RIP Gleena Evans

[CarvingScooby]

Tragic loss. Condolences to the family.

Be safe....

RT

Safety concerns circle longboarder's death

The tragic death of an experienced 27-year-old longboarder in North Vancouver on Friday has thrust longboarding into the spotlight, and raised questions about the safety of the sport.

Glenna Evans was riding down a steep stretch of Mt. Seymour Road at around 11 a.m. when she failed to make a turn at Ann MacDonald Way and crashed into a van. She was rushed to Lions Gate Hospital, but died of her injuries shortly after.

Katie Neilson of the Coast Longboarding collective admits it is a dangerous sport, which often involves riding at high speeds on busy roadways, but says participants try to be safety conscious.

"When we go downhill skating, we wear full protective gear," Neilson said. "We take extreme precautionary measures to make sure we're safe from everything and that includes custom leather suits, full face helmets … gloves, kneepads, elbow pads."

Evans was wearing full racing gear, but still did not survive her tragic accident. She was also an accomplished rider, having earned third place at a skateboard competition in Washington State just last week. She had been practicing the twists and turns of downhill longboard for nearly two years.

Advocates say longboards, which look something like surfboards on wheels, are still safer than traditional skateboards because the wheels are bigger and softer, giving the rider more grip and stability.

But avoiding traffic on steep roads can be difficult. Though longboarding on roadways is not illegal in British Columbia, some municipalities have imposed restrictions and police urge people not to participate. Following Evans' death, Mounties issued a statement asking North Shore residents and visitors "to engage in activities that do not have the potential for this kind of sad outcome."

For now, the longboard community is mourning the loss of one of their own, and a memorial at the crash site continues to grow. "She was an aspiring tattoo artist, very well loved by a lot of people," Neilson said. "This is our first family member we've lost."

Video: http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100710/bc_longboarding_safety_100710/20100710?hub=BritishColumbiaHome