Skateboard Safety

Skateboarding has become an increasingly popular recreational activity especially among many but primarily adolescents and teens. It is a fun and healthy sport that can give you a great low-impact aerobic workout, improves coordination and balance, and can give you a great sense of accomplishment and boosts self esteem. Because of this it is most important to make sure that you or your kids practice skateboarding safely and use protective equipment.

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons encourages physical activity as part of an overall health and fitness plan. Staying fit and having fun while doing so is important to a high quality lifestyle, but always be safe!

Incidence of Injury
To improve skateboarding safety, a growing number of communities are providing skaters with designated areas and even skateboard parks. These typically have smooth surfaces, durable obstacles and rails, and professionally designed bowls and ramps or other designated skateboarding areas that are contained and located away from vehicle and pedestrian traffic.

Skateboarding is an activity in which you move quickly and generally over hard surfaces. This can lead to injuries that range from minor cuts and bruises to catastrophic brain damage. Each year in the United States, skateboarding injuries cause thousands of visits to emergency room and many children, adolescents, and adults to be hospitalized.

Most hospitalizations involve head injury. Even injuries that heal quickly can cause pain, anxiety, cost time, and money and in the worst cases lead to disabilities. This can include loss of vision, hearing and speech; loss of personal mobility, and thinking and behavior changes.

Serious skateboarding injuries happen when you lose control and fall or run into a motor vehicle, road hazard, pedestrian, another skateboarder or bicyclist.

You are at risk for injuries:

• If you don't use protective equipment.


• If you don't keep your skateboard in good condition.


• If you skateboard on irregular surfaces.


• If you attempt "tricks" beyond your skill level.

Sixty percent of skateboard injuries involve children under age 15; most of those injured are boys.

At highest risks are:

Inexperienced skateboarders: Those who have been skating for less than one week suffer one-third of injuries, usually caused by falls.

Skateboarders who do not wear protective equipment: Every skateboarder should wear standard safety gear. This includes a helmet, wrist guards, elbow and knee pads and appropriate shoes. Skateboarders who perform tricks should use heavy duty gear.

Skateboarders who go near traffic or use homemade skateboard ramps: Both activities are particularly dangerous.
Experienced skateboarders who encounter unexpected surfaces or try risky stunts: Irregular riding surfaces, rocks or other debris can cause you to fall. You can stumble over twigs or fall down slopes. Wet pavements and rough or uneven surfaces can cause a wipeout. Avoid risky behavior. Don't skateboard too fast or in dangerous or crowded locations.

Types of Injury
Skateboarding injuries often involve the wrist, ankle or face. Many injuries happen when you lose your balance, fall off the skateboard and land on an outstretched arm.

Injuries to the arms, legs, neck and trunk range from bruises and abrasions to sprains and strains, fractures and dislocations. Wrist fractures are quite common. Wearing wrist guards can reduce their frequency and severity.

Facial injuries include breaking your nose and jawbone

Severe injuries include concussion, closed head injury and blunt head trauma.

You can suffer permanent impairment or even death if you fall off the skateboard and strike your head without a helmet. Most brain injuries happen when your head hits pavement. You are most at risk if you skateboard near traffic and collide with motor vehicles, bikes, pedestrians or other obstacles.


Prevention
You can prevent most skateboarding injuries if you follow all of these recommendations:

Use a quality skateboard:
Skateboards have three parts, the skateboard deck (the board itself), the skateboard trucks (the mechanism to which wheels are attached), skateboard bearings (sits in the wheels and allow them to spin fast and smoothly), and the skateboard wheels. Shorter decks are best for beginners because they are easier to balance and handle. Skateboards have various characteristics for all types of riding including slalom or hill bombing, street and park or pools.

Keep your skateboard in proper working order:
You should inspect it before every ride. Look for problems that need repair. These can include loose, broken or cracked parts; sharp edges on metal boards; a slippery top surface; wheels with nicks and cracks, etc. Get professional help to repair serious defects.

Learn the basic skills of skateboarding: Especially how to stop properly.
Also learn slowing and turning techniques, and how to fall safely: If you are losing your balance, crouch down on the skateboard so you won't have as far to fall. Try to land on the fleshy parts of your body rather than your arms. Relax and roll.

Wear proper protective equipment:
Before getting on your skateboard, empty your pockets of all hard and sharp objects and put on your protective gear.

Essential protective equipment includes:

• A properly fitting helmet


• Wrist guards


• Knee and elbow pads


• Shoes


• Helmet

To protect your head from injury, always wear a properly fitting helmet. This is true no matter what your age, level of experience or location where you are skateboarding. Get a quality bicycle or multi-sport helmet. It should meet or exceed safety standards of the U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) or Snell Memorial Foundation. You may need to try on several sizes and models to find a helmet that fits your head correctly and securely.

A properly fitting helmet:

Is worn flat on your head with the bottom edge parallel to the ground
Sits low on your forehead
Has side straps that form a "V" shape around each ear
Has a buckle that fastens tightly (there should be room to put only two fingers between the strap and your chin)
Has pads inside that you install or remove so the helmet fits snuggly
Does not move in any direction when you shake your head
Does not interfere with your movement, vision or hearing

Replace your helmet when it is damaged, outgrown or at least every five years. You may need to replace it sooner if the manufacturer recommends it.

Please Note: California has expanded its bicycle helmet law to require that children under age 18 wear helmets each time they use a skateboard, inline skates, roller skates or scooter, making the state's child helmet law the strictest in the nation. Violators face fines, most of which benefits local health departments promoting helmet safety education and subsidizing helmet purchases for low-income families.

Wrist guards, knee and elbow pads and other gear: Wrist guards help support the wrist and reduce the chances of breaking a bone if you fall. Knee and elbow pads reduce the severity of cuts and scrapes, and prevent gravel burns. You should also wear closed, slip-resistant shoes, and consider goggles to keep debris out of your eyes.

Skateboard only on smooth pavement away from traffic, preferably in a supervised skate park.
Never hold onto the side or rear of a moving vehicle while riding a skateboard ("skitching"). You could fall or be thrown into oncoming traffic if the vehicle suddenly slows, stops or turns.
Never use your skateboard in wet weather.
Avoid skateboarding in crowded walkways or in darkness.
Always screen the area before you skateboard, inspecting surfaces for rocks and other debris.
Be careful with tricks and jumps.

Skateboarding skill is not acquired quickly or easily.

Don't take chances by skateboarding faster than your experience allows, or faster than is safe for conditions or the speed of other skateboarders. If you try tricks and jumps, practice them only in a controlled environment, such as a skate park that has adult supervision and appropriate access to emergency medical care.

Stay in shape. Prevent skateboarding injuries by keeping in top physical condition. It’s always a good idea to stretch and do conditioning exercises before and after any physically demanding activity. This is especially true for skateboarding and more experienced skaters who like to push the limits of their abilities.

Do not use headphones while skateboarding. If you can’t hear the cars passing by or the sound of your own skateboard wheels on the pavement you may find yourself in a collision you can’t walk away from.

Never put more than one person on a skateboard. This is true even for long boarders; come on this is just common sense!

Be considerate of fellow skateboarders, especially those who are younger and or less skilled.

Know what to do in an emergency. Skateboarding accidents happen, so you should always know what to do in emergency situations. Don't panic. Call 911 for medical assistance or an ambulance.

Blank Skateboard Parts - To buy or not.

Are blank decks and other skateboard parts any good? This is a great and often asked question. Blank skateboarding parts mostly consist of wheels, bearings, and decks that are made without any company name attached to them. They are plain and generic, usually just a simple one color, and relatively inexpensive.

There is not just one company that makes blank skateboarding gear and there lies the source of problems that some unfortunate skaters have encountered. These parts are usually made in China (big surprise there), by several manufacturers, and shipped and sold in bulk. Because of this, it's hard to tell if you are getting anything well made. Becuase of this I typically recommend that you avoid them, but there are times that you might want to buy blank gear. If you keep these points in mind you should be able to avoid some of the worst items:

Blank Decks:

Be careful when buying blank decks; some companies use cheap and softer wood that won't have very good pop, and likely won't last long. Be sure that the deck is made from 7 ply hard maple wood. It can be tough to know if you are getting quality, so ask the owner of the shop and make sure it is made of good wood. If it is, it should be fine; although, I wouldn't expect it to last nearly as long as a pro grade skateboard deck. If you aren't that aggressive of a skater or just take it easier, it might last you quite a while. One thing that should be pointed out is that blank decks and shop decks are not necessarily the same quality or from the same manufacture. Sometimes they are, so ask your shop and find out more about the shop deck.

