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<DIV>Hi everyone</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>As you can see lots going on in the skatepark world this week. I was doing
some research on another project... helmet laws and here are some
thoughts:</DIV>
<DIV>IASC pushed through helmet and pad laws in the state of CA. Not only does
it increase liability for cities it guarantees that a city is liable most of the
time. They are now working on expanding the helmet laws to other states. My
thoughts are:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3>Skateboarding is no different than any other sport / activity.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3>Police should not be involved in the governance of
skateboarding. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3>You would never see kids getting ticketed while playing a
pickup game of football for not wearing helmets and pads.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> You do not see police attending soccer games to cite
kids for not wearing cleats and so on. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3>Even though there are 6 drowning deaths a day in the USA you
would never imagine laws requiring <STRONG><EM>water wings</EM></STRONG> to be
worn by anyone under 18 years of age or anyone who did not pass a certified
swimming course. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3>There were 4,881 pedestrian deaths in 2005 - yet no helmet
laws for pedestrians. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Studies have proven that soccer has a very high rate of head injuries and a
significant number of those injuries cause brain damage yet there are no helmets
required and no helmet laws. The governing body is moving very slowly towards
some sort of head gear protection but not police enforcement.</DIV>
<DIV><A
href="http://www.safety-council.org/info/sport/soccer.html">http://www.safety-council.org/info/sport/soccer.html</A></DIV>
<DIV><A
href="http://www.impacttest.com/News_images/News_Docs/USSoccer3-2005.pdf">http://www.impacttest.com/News_images/News_Docs/USSoccer3-2005.pdf</A></DIV>
<DIV><A
href="http://www.neurosurgerytoday.org/what/patient_e/sports.asp">http://www.neurosurgerytoday.org/what/patient_e/sports.asp</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>So why the mad rush to bring police into skateboarding? Helmet laws
increase a city's liability - they create a loophole as we have seen in CA. The
laws are supported by the trial attorneys who love deep pockets.</DIV>
<DIV>Skateboarding does not have the injuries to warrant a law much less police
enforcement.</DIV>
<DIV>There are approximately 50 deaths a year in skateboarding - some are
wearing helmets and most involve cars or hill bombing. In comparison there
are approx 70 deaths by lightning in a year - a small enough number that there
is even a saying "you are more likely to get struck by lightning than ... "
</DIV>
<DIV>50 deaths a year might seem like a lot at first glance but I study
statistics because we include insurance for our members. Here are some
facts:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>According to the World Health Organization, there are over 400,000 deaths
per year and millions more injured and disabled by automobile
accidents.They are the leading cause of death among ages 10-24 years.</DIV>
<DIV><A
href="http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2007/pr17/en/index.html">http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2007/pr17/en/index.html</A></DIV>
<DIV>
<TABLE cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=3 border=7>
<CAPTION>
<H3><B>FIVE LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH, USA, AGES 15-24, 1998</B></H3>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TH>
<H4><B>CAUSE</B></H4></TH>
<TH>
<H4><B>PERCENT OF TOP 5</B></H4></TH>
<TH>
<H4><B>NUMBERS</B></H4></TH></TR>
<TR>
<TD><B>(1) Accidents </B></TD>
<TD><B>51.8%</B></TD>
<TD><B>12,752 </B></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD><B>(2) Homicide </B></TD>
<TD><B>21.3%</B></TD>
<TD><B>5,233 </B></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD><B>(3) Suicide </B></TD>
<TD><B>16.3%</B></TD>
<TD><B>4,003 </B></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD><B>(4) Cancer </B></TD>
<TD><B>6.8%</B></TD>
<TD><B>1,670 </B></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD><B>(5) Heart Disease </B></TD>
<TD><B>3.9%</B></TD>
<TD><B>961 </B></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD width="100%"></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD width="100%">
<TABLE>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD class=dataSsIndent width=604>
