Hamboards, photojournalism and the nature of risk

Skateboarding can be a great aerobic and core workout, but falling off a board onto concrete or asphalt is also a great way to a serious head injury. That's why California Vehicle Code section 21212 requires helmets on skateboarders under 18 years of age.

A Times story today, "Hamboards ride a new wave", features a Huntington Beach manufacturer of extra-long skateboards, with photos and video of a skateboarder carving up the pavement without a helmet.

Photojournalists don't stage shots -- we capture our subjects as they are without directing them to do things like put on safety gear. This does not mean The Times endorses skateboarding without head protection or pads.

-- Peter Y. Hong

Photo: The Hamboard, at nearly 7 feet long, is designed to feel like a surfboard. Photo credit: Allen J. Schaben