Should Sponsored Longboarders Have to Wear A Helmet in Ads?

Comet/Volante/Blood Orange team rider Liam Morgan released an article titled, “Notes of a Greasy Young Man: Helmet” in the article Liam explained how he wears helmets when taping videos of him pushing his limits, however doesn’t always wear them when he is doing photo shoots. Within the article Liam acknowledges the real danger of death or serious injury every time somebody steps on a skateboard. He also explains that this has been his decision, and that little groms everywhere should indeed wear a helmet. This is America, and the thing that makes America great is the fact that everyone has the freedom of speech. That freedom of speech is not strictly limited to individuals, it applies to corporations as well.

As Liam pointed out, almost nobody bats an eye when skateboarders don’t wear a helmet. There have been countless ads & magazine articles with one of the founding fathers of skateboarding Tony Alva not wearing a helmet. Skateboard culture has been used to not wearing a helmet from the start. Longboarding culture is unique in the sense that a lot of people understand the elevated risks longboarders take vs traditional skateboarding. As a result wearing a helmet isn’t seen as an uncool thing among the majority. I’m sad to see the shift taking place, where wearing a helmet is starting to be seen as an uncool thing. I wish longboarders would view wearing full face helmets as freaking legit, and penny boards as lame. (Thats just my opinion)

Liam Morgan said he wears a helmet when pushing his limits, I was the same way. One day in Jr high, I was dropping in on a 12 foot high vert ramp. Being the terrible lil grom skater I was, I immediately ate shit and slammed on my face. Dazed I took off my helmet and realized my lid took the majority of the impact leaving me with a bruise above my eye and on my chin. My helmet saved me from serious injury, and ever since that day I’ve done my best to wear a helmet.

There are two reasons I wrote this article, one was to see how our fans feel about the subject, and the second was to point out how not wearing a helmet effects those that love you. God forbid a lil grom is killed, or seriously injured longboarding, his or her family has to carry the guilt, and responsibility of taking care of them the rest of their lives. There is a saying, do as I say not as I do, listen to the wise words of Liam, “yeah. The reality is that when anyone hits the ground at high speed without a helmet on the chance of severe injury or death is pretty big. So always ride within your limits, and don’t do me, do you.”

We wrote a legit article helping determine which helmet would be right for you, check it out, click here.