Speed snowboarding facing possible ban in Laguna Beach
Downhill skateboarding, also known as speed snowboarding, has landed itself on the hot-seat at Laguna Beach, California. The lawmakers are considering putting a ban on the sport on four of the city’s steepest streets because of security concerns. The issue
has been triggered due to numerous complaints made to the authorities by the residents and motorists who are not comfortable with the skaters zooming downhill and creating safety as well as liability concerns.
The issue is not new. In fact it started a year ago with a resident complaining to the police about the skaters creating a traffic hazard right in front of his house. However, the police dismissed the complaint by pointing out that the skaters were not guilty
of any violations. California’s Vehicle Code considers skateboarders as pedestrians and them treats them accordingly.
The tension however did not diffuse there. Soon after that incident, a group by the name of SNAG (Skateboarders Neighbourhood Action Group) came into existence. It comprised of the residents who demanded a ban on skateboarding on streets with grade greater
than 3 percent. Such a ban was already existent in Los Angeles Country and nearby Newport Beach.
The skaters and residents seemed to have reached an agreement to avert an outright ban in October. However, Laguna Beach city councilman, Kelly Boyd, blamed a few members of SNAG for rejecting the agreement and pressing for a ban on skating on streets with
a grade greater than 5 percent. This in effect would have banned all streets used for speed boarding. With skateboarding already banned in the city’s downtown and boardwalk areas, and surfing finding itself outlawed in most of the city’s beaches, kids in Laguna
Beach seemed to be getting stripped of their freedom.
Boyd condemned an outright ban on skateboarding, saying, “Too many rules and regulations. We have to stop banning everything that young kids have to do. We can't just keep taking some of their freedoms away from them.”
He did however support a proper regulation of skateboarding, especially speed boarding.
Winner of the world downhill championship in 2002 and 2003, and a Laguna Beach local, Mark Golter, stated, “The sport is blowing up right now. There's a lot more people doing it now. It's fast-growing and towns like Laguna are having to deal with it.”
Golter expressed his support for building of roads specifically for skateboarding. He acts as a guide for majority of the young skaters in Laguna Beach, some of which are on Madrid Skateboards. His own 5-year-old son is walking on his footsteps and has already
become a prodigy in skateboarding at Laguna Beach.
It is understood that any proposed ordinance would treat skaters much like bicyclists if it fails to get voted on for a month at least. This would make it mandatory on the skateboarders to obey stop signs, keep their speed in check, avoid pedestrians, and
give way to traffic. They would also be banned from skating on the most desirable downhill terrains, which include parts of Alta Vista Way, Summit Drive, Temple Hills Drive, and Bluebird Canyin Drive.
Kelly Boyd said that the city would try to provide the skaters with alternative sites, sites that are closed to traffic. Included in the list of possible sites is a 1.7 mile stretch of road leading to a water tower.
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