Heart Rate Effects of Longboard Skateboarding

The longboard skateboard has a longer, and usually wider, deck than the standard skateboard to provide greater support for the rider during the higher speeds attained on this version of the skateboard. Fourteen volunteer subjects participated in downhill and uphill longboarding trials. Heart rates were monitored during both trials, and the downhill and uphill average heart rates were compared with resting heart rates and then compared with accepted intensity recommendations for health and fitness benefits. The study questions were: Does longboarding have an acute effect on heart rates? If so, will longboarding uphill and/or downhill cause heart rate changes to levels recommended to improve cardiorespiratory health and fitness? With these questions as guidance we developed four hypotheses. With beats/minute and average uphill heart rate of 167.8 beats/minute statistical analysis showed statistically significant p values < .0001 and each null hypothesis was rejected in favor of their respective research hypotheses. Based on average age and average resting heart rate, average age-predicted maximum heart rate was 193.2 beats/minute and heart rate reserve was 133.2 beats/minute. The average percentages of heart rate reserve for the downhill section (131.4 beats/minute) and uphill section )(167.8 beats/minute) were 54% and 81% respectively. Downhill heart rates are within moderate intensity levels, 40% to 60% of heart rate reserve, and uphill heart rates are within vigorous intensity levels, greater than 60% of heart rate reserve. These results indicate that longboarding can increase heart rate to suggested levels suggested by the American College of Sports Medicine for improving cardiovascular health and fitness.

Laura Thornhill, 15 year old from Redondo Beach California, at skateboarding competition at Nassau Coliseum, NY

General note: Title and date provided by Bettye Lane.

Ellen Berryman, 16 year old from Encinitas, California, at skateboarding competition at the Nassau Coliseum, NY

General note: Title and date provided by Bettye Lane.

Injury bulletin 105 : skateboard injury

Summary of findings: QISU estimates that approximately 1,000 skateboard-associated injuries are seen at emergency departments each year in Queensland. 10-14 year old males are the most likely group to present to a QISU ED with a skateboard related injury. The peak time for skateboard injuries to occur is on the weekend and in the late afternoon. Only 19% of skateboard injuries occur at skate park facilities, with the remainder oc-curring in non-skate parks, on roads and footpaths. Risk factors associated with more severe injuries are, age less than 10 years and involvement in a motor vehicle crash The most common types of injuries are fractures and sprains of the upper limbs. Isolated head injuries represent approximately 5% of skateboarding injuries, but 60% of serious injuries requiring resuscitation. These injuries may be minimized or pre-vented with helmet use.

Re-engaging adolescent students in science : an experienced teachers' classroom

Adolescents are both aware of and have the impetuous to exploit aspects of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) within their personal lives. Whether they are surfing, cycling, skateboarding or shopping, STEM concepts impact their lives. However science, mathematics, engineering and technology are still treated in the classroom as separate fragmented entities in the educational environment where most classroom talk is seemingly incomprehensible to the adolescent senses. The aim of this study was to examine the experiences of young adolescents with the aim of transforming school learning at least of science into meaningful experiences that connected with their lives using a self-study approach. Over a 12-month period, the researcher, an experienced secondary-science teacher, designed, implemented and documented a range of pedagogical practices with his Year-7 secondary science class. Data for this case study included video recordings, journals, interviews and surveys of students. By setting an environment empathetic to adolescent needs and understandings, students were able to actively explore phenomena collaboratively through developmentally appropriate experiences. Providing a more contextually relevant environment fostered meta-cognitive practices, encouraged new learning through open dialogue, multi-modal representations and assessments that contributed to building upon, re-affirming, or challenging both the students' prior learning and the teacher’s pedagogical content knowledge. A significant outcome of this study was the transformative experiences of an insider, the teacher as researcher, whose reflections provided an authentic model for reforming pedagogy in STEM classes.

Perception du risque et prise de risque chez les adeptes de planche à roulettes : approche sociale cognitive et recherche impulsive de sensations

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

Reinterpretando la ciudad : la cultura skater y las calles de Barcelona.

