Just sent this to bell... Hopefully something good comes from it.

**Reece Man** · 04-18-2009 02:32 PM

Hi, my name is Reece Speakman and I'm a downhill skateboarder. I've used the Bell drop for the past year and it is by far the best option for this particular sport. Unfortunately, most downhill skateboarders are risking their health by purchasing 300 dollar Charly and Icaro paragliding helmets. Most are purchasing these unsafe substitutes because they come with a faceshield and don't have vents. It sounds ridiculous but with a faceshield to risk this but there are huge aerodynamic advantages, which in this sport, make all the difference. In this huge, growing sport there is a need for a safe helmet that appeals to the majority of participants. I've just ordered my second drop because the comfort and safety cannot be beat.

I'm doing my best to convert paragliding helmet users over to Drops simply for their safety. The worst thing for our growing sport would be more deaths from poor safety gear that was not designed for our application. Hitting the road or a guard rail at 50 miles an hour just shatters these paragliding helmets as opposed to the Drop which was designed to take much bigger blows. I think that if Bell were to design something as simple as a faceshield that fit snugly over the front opening, that many downhill skateboarders would be very persuaded to buy one. I can guarantee you that if you made a more aerodynamic shell (fairings, no vents, maybe an elongated shape) with the same safety features it would be the most popular helmet in all gravity sports, not just skateboarding.

-Reece Speakman

**Jesse Tighe** · 04-18-2009 02:57 PM

good letter, if they make it, i will definatley buy it.

**d-dub** · 04-18-2009 03:07 PM

tried the drop. still like my charly better. by the way, i've fallen at 50 mph into a guardrail and my head was fine in my charly. paragliding helmets shells are DESIGNED to break on impact. good luck with the letter though. it would be a good option for skaters to have, but you still need to let people make their own decisions.

**Reece Man** · 04-18-2009 03:20 PM

Originally Posted by d-dub

tried the drop. still like my charly better. by the way, i've fallen at 50 mph into a guardrail and my head was fine in my charly. paragliding helmets shells are DESIGNED to break on impact. good luck with the letter though. it would be a good option for skaters to have, but you still need to let people make their own decisions.

I know the paragliding helmets work most of the time and it's totally up to the people who wear them. I was just beefing it up to make it sound extra good. I would never pressure anyone into wearing a helmet they didn't feel comfortable with. I know that if it came with a visor, a lot of charly and Icaro users would switch over. I guess I would just like to see more options on the table.

**zatoichi37** · 04-18-2009 03:33 PM

Thank you for sending that letter. I got a really lightweight and comfortable moto helmet because i didn't want to make a face shield

TT · 04-20-2009 11:39 AM

can you post the e-mail you mailed to bell. I think everyone that reads this tread should mail bell for the same reason.

**Reece Man** · 04-20-2009 02:18 PM

That's what I sent to them. Of course I just noticed stupid little grammar mistakes that I made but they'll get the jist.

**Longbord1** · 04-20-2009 02:40 PM

link them to the graham helmet thread

and tell them about how important being aerodynamic is.

**B_Dubya_B** · 04-20-2009 03:30 PM

If you would persuade, you must appeal to interest rather than intellect.

-Ben Franklin

Bell has to invest large amounts of money in developing helmets. Bell is a business, and they are in business to make money. Bell is probably not going to manufacture an aero visored dh helmet because it would be swell and dandy for the (maybe) 100 people that have suggested the thing. Without showing bell how they would profit from expanding into this market, every email we send will fall on deaf ears.

**Reece Man** · 04-20-2009 03:34 PM

Originally Posted by B_Dubya_B

-Ben Franklin

Bell has to invest large amounts of money in developing helmets. Bell is a business, and they are in business to make money. Bell is probably not going to manufacture an aero visored dh helmet because it would be swell and dandy for the (maybe) 100 people that have suggested the thing. Without showing bell how they would profit from expanding into this market, every email we send will fall on deaf ears.

I'm listening, how do you propose we do it differently?

**FoxRiderar77** · 04-20-2009 06:02 PM

If we can get a major skateboard company like Comet, Landyachtz, Rayne or similar to talk to some helmet manufacturers to get a longboarding specific helmet, we could make some major headway. The problem though is that especially with the current financial situation, many companies just can't invest money into R&D for such a niche product.

**sniffleless** · 04-20-2009 06:39 PM

You know they don't have to make a whole new helmet. They could just make a face shield. Plenty of people make their own to retro fit on. So why couldn't Bell? An easier, cheaper option than a ground up new helmet.

**nicthekid220** · 04-20-2009 06:54 PM

i think that would make them think about it for awhile.

**B_Dubya_B** · 04-20-2009 07:50 PM

well if we really wanted to convince them we need to show them the market potential.

Ive already started compiling race attendance numbers and growth rates and message board membership numbers but if there was a way to do ownership rates of full face helmets that would be the best.

we need to show bell that they can make money on doing this

**PMC** · 04-20-2009 08:04 PM

Don't mean to rain in your parade but I call Bell and Gyro talk to product marketing managers and both companies told me the same, speedboarding is a very small nich market, not worth it to them, but good luck and maybe if they get more call and letters they will change there mind.

**Reece Man** · 04-20-2009 08:20 PM

Originally Posted by FoxRiderar77

If we can get a major skateboard company like Comet, Landyachtz, Rayne or similar to talk to some helmet manufacturers to get a longboarding specific helmet, we could make some major headway. The problem though is that especially with the current financial situation, many companies just can't invest money into R&D for such a niche product.

That's actually a really good idea.

Originally Posted by PMC

maybe if they get more call and letters they will change there mind.

I did my part. Come on guys keep the letters going.

**B_Dubya_B** · 04-20-2009 08:37 PM

Originally Posted by PMC

Don't mean to rain in your parade but I call Bell and Gyro talk to product marketing managers and both companies told me the same, speedboarding is a very small nich market, not worth it to them, but good luck and maybe if they get more call and letters they will change there mind.

did they happen to tell you where they got their info from?

TT · 04-20-2009 11:57 PM

Even if speedboarding is a smal market I that I don't think (mtb isn't that large either) there must be a market for Industrial made visors for bell drop and bell bellistic as an option you can buy.

**DPerjar** · 04-21-2009 12:50 AM

Plenty of people have emailed them before I believe. Your letter is nice and simple though. I'd be surprised if you get a response longer than 2 sentences back though.

**FoxRiderar77** · 04-21-2009 01:31 PM

Downhill and freeride mountain biking is actually quite large, there are mountains such as whistler built for mountain biking, and all the major bike companies produce downhill and freeride bikes.

It is interesting to note though that biking started in Vancouver as an illegal activity and slowly evolved into the sport it is today. Hopefully speedboarding will grow in a similar way and then we'll have all sorts of products to choose from.