CBC News recently had a story on a new knee injury clinic and they featured Calgary skater Dustin Crowder, who recently injured his knee while skating. Link to the video by clicking the image below. Dustin appears near the end of the video, so skip to the 20:12 mark to view:
City urged to get on board with skateboards
Facilities need to catch up to skateboarding craze
By Richard Cuthbertson, Calgary Herald December 3, 2011 8:40 AM
It’s been more than 30 years since Skatopia 1 in Calgary’s Franklin Industrial Park became Canada’s first indoor concrete skate park.
One old photo taken at the site shows a 1970s skateboarder, knee-high sport socks and all, riding the edge of what looks to be a dry swimming pool.
But even with its early start, skateboarding facilities in Calgary have dragged well behind the growing interest in the sport.
A new consultant’s report, commissioned by the city, is recommending dozens of skate parks be built over the next decade, carrying an estimated price tag of $11 million.
The new strategy, which is heading to a council committee next week, comes after years of complaints from skateboarders.
“The situation’s pretty simple. It’s just a gross lack of facilities,” said Zev Klymochko, with the advocacy group Calgary Association of Skateboarding Enthusiasts.
With more than 34,000 aficionados in the city, the consultant is recommending the construction of 45 smaller skate parks and “spots,” ranging in size from a half basketball court to full tennis court.
Five others would be larger, up to the size of a little league baseball field.
Ideally, they would be dispersed around the city, particularly at points where there is good interest in skateboarding, according to Ron Smith, a researcher with the city’s recreation department.
“According to the model that’s being proposed, ultimately and ideally you’d like to have various scales,” Smith said.
City officials aren’t recommending council hand over a lump sum. Rather, they suggest putting individual projects on the city’s culture and recreation infrastructure wish list for funding consideration, when potential sites have been found.
The city’s reputation seems to have been to build big, but not build many.
Skatopia 1 opened in 1977 and then closed in 1979 due to insurance costs.
A series of short-lived indoor parks, with names like Ramp-o-Rama, Skate Jungle and All Skool, popped up and then faded from view.
In 2000 Shaw Millennium Park opened – an outdoor facility which at the time was considered one of the premier skateboard spots in the world.
Westside Recreation Centre has a skate park, there is a modest spot in McKenzie Towne and the city does have some temporary, mobile skate parks.
But aside from that, there is little else.
One of the big current complaints is there are no indoor facilities in Calgary, although a church in Dalhousie does opens its gym to skateboarders.
RCUTHBERTSON@ CALGARYHERALD.COM
Last week we told you about Levi’s Switzer’s injuries. We asked him for a few more details and this is what he said:
What happened with the bail on the bump to rail?
I tried to 5050 it, I guess I was going to slow, and didn’t ollie high enough, clipped my feet up burley, flipped over and landed on my back, good.
Had you tried it before?
I had thought of it for a while, this was my second try, first try I got pretty close, locked in and slipped out, was so hyped, guess I didn’t pay enough attention the second time. Fell to flat.
Is the spot in Calgary?
Ya, actually its in downtown… I saw a Sean MacAlister photo of it in Color a year ago or so, I was so stoked when I found it!
How many tries did you have before you got hurt?
This was my second time before I fell… but if you meant getting kicked out? We didn’t. It’s a fun little spot.
What was the actual injury?
Right after I fell, I couldn’t straighten my back out for a couple minutes… I was scared, I mean. You break an arm, a leg, it sucks, but it’s alright. But with head, back and neck injuries, that kinda stuff can mess you up good for life. So I headed to the hospital straight away, I even left the crew of homies at the spot (and I drove haha) At the hospital, the doctor thought I broke some little triangle pieces on my spine. I was trippin’, but then I got an x-ray and it turned out alright, just a mean bruise on my spine and back.
How much time did you spend in hospital?
I got out the same night, just with some antibiotics, cause the swelling was super gnarly. A week later, the swelling didn’t go down, so I got it drained, some big, fat needle drained 30 ml out of my back. It was heinous.
Are you all healed up from that?
I am for sure. I just need to maybe stretch a little extra when I get to the spot.
Tell us about the car accident. Where was it?
15th ave and 5th st SW, kinda by the 7-11 on 17th ave. I was in the crosswalk, crossing over 5th st.
Were you just skating down the street or were you trying a trick?
