Helmet safety has become a hot topic in skateboarding lately as more well respected pros have shared stories about serious injuries.
RELATED: Skitching Ends in Death After Skateboard Hits Golf Cart Tire; Police Say Skater Had No Helmet
Some continue to skate without one, while others have spoken openly about why they believe wearing a helmet is worth it after experiencing painful crashes themselves.
As we previously reported, Nyjah Huston fractured his skull and eye socket after a brutal slam while attempting a backside feeble grind on a steep handrail.
READ MORE: Nyjah Huston Suffers Fractured Skull and Eye Socket Following Serious Injury
Huston later returned to the hospital after hitting his head again.
Even though he encouraged others to wear a helmet, he also said he still would not wear safety gear while street skating, a statement that created plenty of discussion throughout the skateboarding community.
READ MORE: Nyjah Huston Refuses Helmet Despite Skull Fracture, Even After Urging Fans to Wear One
We also recently covered how skater rapper Wiz Khalifa encouraged fellow skater rapper Ty Dolla $ign to wear a helmet after Ty was knocked out cold during a skate sesh.
READ MORE: Wiz Khalifa on Ty Dolla $ign Skate Accident: “I Told Him to Wear a Helmet”
Now another professional skateboarder has shared his own experience after suffering painful injuries, hoping others can avoid making the same mistake.
Greg Lutzka recently revealed that he fractured three bones in his face after skating without a helmet.
The injuries included his cheekbone, upper jaw, and eye socket. He also broke his thumb during the crash.
Thankfully, after undergoing several X rays and CT scans, doctors told him he would not need surgery.
Lutzka said he is currently recovering well and expects the healing process to take around six to eight weeks.
He also shared how grateful he is that his injuries were not even worse.
What stood out the most was the message he wanted people to take away from his experience.
Lutzka admitted he regrets not wearing one of his own signature 80SIX helmets that day.
He said that if sharing his story convinces even one person to put on a helmet before skating, then opening up about his injuries will have been worth it.
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He also pointed out that a helmet costs far less than the consequences of suffering a serious head injury.
In his words, your brain is worth far more than the price of a helmet.
His post quickly caught the attention of core heads, many of whom wished him a speedy recovery while thanking him for being honest about what happened.
Stories like this continue to fuel conversations about helmet use, especially after several well publicized crashes involving professional skaters over the past few months.
While every skater makes their own decisions about protective gear, Lutzka's experience shows how quickly a normal session can turn into weeks of recovery.
Fortunately for him, surgery was not necessary, but he hopes others will learn from what happened and choose to protect themselves before dropping into their next session.
Lutzka ended his message with a simple request that many people can agree with.
"Don't forget to wear a helmet."
Stay safe.
Lutzka Posted:
"🚨 Don’t forget to wear a helmet. 🪖
Two weeks ago, I wasn’t hearing a helmet and fractured 3 bones in my face (cheekbone, upper jaw, and eye socket) and even broke my thumb.
After rounds of X-Rays and CT Scans, we got the good news that I didn’t need surgery, and my 6–8 week recovery is going great! I’m incredibly grateful.🙏
If this post convinces just one person to wear a helmet, it’s worth sharing my story. If you’re looking for one, my signature 80SIX helmets are available on Amazon; I regret not wearing one that day. Your brain is worth far more than $29.99.
Stay safe! ❤️🤘 @triple8nyc"