Norwegian resort makes ski helmets compulsory

28th February 2018, by Abi Butcher

Alpinanleggenes Landsforeningen, has said it is skeptical of Hovden Alpinsenter's plans to make ski helmets compulsory

The Norwegian ski resorts’ trade association, Alpinanleggenes Landsforeningen, has said it is skeptical of one ski resort’s plans to make ski helmets compulsory.

The ski resort of Hovden Alpinsenter, one of the country’s largest ski resorts, recently announced its plans to make ski helmets mandatory — in a bid to decrease the number of head injuries sustained by skiers and snowbaorders.

Hovden Alpinsenter, in the south of Norway, will bring the rule into force from next season.

Daniel Schaanning, head of Hovden’s ski patrol, told state broadcaster NRK: “We’re doing this because we see that helmets are very important as a means of reducing head injuries.”

But the trade association Alpinanleggenes Landsforeningen reports that 85 per cent of Alpine skiers in Norway use helmets anyway, and said it doesn’t support the plans to make helmet use compulsory.

Association leader Andreas Smith-Erichsen told NRK: “We’re skeptical to using force — we think campaigns to promote helmet use work better.”

• ski
• snowboard
• safety
• norway
• helmet

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