Blank Wheels:

There is no clear way to determine the quality of the urethane in the wheels before you buy them. You can ask at the shop you are looking to buy them from, but there's a good chance they won't even know. If you can get them cored, then that will help. Fortunately they are relatively inexpensive so you can experiment and pick some up and try them out with out much of a dent in your wallet.

Blank Trucks:

There aren't really blank trucks out there, but there are low end and cheap skateboard trucks on the market. I recommend that you stay with the name brand trucks however if your not aggressive or not sure if skateboarding is right for you and want a cheap skateboard give them a shot. When they crack or the king pin breaks pick up a new name brand pair.

Blank Bearings:

These bearings are easy to find and pretty cheap. If you are going to get some make sure that they are ABEC rated. Most of the time you can get a cheaper good quality skateboard bearing set like Black Panthers or Luck’s for only a little bit more money so look around.

There are a lot of people in the skateboarding industry who flat out hate blank skateboard gear or hate the idea of no name skateboard gear, and they think that if you buy blank gear, you are helping to undermine skateboarding as legit sport, because you aren't supporting pro skateboarding. Perhaps there is a ring of truth in this, but in our humble opinion it doesn't really matter. Skateboarding has been evolving and changing over the last several decades, and skaters will continue to evolve along with it. "Legitimate sport" or not, professional or not, just so long as you skate you are supporting skateboarding.

The bottom line is this if you have conviction about the legitimacy of skateboarding as a sport, or have the money and want something of determined quality; by all means get pro grade skateboard gear instead of no name blank equipment. However, if you are strapped for cash, just starting out, or just don't want to support pro skating, then blanks aren't all that bad of an idea. Keep in mind; you get what you pay for.

Skateboard Trucks Review: The Grind King 5.0 Axl II

Grind King is a Venice based company that has been innovating and supporting skateboard truck hardware for nearly 20 years.

The Grind King 5.0 Axl II’s are lite, giving, responsive, and durable. Somewhat pricey, but we feel that they are worth it in the long run. The only down side we found was that the bushings felt a bit soft for our tastes; however, after we replaced them with some harder bushings they felt just great! Grind King skateboard truck construction are better quality than most, and if they do happen to break you have the warranty to fall back on. All GK trucks are made in the USA and are guaranteed for life against axle slippage and kingpin breakage or truck hanger breakage. Totally worth it!

Grind King will do everything possible to expedite your warranty should you ever experience a problem with your trucks. “We pride ourselves on having the lowest defect rate in the industry.”, “We stand behind the quality of our trucks which is why we guarantee them.”

Features:

• 356 aluminum heat-treated to T6 condition


• Aeronautical heat-grade 8 Kingpins


• Original diamond knurled non-slip 8740 chrom-moly steel axles with reduced-length rolled threads; able to reach tensile strengths up to 200000 psi. This particular aircraft alloy is stronger than the standard 1010/1020 and even stronger than the 4140 that some truck companies brag about.


• Precision drilled pivot, kingpin and mounting holes


• GK has always realized the importance of bushings and strives to maintain the best possible urethane available; available from 90-97 durometer


• GK trucks are the lightest trucks out there.

Skateboard Trucks Review - Destructo Mecha Mid 5.0

Today we feature the Destructo Mecha Mid 5.0 skateboard trucks. These trucks look great and have a futuristic twist to them. The lettering used is sort of a sci-fi or Blade Runner style font. The hanger is flat black and the axle is half metallic green with a honey comb pattern and half flat black that looks awesome. Beyond the color and style, these trucks work great. Ok, so they won't make your skateboarding any better; however, they will help get you on your way by being strong, stable and reliable skateboard trucks. If that weren’t enough, Destructo stands by their product by making their skateboard trucks from weapons grade aluminum and give them a Lifetime Warranty. So if they do happen to go bad, you're covered; that alone is more than most companies will offer you. In short, the Destructo Mecha Skateboard trucks work great, feel great, and if you have the extra money for some cool style and graphics, I highly recommend them!

Skateboard Deck Review - Black Label Emergency Lucero X2 Jester

The Lucero Signature Black Label Emergency X2 Jester Skateboard Deck is a big deck that features old school graphics, light weight 7 ply constructions, and durability. It’s larger size and shape will feel good and familiar for you old school riders (remember Schmitt Stix?) at 9.5x33.125 it's a great choice for cruising, ramps, pools, or skate parks. Black Label decks generally have average weight, with a nice concave, tail fin and nose shape, and plenty of pop. Like we said before the graphics remind us of our old pool decks, with a Joker head menacingly grinning from behind bending bars, the Black Label Flame, and Emergency Cross. Once you have a complete assembled with some larger trucks, fast bearings, and big wheels this skateboard feels and looks very cool. It's reasonably priced. Probably bits on the high side in most walk in establishment, but you can find it fairly reasonable online. Get the Black Label Emergaency Lucero X2 Jester skateboard deck today if you are into the great old school deck and the edgier, Punk rock, dark side of skateboarding style like Black Label Skateboards.

Skateboard Deck Review - Consolidated Skateboards Good Luck Team

The Consolidated Skateboards Good Luck Team skateboard deck is a very popular deck that features dark but humorous graphics, light weight 7 ply constructions, and durability. With average dimensions it should feel as familiar as most boards (7.625) it's a great choice for any style but best for skating street or skate parks.

Consolidated generally makes s light weight skateboard deck, with a nice concave, popsicle sticks shape, and plenty of pop. Like we said before the graphics are a little dark but very funny, featuring a bunny handing his severed foot to another saying, “Good Luck”; now that’s team work!

Once you have a complete assembled with a nice set of matching trucks, fast bearings, and wheels this deck feels and looks very cool.

It's an average priced deck. Probably a bit on the high side in most walk in establishment, but you can find it fairly reasonable online. Get the Consolidated Good Luck Team skateboard deck today if you are into the great deck and the independent skateboarding style of Consolidated Skateboards.

Death Skateboards P Melcher Blood Bath 8 Skateboard Deck Review

Death Skateboards P Melcher's signature skateboard deck, Blood Bath 8 is a top notch 7 ply deck that features hardcore graphics, light weight, and durability. This deck is slightly wider than most boards but you'll hardly be able to tell once you are on; it's a great choice for any style of skating from street to skate parks, pools, bowls or if you're just a larger size. We were surprised how light weight this skateboard deck is, with a nice concaved, popsicle sticks shape, and plenty of pop. Like we said before the graphics are hardcore but so is Death Skateboards, with a spinning wheel and a crimson trail of blood, it's so very road kill and hence the name "Blood Bath". Once you have a complete assembled with a nice set of matching trucks, fast bearings, and wheels this deck feels and looks very cool. It's reasonably priced. Probably bits on the high side in most walk in establishment, but you can find it fairly reasonable online. Get the P Melcher Blood Bath 8 skateboard deck today if you are into a wider deck with hard core style.

Tony Alva Flying Tiger Skateboard Deck Review

The Alva Flying Tiger is a very popular deck that features great graphics, light weight, and durability. With slightly larger dimensions than most boards (9.24x34) this deck has allot of room on it; it's a great choice for those who like to skate parks, pools, bowls or if you just have big feet. It's a big skateboard deck; however, it's surprisingly light weight, concaved, and has allot of pop. The shape is a more modern popsicle stick shape instead of the traditional nose and tail look of old school skateboard or pool board.

The graphics are based on the Flying Tigers whose fighters sported a shark nose graphic during World War II. Once you have a complete assembled with a nice set of trucks, bearings, and wheels this deck feels great.

