A major brand is recalling hundreds of snow sports helmets because they may not work in a full-contact collision or fall.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Uvex Sports, of Cranston, RI and Swix Sport USA, of Haverhill, MA, has announced a voluntary recall of Uvex Funride helmets.
Uvex is a major brand for both racing and recreational helmets. The Funride is a half-style helmet with soft ear flaps.
The commission said consumers should not use the helmets this upcoming season.
About 800 helmets are affected, the commission said. No injuries have been reported from last season, but the helmets provide "insufficient shock absorption and resistance to penetration,'' thus posing a head injury hazard, the commission said.
Uvex Funride ski helmets come in two adult sizes, XS-M, and L-XL. Individual sizing is adjusted by a small dial located at the rear of the helmet. The helmets feature a chin strap, soft-sided ear protection and the word "Uvex" printed toward the back of the helmet. The interior label on affected helmets bears the code, "S-58B" or "S-58C". The helmet comes in black, white and silver in terms of solid colors; and two designer colors - carbon look matte in white or black and golden flower decal in white or black.
The helmets were sold independent retail shops and rental shops nationwide from January 2009 to April of this year for $99.
The helmets were manufactured in China. The commission said skiers and snowboarders owing one of the helmets should return it to the store where purchased for a full refund or store credit.
For additional information, contact Uvex at Swix Sport USA at 800-343-8335 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EDT, Monday through Friday, or visit www.uvex-sports.de/en/recall.
* * *
Two snow sports figures took their own lives this week.
Olympic freestyle skier Jeret "Speedy'' Peterson, 29, died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in Utah. In a posting to Facebook friends, Olympic snowboarder Seth Wescott said he will miss Peterson's ''spirit'' and called him a ''legend that will live on.''
Roger Leo, a longtime snow sports journalist for the Worcester Telegram and Gazette and several online outlets, jumped to his death from a bridge on Interstate-190 in Massachusetts after a police chase.
Leo, 64, and was fleeing the scene of an alleged assault, according to several news and police reports.
