A New Brunswick ski hill holding back on making helmet use mandatory for its members will be introducing new rules in the coming days.

Management at Crabbe Mountain in Bright Parish, N.B., say even though it’s not mandatory for all skiers and snowboarders to wear helmets, it will now be mandatory to use a helmet in the terrain park or for those under the age of 18.

"We have 90 per cent of people skiing and riding here at Crabbe are already wearing helmets," said general manager Jordan Cheney. "If you're under 18, we'll make it mandatory. But over 18, it's up to the skier or snowboarder."

The New Brunswick Medical Society is applauding three ski hills in the province for introducing mandatory helmet policies. Poley Mountain in Sussex, Sugarloaf Park in Campbellton, and Mont Farlagne in Edmundston all have introduced mandatory policies.

Skier Ryan Groom says he doesn't need a policy to tell him to wear a helmet.

"If you don't want to wear a helmet, don't wear one, but that's pretty stupid," said skier Ryan Groom.

Groom says he and his kids won't be found on a ski hill without one

"I’m not good for mandatory anything as an adult,” said Groom. “You should be able to make your own decisions. I mean, wearing a helmet is probably the best decision, but you should be allowed to do that."

The New Brunswick Medical Society says too many people are entering the emergency room with head injuries after participating in winter activities.

The medical society says while they understand compliance is high, accidents can happen. They say it will cost the health care system an average of $400,000 for a person who has suffered a major brain injury.

"Doctors are concerned about the prevention of injury, and accidents on ski hills, they happen,” said Anthony Knight, CEO of the New Brunswick Medical Society. “But if you can prevent the impact by wearing a helmet, then that reduces the impact on individuals that doctors see in emergency rooms too frequently."

In Nova Scotia, a law requiring skiers and snowboarders to wear helmets has been in place since 2012.

Cheney says the ski hill doesn’t want to be put in a position of policing the policy.

“A huge part of our identity here at Crabbe Mountain is that it's a place of freedom. We love that about Crabbe Mountain," he said.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Laura Brown.