<UL>
<LI><FONT face=Arial color=#0080ff>Six people drown in U.S. pools
every day. Many of these pools are public facilities staffed with
certified professional lifeguards. <A
href="http://www.poolalarms.com/pool_drowning_statistics.htm">http://www.poolalarms.com/pool_drowning_statistics.htm</A><BR></FONT></LI>
<LI><FONT color=#0080ff>4881 pedestrian deaths in 2005 <A
href="http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/08/motorcycle_deaths.html">http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/08/motorcycle_deaths.html</A></FONT></LI></UL>
<DIV><FONT color=#0080ff></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0080ff>Don't be fooled by helmet laws - we do
not need the police involved in skateboarding. We do not need
loopholes under Assumption of Risk or Hazardous Recreational
Activity (HRA) laws.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0080ff></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0080ff><STRONG>Want to save lives and reduce brain
injuries?</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>require helmets on anyone riding in an automobile</DIV>
<DIV>require water wings at all public swimming pools and
beaches</DIV>
<DIV>require all pedestrians to wear helmets</DIV>
<DIV>require helmets on all soccer players</DIV>
<DIV>stop eating fast food - I'm not kidding. This is the first
generation not expected to outlive their parents because of obesity
related diseases.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>Skatepark and event insurance:</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>contact</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><A
href="mailto:sk8pks@aol.com">sk8pks@aol.com</A></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0080ff>Also check out our new program</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0080ff><A
href="http://www.NorthAmericanSurfandSkateboardAssociation.org">www.NorthAmericanSurfandSkateboardAssociation.org</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0080ff></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0080ff></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0080ff size=5><STRONG>Skatepark
News</STRONG></FONT></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><A
href="http://www.grindstonepark.org/">http://www.grindstonepark.org/</A> New
Park in the Fundraising stages</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Torrance CA Skatepark - Fundraising stage and design selection next meeting
Aug. 20th </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><A
title=http://denver.yourhub.com/Parker/Stories/News/About-Town/Story~499663.aspx
style="COLOR: blue"
href="http://denver.yourhub.com/Parker/Stories/News/About-Town/Story~499663.aspx">Parker
breaks ground on skate park, tennis complex</A><BR><FONT size=-1><FONT
color=#666666>YourHub.com - Denver,CO,USA</FONT><BR>The two major designers of
Rail Bender are Site Design Group and California <B>Skateparks</B>, two
companies that specialize in skate park design. <B>...</B><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="WIDTH: 600px"><A
title=http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/city/article/365984
style="COLOR: blue"
href="http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/city/article/365984">Work starts on
city's skate plaza</A><BR><FONT size=-1><FONT color=#666666>Telegraph-Journal -
Saint John,New Brunswick,Canada</FONT><BR>The 15000-square-foot park, which is
being constructed by New Line <B>Skateparks</B> of Langley, BC, is scheduled to
be complete by late September or early October <B>...</B></FONT></P>
<P style="WIDTH: 600px"><A
title=http://www.woonsocketcall.com/content/view/44140/112/ style="COLOR: blue"
href="http://www.woonsocketcall.com/content/view/44140/112/">Kickin' it in N.
Smithfield</A><BR><FONT size=-1><FONT color=#666666>Woonsocket Call -
Providence,RI,USA</FONT><BR>Today, there are <B>skateparks</B> in towns
throughout Rhode Island, including Burrillville, Glocester, Cumberland and North
Smithfield. <B>...</B><BR></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="WIDTH: 600px"><A
title=http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/07/28/news/coastal/vista/z2492c88a8dd73ad28825748d005d3e93.txt
style="COLOR: blue"
href="http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/07/28/news/coastal/vista/z2492c88a8dd73ad28825748d005d3e93.txt">VISTA:
<B>Skatepark</B> grinding to a halt</A><BR><FONT size=-1><FONT
color=#666666>North County Times - Escondido,CA,USA</FONT><BR>(Photo by Nick
Morris - For the North County Times) VISTA ---- The city's only
<B>skatepark</B>, a secluded concrete bowl in the shadow of City Hall,
