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Original poster

No safety in skateboarding

34 replies

grey12 · 27/07/2021 08:58

I was baffled by the lack of safety in the olympic skateboarding

I was reading and only under-18s are required to even wear a helmet. The other competitors only wear caps. The helmets I saw were totally loose. No to even mention knee pads.....

Imagine if the winter olympics did this for the snowboard events?!!

In my mind, if the skateboarders campaigned for olympic recognition, they should be taking the sport waaaaay more seriously!! And showing good safety precautions to the next generation of olympic skateboarding athletes. Or am I completely off my meds?! Or maybe getting too old?....

OP posts:

ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 27/07/2021 09:54

I felt the same way.
the lack of safety equipment bothered me too

toastofthetown · 27/07/2021 09:59

I was surprised by the lack of helmets as well. It doesn’t take a lot for serious head injury to occur.

HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 27/07/2021 10:06

I felt the same but was quite amused at their 'wear anything' uniform considering how strict many other spirts/events are and competing with airpods in and phones in their pockets.

Bitofachinwag · 27/07/2021 10:08

It's the same situation in figure skating. They should also be wearing helmets really.

Dinosauraddict · 27/07/2021 10:13

I was amazed at lack of helmets but DH who used to skate just laughed at me

LynetteScavo · 27/07/2021 10:17

I with you OP. DS once had a nasty accident skateboarding- he'd taken his helmet off because I wasn't watching him, and y'know it's not cool. Luckily he was fine, but his head is now a different shape than it was before.

These are the people our kids idolise, so from that point I'd like them to be wearing helmets, but for their own saftety I can believe the regulations don't include helmets.

BadlydoneHelen · 27/07/2021 10:17

DH and I were also baffled by the casual attitude- one had to stop during a timed segment and re-do his laces. Couldn't believe that he hadn't double knotted

Original poster

grey12 · 27/07/2021 10:23

@BadlydoneHelen

DH and I were also baffled by the casual attitude- one had to stop during a timed segment and re-do his laces. Couldn't believe that he hadn't double knotted

What?! That's ridiculous! So unprofessional!! Are they oblivious to the fact that they are olympic athletes?

I would think that wearing a helmet would allow them to try more challenging moves. Like what it happens in other modalities, always pushing for more difficulty

OP posts:

TheMadGardener · 27/07/2021 10:29

I just thought the skateboarding was boring. They seemed to do one trick and then fall off. Maybe the "park" skateboarding will be more spectacular. Otherwise it doesn't really seem worthy of Olympic inclusion.

bestbefore · 27/07/2021 10:44

@TheMadGardener

I agree. What an anti climax. And agree about the lack of safety stuff. All the cyclists wear helmets

And the lad who had to do up his laces what a laugh, how daft was that?!

essentialhealing · 27/07/2021 10:52

For many it takes an injury for them to start wearing protection

I was out cycling once and luckily wearing a helmet. A tree had fallen, I ducked and the helmet got ripped clean off my head and a large chunk got taken out of the helmet. I was okay luckily thanks to the helmet

Head injuries can change lives

unsureofneighbour · 27/07/2021 10:53

@TheMadGardener

This. I expected much more at Olympic level

BikeRunSki · 27/07/2021 10:59

I have to agree. It seemed very casual and slack for an Olympic event. and I’m sure the kids I was at school with used to do fancier, faster stuff under the South Bank Centre

sleepyhoglet · 27/07/2021 11:07

Yes, I was bored watching 13 year olds skate around a fake street. Obviously I couldn't do it, but lots seemed to fall off. That is a rarity in other sports eg gymnastics. I did think that it would be good for the young kids getting sponsorship from clothing brands etc as it's a trendy sport.

blameitonthecaffeine · 27/07/2021 23:51

I vaguely enjoyed it but it was quite repetitive, wasn't it. I think the other discipline will be more interesting. The commentator did say something like 'maybe we should be worrying if it is safe' but then said the first thing they learn is how to fall.

Agreed it wasn't the most professional but it was quite refreshing to see them laugh instead of cry when they made a mistake. And half of them were literally kids.

DillonPanthersTexas · 27/07/2021 23:56

The skateboarding was shit, just looked like a bunch of kids mucking about down the local park. Was surprised at how few tricks were actually landed with the competitors picking themselves off the floor most of the time. Thought it really devalues the Olympics. Compare it to watching the triathlon event before hand it was a joke.

Namenic · 28/07/2021 00:41

I thought it was quite cool. Would love to be able to skateboard. Clothing is way better than some sports out there. Seemed like a nice friendly vibe with the women’s skateboarding.

ahoyshipmates · 29/07/2021 18:15

It is a demonstration sport this time, so maybe if it is included in the next Olympics they will tighten the rules up a bit.

StrongArm · 29/07/2021 18:17

Yes I thought that too. I was amazed they didn't have more protective gear on especially given part of the whole routine appears to be face planting into concrete

It was really boring. They all seem to focus on sliding down the hand rail and that was it.

NiceGerbil · 29/07/2021 18:56

Was it the street skate category?

I was excited but found it v meh.

The blokes in the studio were hilarious.

OMG he's so cool! He just so chilled! He's even got his earbuds in! Omg just how cool is he. Awesome. He's on his phone now! What s guy. These guys are so cool. Omg we're going to talk to one! Omg omg. Does my hair look good? Hiiiii wow you're so amazing etc.

I was praying that they'd interview someone who had like a deep Somerset accent or something and started saying they liked crosswords and love you mum!

Didn't happen :(

NiceGerbil · 29/07/2021 19:01

Anyway no OP I don't agree.

Rugby they can break their necks/ backs.
Gymnastics get their tumble wrong could be terrible.
Martial arts imagine could be dangerous.
Hockey etc could get smacked in the head with a ball.
Etc etc.

Street stakeboarding is not something done with helmets I assume.
Adults take their own risks- you note that children have to wear helmets.
Knee pads and helmets add weight. Knee pads even good ones would reduce flexibility.

They were falling off the whole time (which I was surprised by!) and none that I saw get hurt.

So no I can't agree.

SoddingWeddings · 29/07/2021 19:04

I was the first officer on scene to this: www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-18595477 The young man would likely have just fallen and had a bit of a headache with a helmet, according to the later inquest.

Helmets should not be optional.

But the poster who said about helmets for ice skating makes a very interesting point.

NiceGerbil · 29/07/2021 20:38

How many young people die skateboarding compared to I dunno. In incidents involving cars.

Some people die hitting their heads fainting at home and hitting their heads. Should we all be wearing crash helmets at home?

I know it sounds facetious but I'm trying to make a genuine point about risk.

ThatsWhatYouThink · 29/07/2021 23:31

I accidentally switched on to the skateboarding and thought someone had included it as a joke. No-one stayed on their board for longer than about 15 seconds, they all kept falling off and the 'tricks' were dull. Its inclusion as an Olympic sport (and I use the term loosely) makes a mockery of competitors in other disciplines who have dedicated their whole lives to their chosen path.

RhonaRed · 29/07/2021 23:32

It's seems madly dangerous to me.🤷

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