Need a good stress reliever? Want to be COOL? Need an outlet for your artistic EXPRESSION? Did I mention the chicks?! (sorry ladies) For the writers at Beast Coast, longboarding is our drug of choice, however like all good things in life, there are certain risks and dangers associated with the sport. If you’ve been on a longboard for any length of time, you realize very quickly that you’re going to crash, a LOT. The good news is: they make stuff you can buy so you don’t hurt yourself TOO bad.
Yes, these things cost some money, and yes, you typically get what you pay for, but nobody wants to walk away from a downhill crash with brain damage, a broken leg or gnarly road rash – so in our opinion, it’s money well spent.
So with safety in mind, here are six safety items that you just can’t compromise on.
Helmet
The single most important part of your body that you should protect is your brain. You can lose and arm, and still enjoy life, but if you take a spill and hit your head on the pavement, your life could be completely turned upside-down. Helmets have been embraced by the longboarder community for the obvious reasons, and it’s entirely possible that if you show up at a freeride or downhill event, you won’t even be permitted to participate without one. Most serious downhillers elect to wear full face helmets for the additional protection they provide for the face and chin.
Elbow and Knee Pads
If you take a fall, and skid across the pavement on your knees, it may skin them up pretty good but you’re unlikely to have your life altered in any significant way. That’s not to say it couldn’t happen, but you’re much more likely to sustain a serious injury if you hit your head. Still, it’s a good idea to wear elbow and knee pads because as a longboarder, you will take falls, so why take the risk? You’ll be able to stay on your board longer and shred harder too, by avoiding scrapes and bruises, and sparing your joints the inevitable injury.
Slide Gloves
Arguably the second most important piece of safety equipment, safety gloves are vital for an aggressive longboarder. They typically have protective plastic pucks attached to them with Velcro, to provide an additional layer of protection to your palms and fingertips. They make it possible for you to perform difficult cornering or sliding maneuvers by placing your hands on the ground without the risk of injury. You’ll be able to perform more tricks and ride over more varied terrain in you learn to use them properly. Look for gloves that also provide wrist support.
Riser Pads
These are small pieces of plastic or rubber that are placed between your deck and your truck baseplate to allow you to use larger wheels and to raise your board’s ride height. Though not always thought of as safety equipment, riser pads help you to avoid the one thing that leads to the most injuries: fatigue. This is because they act as dampeners to provide you with a smoother ride, and therefore less fatigue, allowing you to go at it longer, and harder, with less wear and tear on the body.
Crash Shorts
Though they aren’t as useful for abrasion resistance, as most people assume they are, they are designed to provide superior impact absorption. This is very important because some of the most common injuries occur to the hips and thighs. These shorts will absorb the force of the impact, helping you to avoid an injury to those areas.
Spine Protection
For very similar reasons that you might want to wear crash shorts, it makes sense to go the extra step to include spine protection in your safety gear. These protectors add a layer of protection for your back, and are easily incorporated with leather longboarder suits. You may go your entire longboarder career without an injury to your spine, but if you are one of the unfortunate few who do injure their spines, you’ll wish that you’d invested a little into protection for your back.
Couple these six safety items with a hefty dose of common sense, and you’re very likely to avoid any serious injuries while enjoying your favorite recreation. Don’t make the mistake that so many others do, and assume that you won’t ever take a serious fall. It happens to the best, and it could happen to you too!
