Skateboarding

The troops have gathered at emerica’s Wild In the Streets event at LA’s Hollenbeck Skate Plaza. And now, we just have to see how far this goes before the guys in the riot gear show up to slow things down. And yes, there was some interaction with the police. Follow the jump for more photos. . . . [click to continue…]

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Yes, we all should be skateboarding everyday and most do, but that’s not the point of the 9th Annuall Go Skateboarding Day today (Tuesday, June 21, 2011). The point is to let the rest of the world know that skateboarding is important, necessary, positive, influential, and eternal. In the words of the International Association of Skateboard Companies:

GSD unites the global skateboard family to have fun, raise money and awareness for needy skateparks, promote local skate shops, and raise money for local charities and community needs. Founded by the International Association of Skateboard Companies (IASC) and with strong support from skaters everywhere, GSD is a holiday that encourages everyone to drop what they are doing, have fun, and go skateboarding! . . . “This year for GSD, IASC is focused on promoting charities and retailers that support and grow their communities through the love of skateboarding,” said IASC Executive Director Josh Friedberg. “Events like the Skateistan Skate-a-thon in Afghanistan and Fairfax Skateshop’s Skate-for-a-cause in Annandale, Virginia are great examples of ways the 2011 holiday will make a difference in people’s lives. Go Skateboarding Day is a great time to remember what you love about skateboarding. Grab your friends, get out there and skate!”

For more on what you can do to get involved and a lists of events in your part of the world, follow the jump and/or click here. [click to continue…]

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[Update: Wild In The Street LA meeting place will be the Hollenbeck Skate Plaza 415 South St Louis St. Los Angeles, CA at the south end of Hollenbeck Park at noon today (June 21, 2011). For up-to-the-minute updates follow @emerica and remember to arrive ready to be nice to the LAPD.]

It appears that the security department of LA office building owner/operator MPG Office Trust is getting the word out about tomorrow’s emerica Go Skateboarding Day event in downtown LA.

Here’s an email they’ve sent out to some of their tennants:

The Building Management Office has learned of a large event that may directly impact Wells Fargo Center. The event, Emerica’s Wild in the Streets, is intended to have skateboarders converge on the streets of Los Angeles to celebrate skateboarding. In several other large cities where similar events have already taken place, this weekday gathering may draw thousands of participants around noon tomorrow, June 21, 2011.

Currently, there is no concrete information to share on the route that the skaters have designated. However, sources believe that the group is likely to travel by the Wells Fargo Center down the Grand Avenue hill towards Pershing Square. The LAPD Special Events group is working with the City Attorney to restrict this large group from coming into the Central Business District, but at this time that has not been confirmed.

At this time, there are no known street closures. However, we will keep you informed should new information become available. The website announcing this event may be accessed at the following address: http://emericawildinthestreets.com/

Thank you.

Thank you, indeed. Luckily, the skateboarders know where and when to show up. For more info click the link. This should be fun.

[Link: Wild In The Streets]

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North Carolina skateboarder Jamie Hargrave, 28, went out for a roll on June 3, 2011, while his 6-year-old son Jamie cruised along beside him on a scooter. No one is really sure what happened, but Hargrave crashed and ended up with serious head injuries, according to a story in the Roanoke Rapids Daily Herald.

Hargrave was taken to Halifax Regional Medical Center, then airlifted to Pitt County Memorial Hospital in Greenville, Horton said, with injuries to his head. . . “He has bivascular skull fractures, cerebral edema and intercranial hemorrhaging,” Horton said. . . While Hargrave has since regained consciousness, he doesn’t recognize family members, though he has made progress. . . “He can tell you who he is now,” Horton said. “That’s a plus because he couldn’t a week ago.”

Hargrave was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash and now his mother Lisa Horton has a message to other mothers:

“If he would have been wearing a helmet, he’d be home today,” Horton said. “Buy your kids helmets. If you’ve got a grown kid who likes to skateboard, get them a helmet.”

Not bad advice.

[Link: Roanoke Rapids Daily Herald]

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Seventy-one-year-old Ron Cofall should be an inspiration to anyone thinking they might be getting to old for skateboarding.

According to a Justin Paprocki story in the Island Packet. Cofall began skateboarding last year at 70 years old when his grandson wanted to go to the Bristol Skatepark in Hilton Head, South Carolina. And he hasn’t stopped yet, even though he’s gotten broke off several times.

He’s learned from his mistakes, the only catch being his mistakes happen with a hard fall on the concrete. He’s broken his wrist, knocked his head so hard it damaged a retina, hurt his neck to the point he needed a brace, and done other damage that has required overnight stays in a hospital. . . Getting hurt isn’t a deterrent. It’s just an impediment to doing what he wants. He’s had spills in motocross and wipeouts windsurfing. It hasn’t stopped him before. So this comes as no surprise to his family. . . “We do worry about him getting hurt,” said his daughter-in-law, Jackie. “But he doesn’t want to quit. And we respect that.”

Apparently, 70 is the new 40, not to mention that few pads offer more protection than a full Depends adult diaper.

[Link: Island Packet]

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