Mandatory helmet law welcomed at Ski Martock

Skiers at a popular hill in Nova Scotia are sporting their helmets, as required by law.

It's been two weeks since Ski Martock opened, and the slopes are crawling with helmet-wearing skiers and snowboarders.

As of Nov. 1, anyone caught without an approved helmet faces a $250 fine.

"Law or not, I'd wear a helmet," said snowboarder Fonda Pettipas. "I do a lot of work in the park and stuff so if I didn't wear a helmet, I'd probably be pretty dead right now."

Andy MacLean, operations manager of Ski Martock, said most people at the hill were wearing protective headgear before the law took effect.

"We were somewhere around 93 per cent without the helmet law so we had a huge helmet usage here at Martock anyway so we haven't really felt anything from the law," he said.

The other seven per cent has followed suit, he added.

The provincial legislation requires that helmets be safety certified.

Skier Sherry Redden wouldn't have it any other way.

"I've seen a lot of concussions happen before that so if it stops that. It's probably cheaper than ending up in hospital with a whole more serious injuries," Redden said.

Janeau Saulnier always wears a helmet on the ski hill.

"I always thought you had to wear a helmet, but since people are telling me you have to, I think it's good since I've seen a lot of people fall and a lot of people injured, concussions and things," Saulnier said.

Provincial officials say since 2000, there have been 11 severe traumatic brain injuries attributed to skiing or snowboarding without a helmet.