<B>...</B> </FONT></P>
<P style="WIDTH: 600px"><A
title=http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/article/59639 style="COLOR: blue"
href="http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/article/59639">SBJ
In-Depth</A><BR><FONT size=-1><FONT color=#666666>Sports Business Journal
(subscription) - Charlotte,NC,USA</FONT><BR>Today, municipalities build
<B>skateparks</B>, snowboarding has become a marquee Olympic sport and high
school campuses are filled with kids outfitted in brands <B>...</B></FONT></P>
<P style="WIDTH: 600px"><A
title=http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/story/383907.html style="COLOR: blue"
href="http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/story/383907.html">So, when will that
be done?</A><BR><FONT size=-1><FONT color=#666666>Columbus Ledger-Enquirer -
Columbus,GA,USA</FONT><BR>The contractor, California <B>Skateparks</B> Inc.,
still has some site work and other improvements on the $700000 project. The
project should be completed this <B>...</B><BR></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="WIDTH: 600px"><A
title=http://www.pnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080730/NEWS05/807300303/1006/NEWS01
style="COLOR: blue"
href="http://www.pnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080730/NEWS05/807300303/1006/NEWS01">Skateboarders
launch nonprofit to build a park</A><BR><FONT size=-1><FONT
color=#666666>Pensacola News Journal - Pensacol,FL,USA</FONT><BR>Nearby towns
Milton and Gulf Breeze both have <B>skateparks</B>. However, Funderburk said
Navarre skaters, typically teenagers and pre-teens with limited access to
<B>...</B></FONT></P>
<P style="WIDTH: 600px"><A
title=http://www.pe.com/sports/breakout/stories/PE_Sports_Local_S_x_games_30.483892e.html
style="COLOR: blue"
href="http://www.pe.com/sports/breakout/stories/PE_Sports_Local_S_x_games_30.483892e.html">New
events, old area faces mean change for X Games</A><BR><FONT size=-1><FONT
color=#666666>Press-Enterprise - Riverside,CA,USA</FONT><BR>In the BMX SuperPark
and Skateboard SuperPark contests, riders will compete on a fast-flowing course
modeled after some of the best concrete <B>skateparks</B>. <B>...</B></FONT></P>
<P style="WIDTH: 600px"><A
title=http://www.blacktownadvocate.com.au/article/2008/07/30/2403_news.html
style="COLOR: blue"
href="http://www.blacktownadvocate.com.au/article/2008/07/30/2403_news.html">Dad's
on track to alleviate kids' boredom</A><BR><FONT size=-1><FONT
color=#666666>Blacktown Advocate - Blacktown,NSW,Australia</FONT><BR>She said
community consultation would uncover any problems, including proximity, because
<B>skateparks</B> were usually built at least 50m from houses,
<B>...</B><BR> </FONT></P>
<P style="WIDTH: 600px"><A
title=http://goondiwindi.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/entertainment/bride-stole-the-show/1230452.aspx
style="COLOR: blue"
href="http://goondiwindi.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/entertainment/bride-stole-the-show/1230452.aspx">Bride
stole the show</A><BR><FONT size=-1><FONT color=#666666>Goondiwindi Argus -
Goondiwindi,QLD,Australia</FONT><BR>It seems that the new Goondiwindi Regional
Council is more interested in building <B>skateparks</B> for a handful of kids
who can’t be bothered using the plethora <B>...</B><BR></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="WIDTH: 600px"><A
title=http://icseftonandwestlancs.icnetwork.co.uk/formbytimes/news/tm_headline=decision-to-safeguard-pound-300k&method=full&objectid=21437069&siteid=60252-name_page.html
style="COLOR: blue"
href="http://icseftonandwestlancs.icnetwork.co.uk/formbytimes/news/tm_headline=decision-to-safeguard-pound-300k&method=full&objectid=21437069&siteid=60252-name_page.html">DECISION
TO SAFEGUARD £300k</A><BR><FONT size=-1><FONT color=#666666>icSeftonandWestLancs
- Southport,England,UK</FONT><BR>At the meeting on Thursday he decided to
safeguard the £300000 previously earmarked for <B>skateparks</B> rather than use
it to offset the deficit. <B>...</B> </FONT></P>
<P style="WIDTH: 600px"><A title=http://westseattleblog.com/blog/?p=9428
style="COLOR: blue" href="http://westseattleblog.com/blog/?p=9428">Delridge
<B>skatepark</B> meeting #1: Collaboration, not controversy</A><BR><FONT
size=-1><FONT color=#666666>West Seattle Blog - Seattle,WA,USA</FONT><BR>If the
opinions voiced tonight at the first community meeting about the Delridge
<B>skatepark</B>-to-be hold sway, that’s the spot where you’ll see skateboarders
<B>...</B></FONT></P>
<P style="WIDTH: 600px"><A title=http://www.indynews.ca/article.php?id=2259
style="COLOR: blue" href="http://www.indynews.ca/article.php?id=2259">Support
