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Skatestopper is the brand-name of a skate-deterrent device placed on urban terrain features such as benches and hand rails to discourage skating on the surface where they have been installed. The name Skatestopper is a registered trademark of Intellicept of El Cajon, California, United States. Skatestoppers are designed to be used in conjunction with warning signs and are not intended to eliminate the activities of skateboarding or inline skating. In some skateboarding circles Skatestopper has become a genericized trademark referring to any purposely installed device designed to discourage skateboarding.
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Description
The aim of Skatestoppers is to stop skaters from practicing tricks known as grinds on urban features such as curbs, benches, and ledges, which may be damaged when skateboarders perform these feats. In this way, property owners can avoid damage to the different elements they wish to protect and so save large amounts of money on the costly replacement of granite or marble slabs, for example.
Criticism
Skatestoppers have been described as a mantrap by some skateboarders. Due to their nature, if a skater were unaware of their presence, they could run the risk of greater injury as these devices are designed to break the skater's slide, thus resulting in a probable, unexpected fall. However, these devices are intended to be installed along with notices warning skaters of the potential hazard.
Video Games
Skatestoppers appear in EA'S Skate 2. Certain areas of the map feature ledges and rails with these, and can be removed by calling a character.