Helmets the new trend at Kiwissa Ski Centre
The following article was submitted to the Chronicle Journal, Feb.26.09 Thank you to the Oseiki family and to Director of Leisure Services, Randy Mattson
News this week that Premier McGuinty has no plans for legislation requiring children wear helmets while downhill skiing may have more ski centers and clubs, looking for ways to have young skiers buckle up on their own protecting the sport’s image as a safe, family friendly activity.
© 2009 Hunter Photography
President of the Kiwissa Ski Club, Ed Hedderson, recently found a solution to getting more of their skiers, young and old, wearing helmets as, in the weeks leading up to their winter carnival, word spread fast that anyone wearing a helmet could enter their name into a free draw to win an I-Pod Touch. The number of children safely skiing on the hill this season has visibly increased, and this, according to Randy Mattson, Director of Leisure Services for the township of Manitouwadge, thanks to continued efforts on the part of the club. “They (Kiwissa) have been very active not only promoting the use of helmets but in making it easier for people to acquire them” Mattson explained that the club which sells helmets at the Kiwissa Ski Chalet has even made special arrangements and payment plans for families who might not have other wise been able to afford them. Among those to buckling up this season was 10 year old Cassie Oseicki who has been wearing her helmet since she began skiing at Kiwissa 4 years ago, mom Linda says her kids make no issue of wearing the helmets.
It would seem that in Manitouwadge with the majority of teen skiers and snowboarders wearing them, helmets have become the norm and the message being sent to younger skiers is that it’s ‘cool’ to buckle up before heading out on the hill.
