Wearing protection gear minimizes the risk of injury - especially when you're just getting started. Furthermore, it will give you more confidence for your tricks. Here, you'll find out why protective gear isn't only something for skateboarding beginners, and in which situations wearing protective gear is absolutely unavoidable.
Helmet
If you have attended or seen footage of a halfpipe contest, you probably have noticed that the pros do not throw themselves into the vertical without proper helmets (-> Fig. 01). So, if you want to enter the vertical, you should put some serious thought into purchasing protective headgear. Beginners in general should consider wearing a helmet since falling is something you need to develop a feeling for - much like tricks. When you purchase a helmet, makes sure that it neither pinches nor sits too loose. Furthermore, it should always be properly fastened when you wear it and the straps should be adjusted to a proper length. That way, the helmet won't accidentally slip off your head when you fall.
Pads
Pads (-> Fig. 02), which can simply be worn over your clothes, consists of a polyethylene cap and a bandage made of neoprene or textile. Just as with the helmets, we recommend that you wear full gear once you start to ride transition. Falling onto your back is a classic move when you learn the drop in, and without elbow pads and wrist guards, it is a pretty painful matter.