Skateboarding To Safety (1976)

Skateboarding is becoming one of America's fastest growing [Music] sports. It's a sport that demands special skills and offers challenge and competition. Skateboarders are constantly finding new applications to the sport. [Music] Skateboarding certainly has movement and freedom and style. Although skateboarding is fun, it is dangerous to the rider who isn't aware of the dos and don'ts. Many skateboarders often ride illegally over surfaces which are meant for automobiles. This gives the sport unique hazards. Riding a skateboard, a fragile and unprotected human body moves over hard surfaces at relatively high speeds. Brave injuries and not infrequently fatalities result from collisions of skateboard and automobile. [Music] [Music] [Music] On a skateboard, there aren't too many ways to break the everinccreasing speed. The key to skateboard safety is common sense. Choose a safe place to practice. Skating on the streets is hazardous and in most cases against the law. Thousands of serious injuries occur each year. Skate free. It's not difficult to understand the potential hazards in hitching a ride. Learn to fall. Most injuries occur simply by falling. A falling person instinctively cushions his fall by extending his arms. Broken arms frequently result. By rolling with the fall and absorbing the impact with the shoulder, a person is less likely to be injured. Practice falling on a gym mat. Then taking a few practice rolls is a good idea. Your own driveway is a good place to practice and learn. There are bound to be falls and bruises in skateboarding. So, it's a good idea to wear clothing that offers a bit of protection. Hands and elbows can be protected by wearing gloves and elbow pads. Shoes are a must. Special lightweight helmets offer excellent protection against head injuries. Still, avoiding falls is best. Select an area that is safe and free from potential hazardous pebbles, rocks, cracks, and other debris. At skateboard level, it's easy to see the hazards that cause a lot of skateboard falls. [Music] A large bicycle wheel easily rolls over ridges and cracks, but a skateboard wheel is a great deal smaller. where you might encounter some pebbles or cracks, skate at a speed within your ability so that you can bail out easily and without injury. Allow for your speed. If you are planning to skate faster, you will need more skill, distance, and time to make a proper controlled stop. But no matter how skilled you are with the board, you must be alert to the potential dangers ahead. Keep alert. At 15 mph, you travel more than 40 ft in a couple of seconds. Looking back, even for a second, can be a dangerous move. Laws controlling skateboarding vary in different communities. Make sure you know what they are where you live. Skating where pedestrians are likely is not a good idea. Remember, they have the right of way. Many thrills lie ahead. There are big challenges and big hills to [Music] conquer. But not all challenges are wise. Most are [Music] dangerous. Stay within the limits of your ability. Pushing those limits can be fatal. Following your buddy is tempting. What would you do? [Music] A smart skater will avoid intersections where the dangers are very real. There is only one way to approach an intersection on foot. Safety makes sense. A bad wipeout can take you off the board for a very long time. Hey, come on, Lance. Many fun-filled hours lie ahead for every skateboarder, and there are fewer aches and pains ahead for every new rider who follows these common sense safety pointers. Have the control you need to make a safe bailout. Practice in safe places such as your own driveway. Practice taking wide turns, then gradually increase the sharpness of your turns. When mounting the board, position one foot so you balance on it comfortably while you propel with the other. This will be either just ahead of the rear wheels or just behind the front wheels, whichever feels best to you. Don't attempt foolish [Music] shortcuts. Check out surfaces you're going to ride on. Always give pedestrians the right of way. It is rightfully theirs. Practice [Music] falls. Walk your board across [Music] intersections. Make regular checks for worn bearings or loose [Music] bushings. Skateboarding is fun, but don't take it for granted. Follow the rules of common sense. Ride safely. Get good without getting hurt. [Music]