Mike Demao was enjoying "a perfect day" of skiing at Big Sky in Montana a number of years ago when he lost his balance and fell.

"I landed right on top of my head," said Demao, who, with his wife, Nancy, manages the Sport Shop at Hidden Valley. "When I hit, I thought, 'Man, am I glad I had this helmet on.' "

He called his wife, told her she had to start wearing a helmet and explained why.

Helmets have been a topic of conversation at resorts and ski shops since March 16 when actress Natasha Richardson fell on the beginner slope at Mont Tremblant in Canada, suffered a brain injury and died two days later.

"It doesn't take a lot to injure your head," Nancy Demao said. "You can lose your balance while standing in a lift line and hit your head. You can fall getting off a chairlift and get hit on the back of the head by the next chairlift while you're scrambling to get back on your skis and out of the way."

Andy Roberts, a salesman at the Hidden Valley shop, believes helmets should be mandatory for skiers and snowboarders 12 and younger. He said a young woman in her early 20s, "one of the best snowboarders" in the Laurel Highlands, came into the store the other day and went right to the helmets. She selected one and her mother paid for it.

"Our selection is low now because we're at the end of the season," Nancy Demao said. "I think we will see helmet sales go up in the fall. They're warm, comfortable and lightweight."

She said quality adult helmets cost between $79 and $169. The price of a good child's helmet ranges from $79 to $130. If parents object to buying or renting a helmet for their children, she asks them: "What is your child's brain worth to you?"

Donna Gagliardi, the manager of Willi's Ski Shop in Castle Shannon, said it "has been recommending helmets for years because anything can happen, especially with kids who can get knocked down by someone else."

Aaron Hmel, the manager of the Willi's shop in Monroeville, said helmet sales to adults and kids increase every year.

Hmel used to work for Nordica, a boot and ski manufacturer. After a fellow employee suffered a head injury, the company made helmets mandatory for every employee. "No one complained. Everyone understood. I won't ski or snowboard without a helmet."

The Seventh Annual Pond Skim and Meltdown Party begins at 11 a.m. today at Seven Springs. Prizes will be awarded for best skim across two manmade ponds, best costume and best splash.

Racers participating in the 25th Annual Corporate Cup at Seven Springs last month overcame the conditions and raised more than $46,000 for Blind & Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh.

Latrobe Specialty Steel's team -- Chief Executive Officer Hans Sack, Robert Zacharski and Steve Kotler -- took first place with a combined time of 1 minute and 42.74 seconds.

Brian May won the individual race in 37.40 seconds. He was followed by Andy Gildersleeve (44.85 seconds) and Chip Desmone (47.10 seconds)

"The racers did a great job, especially with the less than optimum conditions," said Dawn McHugh-Woodfill, development associate of the organization.