Teen charged in fatal Arlington skateboarding incident
By Hank Silverberg
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WASHINGTON – A skateboard accident that killed an Arlington teenager has now led to
serious charges against another teenager.
John Malvar, 18, a student at Washington-Lee High School, had been “skitching,” or
holding onto the driver’s side window of a car while riding his skateboard, along
Arlington’s South Highland Street June 4.
He lost his balance and fell off the skateboard, hitting his head in the
process. He was rushed to George Washington University Hospital, where he died.
Now, the 17-year-old driver of that car, whose name has not been released, has been
charged with reckless driving. His trial has been set for Aug. 8 and he will be
tried as a juvenile.
Students at Washington-Lee held a candlelight vigil
for Malvar the day after he died.
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© 2013 WTOP. All Rights Reserved.
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Article source: http://www.wtop.com/41/3362126/Teen-charged-in-fatal-Arlington-skateboarding-incident
Teen charged after friend dies in skateboarding incident
By Hank Silverberg
More Reports
WASHINGTON – A skateboard accident that killed an Arlington teenager has now led to
serious charges against another teenager.
John Malvar, 18, a student at Washington-Lee High School, had been “skitching,” or
holding onto the driver’s side window of a car while riding his skateboard, along
Arlington’s South Highland Street June 4.
He lost his balance and fell off the skateboard, hitting his head in the
process. He was rushed to George Washington University Hospital, where he died.
Now, the 17-year-old driver of that car, whose name has not been released, has been
charged with reckless driving. His trial has been set for Aug. 8 and he will be
tried as a juvenile.
Students at Washington-Lee held a candlelight vigil
for Malvar the day after he died.
Follow @WTOP on Twitter.
© 2013 WTOP. All Rights Reserved.
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Article source: http://www.wtop.com/41/3362126/Teen-charged-after-friend-dies-in-skateboarding-incident
University of Utah tosses proposed skateboard ban for stricter rules
Skateboarders and bikers wouldn’t get kicked off the University of Utah campus but would be subject to new rules and safety warnings under a plan approved Monday.
Two police officers on bikes or Segways also would enforce limits on dangerous riding under a set of policy revisions passed by an executive committee of the U.’s Academic Senate.
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The idea is still subject to approval by the university’s Board of Trustees, but it is a significant change from a ban proposed on recreational riding of any non-motorized transportation on campus. The Academic Senate approved that proposal in a narrow vote last month, but leaders decided shortly after to reconsider over the summer.
“The policy, I think, is a much better policy,” said Amy Wildermuth, associate vice president for faculty. Violators could still be fined $100 on the second dangerous riding offense and have their devices confiscated if they don’t follow campus rules.
“The principle rule here is you must yield to pedestrians,” Wildermuth said. “People have to make really good decisions when they ride their bike or skateboard. When it’s busy, you want to get off.”
Police say dangerous riding is a growing problem, especially among young, non-students who take TRAX to the top of the U. campus and skateboard down the steeply pitched road to the valley. But the new rules will have to be reviewed by a separate state agency before they can be enforced against people outside the university community. It wasn’t immediately clear how long that might take.
There are already rules against dangerous riding, and public records show U. police issued 25 skateboarding citations last year. But police say the current rules are hard to enforce because an officer has to witness the behavior. The plan approved Monday would help by having people hand out safety brochures to people getting off TRAX, allowing people who see dangerous behavior to send a text message to police and adding additional warning signs.
“I think police are doing some more creative thinking about how they can police this,” Wildermuth said.
About a year ago, communication professor Leonard Hawes was seriously injured in a collision with a skateboarder on campus that appeared intentional, he wrote in a piece published by The Salt Lake Tribune.
“The skateboarder … deliberately lowered his shoulder and intentionally slammed into me, knocking me off my feet,” he wrote. Injuries to his left shoulder and right hip required joint replacement surgery.
His assailant hasn’t been caught.
“The university is tasked with making the campus a safe place for everyone,” Hawes said in the May 18 piece. “I don’t want what happened to me to happen to anyone else.”
