Road Surfing the New Craze
Montacute becomes a road surfers paradise
STOP: Morialta MP Lindsay Simmons wants
signs up discouraging road surfing in Montacute.
DAREDEVIL teens on skateboards are illegally road surfing down steep main roads at Montacute, putting their lives and those of motorists at risk.
Hills Fleurieu Police have stepped up patrols of Montacute and Corkscrew roads, having already reported one teenager on an oversized skateboard two weeks ago.
Police traffic manager Sergeant Brian Schmidt said road surfing was “very dangerous and potentially disastrous”.
Morialta MP Lindsay Simmons called for No Skateboarding signs to be erected on the roads after several locals complained to her about the danger.
“Already there have been some near misses, which is why it was brought to my attention,” she told the East Torrens Messenger.
“One particular person was driving up the hill when one of the kids was coming down and this person was forced to slam on their breaks and swerve to miss the kid.”
According to Australia road rules, it is illegal to ride a skateboard on major roads with a continuous or broken centre-line or dividing strip or on roads divided into marked lanes for traffic going in the same direction.
Ms Simmons said the potential for a serious accident was “extremely high” because the skateboarders, who often came down the hill crouched or lying on their boards, often used the middle of the road.
“These roads have lots of twists and turns which makes them really popular for this kind of thing, but it also means cars cannot see the skateboarders coming down the hill. Apparently lying down is the brave thing to do, because you can’t stop very easily.
“It’s so dangerous it’s not what the roads were designed for.”
Ms Simmons has called for road signs in a letter to Road Safety Minister Michael O’Brien, who said he’d referred the matter to his department for further advice.
“This type of unsafe activity on the open road is extremely dangerous, not only to the skateboarders travelling at relatively high speeds, but also to the motorists using these roads,” Mr O’Brien said.
Residents who see skateboards being ridden illegally should ring the police on 131444.
Feel free to post a comment on their website: East Torrens Messenger
STOP: Morialta MP Lindsay Simmons wants
signs up discouraging road surfing in Montacute.
DAREDEVIL teens on skateboards are illegally road surfing down steep main roads at Montacute, putting their lives and those of motorists at risk.
Hills Fleurieu Police have stepped up patrols of Montacute and Corkscrew roads, having already reported one teenager on an oversized skateboard two weeks ago.
Police traffic manager Sergeant Brian Schmidt said road surfing was “very dangerous and potentially disastrous”.
Morialta MP Lindsay Simmons called for No Skateboarding signs to be erected on the roads after several locals complained to her about the danger.
“Already there have been some near misses, which is why it was brought to my attention,” she told the East Torrens Messenger.
“One particular person was driving up the hill when one of the kids was coming down and this person was forced to slam on their breaks and swerve to miss the kid.”
According to Australia road rules, it is illegal to ride a skateboard on major roads with a continuous or broken centre-line or dividing strip or on roads divided into marked lanes for traffic going in the same direction.
Ms Simmons said the potential for a serious accident was “extremely high” because the skateboarders, who often came down the hill crouched or lying on their boards, often used the middle of the road.
“These roads have lots of twists and turns which makes them really popular for this kind of thing, but it also means cars cannot see the skateboarders coming down the hill. Apparently lying down is the brave thing to do, because you can’t stop very easily.
“It’s so dangerous it’s not what the roads were designed for.”
Ms Simmons has called for road signs in a letter to Road Safety Minister Michael O’Brien, who said he’d referred the matter to his department for further advice.
“This type of unsafe activity on the open road is extremely dangerous, not only to the skateboarders travelling at relatively high speeds, but also to the motorists using these roads,” Mr O’Brien said.
Residents who see skateboards being ridden illegally should ring the police on 131444.
Feel free to post a comment on their website: East Torrens Messenger
Views: 383
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Guff on
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Hey Fitz not directed at you mate or anyone else i agree with you entirely. Evil Guff just wants to surf you porn at this time of night.
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Permalink Reply by matty leadfoot on
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Guff said:Evil Guff just wants to surf you porn at this time of night.
Hahahaaa
persuit of happiness ftw.
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Premium MemberPermalink Reply by sean meaney on -
you just summed it right up mate, its our lives the gov is only light about alcohol consumption (something i have seen do alot of damage) because they get alot of money from it, they dont even spend half of it fixing the damage drunks, alcoholics and stupid drunk teens (and yes can be considered one of the latter) to property, families and their own body, what does longboarding do to you? Huge outlet for heaps of guys who ride, keeps you fit (both physically and mentally) and yes you CAN hurt yourself but skateboarding is still a lot safer then most other sports including riding a bike.
skate more drink less
matty leadfoot said:The authorities are hypocritical.
