giro G10 and other Giro Helmets are really the best ski and snowboard helmets out there.

Need a Helmet? Yes you do!!

How Does a Helmet Work?

The helmet must stay on your head even when you hit more than once--usually a car first, and then the road. So it needs a strong strap and an equally strong fastener. The helmet should sit level on your head and cover as much as possible. Above all, with the strap fastened you should not be able to get the helmet off your head by any combination of pulling or twisting. If it comes off or slips enough to leave large areas of your head unprotected, adjust the straps again or try another helmet. Keep the strap comfortably snug when riding.

What Type do I Need?

Beware of gimmicks. You want a smoothly rounded outer shell, with no sharp ribs or snag points. Excessive vents mean less area contacting your head, which could concentrate force on one point. "Aero" helmets are not noticeably faster, and in a crash the "tail" could snag or knock the helmet aside. Skinny straps are less comfortable. Dark helmets are hard for motorists to see. Rigid visors can snag or shatter in a fall. Helmet standards do not address these problems--it's up to you!

Helmet Standards

Fit is not certified by any standard, so test that on your own head. Visors are not tested for shattering or snagging in a fall, so you are on your own there.

Comfort Requirements

Special Problems

How to Buy a Helmet

When you pick up a helmet, look first for a CPSC sticker inside and a smooth shell with a bright color outside. Put it on, adjust the pads and straps or the one-size-fits-all head ring, and then try hard to tear it off. Look for vents and sweat control. Helmets sell in bike shops or by mail order from $20 up, or in discount stores for less. A good shop helps with fitting, and fit is important for safety. A discount helmet can be equally protective if you take the time to fit it carefully. Helmets are cheap now, so don't wait for a sale. Many of us bought our helmets after a crash. You can be smarter than that.

Thanks to our friends at www.helmet.org for this valuable information.

I think we can all agree that your face and head pretty vital, which is why there are so many precautions in place to protect these areas while playing extreme sports. But what kind of face guards are available, and what types of sports should you wear them for? Here’s a quick guide to protective facial masks to help you know what to look for.

• Softball and Baseball Helmet/Mask Combo

This combination helmet/facial mask provides complete protection to softball and baseball players. It is also made of a patented bullet-proof material!

• Softball Defensive Facemask

 The Emask Facemask is shatter-proof, and protects all areas of the face from blows and blunt trauma. It also comes in a variety of bright colors.

• Baseball and Softball Game Face

 The Game Face mask protects against both facial and dental injuries, while also providing plenty of ventilation to increase comfortability.

• Mueller Nose Guard

 This nose guard is designed specifically for use in basketball, wrestling, karate, and other sports where helmets are not required.

• ProForce MA Lightning Clear Face Shield

This versatile face shield can be used for nearly any sport, and is designed to maximize breathing and air flow.

• Saddle Barn Face Mask

 This face mask is intended for use in barns, stables, corrals, or any other place where horses may be. It is designed to protect the cheek bones, chin, forehead, and temple regions.

No matter what type of face guard you are looking for, always remember to choose one that offers plenty of protection while also being comfortable enough to play your best in.

Giro Pneumo helmets definitely get our vote for some of the best safety gear available to road cyclists this year. The new Giro Pneumo Road Helmet’s patented ROC LOC fit system includes a soft rubber fit belt to ensure that it will remain stabilized on your head throughout the course of your ride. We also love the contoured shape of the Pneumo, as it allows for the least amount of wind resistance possible, while looking pretty darn cool in the process.

Last year, a man in Seattle accidentally proved the effectiveness of Giro helmets by rising from a head-on delivery truck collision unscathed. Cyclist Ryan Lipscomb was quoted as saying “I didn’t see it coming, but I sure felt it roll over my head. It feels really strange to have a truck run over your head.” The crash flattened Lipscomb’s Giro helmet, but did no damage to his face or skull. Lipscomb was released from the hospital within three hours of the crash.

 If that story doesn’t prove the durability of Giro helmets, we don’t know what will. The excellent ventilation system and adjustable visor make this helmet the most comfortable option possible for the huge amount of protection that you get, and the three different sizes offered make the helmet available to riders of all sizes.

Helmets are designed to protect a rider’s head in a crash or spill. Like the human head—and more important, what’s inside it—not all helmets are created equal, so it’s best to get into one’s thick skull what all those ratings on a helmet mean.

That’s assuming one’s helmet actually bears a safety rating, of course, the proof of which is often displayed at bottom of the helmet’s back and on a label sewn on its inner lining.

Certifying Helmets

There are four internationally recognized safety standards for road-use helmets. These are the British Standards Institution (BSI) used in the United Kingdom; the Economic Community of Europe (ECE) standard that’s recognized in more than 50 countries; the rating from the Snell Memorial Foundation (Snell M2000/M2005), a private agency that has been in existence for over 50 years; and the US Department of Transportation (DOT) certification that every helmet sold in the US must pass. A particular helmet may satisfy more than one of these four safety certifications, although which standard applies in which country varies.      

