Duluth: Fall 09er

**Nafertikus** · 06-14-2009 05:14 PM

After the success of the Duluth Outlaw: Spring, I've heard talk from guys wanting another event before school. I'd be glad to organize another gathering if you guys want this. Otherwise, we can make it an annual thing and wait until next spring. Personally, I say we do it again

Here's what I've been thinking so far. This event would occur in either the 2nd or 3rd week of August, right before all the college students return and before the tourists show up for the changing of the leaves. After this past outlaw, we've learned a lot about what works and what doesn't, so we can plan on an even better event. Better DH course, better sponsors, better prizes, better turnout, better arrangements, etc. Talking with some riders, we think it's possible to make Fall 09er even better than Spring 09er, which is hard to believe, but it's true.

I've got a list of ideas in my head of what we can do, but I don't want to waste time typing it out if nobody wants to do this.

Anyone with me say AYE!

**.secrets** · 06-14-2009 11:09 PM

of course I/we are down. I'm sure we could get some prizes from our new friends at the local board shop, along with another board giveaway.

**mangels** · 06-15-2009 06:50 AM

I'd be interested.

**Nimbiswheels** · 06-15-2009 10:22 PM

Yeah, Baby! I know I speak for my local bros when I say Lets effing do it!

**naxirith** · 06-16-2009 05:20 PM

aye.......!

**naxirith** · 06-17-2009 11:01 AM

hey all thought I'd post this bit of BS seems the city of Duluth has declared war on us. I'll try and see if I can get in on a Meeting and try to talk some sense into these old people. If that doesn't work, We may need to make this as BIG as humanly possible just to piss of the city council enough to change their outlook on longboarders. We seem to have been lumped in with the shortboarders of town.

http://www.duluthmn.gov/clerk/counci...9/09-035-O.pdf

**Nafertikus** · 06-17-2009 03:44 PM

Completely bogus. It was bad enough that there was a law against riding before 6:30pm, but now 9:00pm? Ridiculous. Basically, if/when this passes, we'll have little to no place to board. Lame.

**mangels** · 06-18-2009 07:24 AM

I clicked on the link and got a "cannot display page" message. Short version - what does it say?

**Nimbiswheels** · 06-18-2009 01:59 PM

It says they are trying to illegalize our plywoods, citywide. I personally think that they can't pull this nazi sh** without us, at least, going in and having a say in the matter, afterall, its not them spending $250-$500 on plywood. Naxirith is thinking of sitting in on a council meeting, while I plan on collecting the signatures of as many responsible longboarders as I can to ensure our lifestyle isn't totally raped. This all basically started because of the short stick underage punk emo riders. If anyone has seen them in canal, you would know what I mean. The scare the crap out of old people, ride through them, run through red lights, disturbing traffic, leave garbage and behave loud and obnoxious around the locals, totally effing it up for anyone who rides a board with wheels. Its a misdirected stereotype. If the city council understood that us career longboarders obeyed laws, respected peds, wore our protective gear, and ride at our own risk maybe there might be a way they turn their attention on the real problem. If not, I guess the name "outlaw" will be appropriate because I'll never stop riding in this town just because some person behind a city council desk tells me that I don't know what I'm doing out there, EVEN THOUGH, I pray to heaven above that it never has to come to that. There is a peaceful method to correct this misunderstanding and we plan to utilize it. Thats all I have to say

**mangels** · 06-22-2009 10:40 AM

Man ... I am so greatful to live in the town I live in. It would kill me to live in Duluth with all that vertical potential, and not be able to ride [legally].

**Lisa BailDog** · 06-22-2009 12:07 PM

To me, maybe I'm just dumb, but it appears to protect longboarders, and go after street/kickflip/handrail skaters. Basically, it appears you can't ride on the sidewalk, destroy public property, knowingly, carelessly, get in the way of traffic, or injure other people in the act of riding your skateboard.
Bombing hills appears safe- Until someone crashes their car stopping for you, or your deck goes out of control when you bail, killing ten tiny tea toddlers, toddling tea, in a tiny tea-toddlers tea tent......

**glideronfreerides** · 06-22-2009 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by Lisa BailDog

To me, maybe I'm just dumb, but it appears to protect longboarders, and go after street/kickflip/handrail skaters. Basically, it appears you can't ride on the sidewalk, destroy public property, knowingly, carelessly, get in the way of traffic, or injure other people in the act of riding your skateboard.
Bombing hills appears safe- Until someone crashes their car stopping for you, or your deck goes out of control when you bail, killing ten tiny tea toddlers, toddling tea, in a tiny tea-toddlers tea tent......

teetotalers?

**Nimbiswheels** · 06-22-2009 01:58 PM

Originally Posted by Lisa BailDog

To me, maybe I'm just dumb, but it appears to protect longboarders, and go after street/kickflip/handrail skaters. Basically, it appears you can't ride on the sidewalk, destroy public property, knowingly, carelessly, get in the way of traffic, or injure other people in the act of riding your skateboard.
Bombing hills appears safe- Until someone crashes their car stopping for you, or your deck goes out of control when you bail, killing ten tiny tea toddlers, toddling tea, in a tiny tea-toddlers tea tent......

Just the other day, I cop rolled up to me and a fellow boarder. She said "this cop is stopping" The cop pulled up and said "thats right I am stopping. I can read lips" Immediate sign of a crab ass cop. He said "what on earth are you doing riding those things in the middle of the street" I said I yield to traffic when ever traffic comes along, but he insisted that we can only ride on the sidewalk. I said "didn't you hear of the new law? We're in the same class as bikers, we're suppose to be on the street." He said "I don't know anything about that, but you could get hurt in the street, stay on the sidewalks. and have a nice summer."

