Student Skateboarders Thrash and Crash

By Lily Raff
Contributing Writer

They’re fast. They’re talented. They look cool. But they also get hurt. As the number of Wesleyan skateboarders increases, so does the number of skateboarding injuries.

Last Tuesday, Josh French ’00 received a minor concussion after falling off a skateboard in his driveway.

"[I was performing] this extreme trick called maintaining your balance while moving forward on a flat surface at three feet per hour. It [was] extreme because I [hadn’t] been on a skateboard since seventh grade," French said.

A friend then drove French to the Davison Health Center, where his concussion was diagnosed. French said he was given over-the-counter painkillers and written instructions on concussion recovery.

"It was ...cool because [the instructions were] sort of like a certificate that I am hard core," French said.

Scott Cavanaugh ’99 was injured early Saturday afternoon on Foss Hill. Earlier that day, Cavanaugh purchased a non-traditional type of skateboard, known as a "long rider", at a local tag sale.

Cavanaugh said the long rider is best described as "a combination scooter-skateboard."

Instead of the wooden board found on most skateboards, the long rider consists of a long, thin plastic board that flexes upward and can be held onto.

Cavanaugh and a friend, Colin Van Dyke ’99, were taking turns riding the long rider down Foss Hill as the other pushed from behind. Cavanaugh said he was pushing Van Dyke when Van Dyke rolled off the long rider, causing the board to spring up and hit Cavanaugh in the face.

According to Cavanaugh, he sat on Foss Hill and waited a few minutes while Elizabeth Buckins ’99 ran to WeShop for ice. Unable to find any, she returned with a can of frozen concentrated apple juice and a pint of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, which Cavanaugh said he used to prevent swelling. Cavanaugh then visited the Middlesex Hospital Emergency Room upon referral by the Davison Health Center.

Another skateboarder, William Avedon ’02, fell early this week on his way to class.

"I was trying to avoid a person and sort of lost my balance. I fell off and got scraped," Avedon said. He did not seek any medical attention.

Despite these recent injuries at Wesleyan, most students see them simply as a consequence of the sport.

"I don’t think skateboarding is more dangerous than any other sport involving wheels and ...speed," French said.

Some people say that the increase in injuries may be the result of the sport’s sudden rise in popularity.

"I see a lot of people with skateboards now, and last year I didn’t. I guess there are a lot of freshmen who skate," said John Kamp ’00. "Since skateboarders occasionally get hurt, the more skateboarders there are, the greater chance of injury."

Because of the high risks associated with the sport and the potential for injury, skateboarders are often encouraged to wear protective gear. However, many of them are reluctant to wear bulky pads and helmets.

"The only protective gear I wear is ankle braces," said Avedon, who has sprained his left ankle eight times and his right ankle twice. "Most people [don’t wear helmets or pads] unless they’re using a skate park or a half pipe."

Still, others are concerned that most skateboarders do little to protect themselves from injury.

"I think they should [wear protective gear], but it’s their prerogative," said Dan Sloan ’02.

"I understand that it may not be hip to wear the heavy garb, but it’s better to look a little funny than to have a bloody face," said Tim Keiper ’02.

Despite the danger, the sport’s growing popularity is difficult for some to resist.

As Cavanaugh pointed out, "Any toy that sends you to the emergency room three hours after you buy it has to be a wicked lot of fun."