As more and more people take up skateboarding and practice to learn how to perform cool and exciting skateboard tricks, it goes without saying (but we'll say it here anyway) that more and more people are also going to end up injuring themselves too. Now, most, if not all of these injuries are unintentional - of course, nobody actually sets out to purposely hurt themselves. That being said, although unintentional, these bumps and bruises are preventable, and can be avoided if a little common sense is employed. Even though skateboarding is fun, it can actually turn and become quite dangerous in a hurry if people aren't aware of both their surroundings and their own skill levels and abilities.
With that in mind, and in the interest of public safety, here are some common and easily applied skateboarding safety tricks that you - or any other aspiring skateboarder can use - to ensure that all your skateboard adventures are both fun and safe.
1. Always wear protective safety gear. Even the top professional riders put on a helmet, elbow guards and knee pads when they're riding. Make certain when you do purchase safety gear, that it fits comfortably, provides protection and doesn't impede your ability to actually move about and see what you're doing when you're riding.
2. Never ride on a bumpy surface. A majority of skateboarding accidents and injuries occur as a result of people simply falling off their decks when they hit a bump or pothole in the road. Always ride your skateboards on flat, smooth, clean surfaces which don't feature rocks, cracks, holes, divots or anything else that could potentially catch and trap your deck.
3. Learning how to fall can go a great way to minimizing the impact and damage caused by a sudden spill. When you feel your balance beginning to wane, try to crouch down on the skateboard. That way, if and when you do fall, the distance that you travel to the ground will not be so great. Additionally, try to roll with the fall, rather than trying to suddenly stop yourself using your arms or hands.
4. Always perform a safety inspection check of your skateboard before you head out to ride. Closely look at the trucks and wheels of your deck to make certain that nothing is loose or wobbly. As well, take a look at the grip tape which sits on the top of your board and check to see that it isn't starting to peel off.
5. Don't skate above your skill level. If you look at the world's greatest skateboarders, they make it look incredibly easy. However, it took many years of practice before they were able to successfully execute those amazing moves. And even top pros still fall from time-to-time. Don't try to become Tony Hawk on the very first day you hop on a board.
If you follow these five simple safety rules, you should have an enjoyable time while out and about on your skateboard. Now, as you become more versed on your deck, you are going to have to adapt your safety thinking to handle your improved skill level. That being said these five rules will always be applicable - no matter how good you become.
Duke McCallister has one philosophy when it comes to skateboards: and that's to go skate or go home! A skateboarding fan, Duke wants to share his experiences and passion for skateboards with expert boarders and those new to skateboarding. In addition to writing about skateboards, he also visits GoSkateorGoHome.com for all his boarding needs.
Whether talking about skateboard decks, trucks, longboards, grip tape or anything else about skateboarding, Duke is more than happy to talk about it, write about it and share stories about it!
And remember, if you want to check out a fantastic online destination for all your skateboarding needs, just roll on over to one of Duke's favorite sites at GoSkateorGoHome.com!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Duke_McCallister
Friday, 17 September 2010
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
Skateboarding Accidents Can Be Prevented
Skateboarding accidents can be minimized
Skateboarders are passionate about their sport!! And yet very often people ask the question; why would anyone want to participate in this dangerous sport where there are so many skateboard crashes. Many people have the skewed view that boarders are basically just 'skateboarding accidents that are waiting to happen'.
Many parents are wary to let their children participate in this relatively new sport, as they fear the inevitable skateboarding accidents that will come along. In reality there is inherent danger in any form of sports and especially contact sports and it all depends on how you go about it. Another myth that is still perpetuated today is that girls should never participate in skateboarding, as it is too risky, yet girls love this sport. The numbers of girls participating in this sport is growing steadily today.
Reduce injuries
Skateboarding accidents are part of this action sport, and that is just a fact! However, there is a lot you can do to make sure that you do not become seriously or unnecessarily injured in skateboarding crashes. The place to start is to look at the appropriate safety gear all skateboarders should wear at all times. A well-fitting helmet is
non-negotiable; you should never get on a skateboard without it.
Make sure that it is snug yet completely comfortable to wear and does not restrict your movements. The body parts that usually take the brunt when any skater is involved in skateboarding accidents are the knees and elbows. Get the appropriate pads for both the knees and elbows, as you will save yourself a lot of pain and discomfort. The onus rests on parents to make sure that their children wear safety gear at all times.