The only down side to this is the price. Probably due to the Tony Alva name the Flying Tiger retails on the high side in most walk in establishment, but you can find it fairly reasonable online. Get the Alva Flying Tiger skateboard deck today if you are into old school size and new school style. This would be a perfect skateboard deck for any skater who is committed to perfecting their skateboard tricks.

Skateboarding, Then and Now

Skateboarding is one of the most unique, enjoyable, and physically demanding sports in the world. Like baseball, basketball and football, skateboarding has endured many changes and fluctuations in popularity, and has emerged as one of the most entertaining and satisfying activities enjoyed by both today’s youth and adults. The goal of this paper is to inform about the history, evolution and present state of skateboarding.

The concept of skateboarding was invented in the 1950s when surfers from California wanted to try their surfing techniques on land. All over California, surfers and teenagers began constructing their own “land surfboards” by attaching roller skate wheels to wooden crates. The surfers would then ride down steep hills while in the crates, performing surfing moves as they went down. This idea, however, was a painful one. Wooden crates did not provide the necessary range of motion to equate to surfing and, consequently, many surfers were injured while experimenting with their new invention. As a result, wooden surfboard-shaped boards were constructed. A pair of roller skate wheels were attached eight inches inward to either end of the board to add stability while riding. One day, a young man named Alan Gelfand revolutionized skateboarding. While riding, he pushed downward with his back foot, causing the front of the board to rise. He then jumped with the board. This caused the board, and Alan, to lift off into the air about five inches off the ground. This technique became known as the “ollie”, after Alan “Ollie” Gelfand. This was a momentous occasion in the history of skateboarding.

Before Alan’s discovery, skateboarding was nothing more than land surfing. The ability to ollie marked the transition between land surfing and skateboarding. Now that people could leave the ground with their board, a brand-new sport was born, and skateboarding became a sport of it’s own. Now that skateboarders could jump into the air, a whole new world was opened to them. All across America kids were constructing their own boards. Skateboarding became a discovery sport. Everyone was discovering new ways to spin and flip their board and land back on it. Skateboarders were jumping down stairs, over gaps and onto handrails. Skateboarding was flourishing.

The explosion of skateboarding was noticed not only by kids, but by enterprising entrepreneurs. Pioneering businessmen saw a potential market in skateboarding, and acted on it. Skateboards became mass-produced, allowing kids to buy a board, rather than build one. The market boomed, and skateboarding became an industry. The skateboard itself has undergone an evolution of it’s own. Skateboard decks were originally just pieces of wood. Slowly, the decks took on a rectangular shape, with the two smaller sides rounded off. A “nose” and “tail”, curvatures on the ends of the board, were made to help a skateboarder ollie. Griptape, a corse sandpaper-like tape, was added to the top of the board to help skateboarders stay on their boards. Skateboard decks are now made by compressing multiple layers of wood together to make the board stronger. The skateboard wheel has also undergone a transformation. Skateboard wheels were originally just metal roller skate wheels. Rubber wheels were made to make riding on the skateboard smoother. Finally, urethane skateboard wheels were invented to make the wheels smoother, lighter, and cheaper to produce. Skateboarding is now one of the fastest-growing sports markets in the United States and Europe. Every year there are more than 350 million dollars is spent on skateboarding-related products. Everything from skateboard wheels and skateboarding kneepads, to shoes and clothing items are produced and purchased. Skateboard parks are opening up all across the country.

Skateboarding is currently at the height of its popularity. Skateboarding as a sport in the 90s has taken on an identity of it’s own. Skateboarders see the sport as the perfect activity. Skateboarding has no bias. It accepts anyone, regardless of race, gender, age, or creed. The unofficial skateboarding motto is ‘If you carry a board, you are my friend’. One advantage to skateboarding is that skateboarders can do it anywhere: skate parks, garages, streets, parks, basketball courts, parking lots or back alleys. Skateboarders don't need a field to play in. They just need their skateboards.

Skateboarding teaches determination. It teaches you how to set goals, and what it takes to achieve them. Skateboarding teaches you persistence. No matter how hard you fall, no matter how many bruises you get or bones you break, you always hop back up and try the same trick again. No other sport offers you that. Skateboarding has undergone many changes, but its unique willingness to accept anyone to try it will keep it popular for years to come, and the love of the sport will keep it alive forever.

Yes that's right we recycle.

If something is worth using once, it worth using again. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.. Enough said.

Dark Knight be dammed.. give me bright yellow board shorts!

00100, btw thats binary..

The highest form of praise?

Gosh it's so easy what was I thinking!

If skateboarding were easy.. everyone whould be doing it.

Origninal Source: Antigravitypress.com

Skate and Destroy with RAMP Skateboard Shop. Who says you can't do it?

Original Source: Antigravitypress.com

Adrenaline Junkies and the Skateboarding Appeal

The popularity of skateboarding has soared and plummeted since the sport's inception more than a half century ago, much like skateboarders themselves. But now it is more popular than ever.

Skateboarding originated with California surfers in the 1950s who were trying to surf on land. Today, this relatively low-tech sport has become a subculture in almost every American city and town. But it has always been more of a pastime for the fearless young, as skaters, like Anthony Manning, Marissa O'Guinn and Sean Gates, experience the highs and lows of defying gravity.

"It makes me feel good like when I land a cool trick that I've been practicing for a while. When I go down something and do a trick, and it look cool. It's really exciting," says skateboarder Anthony Manning.

Marissa O'guinn, also a skateboarder, adds, "It's really exhilarating, skateboarding. I think that's what attracts most people to it. I guess just knowing there's a possible risk within it, it's just what makes it exciting."

"It's just a really, really cool feeling because, I mean, you are just flying through the air, and you are just all weightless and stuff. Also, in the pool they have tiles so when you hit them they have a certain sound. And, it's just a really, really cool, " says Sean Gates, a fellow skateboarder.

Boogie is a 59-year-old skateboarder

But skateboarding is not just for the young. Some skaters hang on to this adrenaline-fueled hobby into middle age. As a skateboard veteran, Boogie enjoys the excitement of a good ride without taking safety lightly. "Now, I want you to know that wrist guards cure insecurity because they protect you falling forward. They protect your hands, and then you wear this [helmet] to protect your head from falling backwards. That, and a pad right here, along with the pads here. And this is the only reason that you get to skate when you are 59 years old."

With advances in technology, today's skateboards are lighter and faster than boards from the past. This means that skaters can now do some wild tricks - things that the first skateboarders never dreamed of.

Skateboarding involves speed, balance and coordination, and can sometimes result in serious injuries. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 26,000 people need hospital emergency room treatment each year in the U.S. for injuries related to skateboarding.

Manning says, "I broke my finger. I cracked my ribs." O’Guinns recalls, "I fell and rolled down a street."

The skateboarding technique of holding on the edge

The sense of danger has a lot to do with the popularity of skateboarding. For others, skateboarding means freedom and self-expression. For Anthony, it is a chance to develop a unique, personal style. "It's really like no pain, no game. If you can't take the pain, then you might as well not skateboard." Once thought to be another passing fad, skateboarding is an extreme sport that appears to be here to stay.

Original Source: VOA.com, By Sarah Zaman

Skateboarding Family

Local skateboarder Jake Hibish shows off some of his award-winning moves on the ramp at his home. As the popularity of extreme sports continues to grow, one of our local lads is latching on to the phenomenon with full force. Jake Hilbish, of Forest, recently finished in second place in the Mid-Atlantic Skateboard Series (MASS).

Jake, the son of Brian and Debbie Hilbish, has been skating nearly all of his life. But that's not a surprise when you find out that his father has skateboarded nearly all of his life.

Brian Hilbish, a Brookville alum, was raised in Lynchburg where his skating antics, "got me run off quite a bit," in his words. After a stint in the Air Force, he earned his engineering degree at the University of Colorado. Through it all, Hilbish kept on skating.

Jake's older brother, Nathan, is working on an engineering degree at VCU. Debbie Hilbish said of him, "We tried the organized sports and they just didn't take. Nathan was timid until we put him on a board." She continued,"His confidence and grades all went up."

Jake started skating as a four year old. He played organized ball but felt compelled to make a choice and went with skateboarding.

