One of the gnarliest guys to ever strap into a snowboard almost died this week, not shredding a severe exposure/no fall zone that he is know for, rather a mellow powder run with few submerged rocks. If this isn’t proof positive that we all need to be wearing helmets please tell me why not:

“Today I was lucky, riding really mellow powder I hit a rock and then hit more rocks really hard with my head and blacked out for a while. Without a helmet the doctor thinks I could easily have died. In the photo you can see how much the interior absorbed the shock at the back.

Thankfully just a concussion with a massive headache and a reminder to always wear a helmet…even on mellow terrain.

Thank you smithoptics saved my life today.”

We also want to thank Smith Optics for saving one our favorite snowboarders in the world. Please send this around if you have any friends that are holdouts on purchasing a helmet. Easiest/best equipment decision any mountain enthusiast can make.

[images from xavier’s facebook]