Busted Eardrum

[CruisinGA]

Been teaching a good friend of mine to barefoot long line.

Last weekend, he "plugged in" a little too hard and busted an eardrum.

The doc says he may be able to get back in the lake in 2 weeks if it heals up like it should.

Do any of you avid barefooters do anything to prevent ear damage? I've never had a problem, but I want him to keep 'footin so looking for any suggestions!

[mikeg205]

yes a protech helmet... I have one with ear flaps only... they didn't have this model before.

[madcityskier]

x2 on helmet with earflaps. A buddy has done this multiple times, he won't even wake surf without his now. Had another guy take a header on a slalom ski with the same result. He hasn't gone without borrowing that helmet since. Just be sure it's for water activities, I've heard horror stories of bike helmets catching water and injuring necks.
Plus, it makes you look like you're about to do something much more entertaining.

[Nick911]

Blown drums twice now wakeboarding. Wear my ProTec with ear flaps whenever I ride. Gonna look at custom plugs here. Have a buddy that does them specifically for water with Bluetooth etc...

[CC2MC]

I have read several horror stories on busting ear drums, which is the main reason I now wear a helmet. I am not sure how effective my ear flaps are for sure though, as I seem to get more water in my ears than I remember. I still have not busted any eardrums, and hopefully I will not. I think ear plugs in addition would be the best solution, although other helmet's ear flaps may have better protection than mine.

[madcityskier]

Pretty sure that the flaps, while they may keep water from draining out of your ears so easily, will help prevent the sudden forceful impact that is likely to perforate your eardrum.
Then again, I'm often wrong.

[CruisinGA]

He is already planning on wearing ear plugs from now on... I wonder what type are best- the disposable soft foam, the 'wet' soft silicone ones etc etc?

Helmet barefooting makes me nervous due to the speeds and catching water

I was thinking wrestling-style ear protection

[MI_Corey]

Taught my sister in law to wakeboard this year. She got up and made a full lap third try. Fourth pull she accidentally started fakie, went about a hundred yards before catching toeside edge and busting her ear drum. Not a good first experience of wakeboarding for her.

[epnault]

Originally Posted by CruisinGA

He is already planning on wearing ear plugs from now on... I wonder what type are best- the disposable soft foam, the 'wet' soft silicone ones etc etc?

Helmet barefooting makes me nervous due to the speeds and catching water

I was thinking wrestling-style ear protection

These plugs are the best in my opinion. When I got my boat 4 years ago and was learning wakeboarding I kept rupturing my eardrums.
http://www.proplugs.com/

[bcd]

I've busted mine twice wakeboarding. It sucks. You can get custom molded ear plugs from an ear nose and throat doctor. I wore some of the soft moldable ones for a while, but then got tired of dealing with them.