Look around your local resort and you’d be hard-pressed to spot a skier or snowboarder without a helmet these days. This is not just your perception. The numbers back up that observation. Data released in the 2025-26 Kottke End of Season Report by the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) revealed that helmet use among U.S. skiers and snowboarders reached its highest level in a decade, with 94% of skier visits made by participants who reported wearing a helmet.
Two decades ago, helmets were far from standard equipment. Only 25% of skiers and snowboarders wore helmets during the 2002-03 season. Helmet use began climbing quickly from there, nearly doubling to 48% by 2008-09. The following season saw the biggest year-on-year increase in the entire dataset, climbing eight percentage points to 56%.
That surge came shortly after a high-profile death that caught the attention of skiers around the world. In March 2009, actress Natasha Richardson died two days after a seemingly minor fall on a beginner slope at Mont Tremblant, Quebec. She was not wearing a helmet, initially felt fine, and declined medical care, only to succumb to an epidural hematoma 48 hours later. Her death became a global story and prompted renewed discussion about helmet use. Within six months, Intrawest, then the operator of nine major resorts including Whistler Blackcomb, Copper Mountain, and Steamboat, announced it would recommend helmets across all of its properties.
Helmet use reached 80% by 2015-16, after which growth slowed but remained largely steady. Usage continued to climb, with one minor post-COVID dip in 2022-23, before reaching its current high of 94% this past season.
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Helmets are now firmly established as the norm rather than an optional piece of equipment for a particular type of skier or rider. It represents a significant cultural shift from the early 2000s, when skiing without a helmet was still commonplace.
The Kottke data also examined regional differences. The lowest helmet use was reported in the Midwest, where usage sat at 88%, while the Northeast had the highest rate at 94%.
As in previous years, younger participants recorded the highest rates of helmet use, but the differences between generations were relatively modest. The data suggests helmet use is no longer concentrated among children or younger skiers, but has become common across the entire U.S. snowsports population.
The change has been driven in part by years of education and safety campaigns from organizations including the NSAA and ski areas. The NSAA’s Lids on Kids program has promoted helmet use among children and families for years, while many ski areas require helmets for employees and participants in certain programs.
However, the increasing adoption of helmets does not mean skiing and snowboarding have become risk-free. The NSAA has repeatedly emphasized that helmets can reduce the likelihood of some head injuries, but they cannot prevent every injury or make high-speed collisions safe. Responsible skiing and riding remain essential.
That distinction is particularly important because many of the most serious incidents on ski slopes involve collisions with fixed objects or other skiers and riders.
The transformation in helmet use is nevertheless remarkable. What was once relatively uncommon, weird, or “just for ski racers” has become a standard piece of recreational skiing and snowboarding equipment that most people don’t even think twice about.
