The ditches, while void of angry shop owners and pedestrians, are consistently sites of injuries and deaths. Ages of victims range from two to 87. The Task Force reminds arroyo users that within 10 seconds, a massive wall of water can barrel down the steep-walled arroyos at up to 50 miles per hour. The Task Force admits the usually-dry arroyos are a temptation to a variety of users, but insists that activity in arroyos and ditches is always unsafe, in part because they can flood far from the rain. What skateboarders call ditches are officially arroyos.
Ditches are the trenches along the river, dangerous for their undertow and slippery banks.
No skater Weekly Alibi spoke with seemed overly concerned with the dangers of the ditches. Most of it's just common sense. Of course ditch skating is also illegal and skaters routinely risk apprehension by the authorities on charges ranging from criminal trespassing to noise violations. Skaters who are caught are sentenced to community service, stiff fines and even evenings in jail. Skaters are frustrated at the lack of legal places to skate and the unjust harassment they feel they endure.