What’s a Slam? Our Bizarre Obsession with Getting Damage

Today, I can’t afford to get injured like I used to. Gettign damage is now not enjoyable; My physique doesn’t bounce again prefer it did at 16, you already know? So I’m rocking much more pads today. Security first, as they are saying.

For those who’ve ever stepped on a board, you already know that skateboarding and falling go hand in hand. However right here’s the factor – in our world, we don’t simply name them falls. We name them slams, they usually’re as a lot part of skating as wheels and decks. So, let’s dive into the world of slams, from the ouch 🤕 to the daaammm! 💀.

For those who’re a visible learner, here’s a video titled “The Greatest Of The Worst Skateboarding Slams | Battle Scars” to offer you a real-life have a look at a number of the most intense slams in skateboarding.

What precisely is a slam?

Within the skateboarding world, a slam is greater than only a fall. It’s a exhausting, uncontrolled tumble that always leaves you out of breath and with a narrative to inform. It’s skateboarding’s method of maintaining us humble. It’s all a part of the sport.

So, when do slams sometimes happen? Properly they’ll occur at any time, however listed below are a couple of traditional eventualities:

1. While you bail a trick, particularly when trygiun to clear a spot or staies
2. While you lose your steadiness out of nowhere
3. While you misjudge an impediment (whats up, surprising curb)
4. When the road throws you a curveball (tiny pebbles)

Now, don’t get me fallacious – not all falls are slams. We’ve received an entire vocabulary for these items. A bail is once you purposely hop off your board attributable to lack of dedication or to keep away from somethgin. It’s like a managed crash touchdown. A slam, alternatively, is when gravity decides it’s your flip to eat filth.

Varieties of slams: A painful primer

Alright, there are a couple of forms of slams that each skater is aware of and fears:

• The Scorpion: That is when your legs determine to defy physics and go over your again upon influence. It’s as painful because it sounds, belief me.
• The Sack: Gettign a nut faucet by the rail. Sufficient stated.
• The Credit score Card: When your board turns traitor and wedges itself vertically between your legs, so embarrassing too.
• The Faceplant: Fairly self-explanatory. Your face, meet floor. Floor, meet face.
• The Primo: A primo is once you land on the sting of your board and taking an surprising journey to the bottom.

I’ve had my fair proportion of every of those through the years. That Credit score Card in Columbus Circle again in ’08? Nonetheless really feel it when it rains.

However right here’s the million-dollar query: Why will we maintain getting again up?

The tradition of the slam

In skateboarding, slams are extra than simply accidents – they’re a badge of honor. They present that you simply’re pushing your limits and usually are not afraid to take dangers. It’s a ceremony of passage. You’re not likely a skater till you’ve taken a couple of exhausting tumbles and gotten again up.

After I was simply beginning out each slam felt like the tip of the world. However then I’d go searching and see the older skaters, guys with scars and tales, nonetheless charging exhausting. And all the professionals received nice tales about their slams too (try the video on this web page).

Slams present:

1. You’re dedicated to getting higher
2. You’re prepared to push your private boundaries
3. You’ve received the guts to get again up and check out once more

However let’s be actual for a second – are slams one thing we needs to be glorifying? Can we simply be… safer?

Security first (however model an in depth second)

Look, I get it. After I was 15, the concept of pads appeared lame. However now that I’m older (and hopefully wiser), I’ve discovered that there’s no disgrace in enjoying it protected. Listed below are a couple of tricks to maintain your slams from turning into hospital visits:

• Put on protecting gear (helmets are cool, concussions aren’t)
• Know your talent stage and don’t exceed it
• Construct as much as the exhausting stuff progressively
• At all times scope out your skating spot first (search for cracks pebbles, and many others)

Keep in mind, the aim is to skate for so long as attainable. You possibly can’t do this for those who’re sidelined with an harm.

Talking of which, I feel it’s loopy that anybody would skate vert with no correct helmet and kneepads a minimum of. It’s simply not definitely worth the danger, you already know?

And let me inform you, I’ve taken some critical bails. Among the extra gnarly ones? They have been at all times prevented through the use of correct padding. I can’t even rely the instances I used to be 1000% positive I’d damaged my kneecap if it wasn’t for my kneepads.

Oh, and right here’s a cool little tip I picked up: I began skating with gloves one time for no cause, and I observed that each time I fell, my fingers didn’t get all scratched up. I might maintain skating for longer with much less ache. Is anybody else not doing this? Everytime you bail, you virtually at all times fall in your fingers, proper? So now, I put on gloves each time. Recreation changer, belief me.

The intense facet of slams

Now, I don’t wish to be a downer, however we gotta speak concerning the critical stuff too. Slams may be gnarly, and I imply actually gnarly. I used to be on the skate park with this one dude who needed to get airlifted as a result of he fully tore one thing in his leg – like his femur or one thing. That was a nasty one for positive.

You’re extra prone to take some critical slams once you’re attempting to clear stairs and stuff like that. Yeah, for positive, for those who’re attempting to clear like a ten set, or God forbid, try to clear Jaws? Anybody who tries that may be a mad lad that’s sure to get some critical slams. It’s not for the faint of coronary heart.

And, slams can result in dying so, lets not downplay that. folks have truly died from skateboarding accidents. It’s uncommon, however it occurs.

Again in 2013, 13-year-old Andrew Hughes tragically misplaced his life from a head harm whereas skateboarding. He was not carrying a helmet. Now, I’m not attempting to scare anybody off their board. Skateboarding has given me far more pleasure than ache through the years. However slams are not any joke, so know your limits.

Remaining ideas

In a method, slams are the nice equalizer in skateboarding. It doesn’t matter for those who’re a professional or a newbie – all of us eat concrete generally. It’s how we deal with it that counts. So, don’t be afraid to slam. It’s all a part of the attractive, chaotic, exhilarating experience that’s skateboarding.

Have you ever had a memorable slam that taught you a priceless lesson? Please share your story within the feedback beneath. I’d love to listen to your battle tales!