Safety Tips: Skateboarding

Skateboarding is popular for lots of reasons. But injuries do happen, particularly if skaters ride in the wrong place or don't wear protective gear.

To keep it safe while skateboarding, follow these rules and safety tips.

What Safety Gear Do Skateboarders Need?

Choosing the skateboard that's right for their style or activity (like slalom, freestyle, or speed) is key. Before heading out to skate, they need:

• a helmet that fits well. It should be a multi-sport helmet or one specifically meant for skateboarding.
• wrist guards to support the wrist during falls
• knee pads and elbow pads to help prevent scrapes and cushion bones in case of a fall
• closed-toe shoes that have soles that don't slip and help riders grip the skateboard
• goggles or shatterproof glasses (which won’t break into small pieces if they crack)

Skateboarding Safety Basics

Finding Safe Places to Ride

To prevent injuries, it is very important that riders choose safe places to ride. All surfaces should be checked before riding on them. They should skateboard only on surfaces that are smooth without cracks or debris, like garbage or sticks.

Following Safety Rules

Safety rules all riders should know:

• Never ride in the street or anywhere near cars or traffic.
• Never skateboard in wet weather.
• When learning to ride, they should try out skateboarding on a smooth driveway that's away from all traffic, the beginner section of a skate park, or a parking lot that's not being used.
• At skate parks, obey all rules. Stop and look before entering skateboarding areas.
• Do not skateboard in crowded areas.
• One person on a skateboard at a time.
• Never hitch a ride from a bicycle, car, truck, bus, or other vehicle.
• Do not wear headphones while skateboarding.

Learning to Fall

Knowing how to fall while skateboarding is part of learning the sport. To stay safe, riders should use the right safety gear and learn how to fall properly. They should:

• Practice falling on a soft surface or on grass.
• Crouch down as they fall so they won't have as far to fall.
• Land on the fleshy parts of their body and roll rather than breaking a fall with their arms and hands.
• Relax while falling instead of going stiff.
• Master basic skills, like stopping and turning, before moving on to more complex moves.

What Else Should I Know?

Kids under 5 years old should not ride skateboards. Children 6–10 years old should be closely supervised by an adult whenever they ride a skateboard. No kids or teens should ride a skateboard without a helmet.