In news– The death of Anas Hajas, a 31-year-old skating enthusiast from Kerala, while ‘longboarding’ has raised serious concerns about adventurous solo trips undertaken using the skateboard.
What is ‘longboarding’ sport?
- A longboard is similar to a skateboard, which is a long plank or board made of wood, plastic, or even heavier materials, balanced on top of small wheels.
- Players often perform impressive stunts and move downhill from a height on the boards, doing tricky movements even when suspended mid-air.
- The sport originated in the US around the 1950s, and in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, skateboarding was included as a competitive category for the first time.
- A longboard is naturally longer but flatter when compared to skateboard boards, which have upward-curving ends usually.
- There are other technical differences in wheel sizes and distance between wheels. It is believed that longboards are generally sturdier and better suited for longer rides.
- Longboarding is one among many sports that come under the category of Roller Sports. Park Skateboarding, Street Skateboarding, Longboarding (downhill), and freestyle skateboarding are some other popular examples.
- The style which was being followed by Anas Hajas comes in the category of Freestyle Skateboarding.
What are the rules for solo longboarding trips?
- The Roller Skating Federation of India(RSFI) is the governing body for skateboarding and roller sports in India, registered in 1955, and affiliated with World Skate, the parent body of the sport since 1971.
- It was accorded recognition by the Government of India in September 1990 and later recognised by the Indian Olympic Association.
- According to RSFI, solo longboarding trips fall in the category of adventurous activities.
- The person keen on such solo trips should inform his/her parent state government, which will give the green signal and further inform other states which will be crossed by the riders.
- Either the rider’s associates or the concerning state police are to escort the rider from the front and rear whenever the rider moves on the road. There also needs to be a surety of emergency assistance round-the-clock for the rider.
- Adventure Club of India used to organise such downhill skateboarding solo trips in a very professional manner till 2005. These trips were organised in Himachal Pradesh.
Source: The Indian Express