Ya, I just got off work and I was waiting at a crosswalk, the traffic stopped for me, I gave them a thank you wave and started into the intersection. All of a sudden I was upside down, that feeling, not knowing of whats up or down, then I was on my face on the curb, I guess I hit the windshield pretty hard too. Apparently the third lane didn’t see me.
Did the driver stop to see if you were okay?
I rolled over onto my back and the first thought in my head was, “Did she drive away? What’s the license plate number!?”… haha. She stuck around. I just layed there. People called the ambulance and helped prop up my neck and stuff. I could hear the woman who hit me, crying and standing near me. When the medics got there, They strapped me to a board and put a neck brace on and the medic was like “I’m gonna leave your board here, ok?”, she showed it to me, it was in two pieces. I had to argue with her from the stretcher to bring my board, cause my trucks and wheels were worth something. My board got wrecked good.
What were the injuries there? Hospital time?
Ya, pretty wild. I broke some bone in the top of my foot, leaving me in an aircast and crutches for a while. I can’t put weight on it or drive for weeks. I broke the frontal bone in my skull, basically my forehead. So now I have a big dent and crack in my forehead where I landed on the curb. The doctors and medics say I’m lucky to be alive. Seriously, God saved my life that day, not kidding. I didn’t die– I am blessed.
I was let out of the hospital that night with instructions for my family to watch me closely. I have been back for various doctor’s appointments with the family doctor, orthopedic surgeon, plastic surgeon, a neurology appt coming up soon and more follow up with the other ones.
Any charges against the driver?
A broken windshield I guess, not sure what else. Kind of funny how things work out.
How long is your recovery time?
Uhh… a few months for my foot, they told me like 7-9 weeks on crutches and I think for my head, it’ll be a while, just taking it easy. It could take over a year, maybe migraines for a long time… Don’t be surprised if you see helmet footy of me this year, I’d rather be able to speak than look cool for a bit.
In the hospital, I could hear the nurses say “what happened to him?”… “He was skateboarding.” Or “He was skateboarding and got hit by a car”. I’m like,”I was crossing the street!!!!! I just happened to be on my skateboard!!”
Coming away from this, after hearing what the nurses said and the vibe I got, I am definitely gonna be planning and working hard to better the image of skateboarding. I don’t do drugs, commit crimes or vandalize, and I love people. So I want to show the people that look down to us as skaters that we are more than a “You deserved it, you skateboarder” fatality. We are functioning members, giving back to society.
You may have seen or heard about this but the Canadian government has rejected the City of Calgary’s application for the funding of four new recreation centres in our city.
This is significant because two of the recreation centres (Seton Southeast and Rocky Ridge Northwest) have skateparks in the plans. Hopefully these centres (and more importantly, skateparks) can still get built within a reasonable time frame.
Read more here and about the rec centres here. Sign the petition to overturn the government’s decision here.
Sk8ing grinds to near halt in winter
JEREMY NOLAIS
METRO CALGARY
Published: November 18, 2011 5:39 a.m.
Kickflips and ollies are few and far between once the snow hits Calgary as recent closures have left just one indoor facility open to skateboarders.
Volunteers have opened up the gym at Dalhousie Community Church on Tuesday nights during the winter months for the past 12 years; however, attendees said more than 100 boarders can come through, creating a tight squeeze.
Jason Dueck, who helps organize the Tuesday meetup, said to his knowledge, no designated indoor skatepark has lasted in the city more than two years.
“We provide consistency,” he said. “This at least gives them one place…. It’s a safe environment for kids to come and learn in a community setting.”
Groups like the Calgary Association of Skateboard Enthusiasts have long lobbied for a permanent indoor facility in the city through online petitions and other initiatives, but it appears little progress has been made.
Partnerships with community associations have been put forth as a possible alternative but no new parks have been opened to date, forcing skaters like Auburn Bay resident Brent Gwilt to make the long trek to Dalhousie in search of ramps and rails.
The 19-year-old questioned why his sport is seemingly forgotten in the winter unlike other activities, such as tennis and soccer.
“I think we aren’t taken seriously,” Gwilt said.
“We need more parks….
It’s horrible.”
Calgary skateboarder Levi Switzer got on Transworld Skateboarding’s “Wednesday Woe” this week with a bad bail. Don’t watch it if you are squeamish.
Levi spent some time in the hospital, recovered, and has since been hit by a car! We’d like to wish Levi a speedy recovery– hopefully we can get the full story when he’s up and skating again.