In fact, the article goes on to quote Jeff Stassi, the director of Wood River Parks and Recreation in Illinois, as saying that some insurance carriers will tell cities that it is "no greater liability to have a skate park than the Aquatic Center."

The article goes on to say that "experts all over agree that skateboarding is a safe sport, especially when the appropriate safety gear is used. "

The article also states that out of the more than 10 million skateboarders in the US, about 15,000 are treated yearly for skateboard-related injuries, and that the most common injuries are sprains, fractures, contusions and abrasions, usually because of "accidental falls due to loss of balance", followed by "about half of all falls due to rough riding surfaces." The reports goes on to imply that more attention be paid to the quality of the skate surfaces, noting that "small stones, sticks, bumps and holes in or on a riding surface are the leading cause of falls of experienced riders."

The article also notes that the average age of a skateboarder is between 13 and 14, and that "underdeveloped motor coordination is the main cause of falls to younger and less experienced riders." According to the article, "experts state the smaller the child, the higher the center of gravity, due to the larger proportion of their head to their body."

The original article this info was gleaned from was called "Skateboarding relatively safe", and was found at http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm? newsid=7697346&BRD=1719&PAG=461& dept_id=25271&rfi=6

Search this site for more about Skateboarding Safer Than Basketball, Baseball, Football,... *