Collingwood (ON), Canada – Ski industry campaigns to encourage safety on the hill and the use of helmets have been successful in seeing an increase in usage across Canada, particularly by youth, according to research recently released by the Canadian Ski Council (CSC). Industry officials say that their efforts to promote the Alpine Responsibility Code and helmet usage have been paying off.nThe National Consumer Profile and Satisfaction Survey, conducted annually by the CSC, has been tracking helmet usage by skiers and riders for the last four years. Overall, helmet usage has increased from 67% of all skiers and riders in 2006 to 71% in 2010. This is significantly higher than in the U.S., where reports found that 57% of skiers and riders wore helmets in 2010.

Breaking the numbers down by age, helmet use by youth 10-14 years old in Canada has increased to 95% in 2010 from 75% in 2006, according to the report. Usage by youth 15-17 years old has increased to 85% in 2010 from 65%. The number of young adults 18-24 years of age wearing helmets has remained at 63% through the period, while 59% of adults 25-34 now wear helmets while skiing or snowboarding. Helmet use among Canadian adults 35-44 has remained steady at about 69% over the past five years, while nearly 75% of adults 45-54 years of age now wear helmets, up from 58% in 2005.

The greatest growth in helmet usage is in the 55 to 64 age group, which has increased to 76% in 2010 from 39% in 2005. The study found that helmet usage also varies by region, across Canada, and is highest in New Brunswick at 95%, followed by Newfoundland (75%), Alberta (73%) and Quebec (77%). Usage is lowest in Ontario and British Columbia at 67% and 66%, respectively.

The CSC has developed a national program to encourage children in Grades 4 and 5 to learn to ski and board. In 2010, approximately 30,000 youth participated in the Snowpass program. As part of the SnowPass program, a survey of parents of program participants is undertaken. Data from the 2010 survey show that helmet usage is increasing among both program participants and their parents. Eighty-five percent of parents reported that they wear a helmet when they ski, up from 54% in 2008-09 and 48% in 2007-08, while 90% of all SnowPass holders wear a helmet when they ski or ride. Forty-nine percent of SnowPass families purchased a helmet last year.

The Canadian Ski Council is a national non-profit organization whose mandate is to increase participation in recreational skiing, snowboarding and cross country skiing in Canada.