But others — especially faculty members who ride skateboards — spoke against the proposed ban, Wildermuth said. It would have prohibited riding skateboards and bikes on campus except for those commuting between classes and university events.
That distinction, Wildermuth said, would have been confusing.
“I’m confident this version of the policy is actually cleaner and easier for police to enforce,” she said.
lwhitehurst@sltrib.com
Twitter: @lwhitehurst
Article source: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/56472757-78/police-campus-university-riding.html.csp
‘Skateboarding not a sport but a lifestyle and part of me’
Seoul (The Korea Herald/ANN) – Choi Jae-seung is a household name among skateboarders. The 22-year-old’s mind-boggling tricks and perseverance caught the attention of many skateboard aficionados on YouTube in 2009.
As the first Korean rider to be sponsored by Austrian drink company Red Bull, Choi wants to help popularize skateboarding in Korea.
“Compared to the United States, skateboarding is less common in Korea. The idea that one can be a professional boarder is still new here,” Choi said in an interview with The Korea Herald. In America, people appreciate Choi’s skill as a professional rider, while in Korea, Choi needs to first explain that this is his actual job.
Perhaps this is due to Korea’s emphasis on academia, which allows little time for hobbies, Choi suggested. Conventional sports such as swimming and soccer are accepted as viable career paths, but extreme sports are not yet recognized as a legitimate field. This makes it difficult for aspiring youths to consider skateboarding as their career and become international pros, Choi said.
But general interest in the sport is growing, thanks to enthusiastic skateboard crews.
“Aori Park and MeaL1 are excellent crews. They make great boarding videos that encourage people to learn skateboarding,” Choi said. Korean crews tend to work independently, but maybe crews can cooperate to host larger skateboarding events, Choi suggested. If they filmed a project together or held a friendly competition, that would promote the sport even further throughout Korea, Choi said.
Seoul is the best location for street skateboarding, according to Choi. As a street skateboarder, Choi performs tricks on ledges, staircases and other building structures.
“The roads are very well paved in Korea, and there are many new buildings. They are perfect spots to practice boarding. Also, the public transportation is great, so young people can easily move from one practice spot to another.
“Some of my friends visit China and Japan for great skateboarding spots, but I always tell them to come to Korea,” Choi said.
To showcase such skateboarding spots, Red Bull recently hosted “Joy Tour 2013″ May 17-30 in Korea. During the tour, international and domestic pro boarders explored skateboarding spots throughout the country. They made videos of their journey, which they posted on social networks to introduce boarding spots in Korea. They also invited amateur boarders to practice together, and held a boarding competition in Seoul and Busan for local boarders.
“It was amazing to meet international boarders. To be boarding with such talented people was a dream come true for me,” Choi said, adding that they exchanged tips.
Choi plans to be in the skateboard scene as long as possible. “For me it’s not a sport, it’s a lifestyle. It’s a part of me.” Professional skateboarders who take care of their physical health ride well into their 40s, Choi said, recollecting expat pros whom he met in international boarding competitions. Even after he retires as a professional boarder, he will continue to ride as a hobby.
“Also, I want to have my own clothing brand for skateboarders and hip-hop crews. I think fashion is a big part of the culture, and I want to contribute to the crew with fashion too,” the ambitious 22-year-old said.
Choi predicted Korea’s skateboarding scene would grow. “I hope skateboarding doesn’t become too industrialized, though. I think the best part of skateboarding is that it’s a subculture. It may not be perfect, but it has an untamed charm.”
To those who are just learning to skateboard, Choi advised that they enjoy it. Even a pro skateboarder gets tired of mastering one trick after another. But when you enjoy boarding and it becomes a passion in your life, you will find yourself improving rapidly, Choi said.
The same goes for any other goal, Choi emphasized: “Keep your head up and don’t stop. You never know how far you can go until you go there. Don’t give up and have fun on the way.”
