Smarter Helmets On The Way
Smarter Helmets On The Way
Published : 18-Jan-2011 09:52
The ski and board helmets many of us now wear today are based on 70s design technology, apparently, but that's all about to change thanks to a deal signed today between industry leader Burton's subsidiary R.E.D, and Swedish technology company, MIPS.MIPS or 'Multi-directional Impact Protection System' uses technology which mimics and reinforces the brain's own protection. This further reduces the risk of brain damage, the company says, and thus aims to set new standards in helmet safety.
MIPS is designed to provide protection from an "angled impact to the head" in the way that helmets currently on the market do not, the company says.
They do this by integrating a, "unique sliding low-friction layer," between the head and the helmet liner, designed to absorb energy from an angled impact to the head (the commonest form of head injury in snow sports).
"This is a major breakthrough and we are delighted that R.E.D. has selected the MIPS protection system", says Niklas Steenberg, CEO of MIPS AB.
Reducing the effect of rotational force is a key objective for leading helmet brands, including R.E.D, which will be integrating MIPS in the 2012 "HI FI" helmet model as well as other as yet undecided helmet models.
R.E.D. will initially implement the MIPS protection system in the RED HI-FI, a helmet that was used by six out of seven snowboard medal winners at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver and will be available in shops worldwide from August this year.
"Test results have shown us that the MIPS protection system can reduce the likelihood of serious head injury and that was why we chose to partner with MIPS" says Jeff Gilberti, Vice President for R.E.D. Protection and ANON Optics. "At Burton we are all about helping riders progress and the addition of MIPS to our team driven HiFi helmets gives them added confidence to do just that."
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