Is there any use in explaining to cops that we really can't ride skateparks?

[Petary791]

Frequently when I am told to stop skating in a certain area, I am told to go to a skatepark. My first inclination is to explain on how I am not a street skater so I can't do anything in skatepark. What do you guys do when this happens? Is there any use in trying to educate the oh-so-uneducated?

EDIT: My bad, I should've said this off the bat but this weekend I spent a solid 5 hours at the skatepark on my Drifter, Purple Heart, and Mosquito. I like the park, but I'd rather drift a heady hairpin or bomb a garage sometimes.

[UltyHuck13]

go to the city council and get a confirmation stating that the difference between the two sports, and are using longboarding as a means of transportation/recreation which doesn't cause damage to city property.

That's how we've beaten cops before here. Just get city hall to recognize the difference. step 1 in bigtime progress

[LTRS]

My first inclination is to explain on how I am not a street skater so I can't do anything in skatepark.

I'm not a street skater either, but I ride skateparks all the time. Sometimes, I even carve bowls and transitions on 45" longboards.

Learn to longboard in a skatepark. It's fun!

[enemy combatant]

My first inclination is to explain on how I am not a street skater so I can't do anything in skatepark.

Hah! A lot of street skaters around here say the same thing about vert-oriented skate parks!

[drew]

Learn to longboard in a skatepark. It's fun!

What he said.

[livefortoday2007]

ask the officer where the skatepark is located? He/she probably won't know. Then inform him/her it is about 100 away and also that your city should get one. Then ask for a ride there because it is such a long skate. Be sure to mention that the board you are riding is for transportation, and the officer needs to drive you back to your house so you can get your "skatepark" board then 100 miles to the skate park.

Now you have a win win situation.

also don't be afraid of the skate park. good times can be had there, especially during the winter.

[sAMOa]

Frequently when I am told to stop skating in a certain area, I am told to go to a skatepark. My first inclination is to explain on how I am not a street skater so I can't do anything in skatepark. What do you guys do when this happens? Is there any use in trying to educate the oh-so-uneducated?

Good thread : ) Many times while I'm skating long distances I get a cop with donuts stuck up his rear imagining skateboarders as the closest thing to terrorists that they can bust. They aren't protecting the best interests of this old man that has skated longer than most have been alive and has paid taxes long enough to say, look here sonny boy... I'm not posing a threat to national security and quite frankly, the only law I'm breaking is a stupid law that designates my skateboard as a municipal toy definition.

I'm really fed up with cops and their penchant to prove they are something better than the citizens paying their salary. Public servants shouldn't be public bullies. Skateboards have a "green" factor that helps the ecology in many more ways than appreciated.

I show them my board. My board design is not for tricks. It's an exercise board that I use to run long distances. Running sucks. Too hard on my knees and ankles for some. So I ride for peace of mind and aerobic exercise. It's been working with cops that appreciate the skill required to do so. Since I've been arrested, been stopped a number of times and talked my way out of the situation because I told them, for the last 5 years, I've been doing the same thing. If it was dangerous, don't you think I'd be messed up?

When I demonstrate switch stance, switch push.. they get it....

cYaSk8

[stringtheory]

I'm not a street skater either, but I ride skateparks all the time. Sometimes, I even carve bowls and transitions on 45" longboards.

Learn to longboard in a skatepark. It's fun!

I don't get it. You're advocating longboards being relegated to skateparks? Even if it's fun (which I agree with), it's still not the right place to longboard.

[enemy combatant]

Too hard on my knees and ankles for some.

I don't think any of us really care how hard it is on your knees and ankles...

[surfdubs]

i love riding my 40 inch "longboard" in the park, mine isn't even really a "flow" oriented park (its more for street skating) but i make it work.

i just smile at cops, be nice and polite, and either come back later or go to another spot.

in the town i go to college in theres no skatepark nearby, but they still tell me to go to the park when they bust me in garages

[sAMOa]

I don't think any of us really care how hard it is on your knees and ankles...

That was aimed at the cop, not you ninny.

cYask8

[Parallel Man]

Y'all might want to avoid being in the STREET on a SKATEBOARD and convincing a policeman you are not a STREET SKATER.

Ahem.

Differentiating yourself from kickflippers, grinders, skate-and-destroyers or any other term might work but you really don't want to try and convince someone that skating in the street isn't street skating.

That is all.

[stringtheory]

Yeah I have a hard time convincing cops that I should park on the parkway and drive in my drive way too.

[Hanael]

Yeah I have a hard time convincing cops that I should park on the parkway and drive in my drive way too.

bribe 'em with donuts.


Let the donuts do the talking.

[enemy combatant]

That was aimed at the cop, not you ninny.

They probably really arrested you for that spaz bunny-hop you do on top of the board in order to switch stance! 8)

[jamiesumner]

I'd hate to live somewhere that I couldn't skate about any place and time I wanted. I never get run off, and I skate on main street sometimes. On the other hand, I travel to other places for better runs too. And homeboy is right, longboarding is fun at the skatepark sometimes.

[Wells]

Tell them you appreciate their concern; but that riding a longboard in a skatepark is akin to going dirt jumping on a track bike.

[sAMOa]

They probably really arrested you for that spaz bunny-hop you do on top of the board in order to switch stance! 8)

HEY. it's not a bunny hop! it's a full twist pirouette with a functional switch pump push ! i guess that's a little spazzzy! I have fun in my golden years!

cYask8

[sAMOa]

I wonder if these cops would've nailed you for riding...

Ex-Atlanta officers get prison time for cover-up in deadly raid - CNN.com

another example of cops getting more power oriented than having a "serving the public attitude".

cYask8

[Petary791]

I'm not a street skater either, but I ride skateparks all the time. Sometimes, I even carve bowls and transitions on 45" longboards.

Learn to longboard in a skatepark. It's fun!

What he said.

Hey guys, I do skate parks. Quite a bit actually. But please, you're telling me you'd rather skate a park on your speedboard than bomb a hill?

Tell them you appreciate their concern; but that riding a longboard in a skatepark is akin to going dirt jumping on a track bike.

I think I might try that. Can one get arrested for being right?