Health

Wheel your way to good health

29/09/2011 Office of Road Safety

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Looking for a healthy way to get around but bored of your bicycle? We check out the growing adult skateboarding trend, for those that like to get around under their own steam.

34-year-old project manager Jake Elliott has been skateboarding for transport and fun for the past year after finding himself a little flat following a rough six months. He caught up with a friend that skateboarded one afternoon, gave it a try and hasn’t look back since - he now hops on his board daily, and his GP even commented that it had done wonders to improve his mental wellbeing.

Ian McGlynn, who works at Momentum Skate Shop and has been skateboarding since he was six years old, has been heavily involved in the local and national longboarding scene for the past three and a half years. He says if you take the time to learn to skate safely and observe the road rules, skateboarding is a physically demanding and mentally challenging sport, and a great way to find 15 minutes of exercise and clear your mind before and after work.

“Skating without the proper safety equipment or skill level can result in serious injury, but if you learn about the sport and take it slow, skateboarding is a fantastic alternate form of transport that is fun, healthy, economical and has a minimal carbon footprint,” he says.  

34 year old software architect Shannon Hearse first started boarding when his wife bought him a skateboard for his birthday, having noticed that he didn’t have a lot of leisure time with a busy job and two young children. “I live quite close to work and my wife decided a skateboard would buy me 15 minutes of fun before and after work, which it certainly has. I now take any excuse to go for a roll in the evenings – if we need bread or milk I am happy to volunteer, and I take our puppy for a run with it each evening.”

Here are Ian’s tips for safely enjoying the ride on your skateboard:

• Choose a quality board – quality merchandise from reputable manufacturers is always recommended. Your local skate shop can advise you on what boards are designed for riding to work; there are different types of boards for different types of riding so make sure you choose the appropriate style of board for your journey.
• Protective safety gear – this is key, make sure you have a helmet designed for boarding approved to Australian standards as well as knee pads, elbow pads, and wrist guards. Also wear appropriate footwear; your work shoes probably won’t have the grip required.
• Helmets – always wear a helmet that is properly fitted with adjustable chin straps to keep your helmet securely on your head in the event of a fall. Also make sure it doesn't restrict your vision or hearing. Replace your helmet when it gets damaged, you outgrow it or at least every five years.
• Check your skateboard before every skate – look for loose bolts, broken or cracked parts, and any nicks or cracks in your wheels.
• Don’t ride in the traffic - ride on the footpath where permitted (always look out for pedestrians) or other safe places off the road and carry the board when crossing roads. 
• Practice – always skate within your limits. Make sure you master stopping and falling safely before you start rolling to work.