Monográfico con el título: 'El deporte en los espacios públicos urbanos'. Resumen tomado de la publicación

Emotioner i företaget WeSC:s marknadsföring : Tillämpningen av en subkulturs livsstil i varumärket

Denna uppsats undersöker den emotionella dimensionen i det kommersiella företaget WeSC:s marknadsföring genom att göra en kvalitativ innehållsanalys på datamaterialet som har bestått av en av deras senaste reklamfilmer, sekundära intervjuer som gjorts med grundaren Greger Hagelin, företagets presentation i boken Superbrands Sverige (2004) samt på hemsidan. Vi har även kompletterat analysen genom att göra en sekundär analys på forskaren Rebecca Beals studier av den subkultur som WeSC använder sig utav i sin emotionellt säljande marknadsföring. Den analys som vi gjorde av Beals studier resulterade i att vi kunde utröna tre viktiga grundstenar för skateboardkulturen – 1. Öppet deltagandet, att alla skulle få möjligheten att vara med oavsett bakgrund, 2. Individuell ansvarsfullhet, att varje utövare skulle ansvara för sitt eget spel i frånvaron av domare, regler och tränare, samt 3. Möjligheten att vara kreativ, frånvaron av domare, regler och tränare skulle tillförsäkra vare utövare att vederbörande var sin egen expert och därigenom kunde använda sin egen kreativitet till att skapa sitt eget spel.När vi sedan jämförde innehållet i dessa grundstenar med WeSC:s presentation av samma grundstenar i sin marknadsföring upptäckte vi att mycket av det ursprungliga innehållet modifierats i syfte att anpassa företagets kommersiella ansats. Detta tolkar vi som ett explicit exempel på att anammandet av subkultur av ett företag inte alltid fungerar positivt för subkulturen – då dess huvudsakliga symboliska värden förgås i kommersialiseringens och marknadsföringens process.

Do features of public open spaces vary according to neighbourhood socio-economic status?

This study examined the relations between neighbourhood socio-economic status and features of public open spaces (POS) hypothesised to influence children's physical activity. Data were from the first follow-up of the Children Living in Active Neighbourhoods (CLAN) Study, which involved 540 families of 5–6 and 10–12-year-old children in Melbourne, Australia. The Socio-Economic Index for Areas Index (SEIFA) of Relative Socio-economic Advantage/Disadvantage was used to assign a socioeconomic index score to each child's neighbourhood, based on postcode. Participant addresses were geocoded using a Geographic Information System. The Open Space 2002 spatial data set was used to identify all POS within an 800 m radius of each participant's home. The features of each of these POS (1497) were audited. Variability of POS features was examined across quintiles of neighbourhood SEIFA. Compared with POS in lower socioeconomic neighbourhoods, POS in the highest socioeconomic neighbourhoods had more amenities (e.g. picnic tables and drink fountains) and were more likely to have trees that provided shade, a water feature (e.g. pond, creek), walking and cycling paths, lighting, signage regarding dog access and signage restricting other activities. There were no differences across neighbourhoods in the number of playgrounds or the number of recreation facilities (e.g. number of sports catered for on courts and ovals, the presence of other facilities such as athletics tracks, skateboarding facility and swimming pool). This study suggests that POS in high socioeconomic neighbourhoods possess more features that are likely to promote physical activity amongst children.

"Tomorrow's car" : Deakin Universities new cross vehicle that combines the best of 2 worlds

Motorbike riders are 34-times more likely to die in a crash compared to car drivers per km travelled (1). Such safety risks together with special skill requirements for the driver and much lower comfort compared to normal cars are the main reasons why motorbikes represent only a fraction of all vehicle sales in developed countries. Deakin University is developing a revolutionary cross-over fun vehicle with ultra low fuel consumption and emissions. This new vehicle generation combines the best of two worlds: the fun to drive, low cost, and small size of a scooter together with the safety, comfort and easiness to operate of a car. The result is a vehicle that is more fuel efficient than most cars or even scooters.

Various tilting cross over vehicles have been presented over the last decade that were trying to automate the tilting control of narrow vehicles to make them safer. Examples of these concepts are the Carver, Clever and in some way also the MP3 scooter from Piaggio. The problem with fully enclosed concepts like the Carver or Clever is that they require very complex and therefore also expensive tilting control systems so that the vehicles are not price competitive compared to low cost micro cars or even normal small cars. The MP3 on the other hand comes with a tilting control system which is only semi automatic so that typical car advantages - comprehensive safety features like crush zones, roll over protection, air bags, safety belts or comfort features like full weather protection including heating and cooling – can not be provided.

