Skiers should not be forced to wear helmets when they hit the slopes, the manager of a New Brunswick ski hill says.

Safety advocates say ski hills should refuse to sell lift tickets to those not wearing helmets.

But Jason Crawford, the manager of Crabbe Mountain near Fredericton, said part of the attraction of skiing is the freedom involved. He said he hopes all skiers will eventually wear helmets, but a mandatory helmet policy would be a step too far.

'People should be allowed to make those decisions for themselves.'— Jason Crawford, Crabbe Mountain

"I don't think we're at the point where we need to make it a law, to make it mandatory — if you don't have a helmet, you can't buy a lift ticket," Crawford said.

"People should be allowed to make those decisions for themselves."

Already, most skiers are deciding to wear helmets on their own, Crawford said. The popularity of helmets is growing as people become more aware of the advantages, including safety and warmth. Close to eight out of 10 skiers are wearing them this year, up from about 60 per cent last year, he said.

Although he opposes mandatory helmets for adults, Crawford said Crabbe Mountain has stringent policies for young people. Helmets are required for children in snow schools, racing programs or with visiting schools.

As well, all employees have to wear helmets when they're on the snow.

Money not the issue

Making helmets mandatory for all skiers could hurt business, and he might have to make them available to skiers for free, Crawford said. But money isn't the issue, he said.

"I mean, we're talking about people's heads here," he said. "'How much is your head worth?' has always been my favourite thing when I'm taking to kids who aren't wearing them."

A new study from the University of Calgary found that wearing a helmet while skiing or snowboarding reduces the risk of head injury by 35 per cent.

Dr. Charles Tator, a neurosurgeon and the founder of Think First, a non-profit organization aimed at preventing brain and spinal injuries, said he wants ski hills to implement a "no helmet, no lift ticket" policy.

"We would like to see everybody on the hills wearing a helmet," Tator said.

Free with ski rentals

Crawford said Crabbe Mountain does offer free helmets with every rental, but most adults decline them. The ski area also offers discount coupons on helmets to those not wearing them on the hill.

Canadian researchers reviewed 12 different studies involving head injuries in Monday's issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

The study reported that traumatic brain injury is the leading cause of death and serious injury among skiers and snowboarders.

Estimates from several countries suggest head injuries account for up to 19 per cent and neck injuries for up to four cent of all injuries reported by ski patrols and emergency departments.

But between two and five out of every 10 head injuries could be prevented by wearing helmets, the reviewers concluded.