Can anyone tell me why the long track speed skaters (hell, the short track guys as well) don’t wear aero helmets? They’re going 30-40 mph, and most of the time are in a head up, torso forward position. In a sport where medals are decided by hundredths of seconds, it seems like an aero lid could really help.
BAHAHA Thats the first thing I thought also when I was watching them. Think everyone on ST that watched them had that pass through their line of thought when watching at some point.
not allowed?
Even my wife is wondering, as she critiques the “outfits”. They even have dimpled skin suits.
only on slowtwitch
.
I would assume they’ve tested and that the hood that is part of
the skinsuit is more aero than a helmet would be.
-Jot
What about luge? Not that they really need to go any faster but those round helmets can’t be helping. Of course they would need a special design since a standard TT helmet tail would be dragging on the track behind them.
there are regulations…I think for a while the LG Chrono was the only one the where allowed to wear…I think that now is even banned
Dont hold me to this but I recall this from a long time ago.
You know you thought it too 
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I was thinking the same thing about mogul (sp) skiing, snow boarding and the like- in regards to what they wear when they race. They all have on these huge jackets and snow pants and the run takes less than a minute and winner is decided by a fraction of a second. They can’t wear the clothing for warmth. The runs are too short.
there are regulations…I think for a while the LG Chrono was the only one the where allowed to wear…I think that now is even banned
Dont hold me to this but I recall this from a long time ago.
That’s what I figure is probably the case, some regulation on the books from long ago.
The first guy who decides to wear a dimpled skin suit on snowboard cross will start a revolution. I suppose it’s against some long ago established ethos of snowboarding, but I would think that someone would be willing to take a goald medal rather than just looking ‘cool’.
at 90mph imma pick the helmet most likely to leave me not dead
What about luge? Not that they really need to go any faster but those round helmets can’t be helping. Of course they would need a special design since a standard TT helmet tail would be dragging on the track behind them.
there are regulations…I think for a while the LG Chrono was the only one the where allowed to wear…I think that now is even banned
Dont hold me to this but I recall this from a long time ago.
That’s what I figure is probably the case, some regulation on the books from long ago.
The first guy who decides to wear a dimpled skin suit on snowboard cross will start a revolution. I suppose it’s against some long ago established ethos of snowboarding, but I would think that someone would be willing to take a goald medal rather than just looking ‘cool’.
Front page of “The Globe and Mail” today (Canada’s National Newspaper)
“Canadian snowboarders are getting ribbed by their US competitors about lossening up their look. US Boarders say the Canadians’ pants are too snug, and that their gear defies an unwritten agreement to stick with the laid-back culture of the sport.”
I thought the same thing! Glad I’m not alone. Maybe the pointy tip of aero helmets are unsafe, since there are frequent pileups on the ice? Someone could lose an eye on that thing… But I don’t know, good question!
at 90mph imma pick the helmet most likely to leave me not dead
What about luge? Not that they really need to go any faster but those round helmets can’t be helping. Of course they would need a special design since a standard TT helmet tail would be dragging on the track behind them.
good point. But at 90 mph, I’m not sure a helmet is much good in certain crashes - like the awful Kazakh luger 
I of course thought the same thing with the speed skaters at their speed (they even draft as much as possible), then thought about the safety regs since they crash so often (of course, the long 12 inch razor sharp skates aren’t too friendly either!). But, could be just styrofoam and an easy break off tail - certainly less dangerous than the skates!
Front page of “The Glove and Mail” today (Canada’s National Newspaper)
“Canadian snowboarders are getting ribbed by their US competitors about lossening up their look. US Boarders say the Canadians’ pants are too snug, and that their gear defies an unwritten agreement to stick with the laid-back culture of the sport.”
That’s awesome.
Front page of “The Glove and Mail” today (Canada’s National Newspaper)
“Canadian snowboarders are getting ribbed by their US competitors about lossening up their look. US Boarders say the Canadians’ pants are too snug, and that their gear defies an unwritten agreement to stick with the laid-back culture of the sport.”
That’s awesome.
Imagine if one of them tried dimpled pants and an aero helmet!
Greg LeMond has said hands down at his TAMU test before the Tdf, no helmet, bald head was the fastest.
Tons of contact makes it obvious why they wear helmets in short track.
Long course skaters crack up on their own and hopefully have time to position themselves for the impact into the boards.
Not sure about speedskating but in luge, Germany introduced aero “conehead” helmets in 1976 but they were subsequently outlawed.
“1976 Innsbruck: Olympic luge is timed to the thousandth of a second, making it the most precisely timed winter discipline at the Winter Games (until 1998 when short track follows suit). West German sliders wear egg-shaped helmets en route to three medals and thus are dubbed “The Coneheads.” The aerodynamic headgear is subsequently outlawed.”
You know you thought it too
I honestly didn’t.