Skateboarding is a sport that provides thrills and excitement, making commuting an adventurous experience. Skating also improves your health and fitness by developing flexibility in your body as a result of learning to balance on a skateboard.
Every good thing in life has a downside, and skating is no different. Sadly, it also comes with some risks and dangers. In general, skateboarding is portrayed as a negative and dangerous activity. activity. In response to this perception, people ask “Is skateboarding dangerous”? Remember, if you are performing intricate tricks on the roads, you are not just inspiring the public, but you may also expose yourself to danger.
In the event that you do not take safety precautions and wear personal protective equipment such as helmets, knee & elbow pads, and wrist guards when you are skating, you may experience injuries, cuts, or bruises from falls or collisions. It is for this reason that we cannot blame skateboarding itself for being bad and dangerous. In short, skateboarding, like any other sport, can be dangerous only if we do not practice it properly.
skateboarding has its own perks and drawbacks, but how risky and dangerous can it be? Let’s find out.
What Is Risky Skateboarding?
Skateboarding can be a risky or dangerous affair if not dealt with caution. Performing skateboarding tricks or skating on rough terrain does not make it dangerous. Other factors also determine the riskiness of skateboarding. To help you understand the risks of skateboarding better, these are explained below.
01 Skating On Rough Terrain
It is an understandable fact that you will not always get a smooth surface to skate on. Aggressive skating and tricks performance on rough terrain is quite risky. There is a high chance of tripping over and encountering several hurdles. If you are a beginner, skateboarding on rough surfaces will only leave you injured. Avoid skating on rough terrain unless you have good control over your riding and stopping speed.
02 Skating In Rain
Skating in rain sounds like a lot of fun especially if you skate for fun. However, this would be one of the riskiest skateboarding experiences. Wet roads have lessened friction and hence offer less grip between skateboard wheels and the road. Therefore, if you skate in rain, there is a very high chance that you will not be able to control your speed and may fall badly.
03 Skating Without Protective Gear
The worst thing you can do to yourself when skateboarding is not wear skateboarding protective gear. This includes helmets, wrist guards, elbow guards, and knee pads. If you skip these protectants, you could suffer very serious injuries. Moreover, even if you are a professional skateboarder, protective gear should still be worn to ensure safety. There have been several skateboarding deaths in the previous years due to not wearing safety gear.
04 Skateboarding On Busy Roads
Skateboarding in high-traffic areas is never a good option. Besides having a high chance of getting hit by a vehicle, you will also have to skate very fast. Skating very fast is a risk in itself. Therefore, it is recommended to skate in street parks or skate parks specially designed for this purpose.
05 Aggressive Or Fast Skating
Whether you are in a hurry or just want to feel the adrenaline rush, fast skateboarding is nothing but dangerous activity. This fact applies to professional skateboards too. Aggressive skating not only ruins your skateboard’s hardware but is also risky for you.
06 Skating On Homemade Ramps
To help skateboarders learn the skating tricks, skate parks and bowls are being designed. These contain ramps that are designed to keep the skateboarder’s safety in mind. However, many of us build skating ramps at home to learn there. This is never a good idea. The reason is that homemade skating ramps are not designed by engineers and experts and do not fulfill the safety protocols. Therefore, riding down a homemade ramp is a very risky task especially if you are a beginner.
07 Performing Risky Stunts
Tricks are the heart of skateboarding, and without them, the sport isn’t fun. However, there are certain skating tricks that are quite risky and should only be performed under the supervision and with utmost precision and practice. Moreover, if you are a beginner, engaging in risky stunts will only leave you injured badly.
08 Drinking While Skating
Performing any other activity while skating is not a good idea. Drinking while skating is one of those. It has a double hazard. You can not only trip because of distractions but can also choke on your drink.
09 Using Mobile Phone While Skating
Using a mobile phone and skating do not go well together. Besides tripping over a hurdle, there is a high chance of bumping into a pole while using a phone. Moreover, if you are skating on a busy road and using a mobile phone simultaneously, chances are that you will get hit by a vehicle. Therefore, using a mobile phone while skating is a big no.
10 Using A Poor Quality Skateboard
Skating can be highly dangerous if you do not use a good-quality skateboard. When buying a skateboard, make sure its deck supports your weight range, otherwise, it will break into two parts whenever you increase the pressure while skating. Moreover, make sure your skateboard’s wheels and trucks are perfectly tightened so that they do not come off while skating, leaving you sliding on the ground.
Injuries Commonly Associated With Skateboarding
There are several types of injuries that one can experience while skating. These range from minor cuts to big fractures. Some of the most common skating injuries are as follows.
Common Causes Of Skateboarding Injuries
There are several causes of skateboarding injuries. Some of these are mentioned below.
High center of gravity
The center of gravity affects the stability of the skater. A higher center of gravity means that rotating the skateboard will be difficult and even a light push can cause the rider to lose balance and topple.
Poor balance
Maintaining a good balance is a trick to becoming a skating pro. Whatever trick you perform, the point you lose your balance, you will topple over. Therefore, the first thing to work on as a skateboarding beginner is maintaining balance. This will later help you in acing all types of skating tricks.
Slow response time
Skating requires you to be extremely aware of your surroundings and any obstacles quickly. This requires a quick response time. Therefore, if your response to any obstacle is slow, you will end up falling badly.
Poor coordination
Skating is all about having your body parts act in conjunction with each other. Your eyes need to scan every hurdle and your hands and legs should act in coordination to avoid any falls. Therefore, you need to be vigilant while skating to avoid any injury.
