Question: My son loves to skateboard, but he refuses to wear a helmet because, as he says, “none of the other kids wear them.” My husband believes that all of this helmet-wearing is just a “marketing hype” and that it isn’t necessary. He insists that he never wore a helmet when he was growing up, and he is fine. Can you give me some information that might help me to change their minds?
Answer:Â We are getting to the time of year when people engage in skateboarding, bicycling and rollerblading — all activities typically conducted over cement and hard surfaces. Sports-related head injuries lead to more than 750,000 hospitalizations annually, just in the United States. Many of these require a visit to the emergency room or, at least, urgent care. Fortunately, only a few result in death or permanent injury.
In spite of these data, many parents, like your husband, still question the need for helmets. But without head protection…Â Details
Although some may not be familiar with kitesurfing, this extreme sport gets into the blood of its devotees and becomes a way of life, says Kirk Hoffman, avid kite surfer and director of Force10 Boardsailing. “Next to my wife and kids, kite surfing is the next most important thing,†says Hoffman.
To further his point, Hoffman, CAO of the Village of Nobleford, adds he even has a wind clause in his contract; if it’s blowing, he’s going, and he hopes that’s the case this May long weekend. As long as the wind picks up, Force10 Boardsailing (http://www.force10.ca/) will host the Annual Keho Canadian Windsurfing and Kiteboarding Speed Trials, site of 14 past speed trial events as well hosted by the club.Â
 “Southern Alberta has very good winds. Keho is recognized worldwide for its winds.â€
To envision the sport in action, imagine a huge kite with a control system rigged out of …Â Details
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The very essence of the Grand Prix Petit Navire took on its full meaning today. On the water there was a festival atmosphere with elegant Dragons, aerial Kites and Optimists, all the colours of the rainbow, all lighting up the bay.
Airborne in the bay of Douarnenez
The Kitesurfing version of the Grand Prix Petit Navire 2009 began today with the European Championship in the discipline. It’s an event which continues to attract a vast number of riders to the bay of Douarnenez, the latter being equipped with a wealth of assets for the sport as Ronan Jollé, the race director, explains: ‘This bay is really very beautiful: there is no immediate danger, no current, no rocks. The beaches have no cause to be jealous of those in Hawaii as … Details
Picking up race two where it had been left off, the loser’s final opened competition’s second day of racing. On a slightly tweaked course with the start and finish switched to starboard tack, Italian racer Patrick Diethelm (F2, North Sails) drew first blood, sailing to victory to claim ninth position in the elimination, ahead of an eager looking Ross Williams (Tabou / Gaastra) who settled for tenth.
The winner’s final was absent of 3 x World Champion Antoine Albeau (JP / NeilPryde) after he departed the race in the first round the previous day. This left Bjorn Dunkerbeck (Starboard / Severne) free to exploit the situation after he muscled his way to the front of the fleet and remained unchallenged to the finish line. In his wake he left an on-form Finian Maynard (RRD / NeilPryde) in second and Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (Exocet / MauiSails) looking equally dialed in to the conditions in third… Details