An update from ESPN on Tatiana's condition.

[FSWer]

An update from Suzzy Wynn on Pair skater Tatiana's condition. It has opened up discusion on weather or not the skaters should do more, and if helmets may be needed in the future. They are now back on the ice and should be ready for the next competition.

[CanAmSk8ter]

These same questions came up after Paul Binnebose had his accident. That was five years ago, and nothing has changed. Nothing will change anytime soon. I'd love to be proven wrong but I don't expect to be.

[dbny]

I saw that interview. They practically laughed at the idea. Tatiana said that, sure, you could protect the head, but what about the rest of the body. All three agreed that risk is part of the deal.

[manleywoman]

Helmets would make skaters more top heavy, and would limit vision. Not a good idea.

It's a sport. Sports involve some risk. Should soccer player wear helmets too in case they get an elbow in the face?

[MQSeries]

The girl skater can use tons of hairspray to turn her hair into a helmet head.

[danibellerika]

Yup. Just ask Peggy Flemming.

[FSWer]

LOL,I see Manley's point. Though something would need to be done to pertect them better. If anyone hears from Icetiff,please direct her to this thread for her expert opinion.

[CanAmSk8ter]

Short of an ISU mandate, I don't know what would get skaters to wear helmets- and I think the ISU has several other issues to deal with at the moment. Like Manleywoman said, sport involves risk. Skaters who go into pairs know what they're getting into and what the risks are. Certainly there's nothing to stop any pair skater who wants to wear a helmet to practice or to learn a new element, and sometimes it's probably a good idea. But in a high-risk sport like pairs, there will be serious injuries occasionally, just like occasionally a football player gets tackled in a way that causes serious injury, or a hockey player gets checked into the boards in a way that causes serious injury. They wear helmets, but it still happens.

Incidentally, I've seen ice dancers take some nasty knocks to the head (remember the concussion Tanith got a couple of years back? Shae-Lynn had a head injury at one point too, when she was a junior), and I'd bet there have been some in synchro too. It happens.

[Stormy]

and I'd bet there have been some in synchro too. It happens.

Definitely in synchro. Actually, what happens more in synchro is when a pile of skaters fall, the danger of getting a skate blade run over your hand or arm is pretty bad. Our team's coach just reminded us last week when we fall to get our hands up as quick as we can so we don't get cut. Some skaters have had some pretty nasty cuts from skate blades.

[nja]

I know a skater who dislocated her shoulder doing patch. And another skater who broke her hip stepping out on the ice with her guards on. A former coach of mine dislocated his knee stepping off a curb (no skates in this case). You don't have to be going high speed or doing difficult tricks to get injured. Sometimes you take a risk just getting out of bed in the morning!

[RobinA]

As far as powers that be are concerned, Paul Binnebose had his accident off-camera, so it didn't really happen. Tatiana did it on TV, thankfully not live. I can only imagine if it had been.... Had that been live, and had she been injured as seriously as it originally looked, I can pretty guarantee heads would have rolled (so to speak). I was there, it was ugly. Until next time....status quo.

[WeBeEducated]

Tatiana is an adult, but many of our pair skaters are underdeveloped young men doing overhead lifts with children and teens.
I think it is outrageous that the risk of serious head injury is considered tolerable.
Novice pair teams are doing overhead lifts. Perhaps if the USFSA limited the overhead lifts at the novice and junior levels we would focus on improving other elements and leave the overheads to men who can actually lift securely.
Even then, as with the Russian team, accidents can occur.
But why wait til a 13 year old girl gets her skull cracked open in order to use protective gear that can be streamlined and high tech(not a football helmet).

[LittleBitSk8er]

Webe, simple do not allow you child to participate in that avenue of the sport. I will not for that reason. Another alternative is having your child wear a helmet regardless of how she feels about it.



I know that sounds harsh and it is. In ALL sports, there is a risk of serious injury. I just do not want to increase my child odds anymore than already being on the ice. A skater does not have to be a pair or dance skater to get a head trauma out there, that just increases your odds.

[mikey]

I have to agree. Since it doesn't look like a change of attitude is on the way from the ISU or USFS, maybe it's time for a grass roots effort by people in the trenches. Make your kids wear helmets. If enough of them do, people will start to notice. Plus, maybe we'll get some data about how well helmets actually work to decrease injuries, and what effect they really have on center of mass and line of vision...

[anoymous1]

I understand all of you, were you are coming from but just think about having to wear a helmet for one second while doing pairs? Let say the girl is in the air doing a lift,wearing the helmet, and all of a sudden falls on the boy. Now normaly, in my experiences, the boy tucks his head in with the girl on top of him so neither one gets the full blow of hitting the ice. Now picture WH(wearing helmet) Boy feels he is in the clear cause his head is tucked not going to hit ice when this massive helmet slams against his head, or shoulder, or god forbid you know where. :oops: Now, I know helmets seem like the logical solution, but you have to think how unbalanced the two will be because there head will be teetering from side to side. And if you must don't skate pairs. But keep in mind I fell on my head slipping from a triple toe takeoff and ended up with 33 stiches. So happy skating! :D

[fadedstardust]

Wearing a helmet would be way more dangerous than not, for the most part. Just let people take risks with their own bodies! No one is making anyone skate pairs for gooddness' sake. And I mean it pretty much says it all that when she woke up from her unconsciousness the first thing she asked was when she could skate again, and that barely ten days after this horrifying accident, she's back out there. Helmets won't do crap. Someone could fall and skate over someone's finger, jab their blade in someone's leg, fall and break their back and become paralyzed...

this is part of the game, and there are many other people in other sports who risk the same things. It's perhaps not right, but it's up to people to decide what they want to do, not the people who watch them on tv. You don't see Tatiana lobbying for protection for skaters, and she's in a position where she could promote that if she felt it would help. It wouldn't. Helmets would be dangerous. Just trust the pairs skaters on this one!

[LittleBitSk8er]

fadedstardust and anoymous1: I agree with you. That is why my child will not skate pairs or dance. Now, watch this come back to haunt me when she is 12 or so. Then I will have to deal with it, but the thought of her up there terrifies me. Then again, she could "toe pick" and have to get 33 stitches as you did. God, I hope and pray that does not happen! I am glad anoymous1 you are obviously ok! Aren’t you? :P Everyday when she takes the ice like the rest of the skaters, there is that danger. I choose not to focus on it. I would rather focus on her MIF, spins, jumps etc. Remember accidents happen, that is why they are called A C C I D E N T S!


Anyway HAPPY SKATING EVERYONE..........:)

[IceKween]

This probably sounds stupid, but why not just wear a regular winter cotton hat on the head? I've taken falls to the head when I was wearing one, and it cushioned the blow. It's lightweight.
If my daughter or son were pair skaters, I would force them to at least practice with something protecting their heads. Yes, a helmet would be too bulky, and could even cause an accident. But a regular winter cap would provide some cushioning.
As for competition, well, I think everyone wants to look their best and have the best hair. Pairs with hats on their heads wouldn't be viewer-friendly.