<B>skatepark</B> »»</A><BR><FONT size=-1><FONT color=#666666>Brighton
Independent - Brighton,ON,Canada</FONT><BR>This is where the group organizing
the new Campbellford <B>skatepark</B> comes in. The organizers behind this
project are driven by the goal of creating a venue <B>...</B></FONT></P>
<P style="WIDTH: 600px"><A
title=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/article/122733 style="COLOR: blue"
href="http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/article/122733">Action Sports
Roundtable Part III</A><BR><FONT size=-1><FONT color=#666666>SportsBusiness
Daily (subscription) - Charlotte,NC,USA</FONT><BR><B>...</B> in that Olympic
range, the amount of money going to <B>skateparks</B> and BMX freestyle will
pick up around the world and be a huge windfall around </FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="WIDTH: 600px"><A
title=http://www.swcommconnection.com/news/story.php?story_id=121735418923387100
style="COLOR: blue"
href="http://www.swcommconnection.com/news/story.php?story_id=121735418923387100">Gabriel
Skate Park celebrates grand opening</A><BR><FONT size=-1><FONT
color=#666666>Southwest Community Connection - Portland,OR,USA</FONT><BR>The
campers were there to cut the ribbon for the grand opening of Airspeed
<B>Skateparks</B>' newest skate park. The young skaters gathered around the
ribbon, <B>...</B> </FONT></P>
<P style="WIDTH: 600px"><A
title=http://www.newsobserver.com/105/story/1161365.html style="COLOR: blue"
href="http://www.newsobserver.com/105/story/1161365.html">Skate
creative</A><BR><FONT size=-1><FONT color=#666666>News & Observer -
Raleigh,NC,USA</FONT><BR>As a result, boarders have been banned from sidewalks,
parks and other public spots and relegated to detainment centers called
<B>skateparks</B>. <B>...</B><BR></FONT></P>
<P style="WIDTH: 600px"><A
title=http://www.duluthbudgeteer.com/articles/index.cfm?id=22670&section=sports
style="COLOR: blue"
href="http://www.duluthbudgeteer.com/articles/index.cfm?id=22670&section=sports">New
skateboard park to be built in West Duluth</A><BR><FONT size=-1><FONT
color=#666666>Budgeteer - Duluth,MN,USA</FONT><BR>Last Monday councilors
authorized city officials to enter into a contract with California
<B>Skateparks</B> for the construction of a outdoor skateboard park at
<B>...</B> </FONT></P> </DIV>
<DIV> <A
title=http://www.meltontimes.co.uk/news/New-skatepark-for-Syston.4308837.jp
style="COLOR: blue"
href="http://www.meltontimes.co.uk/news/New-skatepark-for-Syston.4308837.jp">New
<B>skatepark</B> for Syston</A><BR><FONT size=-1><FONT color=#666666>Melton
Today - Melton Mowbray,Leicestershire,UK</FONT><BR>Exciting times are ahead for
the youth of Syston with the development of a new <B>skatepark</B> and multi-use
games area in Central Park, planned new leisure and <B>...</B><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><A title=http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/city/article/360153
style="COLOR: blue"
href="http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/city/article/360153">Wheels in
motion</A><BR><FONT size=-1><FONT color=#666666>Telegraph-Journal - Saint
John,New Brunswick,Canada</FONT><BR>New Line <B>Skateparks</B>, whose claim to
fame is the $2.4-million Forks skate park in downtown Winnipeg, won the city's
call for park designs last year. <B>...</B><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 face=Arial size=2 PTSIZE="10" FAMILY="SANSSERIF">Thank you for
contacting <BR>Heidi Lemmon<BR>executive director<BR></FONT><FONT lang=0
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #000000" face=Arial color=#ff0000 size=2 PTSIZE="10"
FAMILY="SANSSERIF" BACK="#000000"><B>SKATEPARK ASSOCIATION est.
1996</FONT></FONT><FONT lang=0 face=Arial color=#000000 size=2 PTSIZE="10"
FAMILY="SANSSERIF"></B><BR><A href="http://www.spausa.org/">www.spausa.org</A>
<A href="http://www.myspace.com/spausa">www.myspace.com/spausa</A><BR>310 495
7112 cell 310 261 2816<BR>Risk Management . Construction Guidelines . Events .
Certification<BR>It is a great day to build a
skatepark!<BR></FONT></DIV></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT><BR><BR><BR><DIV><FONT style="color: black; font: normal 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF;"><HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">Looking for a car that's sporty, fun and fits in your budget? <A title="http://autos.aol.com/cars-BMW-128-2008/expert-review?ncid=aolaut00050000000017" href="http://autos.aol.com/cars-BMW-128-2008/expert-review?ncid=aolaut00050000000017" target="_blank">Read reviews on AOL Autos</A>.</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>