Skateboarding

Skateboarding is by some considered a sport, by others an art.

Invented in the early 1970's skateboarding became a way to practice surfing in the off-season. From there it only progressed to become what it is today.

An all-too-typical sign from a town determined to protect its citizens from the evils of... frisbees?

Skateboarding is usually regulated by local ordinances; "the laws" governing skateboarding vary from town to town.

Unfortunately some believe it is an unlawful thing and therefore is despised by so many. However, it is quite the opposite being one of the most common sport/art practiced today.

The first mention of the word "skateboard" in The New York Times is a 1965 story, "Montclair Official Plans an Ordinance to Ban Skateboards" calling it "the latest juvenile fad on wheels" and quoting an official as saying "These devices are most dangerous... because of their speed on inclines and the difficulty in controlling them."

By 1998, the Times was reporting that skateboarding was "the fastest-growing sports in America."

Safety

Helmets should be warn. Skateboarder Tony Hawk notes

I wear helmets for protection after being knocked unconscious more than six times in my career. You never know what can happen, especially when you're starting out. I could have easily died without one.[2]

The National Safety Council notes:

• Never ride in the street.
• Don’t take chances. Complicated tricks require careful practice and a specially designed area. Only one person per skateboard. Never hitch a ride from a car, bus, truck, bicycle, etc.
• Learning how to fall in case of an accident may help reduce your chances of being seriously injured. If you are losing your balance, crouch down on the skateboard so that you will not have so far to fall. In a fall, try to land on the fleshy parts of your body. If you fall, try to roll rather than absorb the force with your arms. Even though it may be difficult, during a fall try to relax your body rather than stiffen.