Real shit, helmets can be looking wack af, but I will never not wear one. Here's a scared-straight-esque story for me, and maybe also for you:
One weekend last June I was having a blast getting some laps in with the homies. There was such little snow last season, it was amazing to still have enough to have a jump line so late. Tons of people still in the park, peak vibes. Watched a dude absolutely rocket a 3 on the medium line (read ~25') and under-rotate by almost 90, causing him to downhill edge on landing and catapult his body/head into the snow. No helmet. This dude hit the motherfuck out of the side of his head, like you could hear contact, even with how slushy/soft the snow was.
When homie didn't get up, everyone started to sprint over. Dude was eyes closed, and WAS NOT BREATHING. Some kids book it down the hill screaming for patrol, the rest just crowd around. I had previously been a medic, and some random dad that happened to be hot-dogging down the hill and saw what happened and stopped was a doctor, and the two of us start trying to do whatever we can to save or at least prolong homeboy's life until patrol arrives. Dude's girlfriend/whatever-she-was is screaming, crying over his body, and trying to give whatever info she can about him.
After a few minutes, homeboy's breathing returns super sporadically (a few breaths every 15-30 seconds) and he starts showing decorticate posturing (picture an uncontrollable full-body flex trying to get into the fetal position), which is a sign of an absolutely savage traumatic brain injury. Dude starts moaning and trying to flail, and patrol finally arrives maybe ~10min after the fall. That's as good as he got. we never saw him "come to" or even say a word or respond to anything. We help get this dude secured onto a board and litter, and a shortly after, a helicopter shows up and airlifts him out to the closest trauma center.
I have no idea what happened to him after that, but no matter how it shook out for homie almost a year ago now, his life will never ever be the same. Gnarly brain injuries don't heal like a wrist or collarbone, and once you experience legit brain damage, there is very very little that you can do relative to most physical injuries. A helmet that doesn't fit your head right might look super lame, but not as lame as an electric wheelchair, or the psychological, mental, and emotional complications from life-altering brain injuries.
tldr; I recommend finding a helmet that fits and looks alright, and wearing that shit.
