Headache Control at Kelly Ave

Attention Coastside Skaters. The Skate the Coast group has been formed by skaters like you. We are working to improve the coastside skating situation.

Briefly, our short-term goal is to upgrade and beautify the park on Kelly Ave. The not so short-term goal is to establish 15,000 sq ft of concrete, the caliber of Pacifica or Santa Cruz skateparks.

Soon we will have the ability to start fundraising for the cause. Our stepping-stone to that, is: working closely with the city, the B/G Club and the school district in order to make the Kelly Ave park all that it can be.

Now. Issues at the Kelly Ave park have arisen surrounding the use of helmets. We all need to cooperate with HMBPD’s wishes for helmet compliance, as it is part of the big picture for achieving a NEW skatepark. This will not only help us progress toward the new park but also help us avoid park closures and we can work to add more ramps and obstacles to skate at the park.

The reasons for wearing a helmet are many. You wouldn’t ride in a car without a seatbelt! Take a look at this. It’s real and don’t think it can’t happen to YOU.

http://wipeout.knowledgenetwork.ca/wipeout.html

Pay particular attention to the “CRAZY CRASH, SHOCKING AFTERMATH” video listed. And, if that wasn’t convincing enough, Skate the Coast has put together it’s very own “TOP TEN LIST” of reasons for skating with a helmet on.

Half Moon Bay PD Helmet Crackdown

(Note: skatepark closures begin immediately for any lack of helmet compliance. HMBPD will begin to issue citations to individuals for helmet violations beginning in Sept 2009.)

Official Notice from HMB PD:

Personnel;

Yesterday, I met with representatives from the School District, Boys & Girls Club, and the "Skate the Coast" Association regarding the on-going issue of skateboarders not wearing helmets when skating inside the skateboard park (refer to City Ordinance #9.11.010 & 9.11.020).

Effective immediately, if any person (regardless of age) is seen inside the skateboard park with a skateboard in their possession and not wearing a helmet, everyone will be asked to leave and the skateboard park will be closed (locked) for the day and reopened the next morning. In addition, no bicycles are allowed the skateboard park at any time.

Since the School District owns the property and the City is carrying the insurance, we must take these steps to prevent serious injury and restrict our exposure to civil liability.

During the summer, and just before the new school year, representatives from Skate the Coast Association and the School District will follow up with some outreach to educate the skateboarders on the risks involved with skateboarding without proper safety equipment. When school starts this September, we will be issuing citations to all persons in violation of the ordinance. You may refer skateboarders in violation to:

Michelle Dragony (Skate the Coast) @ (650) 740-4384.

Some of her business cards are on the table in the squad room as well.

Thanks,

Don O'Keefe

Police Chief

Once Again: Skatepark closures begin immediately, citations beginning in Sept 2009!

Helmets YES. Pads NO! AB 874

Your friends at Skate the Coast are working on your behalf to eliminate California’s obnoxious pads in public skateparks law. A simple letter pointing out the fact that pad requirements force kids out of skateparks and into the streets will help make this law go away. Feel free to cut and paste the following letter (amending your info) and bounce it over to Assemblyman Leland Yee.

Dear Senator Yee,

I am contacting you regarding Assembly Bill 874 (Saldana). I am a [skateboarder, parent of a skateboarder, skateboarding advocate, concerned citizen, etc.] who resides in your district. I urge you to support and vote for AB 874, which removes the requirement of wearing elbow pads and knee pads at public skateparks and makes them helmet only.

Although counterintuitive, current law threatens child safety by prohibiting skaters without pads from using the safest possible environment for skateboarding (public skatepark) and forcing them into the most dangerous place to skateboard (our cities streets, sidewalks, and parking lots).

AB 874 represents a more realistic and practical application of Section 115800. Passage of AB 874 encourages more kids to use public skateparks eliminating the dangers of traffic, uneven surfaces and pedestrians.

Again, I kindly urge you to support AB 874.

Thank you.

(Your Name)

(Your Address)

Now plug that letter in right here:

http://legplcms01.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.aspx?district=SD08

A Case for Head Protection

TOP “TEN” REASONS FOR WEARING YOUR BRAIN BUCKET WHILE SKATING

20. SKATE THE COAST IS BUILDING A NEW SKATEPARK! WE WANT YOU THERE WHEN IT COMES TIME TO SKATE IT!

19. HEADACHES SUCK!

18. “EEEEW! BLOOD IN YOUR HAIR……GROSS!”

17. HELMETS DON’T MAKE YOU LOOK DUMB. THEY MAKE YOU LOOK SMART.

16. DROOLING DUDE! NOT COOL.

15. HELMETS REDUCE THE RISK OF HEAD INJURY BY 85 PERCENT AND OF BRAIN INJURY BY 88 PERCENT

14. BRAIN INJURY DUE TO ACCIDENTS IN EXTREME SPORTS IS NOW THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AND PERMANENT DISABILITY TO MALES UNDER THE AGE OF 35. (CHANCES ARE, THAT’S YOU!)

13. SEIZURES SUCK!

12. HELMETS ARE MUCH CHEAPER THAN A TRIP TO THE HOSPITAL! THEY COST ONLY AROUND $30 AND YOU CAN PUT STICKERS ON THEM! (IN THE HOSPITAL THEY PUT STICKERS ON YOU!)

11. YOU DON'T KNOW HOW HARD PAVEMENT IS UNTIL YOUR HEAD REALLY HITS IT.

10. STRAWS ARE COOL. FEEDING TUBES SUCK!

9. YOU WILL CRASH EVENTUALLY.

8. CONCUSSIONS OCCUR EVEN IF THE SKATER DOESN’T LOSE CONSCIOUSNESS AND IN FACT, THEY ARE THE MOST COMMON TYPE OF BRAIN INJURY SUSTAINED IN SPORTS.

7. FALLS ARE THE LEADING CAUSE OF TBI (TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY)

6. A TBI INCREASES YOUR RISK FOR CONDITIONS SUCH AS ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, PARKINSON'S DISEASE , AND OTHER BRAIN DISORDERS THAT BECOME MORE PREVALENT WITH AGE.

5. “SORRY, I CAN’T MAKE IT TO LUNCH TODAY. I HAVE TO SEE MY NEUROSURGEON THIS AFTERNOON…”

4. A MIND IS A TERRIBLE THING TO TASTE.

3. IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE.

2. SKATEBOARDS! NOW COMPLETE WITH FRONT AND SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS. Umm, I don’t think so.

1. SKATE THE COAST IS BUILDING A NEW SKATEPARK! WE WANT YOU THERE WHEN IT COMES TIME TO SKATE IT!