You old fart, you!
Researchers at Johns Hopkins recently estimated that about 600,000 people nationally are injured each year as a result of skiing and snowboarding.
I have heard of many young snowboarders that became paralyzed. Young people think they are indestructible and it's up to the adults to protect them until they are no longer stupid. I don't think protective gear, when available, is too much to ask. My son landed on his head a couple times making huge jumps on his motorcycle. Had he not been wearing $800 worth of protective head & neck gear he would likely have been seriously hurt.