You can kill yourself legally and slowly with booze and tobbacco,.... or even prescription meds.
Just dont take your life into your own hands. It has to be in theirs.
If I choose to persue my own interests,... the government has no rights to stop me (at least not in my mind). Its my life, and as long as Im not hurting others I should be free to pursue my own personal happiness. If I die doing this I will die happy, doing what I love.
The whole perception of longboarders would change if the authorities thought it might mean tourist dollars. If Europeans and Americans came to ride our smooth roads and empty highways, hills residents and the police would be in love with them, and us.
The real danger on the roads is cars. Not us. A head on collision between a car and one of us would cause less impact than a bike. Aggressive drivers prompted by this kind of news story are more likely to kill us, so fuck the media who promote this kind of hate against recreationalists.
Fuck the polititions that ride the coat-tails of this kind of story too.
You know we also are residents and vote too?
There are more of us riding than those that complain.
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Premium MemberPermalink Reply by Dani on -
Check out Canada Guff. It is beyond me how you can spend time in a country like Canada skating everywhere with no hassles from police, cars, bikes or people. Drivers are courteous and polite, pedestrians know that we will avoid them and police know that if I wasn't skating I would be throwing eggs at his car.
Welcome to Australia, where people are up tight and enjoy sticking noses where they don't belong.
Canadian residency, an Australians dream.
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Premium MemberPermalink Reply by Jacko on -
they have that status because their numbers are strong and the public have realised they are there and they are there to stay. so how do we get that sort of status? keep skating and spread the word! eventually it all works out for the best
Dani said:Check out Canada Guff. It is beyond me how you can spend time in a country like Canada skating everywhere with no hassles from police, cars, bikes or people. Drivers are courteous and polite, pedestrians know that we will avoid them and police know that if I wasn't skating I would be throwing eggs at his car.
Welcome to Australia, where people are up tight and enjoy sticking noses where they don't belong.
Canadian residency, an Australians dream.
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Premium MemberPermalink Reply by haggy on -
ASRA's official response to MP Simmons:
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23 October 2009
MP L A Simmons
Member for Morialta
163 St Bernards road
Rostrevor SA 5073
By Email: morialta@parliament.sa.gov.au
Dear Ms Simmons,
Re: “Road Surfing” in Montacute
As President of the Australian Skateboard Racing Association (ASRA) I am writing in response to an article about “road surfing” published on 20 October 2009 in the East Torrens Messenger, in which you were quoted extensively.
I am disturbed by the extreme views promoted by this article, in particular assertions in relation to the perceived danger of skating the hills of Montacute. There is no basis at all for these assertions, except the assumption by non-skaters (such as yourself and Sergeant Brian Schmidt) of the dangers involved.
In addition, statements such as “Apparently lying down is the brave thing to do, because you can’t stop very easily” merely serves to highlight your ignorance about the sports practiced on the roads of Montacute. What are you referring to is called Street Luge – practitioners do not lie down because it is “the brave thing to do” but because it is a separate discipline of gravity sports entirely.
Australia is hosting the World Championships of Gravity Sports in the end of November and with a complete lack of adequate training facilities in this country skaters have no choice but to practice on local streets and hills, much like road cyclists do. I emphasise, however, that they do so with safety considerations first and foremost in mind.
As the representative body for gravity sports in Australia, ASRA places an extremely high focus on safety. All practitioners wear helmets and suitable protective gear.
If you are interested in addressing this “problem” I would invite you to first consult with ASRA and the downhill skateboarding community. I would be pleased to facilitate such contact and encourage you to contact me directly with any questions you have.
Yours sincerely,
Hagbarth Strom
President – Australian Skateboard Racing Association
10 Artillery Drive, Manly NSW 2095
0417 499 404
haggy@skateboardracing.org.au
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Premium MemberPermalink Reply by Lance and Josh on -
nice one , precise and forthright , will be very interested to see if you get a responce
haggy said:ASRA's official response to MP Simmons:
===================================================
23 October 2009
MP L A Simmons
Member for Morialta
163 St Bernards road
Rostrevor SA 5073
By Email: morialta@parliament.sa.gov.au
Dear Ms Simmons,
Re: “Road Surfing” in Montacute
As President of the Australian Skateboard Racing Association (ASRA) I am writing in response to an article about “road surfing” published on 20 October 2009 in the East Torrens Messenger, in which you were quoted extensively.
