Though skateboarding is an exhilarating and widespread sport, it carries a protracted listing of potential accidents. Fortunately, some ways exist to extend skateboarding safety and stop these accidents.
One of the best ways to forestall skateboarding accidents is to put on the correct tools, together with helmets, wrist guards, and knee and elbow pads. Except for the gear, skate boarders ought to select secure spots to skate, examine their board earlier than using, and chorus from sharing their board or carrying headphones.
In the event you’re desirous about taking on skateboarding however don’t wish to fall prey to one in all its potential accidents, maintain studying. This text shares an unlimited assortment of important suggestions for skateboarding safety – so you may stave off accidents large and small.
Skateboarding Safety
Many items of apparatus must be worn whereas skateboarding to forestall harm. This consists of the next:
Helmets
Probably the most essential piece of skateboarding tools is a helmet. With out it, you’re vulnerable to potential head accidents, together with gashes and concussions.
When choosing a helmet, be sure that it meets or exceeds security requirements set forth by the U.S. Client Product Security Fee, or CPSC. It must be below 5 years previous and never broken whereas in use.
A correct match is significant to staving off head accidents. When selecting a helmet, ensure that it:
- It sits flat in your head
- The sides are parallel to the bottom
- The highest portion sits low in your brow
- Contains straps that type a “V” across the ears
- It consists of a buckle that may fasten tightly across the chin
- It comprises pads on the inside
- Doesn’t transfer or wiggle throughout motion
- Doesn’t impede your imaginative and prescient or listening to
Wrist Guards
One other piece of the skateboarding tools puzzle is wrist guards. Because the identify suggests, wrist guards assist the wrist and stop accidents resembling breaks.
Knee and Elbow Pads
Lastly, end up your skateboarding gear with well-fitting knee and elbow pads. These will assist to guard you within the occasion of a fall (aka – you received’t find yourself with gravel burns or scrapes if you happen to don’t land your kickflip).
Good Sneakers
A great pair of footwear is crucial whereas skateboarding. In the event you’re not sure in case your footwear are a superb match, think about buying skateboarding-specific footwear.
By no means try skateboarding in flip-flops or related footwear.
Ideas for Stopping Harm
With regards to stopping accidents whereas skateboarding, it’s not solely about tools. There are various different methods to maintain accidents at bay. Listed here are the highest tricks to think about earlier than and through your subsequent skateboarding journey:
Select a Secure Place to Skateboard
A skateboard park is the finest place to go for a trip. These locations are designed explicitly for skateboard use and thus pose much less danger of harm to skate boarders.
Nevertheless, if you happen to don’t dwell close to a skateboarding park or are bored with utilizing one, right here are some things to keep away from when selecting a spot to let unfastened:
- Keep away from heavy site visitors or areas the place you might collide with automobiles, bikes, folks, and so forth.
- Keep away from locations with irregular surfaces and cracks, bumps, holes, and so forth.
- By no means skateboard in moist climate (rain or snow)
- Don’t have interaction in “skitching,” which is holding onto a car whereas skateboarding.
Use the Proper Skateboard
Do you know that there are several types of skateboards primarily based on the exercise you’re partaking in? For instance, some are designed for slalom, whereas others are crafted for velocity. All the time guarantee you might be utilizing a skateboard designed on your exercise. Additionally, it’s essential to discover a skateboard that matches the extent of your skills.
Examine Your Skateboard Earlier than Driving
Whereas it’s tempting to seize your skateboard and head out the door, you shouldn’t try using earlier than giving your skateboard a superb look-over. It is best to examine your skateboard for any repairs, resembling:
- Unfastened elements
- Damaged elements
- Sharp edges
- Slippery surfaces
Gradual and Regular Wins the Race
Keep in mind that you’re not Tony Hawk, and it’ll take some time to attain his talent degree.
That stated, it’s important to concentrate on going gradual and regular and never try elaborate strategies or methods earlier than you’re prepared.
And talking of “gradual and regular,” ensure you take activates skateboarding tools like ramps and bowls. In any other case, you may end up in a collision.
Sure to Goggles, No to Headphones
It’s completely superb to put on a superb set of goggles whereas skateboarding. That’s an effective way to maintain particles out of your eyes when you’re going for a spin.
Nevertheless, one factor that shouldn’t be worn whereas skateboarding is headphones. You received’t have the ability to hear what’s taking place round you, which may show detrimental.
Journey Solo
One other nice technique to cut back the chance of harm is all the time to trip solo.
That’s to not say you may’t trip alongside a good friend. Going with a good friend could make the expertise that a lot better.
All this implies is that it’s best to have your personal boards. By no means try to trip your skateboard with one other particular person on it. One rider per skateboard!
Fall Accurately
Falling is simply that – falling. Proper?
Improper.
There’s really a “proper” means and a “fallacious” technique to fall. The fitting means will make sure you don’t find yourself with an harm. The fallacious means can simply result in scratches and breaks.
So what’s the precise means?
Listed here are some easy tricks to observe together with:
- Once you’re about to fall, crouch down so that you’re not falling from such a excessive distance
- Land on the fleshy areas of your physique
- Don’t place your arms down! As a substitute, attempt to roll and take the drive off of your ligaments
- As laborious as it’s, attempt to not stiffen up
On Board Safely: Navigating Skateboarding with Confidence in Harm Prevention
Warding off accidents whereas skateboarding isn’t difficult. In truth, there are many methods to remain secure and injury-free. Begin with the precise gear, together with helmets, wrist guards, and knee and elbow pads. Skateboard in a secure place with a skateboard that has no defects. Go gradual and regular, be taught to fall appropriately, and chorus from carrying headphones when you board.
References:
Skateboarding Security – Nationwide Security Council (nsc.org)
Skateboarding Security – Stopping Skateboarding Accidents – OrthoInfo – AAOS
