Longboarder Emily Adler said she only started wearing safety equipment while riding after she seriously injured herself. Adam Snider said the same was true for him, and injuries can occur in the least dangerous circumstances.
“Most deaths occur when people hit cracks at 10 or 15 miles per hour,” he said. “It just takes one roll, one little bump of your head to get a traumatic brain injury.”
Both Adler and Snider wear knee pads, elbow pads, helmets and gloves. Longboarder Jesse Heidenfeld said one of the most dangerous longboarding practices is “towing.” Towing occurs when a car pulls a longboarder up or down a hill, and is an activity Snider said he does not participate in.
“One little bad move and your board gets sucked under, you get sucked under and your head gets sucked under,” he said. “If your head’s under a car tire, you’re not doing so hot. It’s illegal and makes you look like an idiot.”
Adler said their Facebook page, Duke City Bombers, provides beginner longboarders with a forum to help them learn to skate and encourages them to wear safety gear. She said injuries make it seem like all longboarders are irresponsible.
“Everyone in longboarding tries to get people to wear safety gear,” she said. “It reflects the whole longboarding community. You can get a concussion just from falling from how tall you are.”
