A US-wide ski survey reveals helmet usage among skiers and riders nationwide increased 12 percent over the previous season...

According to the 2008/09 NSAA National Demographic Study, last season, 48 percent of all skiers and riders were wearing a helmet at the time of being interviewed, up from 43 percent during the 2007/08 season.

In comparison, only 25 percent of skiers and snowboarders wore helmets during the 2002/03 season. The annual Demographic Study is compiled from more than 130,000 interviews of skiers and riders nationwide. The study also showed that:

-- 77 percent of children 9 years old or younger wear ski helmets;

-- 66 percent of children between 10 and 14 wear ski helmets;

-- 63 percent of adults over the age of 65 wear ski helmets;

--Helmet usage by skiers and boarders aged 18 to 24 is currently 32 percent, representing a 78 percent increase in usage for this age group since the 2002/03 season, when only 18 percent wore helmets.

In addition, overall ski helmet sales (adults and kids) have increased 43 percent over the past two years, dating back to the 2006/07 ski season. Sales of adult ski helmets alone increased 50 percent since the 2006/07 season, according to the SnowSports Industries of America (SIA) annual Retail Audit.