DIY Vinyl Helmet Graphics

Photos and Text by Sean “Griz” McClendon

Custom painted helmets seem to be a necessity to most pro racers these days - but who says it has to be paint? Vinyl is a cheap and practical (as well as a do-it-yourself) way to put together a custom lid. For $40-bucks, with the help of graphic designer/ pro downhill racer Christian Schloessman along with a donated TLD Sting Ray visor from T-Sage, I was able to design and create my first “custom lid.”

The idea was to have a clean “racey” look  with a bit of punk rock in it that would carry along two subtle identities, those being the “26 Griz” logos and the “westside” hands. 26 is a self-proclaimed racing number which stems from the 2six days and the westside hands are there to display the territory I represent at the races as well as endorse my “east vs. west” domestic racing rivalry - just like 2pac and Biggie Smalls.

Vinyl wrapping a helmet is time-consuming requiring precision and patience, and is hands down the easiest way to pass time while driving accross the country. Starting in Ventura, California, the helmet took about 10-12 hours to complete and was finally finished in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. A mandatory “helmet drop” was done in Massanutten, Virginia and saw the top of the box that weekend at the opening round of the Gravity East Series.

Keep on doing-it-yourself, America.

See you at the races, Griz.

helmet

Done, son!