Pix: 20130618-008
Pix: 20130618-009
Article source: http://my.news.yahoo.com/skateboarding-not-sport-lifestyle-part-055003865.html
Celebrate skateboarding Saturday at Chatham Skate Park
CHATHAM TWP. – Calling kids of all ages: If you skateboard, then get to The Chatham Skate Park this Saturday and help celebrate National Go Skateboarding Day.
From 11:45 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Skate Park Committee will host the event starting with a skate takeover of Southern Boulevard. Skaters will convene at Nash Field, then skateboard down Southern Boulevard to the park, which is located in the same complex as the township’s police and public works departments.
At about 1 p.m., there will be a Best Skate contest performed “jam style,” while from 2:15 – 3 p.m., members of 5BORONYC will hold a skateboard demonstration.
The event also includes a best trick contest, food, giveaways and music.
Proceeds from the event will go towards the park.
The park was closed last year after the township’s insurance provider determined it was worn out and unsafe.
But thanks to two local women, Mimi Mehta of Chatham Township and Mary Rohe of Chatham, officials reopened it after learning how popular the facility was.
While the township made the necessary repairs, seal coating to extend the park’s lifetime still had to be done, so Mehta and Rohe then set out to raise money for the work, which was estimated to cost about $15,000.
During the Thursday, June 13 Township Committee meeting, Mehta reported that $14,813 in cash and kind was raised from various sources, including $5,000 from the Chatham Athletic Foundation, $1,000 from the Rotary club, and $4,700 in various contributions.
She said if a $500 donation came through from the Chatham Municipal Alliance Committee, the figure would top $15,000.
She added that the June 22 benefit was also helped along by various sponsors, including ShopRite, which granted a $200 gift card, Stop Shop, which donated a hot dog cart for the event, and Maries, which was donating sandwiches.
She said the hot dogs would be sold at $1 apiece and sandwiches for $5 each, with money going to the skate park.
She said when those donations, plus event giveaways, were folded in with previous donations, nearly $20,000 would have been raised for the park.
The news pleased Mayor Nicole Hagner.
“We’re very appreciative for all the efforts. It’s not costing the taxpayers anything,” she said. “It’s a wonderful thing and good for the community.”
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Skateboard Jam planned
Skateboard Jam planned for Friday
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Article source: http://brainerddispatch.com/news/2013-06-17/skateboard-jam-planned
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Tony Hawk’s First Skateboard Will Be Put In Smithsonian Institute
Tony Hawk will officially become an important part of American history, as the Smithsonian Institute is set to display the icon’s first skateboard.
The legendary skater posted the news on his Twitter account:
I will be donating my first skateboard to the Smithsonian June 22 during the #innoskate event. Event info: http://t.co/MDRYTUTAZg
— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) June 14, 2013
Here is a look at the skateboard, courtesy of Hawk’s Instagram account:
Tony Hawk on Instagram
The National Museum of American History in Washington D.C. is known for bringing in various objects that represent the country’s cultural as well as political history. As a result, it is opening up a new exhibit known as Innoskate. The museum’s website provided a description of what to expect:
Innoskate is a major public festival that will celebrate invention and creativity in skate culture. Innoskate will highlight the contributions skate innovators make to society through demonstrations, hands-on education activities, public programs with inventors and innovators, and donations of objects to the national collections.
Hawk will also take part in a panel discussion on June 22 along with skateboard maker Paul Schmitt.
In reality, there are few people who had a bigger impact on the skating world than Hawk. The Birdman was an innovator in the sport and often displayed new tricks that were barely imagined at the time, including the 900.
His exciting aerial displays were a big part of the rise in popularity among extreme sports.
Robert Cianflone/Getty Images
Additionally, the popular Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater video game series brought the sport to a wider audience, while becoming a household name around the country.
For these contributions, Hawk was named the second-most influential skateboarder of all time by Transworld Skateboarding magazine.
It appears as though one of the most famous museums in America will now recognize his influence on American culture by displaying his first ever skateboard.
Fans of Hawk and the sport itself should do their best to take part in the weekend festivities to celebrate a big moment in extreme sports.
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Article source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1674079-tony-hawks-first-skateboard-will-be-put-in-smithsonian-institute