Obligatory Ski Helmets in Italy Confirmed

fifteenth August 2025

In the event you ski or snowboard in Italy this coming season you will have a helmet in your head.

It must be a CE-certified helmet that meets European security requirements.

Offenders will face a fantastic and the withdrawal of their ski cross for one to 3 days.

Will probably be utilized to all individuals on snow – skiers, snowboarders and in addition these on sledges & toboggans.

The primary stage of the extension to the regulation was handed in July 2025 and we reported on it on the time on PlanetSKI:

We’ve now heard from the carry firm in Bardonecchia and from the director of the Llimone Piemonte Ski College who can also be the President of the Collegio del Piemonte.

Each verify the event.

Helmets might be obligatory for all ages and it’s an extension of a regulation handed in 2021 for it to be obligatory for all beneath 18 years of age.

“All well being and security measures are growth as snowboarding is inherently harmful and is practiced in an setting with risks,” mentioned the Ski College Supervisor of the Supreme Ski & Snowboard College, James Salomoni, who grew up within the Italian resort of Sauze d’Oulx.

The corporate at the moment runs ski teacher coaching programs in Sauze d’Oulx.

“The season remains to be fairly far-off so it’s not been launched and reported broadly for that motive.”

James contacted different our bodies and organisations in Italy for PlanetSKI with a purpose to verify the event.

Representatives of the FISI (Italian Winter Sports activities Federation) and Dolomiti Superski have welcomed the rule noting that almost all grownup skiers already put on helmets.

Snowboarding within the Aosta Valley. Picture © PlanetSKI

“It’s lengthy overdue and all individuals on our programs throughout the mountains are required to put on a ski helmet,” mentioned Warren Smith, from the Warren Smith Ski Academy to PlanetSKI.

The Academy runs summer season programs within the Italian resort of Cervinia, and a bunch has been out on the slopes this week.

All sporting helmets.

Warren Smith Ski Academy group in Cervinia, Italy. Picture c/o WSSA.

Nonetheless, there are some  skiers & snowboarders preferring sporting a helmet to be a matter of private alternative.

There have been reviews that the safety they provide could be over-rated and should enhance the chance of harm in sure circumstances.

“I’d usually advocate private alternative, however which may simply be certain that the least smart skiers don’t put on a helmet,” mentioned the MD of the UK ski operator SNO, Richard Sinclair.

“I all the time put on a helmet, however equally I don’t prefer it when some really feel they’ll criticise different individuals for his or her alternative to not.

“I perceive why the outdated French ESF instructors  don’t put on a sweaty helmet all day once they’re simply shepherding rookies round a slushy nursery slope within the April sunshine.

“Within the largest biking nation on earth, beneath 4% of Dutch cyclists put on a helmet, in a sport with comparable speeds and no tender snow to fall on, however perceptions of what’s affordable do change, and none of us would suppose driving a bike with no helmet is suitable now.”

The transition to individuals sporting a helmet as a matter in fact is fascinating.

“As a ski teacher working in Verbier, twenty odd years in the past, I keep in mind effectively turning up for work sporting a helmet,” mentioned PlanetSKI editor, James Cove.

“The director of the ski faculty requested me to take it off in no unsure phrases as he thought it could intimidate shoppers and make them really feel we have been about to go and do harmful snowboarding.

“How issues have modified.

“I now get social media feedback if I’m not sporting a helmet in PlanetSKI pictures and movies, even when I’ve simply been going up the mountain to do a few light runs, take a number of pictures, replace PlanetSKI from a mountain restaurant or meet a contact for a chat over lunch.”

James Cove, Italy. Picture © PlanetSKI

“Principally I do put on a helmet, whether or not in Italy or wherever else, and recommend others do the identical.”

La Thuile, Italy. Picture © PlanetSKI

It’s unclear how the brand new helmet regulation could also be policed in Italy.

Helmet Guidelines at Different Ski Nations:

Andorra:  A ski helmet is just not obligatory however strongly beneficial. In case you are going off-piste then a helmet is obligatory.

Austria: A ski helmet is obligatory for youngsters as much as 15 years in all federal states besides the  Tirol and Vorarlberg. In the event you go to those states and not using a helmet, the ski faculty might require it anyway. There isn’t any ski helmet requirement for adults, however it’s strongly beneficial.

Croatia: A ski helmet is obligatory for youngsters as much as 14 years.

France: A ski helmet is just not obligatory, although sporting a helmet is beneficial.

Germany: No helmet requirement, however the German Ski Affiliation and German Ski Teacher Affiliation advocate all the time sporting a ski helmet.

Norway: A ski helmet is just not obligatory, however is inspired.

Poland: A ski helmet is obligatory for youngsters as much as 16 years of age. Not sporting a helmet can lead to the confiscation of their ski cross and a fantastic.

Slovakia: A ski helmet is obligatory for youngsters as much as the age of 15.

Slovenia: A ski helmet is obligatory for youngsters as much as 14 years. Not sporting a helmet can lead to a fantastic.

Spain: A helmet is inspired, however is just not obligatory.

Sweden:  A helmet is just not compulsory, however kids are turned away at some lifts with out helmets.

Switzerland: No helmet is required, however analysis has proven that the share of individuals sporting helmets is highest in Switzerland.

In Canada and the USA a helmet is just not obligatory, although many resorts require their workers to put on a helmet when on the slopes for work.

It stays to be seen if different international locations and ski areas observe the instance of Italy.

Pila, Italy. Picture © PlanetSKI

UPDATE:

There was response from readers over on the PlanetSKI Fb web page.

Dale Thomson: Until about 5 years in the past I by no means wore one. Was type of guilt tripped into it however had a giant crash final season that broke a rib and fully tore a tendon in my shoulder. Nonetheless ready for surgical procedure on it. Nonetheless, I can actually say if I hadn’t had a lid on I wouldn’t it be typing this message as we speak.

Annie Gardner: Mad should you don’t! Does it apply to ski faculty instructors? That’ll by no means occur in France!!

Joanne Dyle: Completely can’t see 60 12 months outdated ESF instructors going for it.

Nick Davies: Increasingly frequent in France … Particularly the youthful technology of instructors coming via. In our resort it’s frequent place for ESF instructors to be sporting them… 12 months in 12 months, increasingly more.

Scott Hammond: That’s gonna be about as welcome as a fart in a spacesuit! Are you able to think about all them AMSI – Associazione Maestri Sci Italiani who solely ski in sun shades.

Anite Smit: I believe 98% of skiers already put on them anyway.

Ged Hughes: To keep in mind … the tender squishy factor contained in the cranium can nonetheless be broken no matter helmet you’re sporting if the influence is important.

John Roberts: Simply frequent sense these days. Not all the time the snow depth round. Definitely not uncomfortable both.

Bev England: Been sporting one for years – is smart.

Adrian Gravil: I forwarded this hyperlink  to my crew earlier that I’m going Cervinia with. One has by no means worn a helmet snowboarding to this point.

Richard J Stephens: Hmmm contemplating the French & Italians appear to deal with guidelines as tips reasonably than absolutes it’ll be fascinating to see if this follows by in actual life subsequent season.

Ian Findlater: Good news. Not earlier than time. I really like snowboarding in Italy  in truth I simply love Italy,  the persons are one of the best Europeans.

Casey Clark Obert: Nice concept.

Be happy so as to add your view over on the PlanetSKI Fb web page.

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