I also invested in a helmet this year. It is great! I never even know I am wearing one. I took my girlfriend out boarding for the first time last year at tenjiyama in Yamanashi. She had a spill and broke her tailbone AND her wrist. I had one instance last season where I landed on my wrist and it hurt like a mo fo. Needless to say, I invested in wrist guards too. Helmets and wrist guards for boarders is just smart riding!