It was around 1999 when helmets became to skiing and snowboarding. First they were used by some rad dudes skiing the backcountries, but in a couple of years ordinary skiers realized that it makes sense to wear a helmet. Nowadays only few people ski without a helmet, at least here in Europe. That is good, I like it. It really makes sense.

Back in 1999 I was skiing in Chamonix with a dozen of other enthusiastic Finnish skibums. We crawled the backcountries day after day and we went skiing only if there was fresh powder. Yep, 1999 was an incredible season. It was on those days when I used to listen to few great bands. I thought I could take my portable CD player and listen to those bands while skiing. A fabulous idea, I gotta do it!

Next day I went skiing Plan D’Aguille which is on the right side of L’Aguille du Midi cabin lift. I went up there with guys and switched on my CD player. Good headbanging sounds started to flow into my ears… I turned my skis downwards and started riding the half a meter fresh powder. Man, that skiing was great… but something sucked! I went down to the forest and stopped. I realized that all I heard during the previous two minutes was the guitars and screaming in my ears.

I realized this is not good. I love this music but I don’t want to hear it up in the mountains. All I want to hear in mountains is the sound coming from my skis, boots, breathing, other dudes, the nature.. It is a peaceful and beautiful place and metal music just does not fit there. I rather listen to metal in afterski party.

Audio helmets seem to be a rising trend

That was me in 1999. I did not like it, but it does not mean that nobody likes it. There are thousands of skiers and snowboarders who want to hear music in slopes. I know few guys, but they are not freeskiers. May be it is so that freeskiers are not much into hearing music while skiing, may be not. I am just guessing. If you are interested in listening to music while skiing, there is a new trend rising in the markets, audio helmets. Put on your helmet, switch on your iPod and start skiing. Audio helmets are just helmets including an integrated music player, such as iPod. The headphones of the player are embedded into the helmet which provides a great solution for those who want to hear music in slopes.

I have recommended these kind of helmets earlier as Christmas present and I think it would be a great present for certain type of skiers and snowboarders discovering the backcountries and slopes.

Check out these few audio helmets I picked up. If you get interested, you can easily order them from Amazon.