Have you tried the hugely popular and successful skate park at Sovereign Park? Head east along the prom to find the park, situated next to the Sovereign Leisure Centre to try out your tricks and learn from others.
Please be respectful on the prom when skating/blading and keep your speed down. Remember its for everyone to use and enjoy and young children can easily run out in front of you.
Please do not use the Bandstand area as a skate park or to practise, because of the nature of this listed building the noise of your skates or boards echoes around the Bandstand and causes annoyance to other.
Safety Tips
Skating and boarding is a wonderful sport and a great way to get exercise and keep fit and can bring health benefits as skating burns up calories at the rate of around 350 calories in 30 minutes. It also helps tone the buttocks, legs back and shoulders, and gives you a great cardio workout. It's no wonder that it's popular with people from all walks of life.
Along with the great exercise and pleasure it can bring there are some important safety measures that need to be taken to avoid injury and accidents.
Before You Begin Skating or Boarding
- Check your skates or board.
- Check wheels are free of dirt or oil.
- Check your wheels aren't wobbly or loose.
- Check your axles and nuts are firmly in place.
- Check your brake is not worn or has become unattached.
- Replace any worn or faulty parts.
- Make sure you are wearing the proper safety clothing and equipment.
- You should be wearing a helmet, along with wrist, knee, and elbow protection.
- Do some warm up stretching before you put your skates on or get on your board.
- Stretch your lower back, abdominal muscles, calves and hamstrings in particular.
- Make sure your helmet fits properly and is secured before skating.
- Learn the basics of rollerblading or boarding before you venture onto the prom. Practise going forward, turning and stopping,
Skating Safety
It's important if you are going to skate or board on the proms you know how to stop properly. The amount of stopping power you have depends largely on how worn your brake is. A half worn brake will give you better leverage and stopping power than a new brake or a worn brake. Some skaters saw off the bottom part of a new brake to eleviate the problem of a breaking-in period. Other things you should consider:
- Don't skate in areas where rollerblading, boarding or skating is prohibited.
- Young children should only skate on the pavement not the road.
- Take into consideration hazards, like debris, bumps and other obstacles.
- Don't skate in an environment that is beyond your skill level.
- Be aware of your surroundings at all times. Watch out for traffic and pedestrians, especially old people and children.
- Don't make any sudden wild manoeuvres.
- Watch your speed. Never go faster than your skill level permits.
- If you feel you are going too fast, slow down.
- Keep relaxed. It's important you keep relaxed when you encounter any bumps or obstacles; it's the only way you'll get over them.
- Never lean back on your skates.
- Avoid loose gravel, leaves and water wherever possible.
- Take into consideration the weather conditions and adjust your speed accordingly.
- Carry a whistle, shout, or clap your hands to let others know you are approaching.
- Be considerate to other skaters and pedestrians.
Keeping these safety tips in mind should make skating an enjoyable experience.
