The Best Surfer In The World Wears A Helmet — Why Shouldn’t You?

Presented by Oakley.

A month ago, we took an in-depth look into the origin story of the Oakley WTR Icon, which remains the pinnacle of cranial protection in surfing.

Following in the footsteps of the late Ric Gath, it felt only fitting for Oakley’s mini-documentary on its development process — A Rush of Calm to the Head — to feature one of Pipeline’s most notorious figures from the 1980s and ’90s: Liam McNamara. His Gath helmet (and short john) was inseparable from his well-documented and often controversial antics at the wave.

McNamara recalls a near-death experience at 18 and his subsequent decision to start wearing a helmet in the late 1980s, especially while surfing Pipe. Yet, with rare exceptions, his choice didn’t ignite a trend.

Many surfers resisted helmets due to complaints about muffled hearing, a “parachute effect,” and a perceived lack of style (and an air of dorkiness). This aversion kept helmets off most heads at lineups where they could have done more good than harm.

But as countless A-list surfers suffered life-threatening injuries due to lack of protection, the trends have changed significantly since the late-’80s. Where Liam McNamara was once a bobbing, fluorescent island in a sea of unprotected skulls, waves like Pipeline and Teahupo’o now boast majority-helmeted lineups when the waves are on — not to mention additional saftey wearables like impact vests and flotation.

Now, Oakley brings decades of data, rigorous lab research, and real-world testing on humans like Griffin Colapinto, Al Cleland Jr., and Caity Simmers to offer a helmet that overcomes most — if not all — of their common drawbacks.

The WTR Icon’s “Open Concept” design reduces buoyancy and water resistance, making the transition between water and air nearly imperceptible. Thanks to its robust shell geometry, impact force is absorbed and dispersed to minimize the risk of brain injury. An adjustable dial also provides a custom fit for most head shapes and sizes.

Oakley initially planned a limited release of the WTR Icon, with a broader launch scheduled for Spring 2025. The helmet is now available at select retailers and will be sold on oakley.com starting December 14 for US$175.

But unlike Liam, you might not be the only one sporting one of these in North Shore lineups this winter.