Skateboard Safety:4 Tips For Safe Riding
As the name implies, skateboarding is a sport that involves using a skateboard to navigate around obstacles on the ground. It is widely known that skaters face many risks on the road, including injuries and accidents. To avoid these risks, both new and tenured skateboarders should practice safety measures before skating (such as wearing protective gear).
One of the most unpleasant encounters for skateboarders is falling off the board or colliding. The only way to avoid this is to take reasonable safety measures while riding a skateboard. Skateboarding is a leisure sport that more people, especially teenagers getting interested in. To avoid any injuries that might occur, here are a few tips to note.
- Use Protective Gear
Before skating, you should empty your pockets of all hard and sharp objects and put on your protective gear. The following items are considered essential protective equipment; a helmet that fits properly, wristguards that protect the wrist and reduce the likelihood of suffering an injury in case of a fall.
Knee and elbow pads also lessen the severity of cuts and scrapes while also preventing gravel burns. Instead of sandals, wear closed-toe shoes with slip-resistant soles. Glasses or goggles can also help keep particles out of your eyes.
- Use Your Helmet
Always wear a properly fitting helmet to protect your head from injury. This is true regardless of your age, level of experience, or skating location. Remember to purchase a high-quality bicycle or multi-sport helmet.
The model should meet or exceed the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s safety standards (CPSC). To find a helmet that fits your head correctly and securely, you may need to try several sizes and models.
- Choose a Safe Environment
A growing number of communities are providing supervised skateboard parks to improve skateboarding safety. These may include professionally made “bowls” and “ramps,” as well as other assigned skateboarding areas away from pedestrian and vehicle traffic.
Although these parks are shielded from the dangers of traffic and pedestrians, they frequently contain more challenging terrain and are not recommended for inexperienced riders. You can also add skateboard lights for extra safety especially if you intend to ride at night.
- Ensure the Equipment is in Good Shape
Skateboards are made up of three components:
- The deck (the platform itself).
- The trucks (the process to which the rollers are attached).
- The wheels.
For newbies, shorter decks are preferable since they are easier to balance and control; always find out if your skateboard is in perfect condition. There are many different types of skateboards to choose from, but there are plenty of benefits to going for a longboard, cruiser, or even an electric board.
Conclusion
Skateboarding is one of the most popular sports around the world. It has been voted by “Time Magazine” as the number one all-time favorite sport globally.
Skateboarding is here to stay. Thus it simply means that we have one more sport to enjoy. It has become an activity that children and even adults engage in both for fun and even professionally. Nonetheless, don’t get too carried away with the rush of wind against your face and ensure all safety tips are in place.