This year, the family discovered the MASS, which consists of a series of events held in Northern Virginia and Maryland. The eight competitions ran from June until the end of August and are scored on a point system, similar to that used in NASCAR. Jake won three of the individual events outright.

One thing certainly working in his benefit is the existence of a skating ramp on the family's property. The ramp, designed and built by Brian Hilbish is 6 feet high, 24 feet wide and 40 feet long. "I built it because, at the time, that's all Nathan wanted to do," said Brian Hilbish.

It is actually the second ramp to grace the Hilbish estate, the first having been blown down by a tornado in 2001. In the immediate aftermath of that tornado, "Nathan was more worried about the ramp than anything else," Brian Hilbish noted with a chuckle.

Jake could find himself with some headier home-grown competition if some current plans come to fruition. There is a proposal to build a skate park at the Falling Creek Park here in Bedford.

If this park is built, Bedford would join the ranks of other communities that have built such attractions including Blacksburg, Roanoke, Vinton, Christiansburg and Salem.

Father and son skaters Brian (left) and Jake Hibish pose in front of the ramp that Brian built. As Brian Hilbish pointed out, "It's a sport in which some kids who aren't good at other sports kind find a niche. It's also a lifelong sport."

Jake enjoys the sport for a number of reasons. "It's really fun and exciting. You get an adrenaline rush from it," he noted. "You get to determine what things you want to do with a skateboard."

A demonstration by Jake on the skating ramp shows that it is a sport that takes a lot of stamina, strength and coordination. "A friend of mine lost a lot of weight just by skating," declared Jake.

Brian Hilbish added, "I think it's one of the greatest sports for kids if they're brought into the sport right and mentored properly." He also pointed out that skateboarding is a year-round sport that has a lot of camaraderie among the participants.

Skateboarding can be a relatively inexpensive sport compared to golf or hockey, with an initial equipment outlay in the neighborhood of $150.

And, it can be a sport for the more mature set, as well. "I started skating at the park because I was bored with just watching," said the older Hilbish. "For those over forty, if you start out slow and are padded, it's not really dangerous. In fact, a number of fathers have started getting into it."

Original Source: Bedford Bulletin, By Mike Forster

Parents Grappling With Skateboard Phenomenon

So, you took your son and daughter to the X Games and they got one look at Kerry Getz and Tony Hawk flying through the air and they decided right then and there they wanted to be a skateboarder. Along with the rest of the passing interests, the guitar that sits unplayed, the soccer cleats in the garage and the ice skating lessons that went nowhere, this must be the next phase, right? Maybe not.

"It's a lifestyle," said Steve Bradley, a skater and employee at Board Stiff in Media. "Everybody I know that skates, it's not all they think about, but it's always in their mind. The way they dress is from a skateboarding background. The way they act is from a skateboarding background. It's the basis of someone's lifestyle."

Bradley should know. The 22-year-old has been skating most of his life. Like the rest of the knowledgeable staff at the Media shop, he knows every nook and cranny of Delaware * County, skateboard-style. For around $130, a new skater can get set up with a board, trucks * and wheels *. Then it's all up to them. Bradley expects there will be another new generation of skateboarders after this summer. He has seen a sharp increase in sales since the X Games came through Philadelphia * last year and he is expecting the same sort of reaction again.

It's not just kids, Bradley said. The twenty- and thirtysomethings who stopped skating years before have been bitten by the bug again.

Like most longtime skaters, Bradley is skeptical of the X Games, Big Business, and the influence ESPN has over his beloved sport.

"As far as the X Games go, it's good for business," Bradley said. "It's good to get the kids out to see the pros. It helped make skateboarding huge. But personally, I won't go down to see it."

Bradley, like most skaters, is a street skater, a discipline that requires skaters to be creative when turning tricks. There are no set-up ramps, no half-pipes for street skaters. All you have are your board, yourself and whatever your environment provides, be it railings or benches or curbs.

"The best place to learn is skating with your friends in a cul-de-sac or in your neighborhood," Bradley said. "I don't recommend skate parks to kids who are just beginning because they are going to run into people who know what they're doing and they could get hurt."

There are no skate parks in Delaware County. The closest are in Avondale, Chester County, Willow Grove and in Ocean City, Md.

The most well-known natural skate park was in Philadelphia's FDR Plaza, better known as LOVE Park. Skaters from all over the world came to Philadelphia to test their skills at the park, and its popularity spread through video games and word of mouth. That is, skaters used to come to LOVE Park. That was before the city renovated the park and made it inhospitable to skaters who are now not welcome. Plans for a sanctioned skate park in Philadelphia near the Art Museum have been put on hold as city council members fight over the logistics. With no skate parks, and with Philadelphia out of the equation, kids in Delco do their riding in the street -- if they can find a street where skateboarding is allowed.

In Springfield, skateboarding is a crime in all public places. Media restricts skating in the downtown area. Bradley said the crackdowns have the opposite effect on young skaters.

"When skateboarding is banned, it's going to make kids want to do it more," Bradley said.

According to Bradley, the best places to skate are big open parking lots, especially at high schools. The best, Bradley said, was Strath Haven, but the school has since been placed off limits by police. With a sigh, Bradley repeats the often-heard lament of most skaters. "Skateboarding," he said, "gets a bad rap." It may look a little unorthodox. Its participants may not be cut from the "Leave it to Beaver" mold and the sport may scare a certain generation. But if you give it a try, it may lead to a whole new outlook on life. And that new skateboard could get considerably more use than that out-of-tune guitar.

Original Source: Delco Times, By Paul Flannery

Over-protective parents robbing children of their childhood

Over-protective parents are warned today that they are denying youngsters a proper childhood by keeping them indoors playing video games instead of letting them outside to play. A group of almost 300 teachers, psychologists, authors and childcare experts claim the loss of unstructured play is threatening the health and well-being of a generation.

They say that loosely supervised fun is crucial for keeping children active, teaching them to deal with risk and learn to get on with others. But parental anxiety over "stranger danger" is conspiring with high volumes of traffic, aggressive marketing of commercialised toys and screen entertainment to rob children of opportunities to enjoy traditional play.

The warning comes in an open letter signed by, among others, children's author Philip Pullman, childcare expert Dr Penelope Leach and Baroness Susan Greenfield, director of the Royal Institution.

The signatories also include 60 psychologists and psychotherapists, more than 40 university professors, plus leaders of teaching unions and children's charities.

A similar letter a year ago voiced fears that childhood was being "poisoned" by a damaging mix of junk food, all-day TV and violent computer games.

That warning, backed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, sparked a national inquiry on the state of childhood which is due to report next year. In the latest letter, experts warn that the loss of opportunities for play is a major factor in the rise of mental health and behavioural problems in recent years. They say research has deepened concern that youngsters are facing a mental health crisis.

They point to the finding by Unicef that Britain's children are among the unhappiest in the developed world, adding: "We believe that a key factor in this disturbing trend is the marked decline over the last 15 years in children's play."

The letter goes on to insist that play, particularly outdoors, is vital to children's all-round health and well-being. The letter was organised by writer Sue Palmer, whose book Toxic Childhood sparked a national debate on the issue, and Dr Richard House, a senior lecturer in psychotherapy at Roehampton University.

"Real play - socially interactive, first-hand, loosely supervised - has always been a vital part of children's development, and its loss could have serious implications," they said.

"Just as the epidemic of childhood obesity recently took the developed world by surprise, too much 'junk play' could - like too much junk food - have alarming implications for the next generation.

"We hope this letter helps draw attention to the importance of giving the next generation time, space and encouragement to go 'out to play'."

Mrs Palmer added: "We have become over-protective in certain ways and letting go is one of the hardest things.

"But there is a limit to the extent we can protect children physically - they have to become capable of protecting themselves as well."

Original Source: Daily Mail, By Laura Clark

Skater Punks, an essay by Kathy Fish

Skater Punks You know exactly what I am talking about. We have all seen them: the thrashed skate boards with nightmarish graphics, the bizarre array of boxers peeking out of the ridiculously baggy pants, jewelry protruding from places previously only inhabited by the stray hair trying to avoid being plucked, that's right, the skater punks. They aren't just boys or men; girls who played dress up and Barbie have thrown off the perception of pale pink and purple and are clad in black, brown, army green or any drab variation of the ominous colors Generation X has chosen for their coat of arms. Young men and women dress the same, walk the same, skate the same and sport the same flippantly arrogant attitude. What on earth would possess the youth of our nation to dress, behave and mutilate themselves in such a manner? Have you ever seen an X-Games skate board competition? These people are amazing. Why would you waste that athleticism and agility on a sport that has nothing to offer but a bad reputation, injury and trouble with the law?

