Skateboarding is a lifestyles for many young people all over the world, and California has some of the best skateparks and most ardent skateboarders. While skateboarding is fun and challenging for kids, it also offers many health benefits. It increases stamina, improves balance and flexibility, and keeps young bodies slim and trim.
History
Carlsbad Skatepark, considered the first official skatepark in the United States, opened in San Diego, California, in 1976. Due to rising liability insurance costs, most of the original skateparks closed as the 1980s approached. In 1998, the California State Assembly passed Bill AB1296. This bill stated that public skateparks and their employees were not liable for skateboarders age 14 and over, since the activity is an HRA (Hazardous Recreational Activity).
Types
Free-flowing concrete skateparks can last up to 30 years with little wear. They are resistant to vandalism and can hold many skaters at one time. Wood ramps and obstacles are also easy to build, inexpensive and can withstand many years of intense use by skaters. Skateparks may be part of a bigger complex that includes space for rollerbladers and bicyclists, or stand-alone facilities just for skateboarders.
Examples of California Skateparks
Skateparks are popular with teens and young adults all over California, but Orange County has some of the busiest skateparks in the United States. Etnies Skatepark in Lake Forest is one of the largest public skateparks in the country, with over 40,000 feet of high-speed runs, skull bowls and combination bowls. Costa Mesa's 20,000-foot public skatepark has a concrete surface with a vertical bowl and garage-length ramp. Los Angeles County has its share of large skateparks too. Santa Clarita's public skateboard park has 40,000-plus feet of concrete vertical and street courses. West Covina's public skatepark has 12,000 feet of smooth concrete runs, with rails and ledges to increase difficulty.
Warnings
All skateparks, whether public or private, post safety rules around the premises. Helmets, kneepads and elbow pads are required safety equipment. Skateboarders caught using the ramps without proper safety gear may be fined by the police, who often conduct random inspections of skatepark facilities. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission suggests that skateboarders practice extensively before attempting complicated maneuvers, and learn the proper way to fall to prevent injury. Land on the fleshy areas of the body, such as the thighs or backside, roll instead of absorbing the brunt of the fall with the arms, and crouch down on the board when losing balance to lessen the distance of the fall.
Special Events
Southern California has an especially vibrant skater community, with skateparks sponsoring special events that occasionally include competitions, lessons, punk rock concerts or appearances by pro skaters. The California Amateur Skateboard League holds awards ceremonies and championship competitions at skateparks in Southern California. Its Southern California Awards Day, for example, is scheduled for November at the Vans Skatepark in Orange, California.
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