Helmets Defined

To understand the certifications is to first understand the components of a helmet. Basically, a motorcycle helmet has two major parts. First is the outer shell, which can be made of fiberglass, carbon fiber, Kevlar or other exotic materials like molded thermoplastic or polycarbonate—all of which determines a helmet’s price tag. Its second part is the inner lining, which is largely made of energy-absorbing expanded polystyrene (EPS), the same material used in coffee cups or packages.   

The outer shell’s function is to protect a rider’s head from wind, rain or abrasions once he crashes. It also plays a part in aerodynamic purposes as well as in aesthetics.

The inner lining, meanwhile, plays a larger role in protecting a rider’s head from injury as it’s the EPS which cushions the head and absorbs the energy of an impact. The good thing with EPS is that it absorbs this impact at a predictable rate and does not store the resultant kinetic energy so it could bounce back to the rider’s head. The EPS slows down the speed by which the head comes to a stop. The slower it comes to a stop, the better the chances of a rider suffering less injuries.

The major types of helmets are full-face, half-face, off-road and shortie. In recent years, modular helmets—sort of a cross between a full-face and a half-face and whose front portions can be flipped up or locked in place—have become popular. Generally speaking, the more head area a helmet covers, the safer it is.

Testing Helmets

To test helmets, these are dropped onto a hard object on a test rig. The height from which these are dropped and the magnesium weight inside them are varied to simulate the different speeds riders crash and the different head sizes that go inside helmets. An accelerometer is mounted inside the helmet to determine how much G-force is generated—and for how long this is generated—in a particular impact. A

Will pro players take advantage of this new football helmet and it's advanced protection or will they opt for a better looking traditional helmet.  Tune in this fall.

Industrial designer Bert Straus at Protective Sports Equipment developed the Gladiator as an alternative to current helmets, which use a hard polycarbonate shell, inflatable bladders that cushion impacts and hold the helmets on, and inner foam pads. He calls this a “hard-soft” design, with the hard shell the first line of defense, backed up by softer materials.

The Gladiator, a “soft-hard-soft” design, has a relatively soft urethane-foam outer covering over a polycarbonate shell holding foam inner pads. It should be lighter than current helmets, which should reduce neck strain and fatigue. (Fatigue is a known factor in head-down tackling, a poor technique that can lead to severe injuries.)

The Gladiator will also have resin-composite face guards. This should better balance the design, move the center of gravity back toward the center of the player’s head, and reduce the potentially harmful moment around the neck. The faceguard will have a quick release, important for access to the player’s airways when the head and helmet are immobilized. Current helmets must be cut or the four clamps unscrewed in similar situations. A second quick-release latch holds the chin cup in place.

This eliminates snaps and buckles which can lacerate the skin. Inside, contoured pads with a viscoelastic layer should improve fit and comfort. They are covered with a wicking material, as opposed to being crammed into PVC pockets, again for comfort, especially in colder weather. These pads still inflate for fit, but a bladder comprised of inflatable cells give the pads an inward, evenly distributed push.

Finally, Gladiator helmets will contain no metal, making them transparent to X-ray machines, CAT scanners, and MRI imagers, an obvious plus in cases of spinal or head injury. The final helmet will likely cost more than the current $198 models, but it will also contain significantly more technology.

This will not be Straus’ first time at offering the NFL a way to improve helmet safety. Sixteen years ago, he invented ProCap, a large, hard outer covering made of urethane foam, which is tough, light, resilient, and slippery. Velcro holds it tightly on the normal high-school, college, or NFL helmet. It’s about 0.6-in thick, but is thicker where impacts are more likely. Adding a soft outer covering to the hard shell and inner pads reduces the force of impacts.

A year after a minor league first-base coach was killed by a foul ball, Major League Baseball now require all coaches to wear helmets on the baseball field.

“The issue should be discussed because we had a situation where a tragedy befell someone on the field, and we are the guardians of the sport, and the general managers will make a decision to what level it should be implemented,” Jimmie Lee Solomon, M.L.B.’s executive vice president for baseball operations, said in a telephone interview.

“We want to think about ways that we could have a positive impact, and have looked at the fact that base runners use batting helmets, and we think we should extend that to the coaches at first and third base.”

Coaches at first and third base can be caught off guard by hard-hit balls because their duties often require them to keep an eye on base runners and fielders even as a pitch is being thrown.

Since Coolbaugh’s death, Rene Lachemann, the third-base coach for the Oakland Athletics, and Glenallen Hill, the first-base coach for the Colorado Rockies, have begun wearing helmets.

“I plan to play a few more rounds of golf in the off-season instead of pushing up daisies in the third-base coach’s box,” Lachemann told reporters shortly after he decided to wear the helmet.

Jerry Manuel, the Mets’ bench coach, who coached first base for the Mets in 2005 and third for Montreal from 1991-96, said he would protect himself if he went back to coaching on the field.