"Mom, I'm home! Guess where Grandma took me to today. We found a skateboard at a garage sale and we bought it for $2.00 and we went to the skate park. It is so cool. I met some new friends and they showed me some tricks. Grandma is going to take me back next week," Conner, my then six year old, excitedly gushed as he walked through the front door.

Fear and anger seized me. I didn't know who to yell at first. Conner, seeing the fierce look in my eyes, yelled, "Grandma made me do it!" In her quest to become "cool," grandma had been turned to the "dark side." In Benedict Arnold style, facing battle and guaranteed desecration of her sainthood, she caved, switched allegiances, and sold me out for the price of a smile. I couldn't trust her, or the vipers she was now "hangin" with. Disbelief engulfed me like a dark, damp heavy cloud. My ally was gone, deserted; I stood alone to bear accusations like "you don't understand," "my friends who have cool parents get to skate," "you're closed minded and prejudiced," "just because you're old doesn't mean you know everything." The verbal battle was in full array and the arrows were hitting their target.

I pause from the narration at this time to relate an observation that has come as a morbid dose of reality for me. You will all have the following experience, at one time or another, it is unavoidable. You will supply grandchildren for your parents who have shamelessly begged, bribed, pleaded and blackmailed you to procreate. By giving in to their pleas you will have equipped them with the opportunity to earn their sainthood. Then, watching you stagger from a near fatal battle wound, they will step forward, take the sword from your child's hand and drive the final blow straight through your heart. With this one act they will forever endear themselves to your offspring and irrevocably reveal their true alliances— with them, against you.

'You know honey, you really should come check out the skate park before you make your final decision," a woman I did not know, who bore a striking resemblance to my mother, cooed logically. I spun around, a cornered, wild animal sensing the battle to ensue. "How dare you...We have talked endlessly about the problems with the youth of today, not the least of which is the 'skater-tude'... I entrusted my child to you and this is where you take him?...I don't care if he asked you to, be the adult,...show some back bone. You never had a problem saying the word 'no' when I was his age." My emotional diatribe was unashamedly being ignored. The traitor smiled, winked at Conner and said over her shoulder as she turned to leave: "Conner and I would be happy to let you tag along next time." I was speechless.

Defeated, weary from the staunch defense of ideals and perceptions my faculties began to call an all out retreat. "What could it hurt to go?...are you really afraid of some skater punks?...ratify your assumptions...prove your perceptions...isn't Conner worth your time...are you seriously going to let a 70-year-old grandma be more open-minded than you?" Finally with a sigh of surrender, "I'll go."

As I walked up the dirt trail to the "bowls" I tried to not look as scared as I felt. At first glance all I could see was concrete. There are two large "bowls" that are side by side and have a small lip that connects them. The "track" is the ring around the outer edge of the cement that incorporates two large ramps for building speed for jumps. In the middle there is a crisscross design with stairs and rails for "grinding." The design was ingenious, not much space but lots of options.

Conner threw his board down, put on his helmet, and off he rolled; around the track, up and down the ramps over and over, his smile spreading wider and wider across his innocent face. "Hi Conner," called a tall stereotypical skater. I bristled, started to step forward and the icy stiletto fingers from my childhood grabbed my arm. Without a word my mom rescued Conner from certain social death. "Hi Grandma, who's your friend?" the skater called out. Introductions were made and the grip on my perceptions began to erode.

Then my fears were realized, Conner took a nasty spill trying to grind. His board was too "sticky" to slide on the metal rail and he landed on his elbow and hip. To my surprise the skater punk got there before Conner's over protective mom. He gently picked him up, asked if he was okay, looked to make sure there was no blood, and walked him over to sit down.

"Next time borrow some of my wax to rub on the rail so it slides," came the helpful suggestion from the "punk." I was dumbfounded. Where were the "flippantly arrogant attitudes," disrespectful indifference, and the scorching defiant eyes? "He'll be okay, don't worry," the punk said reassuringly. "Thanks" I mumbled. "Mom, you said you rode a skateboard when you were young, try mine, its fun." "You rode a board? How cool, hop on and see if you remember how to roll" the skater kid smiled. "I wish my parents did something cool like that, then maybe they would understand. You are lucky Conner."

I didn't know whether to be embarrassed or proud. My tattle-tale conscience reminded me of those ten minutes earlier I was reciting the evils of skateboarding to myself. I cautiously placed Conner's board down and assumed the stance. The wheels rolled slowly at first, then faster and my confidence began to build. The adrenaline rush was instant. The faster I went the more intoxicated I felt. What a rush. I could do this all day.

"Mom, could I have my board now?""One more time around," I pleaded as I rolled quickly by."Come on mom, it's my board." I slowed down and jumped off. Conner took off and yelled "Hey mom, watch this."

Teachers come in all shapes, sizes and wear all kinds of different clothes. From eight to eighteen to seventy there are many different people from diverse walks of life that can show us things about who we are, who we think we are and most importantly who we want to become. I didn't change my choice of clothes, music or friends, but my custom board and pierced belly button have raised some eyebrows and given me the opportunity to do a little teaching of my own.

Original Source: realskate.com

X Games champ ramps up safety message

When skateboarder Bob Burnquist won the gold medal at the X Games he was on top of the world. But this Christmas morning, thousands of happy youngsters will be riding their new skateboards and scooters and falling off. That's why Burnquist is taking time during the holiday shopping season to help educate parents about skateboard, scooter and in-line skate safety and to remind them to add protective gear to every wheeled purchase.

"Wearing a helmet is a 24/7 thing. Your head is the main box so you'd better take care of it," says Burnquist. "No matter how good you are you can hit your head very hard when riding and that can be very bad."

"My advice is that parents should think of safety gear and the skateboard as a single purchase. Don't just buy the board."

In fact, professional riders like Burnquist and skateboard instructor Steve Badillo stress that safety gear allows younger, more inexperienced skaters to become better skilled, safer riders.

"When you're protected you can skate more and worry less about getting hurt," says Badillo, a former pro skater who co-authored Skateboarder's Start-Up: A Beginner's Guide to Skateboarding. "The biggest mistake is kids think it's cool not to wear safety gear because they see that a lot of pros don't wear it. But the fact is, these kids are not at the skill level of the pros and they get slammed."

But many pros do wear protective gear.

Skateboard legend Tony Hawk religiously wears his gear. And Burnquist says he won't skate without hip pads because he's gotten so many 'hippers.'

"I tuck and roll out of a lot of my falls or slide on my hip, but I found it really difficult to find good hip pads," says Burnquist, who was born in Brazil and relocated to Leucadia, Calif. "I'm actually trying to develop a line of hip pads with my sponsor Hurley."

"Skateboarding can be dangerous. I've broken 19 bones," adds Burnquist. "I've got a pin in my right wrist and I've been knocked out totally once. I had short-term memory loss and kept repeating questions."

Taking the fall

Badillo actually teaches kids how to fall in his classes. "We go over how to run out of a fall or how to slide onto your knees if you're working a ramp," says Badillo. "It's really important to know how to fall properly because if you're a skater, you're going to fall every day."

For knee-slides, riders have to wear knee pads. And riders should wear proper shoes at all times when skateboarding or scootering. For kids, long pants that provide some added protection are also recommended.

"If you're really serious about skateboarding, you might as well get used to wearing safety gear because you have to wear it in competition and at all the skate parks," advises Badillo.

"We require all skaters to wear safety gear — period," says Todd Huber, owner of Skatelab, an indoor skateboard facility in Simi Valley, Calif. "There's no such thing as overkill when it comes to young kids and safety gear."

Studies have shown that safety gear reduces injury and often prevents it. Protective padding, clothing, and helmets disperse the impact of falls.