Learn And Practice The Tricks You Learn
Everyone wants to learn and perform the tricks they see the professionals do. However, you should learn the tricks completely before trying to perform them. Don't just look at them, and think you will be able to do them with ease. Even the professionals have had skateboarding accidents as they got to the level they are now at. The key here is to get the tricks and practice them every day. Accept that you are going to have skateboarding crashes along the way. But the more you practice, the more proficient you will become and Skateboarding Accidents will be a thing of the past.
Adults should heed their own advice
Ironically, the biggest culprits for negligence that lead to skateboarding accidents and skateboarding crashes are adults. They are quick to preach to children about safety gear and the need for it, but then they go and disregard their own advice. This leads to spectacular falls, broken bones and more. Instead, adults should take the responsibility and lead by example as there is no more powerful way of getting the safety message across to the younger generation. Unfortunately the media has a field day whenever a skateboarding accident occurs and a skateboarder is injured in any kind of accident related to the sport. This sends out the wrong message and leads to a negative image for the sport.
Be realistic about the sport
Yes, skateboarding can be dangerous if tackled without training, experience and a logical mindset. Too often parents hold their children back from this wonderful and fun sport for fear of skateboarding accidents as they see the breathtaking tricks and stunts performed by the professional skateboarders. It takes many years for any skaters to become that proficient, and along the way all the professionals have experienced skateboard accidents but lived to tell the tale. As a matter of fact, being an adult and a parent does not prevent anyone from taking up skateboarding. Put on the correct safety gear; pick up a skateboard and join the kids out there and you will learn that smart skateboarders know how to prevent serious damage when skateboard accidents happen.
Visit the authors site now to learn how to perform Professional Skate Tricks.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Montana
Skateboarders are passionate about their sport!! And yet very often people ask the question; why would anyone want to participate in this dangerous sport where there are so many skateboard crashes. Many people have the skewed view that boarders are basically just 'skateboarding accidents that are waiting to happen'.
Many parents are wary to let their children participate in this relatively new sport, as they fear the inevitable skateboarding accidents that will come along. In reality there is inherent danger in any form of sports and especially contact sports and it all depends on how you go about it. Another myth that is still perpetuated today is that girls should never participate in skateboarding, as it is too risky, yet girls love this sport. The numbers of girls participating in this sport is growing steadily today.
Reduce injuries
Skateboarding accidents are part of this action sport, and that is just a fact! However, there is a lot you can do to make sure that you do not become seriously or unnecessarily injured in skateboarding crashes. The place to start is to look at the appropriate safety gear all skateboarders should wear at all times. A well-fitting helmet is
non-negotiable; you should never get on a skateboard without it.
Make sure that it is snug yet completely comfortable to wear and does not restrict your movements. The body parts that usually take the brunt when any skater is involved in skateboarding accidents are the knees and elbows. Get the appropriate pads for both the knees and elbows, as you will save yourself a lot of pain and discomfort. The onus rests on parents to make sure that their children wear safety gear at all times.
Learn And Practice The Tricks You Learn
Everyone wants to learn and perform the tricks they see the professionals do. However, you should learn the tricks completely before trying to perform them. Don't just look at them, and think you will be able to do them with ease. Even the professionals have had skateboarding accidents as they got to the level they are now at. The key here is to get the tricks and practice them every day. Accept that you are going to have skateboarding crashes along the way. But the more you practice, the more proficient you will become and Skateboarding Accidents will be a thing of the past.
Adults should heed their own advice
Ironically, the biggest culprits for negligence that lead to skateboarding accidents and skateboarding crashes are adults. They are quick to preach to children about safety gear and the need for it, but then they go and disregard their own advice. This leads to spectacular falls, broken bones and more. Instead, adults should take the responsibility and lead by example as there is no more powerful way of getting the safety message across to the younger generation. Unfortunately the media has a field day whenever a skateboarding accident occurs and a skateboarder is injured in any kind of accident related to the sport. This sends out the wrong message and leads to a negative image for the sport.
Be realistic about the sport
Yes, skateboarding can be dangerous if tackled without training, experience and a logical mindset. Too often parents hold their children back from this wonderful and fun sport for fear of skateboarding accidents as they see the breathtaking tricks and stunts performed by the professional skateboarders. It takes many years for any skaters to become that proficient, and along the way all the professionals have experienced skateboard accidents but lived to tell the tale. As a matter of fact, being an adult and a parent does not prevent anyone from taking up skateboarding. Put on the correct safety gear; pick up a skateboard and join the kids out there and you will learn that smart skateboarders know how to prevent serious damage when skateboard accidents happen.