Terrific. Now we have to deal with cops telling us what we can or can't handle on a board. not to mention the belittling harassment that we have to deal with. They can't just talk to us like regular people. I'm almost 30 and I felt like I was being talked at like a 12 yo. Like I said before, NAZI SH**!

**Lisa BailDog** · 06-22-2009 05:38 PM

Yeah....
An unfortunate reality for skaters- No matter how old you are, or what discipline you skate,

Cops hate skaters*

I was just hoping for you, Nimbiswheels....good luck.
I didn't read the city's amendment correctly. I sounds like they are heading for a "what is the sound of one hand clapping?" kind of thing.
"You can ride that skateboard thingy all you want, as long as the wheels don't touch anything solid" or somesuch....
I think the people that write these laws are just as happy keeping respectable skaters in court, as they are having defiant skaters arrested. If you are in court, they can have you play the game, you get something less than you fought for, and think to yourself, "well that's better than nothing".... Just like they do when you fight to- let's say, get a decent concrete skatepark built, and you get some masonite P.O.S........

* almost all cops(?) I dunno.....

**TwinTown Skater** · 06-22-2009 07:51 PM

I'm not an attorney, but I read contracts all the time.

Near as I can tell, you can't ride a skateboard on the sidewalk or street "IN SUCH A MANNER AS ENDANGERS OR IS LIKELY TO ENDANGER OTHER PERSONS OR CAUSE DAMAGE TO PROPERTY".

They then list those specific behaviors which endanger:

1) Failing to yeild to motor vehicles
2) Failing to operate at a reasonable and prudent speed (This one could be the dicey one)
3) Failing to yeild right of way to a ped
4) Performing jumps etc. that damages property of another

So as long as you aren't doing 1-4, then you should be able to ride.

**Nafertikus** · 06-23-2009 12:40 AM

Originally Posted by TwinTown Skater

I'm not an attorney, but I read contracts all the time.

Near as I can tell, you can't ride a skateboard on the sidewalk or street "IN SUCH A MANNER AS ENDANGERS OR IS LIKELY TO ENDANGER OTHER PERSONS OR CAUSE DAMAGE TO PROPERTY".

They then list those specific behaviors which endanger:

1) Failing to yeild to motor vehicles
2) Failing to operate at a reasonable and prudent speed (This one could be the dicey one)
3) Failing to yeild right of way to a ped
4) Performing jumps etc. that damages property of another

So as long as you aren't doing 1-4, then you should be able to ride.

What gets me is the fact that we longboarders are no longer considered pedestrians. We must yield to all motor vehicles and all pedestrians.

If this is the case, would that mean that I would be held responsible if a car hits me while I'm crossing in a marked crosswalk while on my board?

Naxirith - when is the city council meeting? I think we need to rally support from local skateshops to prevent this amendment. I've heard though that it already passed and will take effect in July. True? False?

**glideronfreerides** · 06-23-2009 01:11 PM

Originally Posted by Nimbiswheels

He said "I don't know anything about that, but you could get hurt in the street, stay on the sidewalks. and have a nice summer."

that doesn't sound like "nazi ####", sorry. that biker in the ramp, on the other hand...

**Nafertikus** · 06-23-2009 08:41 PM

Originally Posted by glideronfreerides

that doesn't sound like "nazi ####", sorry. that biker in the ramp, on the other hand...

Hahaha that guy was awesome. Hollering at our unsafe activity while he bikes around without a helmet. Who is at a greater risk here, hmm..

**mangels** · 06-26-2009 02:43 PM

Originally Posted by Nafertikus

Hahaha that guy was awesome. Hollering at our unsafe activity while he bikes around without a helmet. Who is at a greater risk here, hmm..

I am a total hypocrate when it comes to that. I always wear my helmet when skating, but never when I'm on my bike. I bought a bike helmet last year and wore it for a couple months ... but then I stopped wearing it. I can't explain myself. I know it's stupid. And I would totally deserve it if you yelled at me about it as I rode by on my bike.

**Nimbiswheels** · 07-01-2009 08:32 PM

Originally Posted by Nafertikus

What gets me is the fact that we longboarders are no longer considered pedestrians. We must yield to all motor vehicles and all pedestrians.

If this is the case, would that mean that I would be held responsible if a car hits me while I'm crossing in a marked crosswalk while on my board?

Naxirith - when is the city council meeting? I think we need to rally support from local skateshops to prevent this amendment. I've heard though that it already passed and will take effect in July. True? False?

You're right, it did get passed. Word around the campfire is that about a dozen and a half law abiding skaters showed and put in their piece individually, including a canal park shop owner that said she has never had a problem with skate and longboarders and says that the kids should be left alone. Others put their piece in, but in the end, the single digit number of people that were for the law were enough to f***ing pass it. So, in answer to what you asked Nax, True. It has been passed, making an entire fleet of plywood pushers angry and riding the streets even more now than they did before. I been hanging around a few shops to catch the local buzz on the matter. I have yet to hear about a ticket being issued or a board being confiscated. Knowing how the cops are around here, their bark is worse than their bite. Most of them don't wanna mess with the kids and go for the more important matters. Others are just prudes. Nax is with his band in Thunder Bay for a spell. He still plans on action, for sure.