The Fail Club

[msk]

who doesn't use pads or helmets, and why dont you?

i don't wear them because they look gay, and they just dont feel natural, and i definatley dont need them for just cruising around the city..

lets celebrate feeling free and not needing pads to ride, no haters please..

sure some styles of riding require protection, but that includes about 1% of skaters on this board.

Back in the mid 80s, when I first got into bike racing, nobody wore helmets. About the only time you'd ever see a cyclist wearing one was if they were racing and the race required them, or on the occasional touring rider. Wearing one when you weren't required to labeled you as a fred (aka kook). "They look gay, and they just don't feel natural, and I definitely don't need them for just cruising around the city". 30+ years later, and how often do you see cyclists NOT wearing them? Now, its usually only street BMXers who care about having that same outlaw/nonconformist image that many skaters have, or people on beach cruisers on the boardwalk, or DUI riders (people forced to use bikes for transportation because they've lost their license. And they've already demonstrated how good their judgement is ). If mainstream skateboarding wasn't fighting so hard to maintain a certain image, we'd probably have the same attitude regarding safety gear that cycling does...

[d-dub]

perhaps you're being sarcastic, but regardless: any suggestions on a good one? I think I'm going to invest in a spine protector before I get leathers.

missing skin > missing vertebrae

i was and i wasn't. the thing is, me and justin metcalf were both completely padded up and we both ended up close to death. shi t happens and in cases like mine, not really anybody stopped to ever think about it. everyone says wear a helmet, but how many people tell you to protect you're spine? thats just as fragile.

as for spine protectors, look at motorcyle shops/online stores. personally, i like the ones that are more solid and not the ones that have gaps between the plastic.

[RothToAnExtent]

People get brain damage doing all sorts of things including cruising at low speeds. And it's hardly uncomfortable. You ride with it for a month and it hardly feels like it's there for the rest of your helmet wearing skate career.

So you're "gay" looking when you wear them?
1) I don't care if you think this is a nattery little piss-ant remark, DON'T USE GAY AS AN INSULT.
2) I won't tell you not to care about how you look. That's just difference of opinion, I could give less than a #### as long as I enjoy it, you obviously do care. But looking stylish can be done OFF your board.

1% of Silverfish eh? Well I'm sure only 1% of fishers actually do any disciplined longboarding. It makes sense with all the bustling subforums and big skate scenes in many cities. It just makes sense out of all the people on here, 99% do nothing than cruise at 5mph, in between classes, and stand on the street corner with no helmet and a board in their hand in hopes of looking, to fit you're wording, heterosexual.

[longboard4life14]

To the OP, you are one of tyhe stupidest kids I have met. You don't wear a helmet? WOW! I have seen kids fall on the flat ground pushing there board and hit there head and start to bleed. I know a kid who was pushing on the flats, fell, hit his head, and got a minor cuncussion. He is also one of the best longboarders I i know and this one time he decided he didnt need a helmet he falls. Always wear a helmet! Longboarding isn't a fashion show. We arent trying to look good, I mean really! Your pushing around on a piece of wood with metal and urethane! Buy a helmet and spray paint something cool on it. I bought a bell helmet that looked gay so me and a friend painted 69 and a racing stripe on it and all the girls loved it! Please wear a helmet!

[gavmck]

I wear a helmet when skating and kneepads, slide gloves. Because of these, I've stepped up my skating. Real hard for people to think you are "ghei" when you're ripping hard. I don't get any abuse for wearing my pads, people generally say things like "#### you've got balls doing that"

[modestme]

i used to ride around without a helmet alot but im starting to like wearing mine lol. for one i got a new one that fits me better. it seriously gives me some confidence to pull of new tricks i didnt have the guts to pull off before. and its safer. i dont think people will look at you like a tool if your crossing and a stepping and walking the plank apple saucing doing nose manuals and what not on your board wearing a helmet. youll just look like a pro who knows what hes doing =D theyll respect you and not look at you like a punk who wants to look cool haha

[pavedwave]

this dude looks way freakin cool!!!!

[nugpop68]

this dude looks way freakin cool!!!!

Looks like Ray Liota(sp?) in Hanibal. And for the OP, engaging in wreckless behavior is acceptable to do, but unacceptable to promote IMO. I get down without condoms on occasion, but don't promote the practice on threads.

[Cob]

Wow!

It is amazing the storms of fesis that can come, cause a few words.

Anyways I'm gonna say it straight out.
Most times I'm on my board I don't use a helmet.
I own leathers and a proper fullface and pads with a regular helmet, but the truth is unless I know I'm gonna go fast I only use slide gloves.
It is silly and irresponsible I know but just like every other young guy, I think it won't happen to me and I'll live forever.
I think it looks a bit silly dancing around town with a helmet, and I do care that much about my appearance.
I'm a grown adult and I know the potential damage.
I guess I'm just VERY vain almost too the extreme.

*waits for a storm of fesis*

[nugpop68]

Wow!

It is amazing the storms of fesis that can come, cause a few words.

Anyways I'm gonna say it straight out.
Most times I'm on my board I don't use a helmet.
I own leathers and a proper fullface and pads with a regular helmet, but the truth is unless I know I'm gonna go fast I only use slide gloves.
It is silly and irresponsible I know but just like every other young guy, I think it won't happen to me and I'll live forever.
I think it looks a bit silly dancing around town with a helmet, and I do care that much about my appearance.
I'm a grown adult and I know the potential damage.
I guess I'm just VERY vain almost too the extreme.

*waits for a storm of fesis*

Fecesfecesfecesfecesfecesfecesfecesfecesfecesfeces fecesfecesfecesfeces

[Blix]

Vanity+Darwin=keeps the globe from overpopulating...

[Xgecko]

Until you have something or someone who depends on you then the only reason you have to wear helmet is for the people who care about you. I have a wife and a mortgage....... I wear my helmet when I'm skating in my driveway

[Tagsrover]

This thread made my day

[Wells]

I think about helmet use like sex with condoms. Yes, raw doggin' it feels good while you're doing it, but it doesn't feel good enough to make it worth getting some chick preggers or dying of AIDS.

As for pads and gloves, I'll wear them when I'm going skating, but not when I'm riding down to the store or whatever. With regard to helmets being goofy-looking or lame, I'm a grown-ass man riding around town on a skateboard. I already am goofy and lame. Might as well rock the helmet.

[Cob]

Vanity+Darwin=keeps the globe from overpopulating...

Trust me, the last thing the earth wants is a miniature version of me ;P

In fact, the last thing I WANT is a miniature version of me

/jk

[MalakaiKingston]

you, sir, are a clown.

now go out and skate. if you choose not to wear a helmet, i hope it's far enough up your ass to protect you should you fall.

I like the way you work man, I think I am going to award you best troll bashing award for the under 20 posts class.

Damn fine work!

[lollygag]

this dude looks way freakin cool!!!!

Yea.. You really gotta make sure You wear your Helmet and Pads when frequenting Bars alone at 3 in the morning..

[fl rider]

no helmet = accident waitin to happen... even to my friends house i always wear my helmet, and if you dont wear a helmet cause you wanna look cool gtf off a longboard

[pavedwave]

dogs will like you

[baritone]

I don't take my helmet to work, since my office is on the UNLV campus, and there's no car traffic where I ride. Otherwise, I always keep my helmet handy when sakting. I still feel like I should get some elbow and knee pads soon.