Visit the authors site now to learn how to perform Professional Skate Tricks.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Montana
Proper Safety Equipment Required to Skateboard
We'll start from the head and work our way down. The first thing you should be wearing is a helmet. A beanie or hat might look cool, but a helmet will protect you if you fall. A beanie or hat both have limited safety capabilities.
Next up is the face. You can wear eye protection if you want, but that's not really necessary for skateboarding. You may want to put on a pair of sunglasses if it's a bright day, but that's optional, too.
If you like your teeth, you may want to invest in a mouth guard. This is not necessary, because you're likely to fall on your butt before you fall on your face, but some people like to wear a mouth guard anyway. You can't be too safe, right?
You should wear a long sleeve shirt if you plan on skating without elbow pads. If you feel like a long sleeve shirt restricts your movement, try and find something that fits loose and lets in a breeze.
When you're wearing a short sleeve shirt, it's absolutely a must to wear elbow pads. If you fall forward, it typically goes hands, then elbows. You'll want to keep your elbows protected.
Wrist guards are another optional item that you can think about wearing. If you have weak wrists, or have previously injured a wrist, you may want to pick up a set of wrist guards for yourself.
Wrist guards are great if you're worried about breaking your hand, but a lot of people don't wear them because there's a possibility for upper arm injuries. If you want to prevent your hands from getting scraped up, buy a pair of gloves.
Moving on to the midsection, we have hip and tailbone pads. A lot of people don't even know that these pads exist. New skaters are prone to fall on their tailbones and may want to pick up a tail guard until their skill level improves.
When you skate in shorts, you should wear knee pads. If you can't get a hold of some knee pads for whatever reason, then try to skate in pants. They're the next best thing to knee pads. Again, though, they're not nearly the same, only a good alternative.
The last item on the list is the foot. There a few ankle braces out there, but just like the wrist guards, there are possibilities for upper leg injury. You should probably wear an ankle brace if you have had ankle problems in the past.
It's also necessary to wear the proper shoes while skateboarding. It's not smart to go skateboarding in some loafers or running shoes. Invest in a pair of quality skateboarding shoes. Don't forget that safety comes first!
The Author has been a skateboarder for a very long time. He loves longboarding, trickboarding, and everything in between. If you're looking for an online skateboard shop after reading this article, please check out http://www.the-skateboard-shop.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Raphael_Clarke
Next up is the face. You can wear eye protection if you want, but that's not really necessary for skateboarding. You may want to put on a pair of sunglasses if it's a bright day, but that's optional, too.
If you like your teeth, you may want to invest in a mouth guard. This is not necessary, because you're likely to fall on your butt before you fall on your face, but some people like to wear a mouth guard anyway. You can't be too safe, right?
You should wear a long sleeve shirt if you plan on skating without elbow pads. If you feel like a long sleeve shirt restricts your movement, try and find something that fits loose and lets in a breeze.
When you're wearing a short sleeve shirt, it's absolutely a must to wear elbow pads. If you fall forward, it typically goes hands, then elbows. You'll want to keep your elbows protected.
Wrist guards are another optional item that you can think about wearing. If you have weak wrists, or have previously injured a wrist, you may want to pick up a set of wrist guards for yourself.
Wrist guards are great if you're worried about breaking your hand, but a lot of people don't wear them because there's a possibility for upper arm injuries. If you want to prevent your hands from getting scraped up, buy a pair of gloves.
Moving on to the midsection, we have hip and tailbone pads. A lot of people don't even know that these pads exist. New skaters are prone to fall on their tailbones and may want to pick up a tail guard until their skill level improves.
When you skate in shorts, you should wear knee pads. If you can't get a hold of some knee pads for whatever reason, then try to skate in pants. They're the next best thing to knee pads. Again, though, they're not nearly the same, only a good alternative.
The last item on the list is the foot. There a few ankle braces out there, but just like the wrist guards, there are possibilities for upper leg injury. You should probably wear an ankle brace if you have had ankle problems in the past.
It's also necessary to wear the proper shoes while skateboarding. It's not smart to go skateboarding in some loafers or running shoes. Invest in a pair of quality skateboarding shoes. Don't forget that safety comes first!
The Author has been a skateboarder for a very long time. He loves longboarding, trickboarding, and everything in between. If you're looking for an online skateboard shop after reading this article, please check out http://www.the-skateboard-shop.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Raphael_Clarke
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
