BERLIN: A dramatic ski accident that left a mother dead and a German politician seriously injured on New Year's Day has sparked a debate over safety on the slopes — as well as demand for ski helmets.
The intersection of two ski runs on a mountain in Austria proved fatal for a Slovak woman who collided with Dieter Althaus, governor of the German state of Thuringia. He was wearing a helmet; she was not. Doctors said his survival was likely because of the protection the helmet provided.
As news of the accident hit the media, ski enthusiasts hit the stores in search of helmets.
Demand has "increased dramatically," said Werner Haizmann, president of the Association of German Sports Retailers. He estimated that sales have increased 30-50 percent in the first days of 2009. Stores nationwide are reporting helmet shortages.
Sporting goods stores have reported sales that triple pre-Christmas peaks. Munich's Sporthaus Schuster sold 325 helmets on Saturday alone, according to purchasing manager Marcus Grasmaier. The store's one-day high this season had been 138.
"Helmets have been a growing trend for the past three years," Grasmaier said. "But now almost a small hysteria has broken out." He has ordered 2,000 more.
Selling helmets has become nearly a full-time job for salesman Dirk Volmer at Sport Kaufmann in Hannover. "At the moment, I seem to be occupying myself entirely with skiers' heads," he said.
Children's helmets have long been popular items. Roughly 90 percent of children wear head protection while on the slopes, said Peter Thuerl, spokesman for the Association of German Sports Retailers.
But now adults are seeking to protect themselves as well, with high-quality, high-priced gear, Haizmann said. Prices range from €30-200 ($41-$272), and most shoppers are opting for helmets around €150.
strory source: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2009/01/07/europe/EU-Germany-Ski-Helmets.php
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