So i decided that given my numerous concussions in 2007 (kiting and non-kiting) i'd splash out and get some good armour for my noggin, a sturdy bucket for my brain, a solid lid for my skid. Whatever you want to call it i went helmet shopping! What a tedious day i had. Bike shops, ski shops, hiking shops; i think i visited about 12 in total this afternoon so i'm pretty damn exhausted right now but none the less i thought i'd spread the word. The bucket in question is a Giro Encore which i believe is a 2007 model. The 2008 model is identical but didn't come with a rather persuasive clearance discount. The 'Encore' name made me chuckle as i was expecting the sales pitch from Giro to be something like 'smack your head hard and you'll be fine for an encore!' Now it's actually a ski/snow based helmet but all the extra warmth is removable leaving the nice big meshed vented sections to keep your head cool. I'm was a little concerned about overheating but since i've used it on my recent desert adventure plus a few beach and park KGB and downhill sessions, i can honestly say that it's ventilated enough for my liking. On a 30º+ day you might get a bit hot, but as i'm usually out kitesurfing on days that hot (assuming summer) it's a bit of a non-issue. It also has a goggle strap which you can see at the back of the helmet which will definitely come in handy for when i hit the snow, and i do mean HIT. It did also come in matt black but i decided as i'll be giving it some custom 'art' shortly it'd be easier to start with the bone white colour. The other options i tried on today were either MUCH more expensive (and admittedly nicer to wear) or much nastier and not a helluva lot cheaper. I ended up getting this one for ~$80 from 'Capital 17' on Hardware St in Melbourne (just along from Hardware Lane), but the RRP is ~$120. I actually already bought one of the cheap and nasty bike 'bucket' helmets for $40 but decided that my head was worth more than that, AND i'd like to keep my 2008 concussion free! So there ya go. I've since given it a paint job, but it's only a temporary one until i get some brand & shop stickers to finish it off! I think a nice fat XK or Extreme Kites sticker is what it's calling for.