This person was on a beginners slope. Helmets started to pick up momentum when snow boarding became all the rage. I've skied for decades, recently returning from a skiing vacation in Colorado. Name a ski resort in CO, UT, ID, or CA ... not to mention VT, NH or Quebec (Mont Tremblant) and I've (probably) skied their slopes. Bottom line ... yeah, you can always make an argument for ski helmets, but then again maybe Americans should never exceed 45 mph on the interstates ... it will save lives.
We never wore helmets until we took our son skiing. Helmets were a good idea to set an good example for him. They are not comfortable but they are safer. That being said, adults should be able to make these decisions for themselves. Don’t wear a helmet if you don’t want to but accept the consequences if something happens to you.
I don't know how to do the math but think of an apple on a stick. If you take a 170 cm long pole, the top of the pole travels a greater distance to cover the the 90 degrees to go from vertical to horizontal. How many feet per second is the tip of the pole traveling when it hits the ground in .25 of a second? FAST!! Who can do the math?