"There is bio-mechanical and clinical evidence that wrist guards do work," says Dr. Flaura Koplin Winston, director of the TraumaLink Pediatric Injury Research Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "Parents have to hold the line and make wearing safety gear non-negotiable. It's easier to reinforce when you do it from day one."

And that's important because wheeled toys such as in-line skates, scooters, and skateboards cause more injuries to children than any other category of toy — over 65,000 in 2000. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), scooter injuries alone jumped from 3,281 in 1999 to over 42,500 in 2000.

When it comes to skateboards, approximately 26,000 people are treated in hospital emergency rooms every year. Sprains and fractures are the most common injuries. And parents shopping for skateboards should understand that 60% of skateboarding injuries are to children under 15 years of age. And fully one-third of all injuries are suffered by kids who have been skateboarding less than a week.

An important consideration for parents shopping for Christmas skateboards is the age of the child. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises against children under five skateboarding, for several reasons:

Their center of gravity is higher, making falls more likely. Their neuromuscular system is not well developed. Their judgment is poor. They are less able to protect themselves when falling. Skate parks

One of the best arguments for taking your kids to indoor skate parks is the fact that irregular riding surfaces cause over half of all skateboard falls.

"Skate parks are great because the ramps are engineered for doing tricks, the riding surface is smooth, and the kids are supervised," says Huber. "We even offer skateboard camps and lessons so kids can learn proper techniques."

Huber says his facility caters to approximately 1000 skaters a week yet he sees on average "maybe one serious injury a month — usually a broken wrist or ankle."

"You can't eliminate all the dangers," notes Huber. "Just being a kid is a danger."

Another excellent reason to go to a skate park is the vast majority of skateboard fatalities occurred in traffic when the rider was struck by a motor vehicle. The CPSC advises that skateboarders NEVER ride in traffic.

But skateboarding also provides many positive experiences. Along with helping kids develop balance and coordination, skateboarding is excellent aerobic exercise.

"With so many kids overweight, it's important to find activities that kids like," says Winston. "Skateboarding fits that bill — they can do it whenever they want, it's fun and it's great exercise. But we shouldn't risk any child's safety."

"Unless they're playing Tony Hawk Pro-skater 3, skateboarding gets kids off the couch and outside," jokes Huber.

"Just remember, you get to enjoy skateboarding a lot more and a lot longer if you don't get hurt," advises Burnquist. "And with safety gear, moms and dads won't have to worry nearly as much when their kids start getting air."

Original Source: USAToday, By John Morgan, Spotlight HealthWith medical adviser Stephen A. Shoop, M.D.

Joe's Skate park, Placerville California

This public skatepark facility is all concrete with combination bowls at either end. One side is 7 ft. deep and the other is about 3ft deep. They also have a lot of rail sections with an anti washboard section, mini pool. It's a big area to work and if you loose your board while skating you’re going to get a good workout chasing after it. It’s located in Placerville Ca., at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds right behind Raley’s Supermarket on Placerville Drive, take Forni Road exit off Hwy 50. What makes this park so special is that the community saw a need for such a skate park and built it. They didn’t cut corners and they did it right. “If you build it they will come”. Placerville Rotary Club spearheaded the project, with the city and local buisness donations providing funds.

Admission Free ($2.00 fee is being discussed)
Helmets and Pads Required
Hours Not Listed (For more information please contact Recreation and Parks at (530) 642-5232)

The basics of skateboarding

The basics of skateboarding.

After years of falling and much hard work, we have decided to try and break down the basics so that almost anyone can understand and land tricks. Unfortunately we cannot promise that you’ll be landing any tricks quickly, or every time. We intended this document to only be a guide to assist you while you are learning.

First and foremost you will not land any thing without proper balance. Forget sitting on the carpet or grass; it’s completely different when you begin to roll. If you have ever ridden a bicycle, ice skated, or snowboard you will know this. Proper balanced is ultimately achieved while you are in motion. Learning to roll around comfortably on your deck is the key and will ultimately lead to unlocking accomplished tricks. Through out an entire trick, you should be relaxed, knees slightly bent, balanced and most of all feel comfortable.

Once you feel comfortable and you can roll around with relative ease, it is time to have some fun. Try performing some tricks! All tricks stem from the Ollie. The more proficient you become with performing ollies, the easier tricks will become. The second most important aspect to skating is the pop you get when ollieing. When you are performing a trick, the worst thing you can do is pop with your foot flat. This diminishes the height you will receive and make your trick more difficult to pull off. In other words you do not just stomp down your entire foot, you snap with the ankle downwards to the balls of your foot for lift. Just work on maintaining balance while lifting off and snapping that ankle downwards. Getting a crisp pop will lead increased height and better tricks.

After mastering both balance and ollies, it is now time for a bit more advanced tricks. This primarily applies to learning flip tricks. It works something like this, if you want to do a kick flip, your right foot will be on the far side of the tail, while the heel of your left foot would be entirely off and ready to flick outwards. The same will apply for a heel flip but this time you’re popping foot would be on the other side of the tail. In other words, if you are going to flick off the right side, your popping foot would be primarily on the left side of the decks tail. Putting them on opposite sides creates better leverage making the board flip better.

Lastly, you’ll need to learn how to stop the rotation of the board. This only applies to flip and shuv-it type tricks. Depending on the trick you are performing, different feet will stop the rotation of the board. If your board flips, you are going to catch it with your popping foot in order to stop the flip. If you are doing a shuv-it trick, your front foot or non- popping foot will stop the rotation of the board.

If you are having troubles with any tricks, refer back to these basics and they should help. Practice is the only thing that will make you a better so keep at it and don’t get discouraged.

Skateboard bearings - Is it time for a new set of balls?

Bearings are typically sold in sets of 8, thats two for each wheel. Bearings are what allows your board to have smooth and quick movement.

Two bearings sit inside each wheel, one for the front side and another for the back. You are going to want to take care when putting the bearings in your wheels; if you happen to damage the shields they may rub the ball bearings. This causes friction and the bearing will wear and not roll well.

Next each wheel is placed on the truck axle, tighten the axle nuts and you're ready to go. Generally I find double shielded bearings are better for street skating. The others are great for skate parks and other fairly clean and debris free places.

Choosing Your Skateboard Wheels and Roll with Four

Choosing skateboard wheels are easy but there are several things to take into account. You’ll need to decide what brand, graphic, size and durometer is right for you.

Your selection of size is the most important factor to consider. Smaller wheels are generally used for more technical and street skating; where as larger wheels will ride better when skateboarding in parks and bowls or heavy terrain with transitions.

The next this you need to know is durometer of the wheel, this is a numerical value allowing you to determine whether the wheel is softer or harder. Most wheels are in the range of 97a to 99a. Basically the way it works is that the smaller the number, the softer the wheel, the larger, the harder. Larger wheels are generally a bit softer.

Dual durometer is just what it means. There are two durometers for the wheel. The core is harder, while the outside surface area is softer. There are a few reasons for this; first of all, the internal area is called the "bearing seat" and by making this area harder, it protects the bearing from crushing or losing its shield. Bearings don't usually crush, but it is an option that some wheel manufacturers pass along to skateboarders.

It's also worth pointing out that softer urethane is generally slower than harder urethane. So depending on the durometer, it may make a huge difference. Cored wheels can also be lighter than a standard urethane wheel depending on the core construction.

How to Choose Skateboard Trucks - Get yourself a pair and start riding

Skateboard trucks are fairly easy to choose. You'll need two to ride. There are numerous brands, colors, graphics, and that choice is really up to your own tatse and style. Generally the axle's width on the truck should be within 1/4" of the deck's width.

The height of the skateboard truck is also a key when selecting what trucks are right for you. The reason you would want to choose a higher skate truck is based upon your style of riding and selection of wheels. Once you start selecting wheels over 56mm, you should consider purchasing high trucks.

High trucks allow for more clearance from the bottom of your board to the surface of the wheel. "Wheelbite" is something you definitely want to avoid. This is when a wheel comes into contact with the board stopping you dead in your tracks, most likely resulting in a painful digger.

Skateboard Decks - How to choose

If you want to skateboard you need one, but the question is, which one is the right for you? Well the good news is that you have many options. Size should definitely be taken into consideration when making your selection.

