Look back on longboarding ten or fifteen years ago. The gear that was used back then had a long way to come. There was only one truck that was made for downhill skating(the Randal DH), only a few brands of wheels you could use for going fast, provided they didn’t melt on you, and safety gear was few and far between. Only the very top level of professional riders used custom-fitted leather suits while most riders used moto-cross or mountain bike helmets. There was one helmet out there that was made specifically for high speed longboarding, the “Dr. Gofast”. Unfortunately it was out of reach for most riders as the cost of one of these helmets was about $1,200 and only a handful were made.
Mark Golter and Gary Hardwick drafting at high speed. Both are wearing Dr. GoFast helmets.
When development for the DH6 first started in the summer of 2008, the gear longboarders use had come a long way. Wheel, deck and truck companies were coming out of the woodwork all over the world. Yet in recent years racers have had to choose between bulky motocross or mtn. bike helmets (which offer enough impact protection) but don’t have a flip-up face-shield, and lightweight, flexible hang glider helmets (which offer very little impact protection) but have flip-up face shields and aerodynamic styling. The DH6 has combined the best of both: safety, style and aerodynamics.
The beginning of the DH-6 helmet can be traced back to when Dave Price from Timeship Racing and Dan Pape from Colabo Innovations saw the potential in a full-face helmet that was originally designed for extreme kayaking. Unknowing of each other they both contacted the owner of Predator Helmets, Matt Kelly to inquire about the helmet. Matt, a former vert skater was into the project and saw the potential of a rapidly expanding Longboarding market. Flash forward one and a half years to Oct 2010, and a heavily modified version of that kayak helmet hits the longboard market with a very limited release of 100 helmets. That run of helmets sold out practically before they were even in stores with very positive feedback from the longboard community. Now its the start of the racing season in 2011 and Predator Helmets are about to get onto ALOT of heads all over the world.
Nice job!
Got my first Predator helmet! Been looking for this type of helmet for many years, and used lot of diffrent helmets for longborad/dh skate. My first consern is safty, but also design and areodynamic. Many helmets for dh bicykel are safe, but to big, heavy and not areodynamic. DH 6 helmet looks nice, it fits are very light. Feel as safe as motorcycle helmets, but weighs only a fourth part. The helmet feels very good in the tuck and the visibility is very good. Continue with work on the design and aerodynamik, but the intent is also to create the safest helmet for long boarding