An object in motion will stay in motion until acted upon by an opposing force. If you’re honest with yourself, that opposing force is not always going to be the gentle deceleration of air friction. Sometimes it’s going to be a telephone pole in your face. And It’s going to hurt.

It’s unlikely that you will be seriously injured when it happens and if you’re decently prepared, you might make it out of that experience with a bit more wisdom, a story, and–depending on how you handle it–maybe some street cred.

Expect That You Will Crash

You will crash. You know that, right? Maybe you’ve already crashed several times. Maybe you’re reading this article on your phone from the emergency room, one arm in a sling. Your chances of having some kind of crash are so close to 100% that the decimal places after “99" shouldn’t really matter. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you will get injured. If you take care to avoid certain scenarios you might land pleasantly in pile of loose straw or in a pillow factory.

Things to Avoid

Cars

Of the 21 skateboarding fatalities reported in 2013, the majority were vehicle related. The lesson here: stay away from cars.

Skitching

Related to the above, many of the listed deaths involved skitching–holding on to a moving vehicle while you’re on your board. Pro tip: don’t skitch. If you need the extra speed, try powered boards like Boosted. Powered boards will at least have consistent speeds that you can control. Vehicles will not.

Rain

Have you ever taken a sharp turn while driving a car in the rain and had it fishtail just a little bit? A little unnerving. Imagine what would happen if you weren’t inside a big metal box, strapped in by a seatbelt. If you really want to wipeout, boarding in the rain is one of the quickest ways to make it happen.

Uneven Surfaces

Unless your longboard came with monster-truck uh…trucks, then it wasn’t designed to go over sand, gravel, etc. Just stick to silky smooth pavement, especially when learning how to stay on your board.

Boarding Alone

If you wipeout and get injured, you’re going to want someone there to help you out (and take a video of it). It’s nice to be able to count on the kindness of strangers but that’s not always possible, especially if you’re skating some place that’s remote. Co-opt a friend, call a fellow boarder, or even take a first date. They might get a kick out of it, if only to laugh at how awkward you are on four wheels.

Protection: A Cost Benefit Analysis

Wear a helmet. Hey, wear a helmet. No, seriously, wear a helmet on your head. Wear it when you are trying to do tricks. Wear it when you are carving downhill. Wear it when you are gliding over a dry, flat surface with great traction. Any time that you are on top of your board, wear a helmet.

No, all helmets aren’t cool; however, these are. Not your style? Ok, how about these? There many many more but hopefully you get the picture. A combination of this article, your grandmother, and common sense should have convinced you of the practicality of helmets by now.

What about kneepads, elbow pads, shin guards, wrist guards, neck guards, etc.? Short answer: more protection is always a good idea. No, they aren’t sexy, but neither are skin grafts. Plus, with the right gear and the right clothing you can make yourself look like Batman.

Consider protective gear mandatory if you’re just starting out. One third of all skateboarding injuries happen to those with less than a week of skating experience. If you’ve never been on a board before then you might want to armor up.

If you have a few years under your belt and you don’t plan on doing anything risky (you’d never do that, right?) then no one will blame you if you leave your elbow pads at home.

A longboarder should never leave home without:

1. Helmet
2. Kneepads
3. Slide Gloves

Keep Calm and…

OK, it’s your third week on the board, your confidence is high, you’re carving down a hill at reasonable speed and just avoid a collision with a veteran, lycra-clad road biker that came out of nowhere. Unfortunately your new route plows you right into the curb and BAM! You slide twenty-two feet and some-odd inches on your right side. Stings.

Stay Cool

The rush of wiping out can be intense. Take a second to reflect on what just happened. Whatever you do, don’t toss your board through the air like a javelin to express your anger.

Don’t Cry

There’s no crying in longboarding.

Check for Injury

This is when it’s great to have a buddy with you. They will better be able to determine whether or not you are seriously injured and require medical attention. Take a moment to make sure that all of your limbs are still attached, you’re not bleeding, and your head is on straight. Seriously, the adrenaline rush can make it easy to miss.

Get Back On Your Board

You might feel a little shaken, but know that this happens to everyone. Newbies, veterans, professionals, everyone. The true test of a longboarder is the ability to shake it off, pick up your board, and start the long climb back up the hill.

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