The use of safety gear will always be debated. Here is our take on its use and why:

We seriously recommend the use of at least a helmet and wrist guards for everyone!

We also recommend elbow and knee guards, especially for beginners!

Here is why: The most frequent skating injury is to the wrists and hands. BTW - I only know of one injury to the wrists in 8 years of skating with CFTB. Please buy and use wrist guards that have sufficient stiffness to keep your wrist from hyper-extending in a fall. The least common skating injury is to the head; however when it occurs it is often the most serious skating injury. To be effective, a helmet must be fitted and adjusted properly. Please seek assistance in fitting and adjusting yours if you are not sure what is meant by this! Elbow and knee guards will prevent abrasions and possible injury in a fall. I personally know of no one who has seriously injured an elbow or knee in a skating fall, but why chance it? We at CFTB are concerned with your personal safety and well being!