Helmets protect your head. Duh. Helmets work to absorb and distribute the shock of a hard impact. Imagine: you’re skiing a glade and WHAM, a low-hanging branch catches you off-guard, sending you flying into the woods. Not only will your helmet provide protection from the hard, potentially sharp branch, but it will decrease potential damage if you go head-first into another tree.

They protect against surface injuries. The helmet’s primary responsibility is to protect against surface injuries, such as fractured skulls and lacerations. In fact, increased helmet usage has reduced this type of injury by 50% from 2003. Helmets don’t make riders immune to head trauma, but they often reduce the severity of the injury.

You have no reason not to. If you’re not accustomed to wearing a helmet, think about why you’ve made this decision. Is it because they can get hot? Are you worried you won’t be able to hear your music? Is it purely a vanity thing? As you’ve already figured out, I’m not here to judge. However, the benefits of wearing a helmet far outweigh any counterarguments. What’s more important: that picture of you nailing a misty flip or staying safe if the trick fails?