“At the age I am now, I will take chest protectors, shin guards, anything,” Manuel said. “In light of what happened, if you can prevent things from happening again, it is worth it.”

Photo AP Photo/David Zalubowski

Protective gear including helmets and vests for Rodeo has very slowly been accepted by these brave athletes.  This is a great article that speaks about this transition. 

Do you know the correct way to wear a helmet?

Wear the helmet flat atop your head, not tilted back at an angle!



Make sure the helmet fits snugly and does not obstruct your field of vision. Make
sure the chin strap fits securely and that the buckle stays fastened.

The need for Horseback Riding and Equestrian Helmets is sort of "no brainer" especially when you look at the facts related to head injuries in horse related activities.  This information from Troxel Helmets medical advisor makes all this very clear.

About 7,000,000 people participate in horse activities in the USA annually.

Whether riding Western or English, the height above the ground and the variables introduced by the horse itself, create an environment where head injuries are relatively common. Despite the agility and experience of a rider, it is often impossible to adjust one’s position during a fall to avoid a high energy, head impact with the ground, rock, or other objects.

Facts from a range of equestrian studies:

·     70,000 people are treated in emergency rooms because of equestrian related injuries accounting for an estimated 2,300 admissions annually. Head injuries account for 18% of emergency room injuries.

·     Lifetime riders who report riding six or more times per year reported a 13% lifetime rate of being hospitalized because of a riding injury.

·     Head injuries account for the majority of hospitalizations and deaths.

·     The risk of head injuries appears to be similar in English riding as compared to Western riding. Rates increase with aggressive riding such as jockeys and eventors.

·    The mechanism of the majority of equestrian related head injuries relates to your dis

The following list of gear are the basic gear you should consider when considering participating in Motocross:

Helmet 

You want to be sure the helmet you’re using for Motocross is an actual “Motocross” helmet and has DOT and Snell approval.  You also want one that’s lightweight and built with good ventilation.  And you always want to be sure you have the right fit.  The helmet should fit snug so it’s not shifting around and should not be so snug that it’s giving you a headache.  Correct sizing is very important. 

Neck Collar 

A neck collar or roll helps to reduce shock, fatigue and prevent excess head movement, which can lead to neck injury.  Typically, neck collars are lightweight and built with a shock absorbing foam base.  Good neck collars are versatile and will allow the rider to attach to a chest protector or have attachments so it can be worn without the chest protector.  It should also have a removable cover so it can be removed for cleaning to keep it fresh. 

Chest Protector 

Chest protectors are designed to be worn over your jersey or enduro jacket and consist of an injection molded durable polycarbonate chassis and shoulders. They include a back protection system, and upper arm guards. Typical models include integrated venting, and quick lock buckle closure systems to keep you cool and to make it easy to take on and off. For maximum protection during fast riding or racing, a plastic chest protector is usually the best choice. 

Elbow Guard

Helmets Greatly reduce the risk of head injuries among skiers and snowboarders, a Norwegian study found.

CHICAGO (AP by Carla K. Johnson)—Helmets greatly reduce the risk of head injuries among skiers and snowboarders, a Norwegian study found.

Researchers hope their study, along with helmet-clad Olympic athletes like Shaun “The Flying Tomato” White, will lead to greater use of protective headgear on the slopes.

“Do as the Olympians do,” said study co-author Dr. Roald Bahr of the Norwegian School of Sports Sciences in Oslo. “Wear a helmet, even if you're not an elite skier or snowboarder _ especially if you're not.”

Some critics argue helmets may lead to accidents by giving daredevil skiers a false sense of security or cause more neck injuries because of the weight of the headgear.

The study found that while risk takers were more likely to wear helmets, helmet wearers overall were 60 percent less likely to suffer head injuries. It also found a lower risk of neck injuries with helmet wear, but that finding was not statistically significant, meaning it could have been due to chance.

The study looked at data on more than 6,000 skiers and snowboarders at eight Norwegian ski resorts during the 2002 winter season. It appears in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association.

With about 39 fatalities a year, skiing and snowboarding are safer than bicycling or swimming, which have higher death rates, according to the National Ski Areas Association, a trade group.

Helmet use is increasing, the group said, with one-third of skiers and snowboarders surveyed last season wearing helmets, compared with 28 percent the year before.

Over the past five years, almost 40 percent of skiers and snowboarders who died in ski accidents wore helmets, said Jasper Healy, professor emeritus at Rochester Institute of Technology, who does similar research but was not involved in the new study.

“I do wear a helmet,” Healy said. “But if you hit a tree, don't think a helmet will make the difference in being alive or being dead. It won't.”

Dr. Pietro Tonino, chief of sports medicine at Loyola University Health System, said the study will lead parents to buy helmets for their children. But he predicted the Olympics will persuade young people to wear them.

“You can still be cool even when you're wearing a helmet,” Tonino said