How many of ya'll have ruptured an ear drum while wakeboarding? I ruptured my left ear drum twice this summer, still recovering from the second time which happened last weekend. How do you protect your ears without looking like a retard. A buddy of mine has a full wetsuit with a hood that he wears but he looks like an idiot we call him the wakeboarding ninga, also a full hooded thick wetsuit is way to hot for the warm summer water. <BR>So help me out, how should i protect my ears?

go to the doctors' and get some ear plugs made for you.

I feel like if a was wearing some tiny earplug and i hit the water super hard that it would do all kinds of damage being shuved deep inside my ear canal or be ripped out and never found again

get Mack's Ear Plugs. They sell 'em at grocery stores and Rite-aids and stuff. It's basically a piece of wax that you just smash on your ear and it keeps all water out. They work really well. I blew my eardrum and I wore them until it healed. After that experience I learned to take those diggers on my forehead...instead of the side of my head. <BR>

i got one bad <BR>my ear was bleeding <BR>they just gave me some medicine and it healed quickly.

The ear plug route is the way to go. It is $100.00 but they make a mold of your ear so they fit perfectly. The way they are shaped prevents them from doing damage to your ear. Basically, ear plugs prevent a a pocket of air being forced up your ear canal with no where to go as you impact the water. I don't think you need to worry about the plug being forced up your ear, even if you get the less expensive plugs that surfers wear.

docsproplugs.com 10 bucks and your set

Pro Tec helmet with ear covers.

pro tec helmets don't prevent blown eardrums. my friend blew his wearing one.

I am sure nothing is 100%, but I figured, at least with the ear covers, it would help. Maybe, maybe not. Just a suggestion.

I'll second Doc's Pro Plugs

Pro Plugs here after my blown eardrum. Weird at first cause it's much quiter...but I really like them now. You can get them at any dive shop or online. But best to try them at a shop first as there are different sizes. <BR> <BR>You can also get ones w/ a string or without. I have both and I actually like the ones w/o a string as the string always gets caught in my vest kinda...but you can just take it off if ya want. So probably get the leash and then you have the option of either way. <BR> <BR><a href="http://www.proplugs.com" target="_blank">www.proplugs.com</a> <BR> <BR>Good better soon!