Takuma Oike and Yuhei Yamada talk about Anon helmets equipped with the new function "WaveCel" to keep sliding for a long time

My best friend's accident made me take risks personally

“Last season, Hibiki (Harada Kyoto), who I used to skate with, hit his head against a tree and saved his life. What happened to him made me realize that even if I was skating with caution, it could still happen. I wasn't wearing a helmet, but I had the impression that it was heavy and intrusive until then..."

That's what Takuma Oike, who skis mountains in Japan centering on the mountains of Hakuba, Alaska, and South America based on the Hakuba Norikura Ski Resort, says. When I was doing moguls, which I was working on as a competition, I wore a helmet at practice and competitions, but since I shifted to activities centered on photography, I haven't always worn it.

Until now, the only time I wore a helmet was when I was going alpine in the backcountry or jumping. However, a familiar accident changed his consciousness and updated his way of thinking about helmets.

His choice is Anon's "Merak WaveCel."

Anon started in 2001 as a goggle and helmet brand based on Burton.
Initially, it was popular in the snowboard scene, but now it is a brand trusted by top ski riders such as Eric Pollard, Karl Fostevedt, and Michelle Parker. In Japan, the Nozawa Onsen Ski Club has adopted helmets and goggles, and many key skiers in each region, such as Katsuyuki Kawano, Takuma Oike, and Toru Kawaguchi, are using them.

Especially attracting attention is the new safety technology called "Wavecell" that has been installed since last year's model. This is a mechanism that absorbs the impact on the head by expanding and contracting the porous cell structure laid out inside the helmet.

The characteristic of this material is that it undergoes three stages of structural changes to protect the head. Upon impact, the cells flex first, reducing the initial forces of impact. Then it collapses like a car bumper. Finally, the bent and crushed cell slides away from the head with the force of the impact. This is done in an instant with impact, but this behavior should deepen your understanding when you watch the video.

“When you wear a helmet, you feel better and it has a positive effect on your riding.” —Takuma Oike

Takuma Oike, who often skis with children, wears a helmet and skis at the local Hakuba Norikura Ski Resort. It is said that children will be able to attack and skate with peace of mind by having an adult wear it as a role model. So, let's ask about your impression of the helmet you use.

"I've learned that even the slightest collision with a rock or tree can lead to an accident like Hibiki's, so I've taken all safety precautions. So far I haven't had a serious fall, so Wave. I haven't felt the cell, but I have a lot of confidence.I like that
this helmet is light.Until now, it was so heavy that I could shake my head, so I felt that it was protecting me. But this is a weight that I don't mind
wearing.BOA allows you to make fine adjustments to the fit, but it's very comfortable to wear, so it's even more perfect.There
are many ventilations, and only one lever You can open and close the ventilation with the , so you don't get stuffy.I almost always slide with it open.The shape of the wave cell that ventilates also helps with breathability.

Also, what I really like is that the strap buckle is a magnet, making it easy to wear. There are many scenes where you get nervous while wearing skis on alpine ridges. The more severe the conditions, the more messy things around me become. With the buckle type, both hands are occupied to put on and take off, but this is good because I can concentrate on sliding.

Besides, when I wear a helmet, the switch is turned on. The moment the chin strap clicked into place, he said, 'I'll tell you.' Wearing a helmet has a positive effect on your riding as it gives you a sense of clarity.”

Merak WaveCel used by Takuma Oike weighs 480g. Lightness brings comfortable riding. It's good to have less burden on the neck. There are sizes from S to XL, but even if you think it fits your head size, you often need to use a balaclava or neck warmer when using it on the snow, so you need to fine-tune the size. In such a case, the "BOA® 360° In-Shell Fit System", which can be fine-tuned, is very convenient. It is also nice to be able to easily control the environment inside the helmet with 19 vents in the ventilation system.

"This lightness. Once you wear it, you can't go back."Yuhei Yamada

Let's take a look at another skier's impression of using an Anon helmet.
Based in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Yuhei Yamada, also known as “Kun-san,” is a heavy user of Anon. It can be used not only for normal skiing such as parks and powder, but also for freeride competitions, backcountry skiing, street skiing, etc. He also wears Anon helmets year-round, not just in-season but also off-season.

“I use the Oslo WaveCel. I have a wide skull, but the Logan and Oslo that I used last year have a smooth inner shape. It is easy to adjust the fit when wearing a balaclava during the high season and when wearing it directly in the spring season.The Logan I wore last year was prone to snow coming in from the ventilation holes if I fell or got snowed on. , My head, hair, and balaclava sometimes got wet, but Oslo doesn't have that.I thought it would be difficult for sweat to escape because there are no ventilation holes, but I don't feel that kind of inconvenience

Before using the Wavecell, I didn't really care about the weight of the helmet, but compared to the model two years ago, the Wavecell model is overwhelmingly lighter and has a sharper silhouette. This lightness cannot be returned once worn.

Also, it is a great advantage that the inner is easy to remove. I use it even when I'm off training, and even if I wash it more often, it doesn't feel like a hassle."

Helmets are now one of the essential items for skiing.
Nearly 60% of freeriding skiers always wear a helmet when riding. In that case, it is inevitable that the standard of choice will be something that is comfortable and full of functionality, but also highly reliable in the event of an emergency.
Anon's helmets are the first choice, with high functionality, reliability in safety, and design regardless of taste. Get the helmet you need to stay safe and enjoy the season longer.

For product details and Anon, go to the homepage

Photo/ Go Ito