Before you make your decision, determine what type of riding you do, or plan on doing. This is very important. If you skate streets or do more technical tricks, you're going to want to look for a board in the size range of a 7.5" to 7.87". If you mostly skate pools and parks with heavy transitions, then you may want to consider looking for a board in the size range of 7.87" to 8.25". You also have to take into consideration you own size. If you are 5 feet tall, and weigh 80 pounds, you are not going to want an 8" deck. The deck will be hard to do flip tricks on. This scenario can also be reversed. Don't purchase something too small for you.

Many manufactures have a specific concave for their deck shapes. Concave is basically the mold or the press that shapes skateboard decks. Predetermined steeepness on the nose and tail, along with the body of the deck can be deep, mellow or anywhere in between. This again reflects personal preference and experience.

The graphic also may be an influence in your deck decision. Be sure not to base it all on the art because you may become frustrated or have a hard time skating if you get a board that is not sized right for you.

Medical Center Urges Kids To Stay Safe While Skateboarding

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, approximately 26,000 people are treated in hospital emergency departments annually with skateboard-related injuries. With the growing popularity of the sport and the opening of skateboard parks in the region, Community Medical Center urges kids to stay safe while enjoying these facilities.

Community Medical Center's Emergency Department, which earlier this year introduced a pediatric emergency service to provide care via a dedicated team of physician's board certified in pediatrics or emergency medicine and nurses, is dedicated to the safety of the children of its community. Laurence DesRochers, M.D., FACEP, chairman of emergency medicine at Community, says skateboarding is a great activity for kids, as it promotes good cardiovascular exercise, but he warns it is imperative that kids use proper safety equipment and make sure their skateboards are in good working order to help prevent injury.

"Skateboarding is a good form of exercise, as it helps children develop good balance and body control," he says. "However, young or inexperienced skaters may not have developed the necessary body strength and balance to help protect themselves from falls."

Dr. DesRochers says it is not uncommon for kids to experience sprains, strains, fractures, cuts and abrasions as the result of skateboarding. He adds that skateboarding at a skateboard complex or skate park is safer than skating in the streets or parking lots because skate parks have more even surfaces, no gravel, holes, curbs, moving vehicles or other elements that could cause additional injury during a fall.

"The majority of children who are injured in skateboarding accidents are under the age of 15," says Dr. DesRochers, who oversees an emergency department that includes eight dedicated pediatric beds and a number of special amenities for children. "Injuries, in most part, are due to falls and occur to both first-time and experienced skaters."

He offers the following skateboarding safety tips:

Inspect skateboards prior to use for things such as cracked boards, sharp edges, loose wheels or other defects; Skaters should always wear protective gear including a helmet, knee and elbow pads and slip resistant shoes. Padded clothing such as jackets, shirts and shorts are also available and recommended; Never ride in the street or hitch a ride on a moving vehicle; Don't skate in crowded areas and only one rider per skateboard.

Dr. DesRochers says learning to fall properly can also help lessen the chance or severity of injury. "Practice falling on a soft or grassy surface," he says. "If you are about to fall, crouch down low so you don't have as far to fall and try to land on fleshy parts of the body or try to roll instead of absorbing the fall with arms or hands."

In the event an injury should occur while skateboarding, parents are urged to contact their pediatrician or health care provider immediately, and in urgent situations go directly to an emergency room or call 911.

Original Source: Toms River Times

Skateboarding accident leaves football player comatose

A Saguaro High School football player is in a coma this morning after a skateboarding accident. Jake Dunn, a senior, hit his head while longboarding with his friends Sunday. The Sabercat linebacker fell while trying to avoid a car that had pulled out in front of him. Dunn was not wearing a helmet at the time. According to one neurosurgeon, these types of accidents can cause major injuries.

"The most tragic accidents we see are, of course, the low-velocity accidents which are bicycle and skateboard accidents with people who are not wearing helmets," said Dr. Nicholas Theodore.

Dunn's family is hoping for the best, saying their son is the strength in the family. They say it's that strength that has kept them going.

Original Source: azfamily.com

Rumors dispelled, Ian MacKaye is alive and well

Ian MacKaye, the man behind Fugazi, Minor Threat, Dischord and countless other projects is alive and well. Many of you wrote in with both the rumour and the denial of said rumour and rest assured that Ian is doing just fine. For those of you unaware of the rumour, a myspace bulletin and eventual Wikipedia entry started the internet hoax that Mr. MacKaye had been killed in a hit-and-run accident. The people behind the hoax were thorough, including a real hospital (Baltimore's St. Agnes Hospital) and have repeatedly changed the Wikipedia entry as well. The entry in the internet encyclopedia has been locked to prevent further misinformation. According to Ian himself, "I am happy to report that I am not dead."

The H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival

The H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival

October 5-6-7, 2007Hollywood Theatre, Portland Oregon

Venue:

Hollywood Theatre 4122 NE Sandy Blvd

Portland OR 97212

United States of America

main: (503) 493-1128

main fax: (503) 335-9305

Seating Style: general admission

The H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival promotes the works of H.P. Lovecraft, literary horror, and weird tales through the cinematic adaptations by professional and amateur filmmakers. The festival was founded in 1995 by Andrew Migliore in the hope that H.P. Lovecraft would be rightly recognized as a master of gothic horror and his work more faithfully adapted to film and television.

Here comes the judge… Britney or Paris

Scream Queen - Bianca Barnett

Bianca Barnett is an actress and model currently living in Los Angeles. She loves working in the darker genres of film- horror, sci-fi, thriller, modern silent, period pieces, film noir, dark comedy- though she is always open to new experiences and challenges. Bianca has been modeling for several years and some of you may know her as "Miss Bianca" from the defunct "Bianca's Boudoir".

Bianca has a passion for silent movies and a fascination with the 1920s which she likes to incorporate into her modeling work. As for film, She LOVES doing horror and wearing prosthetic makeup to completely transform into someone (or someTHING) else!

Some of her films include Albino Farm, Fear Chamber, Doomsday Clock, A Spiral State, Monster Mountain, Mother's Day, Zombie Counterstrike and The Covenant: Brotherhood of Evil.

Original Source: screamqueen.com

The Scream - Suburban relapse

Tattoos an expression of faith and fealty

A fresh wave of ink is hitting the U.S., tattoo ink that is. Almost half of all Americans under 30 have one, and 40 percent of adults 26 to 40 have a tattoo. It's big business for enterprising tattoo artists like Chris Bowman who sees a variety of clients.

"You get all the way from the stay-at-home mom who just wants a little tattoo on her ankle, to the businessman, to the biker," he said.

The Appeal of Tattoos

So what's behind the rage? A 2004 Harris Poll shows a third of tattooed Americans say tattoos make them feel sexier. "It's like people who work out, you want to look good," explained Vaughn Jackson, as a tattoo artist finished work on his fifth tattoo. A quarter of Americans say tattoos make them feel more rebellious, and a fifth say they feel more spiritual.

Spiritual?

Bowman says many of his customers want to express their faith.

"We do a lot of religious tattoos, a lot of crosses, a lot of virgin mary's" he explained.

Churches across the country are finding more and more people in their congregations have tattoos. We visited Crossroads Community Church in Kokomo, Ind. -- very much the heartland of the country with cornfields, car plants and conservative values. It's also a church with a number of members and visitors who have tattoos.

"If where they are is with a tattoo, we try to meet them there," Pastor Kevin Smith explained. "Our job is not to condemn or judge them but to welcome them."

Tattoos as Witnessing Tools?

One young father told us after the service about his tattoos. Matt York said his two crosses "are kind of a statement - a witnessing piece, a testimony." Mike Lupoi says his Christian tattoos keep him accountable

"I love Christ," he said. "That is what has changed my life. It's given us a good foundation in our home to raise our children, but it also is obvious in front of everyone because there's no hiding it. That's what it's there for."

And it's not just Christian men who've bought in. Amber Lupoi at Crossroads told us that a lot of women in the church have tattoos. You wouldn't know it because they're more discreet about it.

Regret?

