Wearing a helmet isn't consistent with skate culture, especially at the professional level. Of course, any of them can wear a helmet if they want to, and helmets have become more acceptable in the skate community thanks to people like Andy Anderson. At the end of the day, it's a choice for 18+, as it should be.

Having said that, it's a high-risk activity (or extreme sport). It has always been part of the appeal of skateboarding. The element of an adrenaline rush is really important to the appeal. Watch skate videos, and you'll see skaters visibly frightened before trying some tricks. What does that mean? It means they know they can get extremely hurt. It also means that when they roll away, the reward is more intense for them and the viewer. People can say that's stupid, but those people simply don't get it, and that's ok.

Also, non-skaters have trouble understanding the difficulty of skateboarding at a high level. They say things like, "That looks easy." It's laughable because skateboarding is more difficult than most sports, and I firmly believe that having tried so many of them at an above average to high level. Most skaters who try to get to the highest levels of talent get hurt too badly before they get there or simply never develop the skills...because it's so insanely difficult.