Skateboarding instructor urges kids to wear helmets

Though Yan Fily-Paré is lucky to have dodged concussions, the leader of the Skateboard Association of Montreal tells others to do as he says–not as he does.

Skateboarding has been familiar to Yan Fily-Paré since he was seven years old.

“After looking at the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles I was very enthusiastic about Michelangelo, the skater turtle,” he said.

Fily-Paré has been shredding — as he calls it — ever since, with two to three visits to the skatepark every week.

Thirty-four years later, the skateboarding instructor and Montreal Skateboarding Association lead is ever conscious of the sport’s risks.

“I broke my arm seven times and I’m not proud of it [...] When [the sport] started, I think it’s in the ‘60s or ‘70s in California, you would see a lot of skaters being padded up,” he told CTV.

Though Fily-Paré is lucky to have dodged concussions, the leader of the Skateboard Association of Montreal tells others to do as he says–not as he does.

He says wearing a helmet is always a good idea particularly for those aged 18 and younger.

“We see a lot more scooter kids in skate parks, and it’s great. But the skate parks aren’t really designed for little kids. It goes really fast for these kids who are not really familiar with the obstacles,” Fily-Paré said.

Many injured in skateboarding accidents aren’t wearing helmets. Liane Fransblow, a trauma coordinator at the Montreal Children’s Hospital says head injuries can have serious consequences.

“Depending on where in your brain is injured, it could impact your ability to walk, your balance, your ability to speak your memory, your cognitive ability, your ability to hold down a job later on in life.

Still, there is currently no Quebec legislation around helmets for non-motorized wheeled activity. Fransblow says that includes skateboards, kick scooters and bikes.

As far as city councillor Sterling Downey is concerned, formal regulations around skateparks needn’t be a necessity.

“The best thing we can do is help inform people, educate people — make sure they’re sensitive to the dangers of what they’re potentially exposing themselves to. Then guide them towards making the proper choice in the right choice to prevent any possible injury to themselves or accident towards others,” Downey told CTV.

For beginners and children, consider helmets, wrist guards, elbow pads and knee pads. The city official says individual protection is the best way to ensure safety.