But in the bigger picture, a recent Harris Poll shows 17 percent regret their tattoos. For example, Beth Elser is spending several thousand dollars to get her seemingly non-offensive bit of ankle artwork removed. Her young daughters are the reason.

"When our first daughter was about three and we would try to tell her that you write on paper and not furniture and not on yourself," Elser said. "Then she started to say 'but mommy you drew on your ankle.'"

Dr. David McDaniel uses laser therapy to remove tattoos. It's often painful and requires multiple treatments. But McDaniel says many of his patients feel trapped by their permanent artwork.

"You have a tattoo of a name of a boyfriend, girlfriend or ex-spouse and it's a daily reminder of a mistake or pain from the past," he said.

American Churches' Stance on Tattoos

Not long ago, most American churches frowned on tattoos, but modern times have softened the stance. As church leaders begin to re-think the issue they're drawn to Paul's passages on freedom in Christ and loving our neighbor. And just how relevant is Leviticus 19:28, which says "You shall not make...any tattoo marks on yourselves," today? Presbyterian Pastor Joe Mullen says we can't ignore Leviticus.

"I think we need to ask ourselves whether we're trying to create a special identity that marks us -- and really, in Jesus, we have our special identity," Mullen said.

Other Christian leaders worry about tattoos' pagan origins and links with witchcraft. But Jayme Whitaker sees no problem with his identity in Christ and love of tattoos. As head of the Christian Tattoo Association he works to build bridges between the tattooed and the non-tattooed. For Whitaker, tattoos are possible because of our Christian liberty. He says he's excited about using them to lead others to Christ. He recently designed tattoos representing the Holy Spirit for new believers Brent and Melissa Cohick.

"What Christ has done to me in my life, it was such a dramatic change, that I I wanted to have a visual expression of him in my life," Brent said.

Ultimately, Whitaker says he wants the Church to reach out to those with tattoos.

"We're called to love above all things, and I think that's what we'd really like to see people get -- where we can get to the point where we can embrace, where heavily tattooed people can walk into a church and feel like everyone just loves them," Whitaker said.

For many Christians, loving those with tattoos is the easy part. But what remains as an issue for some is whether a practice that has offensive pagan roots -- is one that should be encouraged.

Original Source: CBN News, By Heather Sells

International Tattoo and Piercing Convention

INTERNATIONAL TATTOO & PIERCING CONVENTION

October 20 & 21, 2007 at Palais des Congres Evian

It is a Big First! After having worked for many years in the virtual world of Internet (TATTOORAMA & TATTOO PASSION) leader of the french speaking Body Art on the web, is now launching out for real into the organization of an International Convention of tattooing and piercing in the prestigious town of Evian, Haute-Savoie, France.

For this premiere, they have booked the Palais des Festivités, which has a total surface area of 2,000 m² of expo over three floors, this should be able to accommodate up to 60 booths! You'll be meeting world wide tattooists, artisit, and traders from all over the world.

Indoor facility draws BMX riders and skateboarders to Waucousta

Midway Skate Park is helping put Waucousta on the map.

Many visitors may find it hard to locate the small village in southeast Fond du Lac County, but to the BMX riders and skateboarders who utilize facilities within Midway Skate Park, it is nothing short of a second home.

Located 12 miles southeast of Fond du Lac at N3112 Hwy. 45, Midway is a rider-owned and operated 8,000 sq. ft. facility which allows riders to test and perfect their acrobatic talent on wheels. The facility boasts a variety of ramps, rails and a large bowl.

Since its creation four years ago, the 25-year-old owner, Dan Strean, has used his passion for BMX and skateboarding to produce an environment and atmosphere that kids love and can make their own.

"I really wanted something different around here for everyone to use," Dan recalled about the idea to start a skate park. "We wanted to show kids that they can make healthy, positive choices while having fun. Riding with their peers, they learn self-control, confidence, motivation and communication.

“Kids definitely find a release here."

Although extreme sports like skateboarding and BMX have been looked upon by some as dirty, defiant and rebellious, riders continually strive to prove that the sports have become more socially accepted. In a recent American Sports Data Report, there were 12.5 million skateboarders worldwide.

"People tend to think that it’s the ‘bad apples’ that are in to these kinds of sports, but its really not the case,” explained Dan. “A lot of our riders are involved in other sports or activities like track and soccer; one rider was even prom king.

“The feeling you get when you are on a bike or a board is totally different than on a field. People think it’s all pretty crazy, but if you have never experienced it, you can’t imagine the feeling it gives you. Parents who come and watch sometimes get nervous about it, but they still support their kid. If they have concerns, we talk about it."

Although performed in a more "extreme" context, BMX and skateboarding do share a common bond with traditional sports. Midway takes pride in its team. Dan works alongside team members Richard "Dickie" Walsh, Dan "Danimal" Drehmel, Brian Fitch, Matt Russel, Alec Kumrow, Rollie Flasch and Alex Kittelson, who have become nothing short of a family, helping to build, run and maintain Midway. They also act as role models to promote safety and provide good influences. Each team member is also certified in first aid.

"We believe in positive reenforcement," said Rollie. "Bigger parks don’t really have that, and it’s hard to learn without the support of other riders. Here, even the owner is out interacting with riders. There is definitely a small town atmosphere at Midway and it shows."

To expand Midway’s clientele from its tiny Waucousta base, park members have participated in Walleye Weekend for the past three years, performing a stunt show with a number of challenging BMX tricks. An emcee is on hand to explain the tricks to the audience.

Midway will also hold a show on Friday, Oct. 13, sponsored by Attitude Sports and Enemy Clothing. The show will feature beginner expert and pro riders and skaters, with registration beginning at 10 a.m. and the contest start scheduled for 1 p.m.

"Looking at the park now, its amazing it stood its ground for four years. I first had to prove on paper that I could do this and I did," said Dan. "I always had a passion for BMX and skateboarding.

“It’s not something I see myself growing out of. I think I’ll be doing this for the rest of my life or for as long as I can. With this outlet, I think kids have more positive than negative influences in their lives."

Midway Skate Park is open Thursdays and Fridays, from 4 to 10 p.m, and Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 10 p.m. Cost for admission on Thursday is $5, $8 on Friday and $10 on Saturday and Sunday.

For a complete park layout, visit Midway online at: http://www.midwayskatepark.com/

Original Source: wisinfo.com, By Katie Kleine

Improving Your Style - Now, about that outfit…

Destructo Skateboarding Trucks Review

Destructo skateboarding trucks are a pretty stable company to buy your trucks from. They have been around for a long time, and have built a solid reputation for making good skateboard trucks. These Destructo Pro Edition skate trucks are no exception. If you like the pro styles and colors, you can't really go wrong with these Destructo Pro trucks. If you want anything besides mid-height trucks, or if you want to save money by ditching the pro names, Destructo has those trucks, too. There is something about Destructo's simple, sometimes military style that I really like.

Pros:

• First of all, these are good skateboarding trucks!


• Destructo Name - Destructo is a long lasting name in skateboarding, and trustworthy


• Lifetime Warranty - if anything DOES go wrong, Destructo's got you covered


• Pro names and colors - Destructo's got some huge names on their trucks

Cons:

• None to speak of - they don't feature any progressive technology or anything, but that's average

For this review, I tried out the Destructo Pro Adrian Lopez IIs. These pro team trucks are white with a black base, and a simple black Lopez name and logo that look shockingly like the symbol for Mystery skateboards (who Adrian Lopez rides for). If you like Mystery or Zero boards, these Lopez Pro Destructo trucks will look perfect with your setup. Destructo also has pro trucks for Bam Margera (actual 3 different styles just for Bam), a pair for Mike Vallely, and one for Kenny Reed. All look great, and between them, you should be able to find something to match your deck.

But beyond style, let me tell you these trucks work. They don't make you skateboard better or anything, but they will help you on your way by being strong, stable and reliable skateboard trucks. Plus, Destructo stands by their weapons grade aluminum trucks with a Lifetime Warranty, so if anything does go bad, you're covered. Well, at least your trucks are covered! But honestly, that alone is more than most companies will give you.

In short, these trucks will work great, and if you have the extra money for style, I recommend them!

Original Source: About.com, Steve Cave