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Yes … what if?

I am a longboarder, not a skateboarder (basically, a longboard is still a skateboard, but it’s longer [go figure] and not ideal for trick skating) … we generally use roads whereas skateboarders tend to use any surface they can find to do tricks off. Most people can’t tell the difference and don’t really care enough anyway – they just see some dude on a board and assume he’s a bad ass skateboarding mofo.

In truth though, a lot of skaters are professional athletes and generally longboarders respect their playground (can’t speak on behalf of all skateboarders) – especially seeing that longboarders have to practice on public roads to warm up for races and organised events. There’s also a move to promote skating as an alternative, eco-friendly transport, but still the bad boy stereotype persists. Skateboarders were even invited to the opening of the non-motorised transport lane (Table View to Cape Town route) so it does seem like there is a shift in opinion in some circles at least, but the general public is still against skating, for no particular reason other than having something to bitch about it seems.

So … Nike asks “What if we treated all athletes the way we treat skateboarders?” … I’d like to see bicyclers included in this.

What do you think? Is the bias against skaters fair/unfair.

What does the law say about skating on roads and pavements (there is actually a pesky traffic officer confiscating boards and writing out fines in Stellenbosch – the law students are researching this)?