I am disturbed by the extreme views promoted by this article, in particular assertions in relation to the perceived danger of skating the hills of Montacute. There is no basis at all for these assertions, except the assumption by non-skaters (such as yourself and Sergeant Brian Schmidt) of the dangers involved.
In addition, statements such as “Apparently lying down is the brave thing to do, because you can’t stop very easily” merely serves to highlight your ignorance about the sports practiced on the roads of Montacute. What are you referring to is called Street Luge – practitioners do not lie down because it is “the brave thing to do” but because it is a separate discipline of gravity sports entirely.
Australia is hosting the World Championships of Gravity Sports in the end of November and with a complete lack of adequate training facilities in this country skaters have no choice but to practice on local streets and hills, much like road cyclists do. I emphasise, however, that they do so with safety considerations first and foremost in mind.
As the representative body for gravity sports in Australia, ASRA places an extremely high focus on safety. All practitioners wear helmets and suitable protective gear.
If you are interested in addressing this “problem” I would invite you to first consult with ASRA and the downhill skateboarding community. I would be pleased to facilitate such contact and encourage you to contact me directly with any questions you have.
Yours sincerely,
Hagbarth Strom
President – Australian Skateboard Racing Association
10 Artillery Drive, Manly NSW 2095
0417 499 404
haggy@skateboardracing.org.au
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Premium MemberPermalink Reply by nathan on
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Permalink Reply by Mark Winfer on
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Road Surfing, now thats a brand name to register, keepin it trendy.
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Premium MemberPermalink Reply by haggy on -
And a letter to Mr. O'Brien:
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23 October 2009
MP Michael O’Brien
Minister for Road Safety
GPO Box 1838
ADELAIDE SA 5001
By Email: minetfe@saugov.sa.gov.au
Dear Mr O’Brien,
Re: “Road Surfing” in Montacute
As President of the Australian Skateboard Racing Association (ASRA) I am writing in response to an article about “road surfing” published on 20 October 2009 in the East Torrens Messenger, in which you were quoted.
I am disturbed by the extreme views promoted by this article, in particular assertions in relation to the perceived danger of skating the hills of Montacute. There is no basis at all for these assertions, except the assumption by non-skaters (such as MP Simmons and Sergeant Brian Schmidt) of the dangers involved.
ASRA opposes the placement of “No Skateboarding” signs in Montacute as it does not address the real issue here – the complete lack of adequate training facilities for downhill skateboarders. Australia is hosting the World Championships of Gravity Sports in the end of November and skaters have no choice but to practice on local streets and hills, much like road cyclists do. I emphasise, however, that they do so with safety considerations first and foremost in mind.
As the representative body for gravity sports in Australia, ASRA places an extremely high focus on safety. All practitioners wear helmets and suitable protective gear.
ASRA proposes that alternative arrangements may be reached. For example, the closure of a road to motorised traffic for one Sunday per month. We encourage a dialogue between your office and ASRA and invite you to consult with us before making any recommendations or decisions on this matter. I would be pleased to facilitate such contact and encourage you to contact me directly with any questions you have.
Yours sincerely,
Hagbarth Strom
President – Australian Skateboard Racing Association
10 Artillery Drive, Manly NSW 2095
0417 499 404
haggy@skateboardracing.org.au
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Premium MemberPermalink Reply by Gabe on -
What a complete load of bullshit this is.
Keep bombing guys, if you get fined, pay the $56 dollars, walk/skate back up the hill and bomb it again.
Haggy, liking your responses, keep it up bro!
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Permalink Reply by Sakamoto on
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Perfect, Haggy!!!!!!!
Aust Gravity Sports is going through the similar stage of the "Bronzed Aussies"in surfing in the '70's/'80's. By acting professionally, and with the right organisations/organisers, surfing went mainstream and sponsorship for events began to happen. With that came acceptance by the Pollies and Police. (They had no choice).
By acting professionally when dealing with the media and authorities, riding safely and with ASRA as our Sanctioning body, things will change. Keep bombing, but don't give anyone anything to bitch about and we'll get there, eventually. We have the biggest Professional Event in the World being staged in November, a fact no-one can deny or take away from us as far as media/authorities go. Just my thoughts. Cheers.
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