Rough day for an unlucky skater

[Justin Metcalf]

This is from a thread that I started on beastcoastlongboarding.com:

Alright, I was going to give this a bit longer before posting anything, but given the VT race coming up this weekend, I decided it would be appropriate to say something now. Know your limits, please, don't push it too far. Pushing it is how you get better and is a ton of fun, but there is a point where you simply can't handle anything more.

Events this past weekend[November 8th] are what prompted this. I went to Mt. Lake with Andrew, a friend from school, and was planning on meeting WadeSexton there. Wade had been hung up on the way and wasn't able to meet us at my apartment beforehand, so, he was driving straight to the hill. Andrew and I each did a run without any problems before Wade showed up. When Wade got there, he commented on how impressive the road was that he drove up to get to the top and said that he would follow me down the first run.

Wade is 25 years old, and was told the overview of the hill (1.5 miles long, 55 mph top recorded speed according to GPS, 13 turns, multiple drifting turns etc.) I pushed off and started heading down the hill assuming that Wade would take an easy first run to get a feel for the hill. I got to the bottom and sat on the railing expecting to see Wade and the follow car coming down a few minutes later. I waited for a few minutes, and then heard screeching tires from the follow car.

Andrew simply told me that Wade got hurt. In an abbreviated version, Wade went into a right hand sweeper at around 30 mph (as estimated by the car) and lost it into a guard rail. Wade is now in the hospital with no feeling below the waist. As reported by Craig (related to Wade), Wade came out of surgery stable, but the doctor said "the odds of getting feeling or walking are slim."

Please, I have personally been in a bad crash that put me into a coma and nearly took my life. I have now been present when someone I just met took a fall on a guard rail and is facing paralysis at the age of 25. Push yourselves, have a killer time, but know what you are capable of handling. Nothing else really to it...go fast as hell and have the time of your life, but know yourself well enough to be able to stay within your abilities. Screwing up can mean some uncomfortable road rash...or it can mean something a whole lot worse.

I do plan to track down his hospital mailing address so that we can send cards and good wishes. I was flooded with cards from people around the world when I was in the hospital, it really did make me feel better. I still have them and I can't imagine ever throwing them away. If you're religious, add an extra prayer for a skater in need.

His mailing address is:

Wade Sexton c/o Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Room 972
Belleview at Jefferson Street
P.O. Box 13367
Roanoke, Virginia 24033
attn: Patient Services

Ride smart, ride safe, have the time of you lives...and say an extra prayer for a skater in need

Note: To head off the inevitable safety gear discussion, Wade was wearing a hard foam helmet and gloves and was not riding in a way that indicated he was looking for any real speed (relative to the hill). His helmet received a pretty significant scratch along the side.

[tomahawk]

oh my god. i hope he heal's up and can walk again. best wishes to him.

[guivans]

Best luck to the recovery...
He is (everyone is) too young to not walk anymore...

Positive vibes...

[miSSionary]

Really sorry to hear, prayers sent.

[William Richards]

Best wishes and a speedy recovery. I'm glad to see people post stuff like this cause DH can be serious. Please everyone know your limits. I've seen 5 legs with compound fractures in less than two years and a broken arm and wrist. This person another example of what can go wrong. The worst case being death but imagine being parilyzed or severly impaired by brain trama. Not only are you messed up but it messes with your loved ones lives as well.

YouTube- Weimers Rail

[elvk-]

that makes me feel sick.

best wishes, prayers out to ya wade. with all the new technology you have a better chance of walking than ever before bro.

[krebhorn]

my thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family

[snozzboarder55]

wade, you have an entire community supporting you and praying for you.

[Bookworm]

30mph is too easy to get to considering the danger it holds.

[pennypusher]

justin i remember sometime back you telling the story about the accident you had and glad to hear you have recovered .
my thoughts and prayers go out to wade as well.
i dont know how guys like you and d-dub after the injuries you had can have the intestinal fortitude to get out there and still skate.

[endzone_bob]

Wow - what terrible news.

Best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery.

[xjweezyx]

its good for people to post these things. every once in a while its necesary for people to think about the dangers of dh skateboarding. i was just thinking about it today i was going like 15-20(just a guess) and gots some road rash and i realized that athe 35-40 that would probably mean some real injuries.

Hope wade gets well soon. best of wishes.

[kenofseattle]

Wretched news. All my best to Wade and his family.

Thanks for looking out for your brothers Justin. Keep us informed on his progress.

[Terrorsathan]

30mph is too easy to get to considering the danger it holds.

very true.


I wish the best for this guy. Its never good to hear stories like this.

[Brain Smoothie]

Best of luck to him and his family. he'll be in my thoughts and prayers

[SpeedFiend]

luck will only take you so far

i hope he ends up with somewhat manageable quality of life

a local man my parents have known for years suffered an accident while longboarding and is/was in the hospital recovery center with a traumatic brain injury among other injuries for at least a month.........................my mother gave me a long hard stare, after she related the story, as i cruised out of the house high as a kite with no safety gear to go skate the local gnar

[Dubester]

totally sucks for the dude.

But people need to realize no matter how skilled you are, downhill has very serious consequences many don't understand till they actually have to face it. You learn by experience and ####### up, in DH that costs you skin or damage to your body. If people aren't willing to risk paralysis, serious head injury, death or other big time trauma, stick with a sport below running speed. This same thing could happen in a parking garage, cruising on the sidewalk or while doing rediculous speeds around corners. I feel more in danger commuting around downtown la than I do on hauling ass into hairpins. Even if he was 25, So many young kids toady are getting stoked, then seriously ####ed up. I'm rarely stoked when I skate with new or less inexperienced skaters, not because they are less skilled or young, just b/c they don't understand or at very least don't acknowledge how quick things can go from fun to death. I don't encourage young kids to dh, Just feel that most at young ages don't have the proper grasp of risk/ reward. Even from when I started skating at 18, ive noticed a huge difference from then to now. Everyone has one big fall, not saying people all dont fall, but i promise there is one that you realize, i almost died. whether its going into a gaurdrail at 50 mph, going off a road into a ditch, tangling wheels at 75mph hitting a car.... It opens your eyes to what can happen. Most of us get lucky and only out of the game for a month or two, I can watch the newer skaters and tell who's had that fall and who hasn't.

and even after that rant, I fully understand me, or anyone I skate with could easily die. Everything isn't in your control, when you think it is, watch the #### out.

[GrassDiver]

Is is possible to purchase a suit that would protect the spine better than just normal leathers? Maybe DH guys should buy those really expensive motorcycle racing suits, or is that not really additional protection?

[William Richards]

Is is possible to purchase a suit that would protect the spine better than just normal leathers? Maybe DH guys should buy those really expensive motorcycle racing suits, or is that not really additional protection?

::TIMESHIP RACING:: Skateboard slide gloves, race gear, etc
safety gear pressuresuit/ spine protector

[Brute379]

My thoughts and prayers go out to Wade and his family.

I too am glad to hear from the elders, pro's and experienced DH riders that this sport is indeed a calculated (hopefully) risk with very real dangers.