Deakin’s approach is quite different to the above mentioned concepts. The requirements were derived based on two different investigations: The first step was a critical evaluation of social trends and the second step was an in-depth benchmarking study of existing concepts which identified the typical strengths and weaknesses of these concepts. In a critical next step a new concept was created that addresses most of the weaknesses of existing tilting three-wheelers in a holistic approach by setting clear priority rankings for the vehicle targets, based on current trends. The priorities were set in the following order: Safety, Affordability, Fun and Efficiency (SAFE).

The key feature that enables an enclosed tilting vehicle is a fully automatic tilting control system. With an automatic tilting control system the driver does not need to put the feet on the ground to balance the vehicle when he stops, so the vehicle can be built with a full enclosure. This allows the implementation of typical car like safety features (seat belts, roll over structure, crush zones, air bags). The SafeRide™ tilting control system is a passive system that involves the driver’s balancing sense in its feedback control system. The vehicle has typical scooter like steering characteristics, where the steering is initiated through countersteering. Another safety critical design feature is the crush zone between the two front wheels which is not possible with only one front wheel or with the powertrain positioned between the front wheels, as the powertrain can’t absorb a lot of energy due to its structural stiffness and density. The passive tilting control system is quite simple and therefore makes the vehicle very affordable, an important factor for successful commercialisation.

Another advantage of integrating the human balancing senses in the feedback control of the tilting system is that the system kicks in slightly after the human balancing reacts. In some instances that can generate the typical adrenalin thrill known from riding a bike. This fun factor is quite common with many trend sports like mountain biking, surfing, roller-skating, snowboarding, or skateboarding. Some of these sports have seen very rapid growth only a short time after they have been invented. Utilising the human balancing system during driving also makes the vehicle safer as the adrenalin is produced after reaching a semi-stable driving condition that is controlled by the vehicles tilting control system, but before the vehicle reaches an unstable driving condition that can not be controlled by the vehicle but only (eventually) by the driver – if he has got the required driving skill and if he is alert enough.

Efficiency superior to most cars and scooters is achieved by the aerodynamics of a fully enclosed body structure in combination with the small frontal area of a typical scooter and the droplet shape enabled by the relatively wide front with 2 wheels and the very narrow tail with only one rear wheel. The passive tilting system also contributes to the extreme efficiency as the system only draws some small electrical power for the electronic control unit. Another feature is a low cost exhaust energy recovery system which is discussed in another paper.

A esportivização do skate (1960-1990): relações entre o macro e o micro

O objetivo deste estudo foi apresentar elementos da esportivização da prática cultural skate (1960-1990), como conhecimento para o entendimento da relação entre o micro e o macro processo sócio-histórico do skate. Como fonte de pesquisa histórica para a esportivização do skate no Brasil, dimensão macro, utilizamos a Revista Tribo Skate e para a de Piracicaba/SP, dimensão micro, entrevistamos dois colaboradores a partir do método da história oral. Os resultados evidenciaram que o skate surgiu para gerar fortes tensões agradáveis, suas formas de lazer precedem as formas esportivas e, guardadas as particularidades, os seus processos macro e micro-históricos são interdependentes.

O skate na cultura corporal de movimento: aspectos evolutivos e sociais

Skateboarding gets practitioners and followers all over the world and it's still growing. Thus performing a detailed analysis of its tracks becomes exciting. This study has a purpose of investigation about the evolution of the skateboard as a leisure activity and as a sport, supported by historical and social factors analysis that influenced their growth. Furthermore to understand the sport history and its influence in the socialization process, and also in the insertion of individuals in a social context within the body movement culture. The methodology used in this study was based on a literature review, analyzing articles, books, documents, websites and reports of the genre. It was concluded that the practice of skateboarding is unique and it's promoted to be and to have self identity and it is directly related to an activity that is characterized as free and creative without any molded identity. And also promote the insertion of this kind of skateboarding as a universal phenomenon about the body movement seeking social interactions in different educational views through a sharing attitude

Skateboard champ Desiree Von Essen

General note: Title and date provided by Bettye Lane.