Calgary Stampeders test 'radical' new helmet

The Calgary Stampeders are testing out a new kind of helmet this season.

Two players Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell and linebacker Deron Mayo will each be wearing a Riddell "precision fit" helmet.

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From the outside it looks just like an ordinary helmet, but on the inside it's radically different.

The Calgary Eyeopener'sLisa Robinson talked with long-time equipment manager George (Gio) Hopkins about the new helmets.

Q: Describe this new helmet, what does it look like?

A: The shell itself is no different than what a normal helmet is. Where the difference is, is in all the guts. So instead of the normal helmet where you have individual parts that are air inflated for sizing, you have a constant foam, basic one-piece that is velcroed into place and it fits that person's head exactly.

Q: These new helmets are measured for their heads?

A: What they do is the people from Riddell come up and both our players sat down on a stool, they put a neoprene skull cap on their head, much like a full balaclava, and they do a 3D image of their head .. and then they feed that into a computer. So what they are doing is instead of moldingthe head, they are taking a 3D image of the head and molding the foam to go over top of it. If you got a slight little indent on the side of your head, that foam is built into your indent.

Q: But what if someone decides, hey, I'm going to grow my hair long or I'm going to shave my head?

A: The helmet will not fit, that's the problem. Your hair has to be basically within an inch or so.

Q: Are these helmets more expensive than the ones you normally use?

A: Considerably. What you are looking at for a normal helmet we buy let's say they average out at about $395 Canadian. These ones your first mold is $1,750 US and each helmet after that is $1,200 US. So we've basically spent on these two guys what we'd spend on half the defence.

Q: But is it worth it? What kind of difference are they saying these helmets can make?

A: I'm think there's no question that from a protection standpoint that it's going to be that much better, again.

Q: Does Riddell say how effective they are or efficient they are at reducing concussions?

A: You are going to find nobody who wants to discuss how efficient something is in reducing concussions. They will say that it lessens the chances of it, but nobody is going to make a broad statement about it.

Q: You've been with the Stamps for 45 years. So would you say this is the biggest innovation in gear that you've seen since you've been with the team?

A: I wouldn't say it was the biggest by any means. I started off with suspension helmets when I took over as the head guy in '77. That technology hadn't changed since World War Two paratroopers helmets, and in the ten years after that you saw the advent of air-filled helmets, water-filled helmets, alcohol-filled helmets, (and) different sizing methods So the technology has taken off, but this is probably the most radical from an individual standpoint.

With files from the Calgary Eyeopener