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View Full Version : Ear plugs while wakeboarding?



mathp
08-30-2009, 12:58 PM
My son crashed and got water in his ear and it was very painful for him, and now he is a little shy about getting after it. Does anyone use earplugs to prevent water getting into the ear while crashing?

Fman
08-30-2009, 01:56 PM
My son crashed and got water in his ear and it was very painful for him, and now he is a little shy about getting after it. Does anyone use earplugs to prevent water getting into the ear while crashing?

I just ordered my Hyperlite helmet today with ear pads to help prevent this from happening. I got thrown down about 22 MPH last week and it rang my bell, I am actually surprised I did not get a concussion. Guess I will be known as the Helmet guy, but at 37 years old I need to keep going to work.

I am planning on my kids wearing a helmet from this point on, not only for the ear protection but preventing concussions and contact with the board.

www.boardco.com has the Hyperlites for $59, they are really comfortable and nice helmets.

tg0824SSVGG
08-30-2009, 02:42 PM
We aren't much into wakeboarding around here, but my wife is a competitive hydrofoiler.

She ALWAYS wears a helmet - mostly for ear protection.

She uses Pro-Tec, but I hear good things about the www.shredready.com helmets
too.

Todd

Fishman
08-30-2009, 09:14 PM
When I started wakeboarding I caught the front edge real bad and everyone in the boat was saying, "do that again, you're doing awesome"...I did it again alright...another whiplash faceplant...I remember getting in the boat and the next thing I remember I was in my kitchen. This was on a simple wake to wake jump.

I'm 43 now and honestly I still only wear a helmet if I'm trying something new.

I've also heard of water skiers blowing eardrums by hitting the water just right. So yeah, probably the responsible thing to do.

Fman
08-31-2009, 01:30 AM
We aren't much into wakeboarding around here, but my wife is a competitive hydrofoiler.

She ALWAYS wears a helmet - mostly for ear protection.

She uses Pro-Tec, but I hear good things about the www.shredready.com helmets
too.

Todd

Is the hydro foiler the "air chair", a buddy from work brought his on the boat the other day and it was a kick to watch him. That is one crazy contraption, I am just glad he did not drop it on my boat when he threw it in the water :) that is not a light unit!

tg0824SSVGG
08-31-2009, 08:01 AM
Yes, Air Chair is a brand, so is Sky Ski - which is what is most popular these days.

Here is my wife at Lake Powell on hers: (this is a grandma!)

https://forum.supraboats.com/picture.php?albumid=20&pictureid=104

SZEH
08-31-2009, 12:15 PM
My son has ruptured his ear drum several times wake boarding. The only times he wore a helmet was during The Collegiate Slider Slam Tournament where they were required to wear helmets...I guess they thought jumping onto fixed rails while wake boarding presented a slight danger. HA! The other was when he was first learning to do flips. Not enough rotation usually equates to water being forced into the ear canal at a high reate of speed.

His helmet also had ear flaps on it that did protect the ear. A good thing.

If your son is hesitant about getting back out there buy him a good wake board DVD. That should get the blood pumping again!

Scott

tg0824SSVGG...great pic! That's crazy!!!

87SunSportMikeyD
08-31-2009, 06:40 PM
Okay I TOTALLY remember reading a wakeworld thread a while back written by a doctor who started a small company making water-sports specific earplugs and they were not expensive. I can't find that thread right now, but here are a couple others I found searching ww for 'earplugs'.

http://www.macksearplugs.com/aquablock-flanged-earplugs.htm
http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/swimandwatpr.html

WadsworthSunsport22V
09-27-2009, 01:55 AM
My son has ruptured his ear drum several times wake boarding. The only times he wore a helmet was during The Collegiate Slider Slam Tournament where they were required to wear helmets...I guess they thought jumping onto fixed rails while wake boarding presented a slight danger. HA! The other was when he was first learning to do flips. Not enough rotation usually equates to water being forced into the ear canal at a high reate of speed.

His helmet also had ear flaps on it that did protect the ear. A good thing.

If your son is hesitant about getting back out there buy him a good wake board DVD. That should get the blood pumping again!

Scott

tg0824SSVGG...great pic! That's crazy!!!

I am 41 and too old to be wakeboarding, but still luv it. I ruptured my ear drum two months ago with a nasty fall behind my boat. I am still in some pain. I do blame my wife. (My logic is, she was towing me and should have known that I am too old and fragile and should have talked me out of boarding.) Although she does not buy my logic.

Fman
09-27-2009, 04:06 PM
The best helmet out there right now is a Gath, they have built in ear cups that you can remove or open and close with a turnable swivel. They fit your head like a glove, I wore one of my friends last week and I am bummed out I did not know about these before I ordered my Hyperlite. I might just break down and order one because they fit that good.

Here is the link...

http://www.gathsports.com/productsingle.php?id=5

Good luck!

87SunSportMikeyD
09-28-2009, 05:16 PM
Hey I remembered the brand that was recommended so highly it was Docs vented pro plugs they are only $10 for a permanant pair.

Here is a sales link:
http://store.noc.com/store/5241
GREAT information link on why they work:
http://www.chemical-records.co.uk/sc/servlet/Info?Track=DFF05
And a wakeboarder.com thread about them:
http://forums.wakeboarder.com/viewtopic.php?t=82873

KO1
09-28-2009, 08:28 PM
Shred Ready helmets are good too they have some with built in earphones for your mp3 and such.

http://www.shredready.com/

thescott
10-07-2009, 03:42 PM
I've rung my bell pretty good a few times to the point where I've seen some bright flashes on impact...no concussions fortunately. I am still trying to decide if a helmet is the right way to go for me. Seems to me, depending on how you hit the water, a helmet could actually make things worse...? If you smack your head down on the water while wearing a helmet, does the increased surface area actually cause your head to stop even faster thereby rattling the old brain within your skull more than w/out a helmet? While water can at times feel harder than concrete...it doesn't respond the same. I know while riding my mtn bike of my motorcycle, if I take a digger on the asphalt or dirt, the helmet is essentially going to crush and destroy itself to save my head. Is that the case with water helmets? Anyway...just some thoughts. Sure many of you saw this article on WW a while back. Sort of interesting -
http://www.wakeworld.com/getarticle.asp?articleid=1499

dickboxers
11-24-2009, 11:28 AM
The best helmet out there right now is a Gath, they have built in ear cups that you can remove or open and close with a turnable swivel. They fit your head like a glove, I wore one of my friends last week and I am bummed out I did not know about these before I ordered my Hyperlite. I might just break down and order one because they fit that good.

Here is the link...

http://www.gathsports.com/productsingle.php?id=5

Good luck!


Thanks for the link. I had a bad spill this summer and ripped my inner lip above my two front teeth. It also rattled my head pretty bad so i've been looking for a good helmet. Going to order a gath this week when i figue out the correct size.

87SunSportMikeyD
11-30-2009, 06:28 PM
I'm pretty sure the padding in the helmet would save your life on a wakeboard too. I would not say it is needed though, unless you are prone to/history of concussions...

josephhamilton
01-24-2019, 01:49 PM
Yes, swimming earplugs will help to the every swimmer to prevent hearing protection. If we use swimming earplugs then we will able to safe our ear. Start using earplugs and prevent the hearing.