Inability to judge barriers or other obstacles
If you are unable to ascertain any barrier or obstacle during skating, your brain cannot send a message to your body to avoid the hurdle. As a result, dangerous injuries may occur. This again brings us to the point of being very focused while skating and not considering any hurdle easy.
Skating on rough and uneven surfaces
Whether you are a professional skater or a beginner, skating on rough terrain has more chances of getting you injured than skating on smooth surfaces. Moreover, even an expensive skateboard will deteriorate if riding continuously on rough terrain. Therefore, always try to skate on smooth terrain to keep skating accidents at bay.
Trying high-risk skating tricks
High-risk skating is not recommended especially without the supervision of a professional. The media usually shows tricks performance is pretty easy but they do not show the camera effects being added. Therefore, it is never a good idea to do risky skating as it increases the chances of injury. Remember, the worst skating accidents often turn out to be fatal.
Tips To Make Skateboarding Fun And Safe
Skateboarding is not dangerous but both fun and safe if done with care and attention. If you see on the data how many skateboarders die a year, you will be shocked. According to a report by the US National Library Of Medicine National Institute of Health, around 40 – 50 people die each year in skating accidents, which is a tremendously large number. Therefore, We have brought you a few tips to help you with safe skateboarding. These are discussed below.
1. Practice Hard
Practice makes a man perfect. This phrase fits perfectly with skateboarding too. You cannot become a professional skater overnight. It takes years of practice to reach a good skating level. Being a professional is not just about acing skating tricks, it also involves balancing your skateboard, and stopping it perfectly.
Moreover, you should also learn techniques to regain balance. When skating, your balance will fluctuate and it can cause injury. Therefore, when practicing, you should learn tricks to regain balance. It is also recommended to skate in open fields and skating parks when practicing. Skating near high-traffic areas is never a good idea.
2. Choose The Right Skateboard
Purchasing the right skateboard is crucial to having a good skating experience. When buying one, check its specs to make sure it supports your weight range. Otherwise, there is a chance that your skateboard will break apart when riding.
If you are a beginner, you should start with a skateboard that comes with cocktails. This will help you in stopping your skateboard easily. Moreover, a long deck is recommended for beginners, since it levels out the pressure easily.
3. Wear Safety Gear
Whether you are a beginner or a professional skateboarder, wearing protective gear is essential. It includes knee pads, elbow guards, wrist protectants, and a helmet. Skipping any of these can lead to injury during skating.
When buying safety gear, make sure you buy the perfect size to prevent any slipping off during riding. It should also be durable and breathable along with good padding for shock absorbance. Good protective gear will protect you from lacerations and any potential fractures too.
4. Skate At Your Level
Everyone has their skating limit. Some grasp the tricks easily, while others take a while to develop certain tricks. Never try a skating trick under peer pressure or as a challenge unless you have practiced it previously. Skating at your speed and pace will make it a fun and comfortable sport for you.
It is not recommended to skate at high speed from the very first day. You should build up your speed slowly but steadily along with learning ways to stop your skateboard in a good way.
5. Use High-Quality Skateboard
When buying a skateboard, it is good to invest in an expensive one. This will not only go a long way but will also ride smoothly. On the other hand, buying a cheap skateboard may seem light on the pocket, but many cheap skateboards get damaged very quickly. As a result, you will have to switch to a new one. Moreover, thoroughly check a skateboard’s specs before buying it and read the customer reviews.
Bottom Line
Overall, skateboarding can be fun by following simple rules. For instance, wearing a helmet, and knee/elbow caps, avoiding risky behavior, and using common sense can save you from dangerous situations. skateboarding gets dangerous when it is rash, without any precaution and practice. Many skateboarders have had the worst skating accidents that including severe head injuries, fractures, memory loss, and even death due to accidents.
Therefore, practice your skating tricks regularly and never skate with aggression or under pressure. Enjoy this activity to the full and you will observe the good mind and body changes. Moreover, whatever the case, never skate in high traffic areas because these carry a very high chance of collision and bad injuries. Whatever type of skateboarding you choose, make sure you enjoy it to the fullest.
FAQ’s
1. Is Skateboarding the most dangerous sport?
Despite having a high casualty rate as compared to certain other sports, skating is not the most dangerous one. If it is done in skate parks and with proper practice, it is indeed a very fun sport. Moreover, wearing complete protective gear will save you from any major injury.
2. How many deaths are caused by skateboarding?
As per a survey by the US National Institutes of Health, around 50 people succumb to skating each year. However, this does not make skating a dangerous sport. Most of the injuries are fairly easy to treat. If skating is done following all the safety parameters, it becomes a very healthy sport.
3. Should I join a skateboarding academy?
Joining a skating academy is a really good idea especially if you want to become a professional skater. These have good, experienced trainers along with perfect skating equipment and space. The benefit of taking skating lessons at an academy is that you will learn good skating tricks within a short period.
Related article: Is skateboarding hard to learn?
4. What is the best place to skate?
Any place that has a smooth surface and is free of traffic is a good skating space. It is not recommended to build skating ramps at home for practice as sliding down them can cause injury. Therefore, when learning, it is better to skate in skate parks and skating bowls.
5. How should I make sure that my kid is safe while skating?
First of all, buy them a good skateboard that fits their height and weight. Make wearing safety gear for them compulsory. Make sure they do not skate near high-traffic areas. Guide them about skateboarding injury facts so that they would be careful while skating.
