Nova Scotia

Berwick residents worried about longboard mountain surfing

RCMP in Kings County are repeating a warning to people not to skateboard down the North Mountain in Berwick.

Police received three complaints on Wednesday

Some longboard mountain surfers are shown navigating down a steep road in North Berwick in May 2014. (CBC)

RCMP in Kings County are repeating a warning to people not to skateboard down the North Mountain in Berwick.

The road is steep, so longboarders can hit speeds as high as 70 km/h.

People who live in the area say they are worried about the practice.

On Wednesday, the police received three complaints about people longboarding down the Black Rock Road. They spoke with six young men and one young woman, who were all given warnings.

Const. Kelli Gaudet says there will not be any more warnings.

She says the boarders were all from Halifax and New Brunswick.

In 2014, RCMP had similar concerns about the practice.

Kings District RCMP Const. Blair MacMurtery said at speeds of 70 km/h, a helmet offers little protection. 

"You've got to consider those inclines, a skateboard not having the opportunity for brakes and fear of all the other unknowns — the other vehicles, obstructions in the road, a rock, a stick, even a wild animal. I mean, it just spells disaster," he said.

He said not only is it dangerous, but also illegal.

"Under section 172 of the Motor Vehicle Act it's illegal for anyone to roller skate or skateboard on a roadway," said MacMurtery.