The only thing BYU junior Jordan McKensie remembers about that night last month is that the sun was setting as he set off on his longboard down Seven Peaks Boulevard in Provo. The rest of the story he had to garner from the two people who found him at the bottom of the hill bleeding from his head and nose.

McKensie nearly lost his life when he flew off his longboard.

He's glad to be still breathing, but he's not fully recovered from his June accident.

So far this year at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center there have been eight emergency-room visits due to longboarding accidents. UVRMC spokeswoman Janet Frank said that compares to 18 accidents last year, when there was more longboarding buzz. The sport was temporarily banned on Utah County trails last summer after a man threatened to sue the county when he was hit by a longboard in Provo Canyon. County commissioners also considered requiring everyone to wear a helmet while riding, but passed the an ordinance without a helmet requirement after community uproar.

"That was a point of much contention," said Commissioner Larry Ellertson last year. "Either way, I'll lose some friends over this."

Utah County Health Department Spokesman Lance Madigan said he hasn't heard any rumblings about reviving the issue of a mandatory helmet ordinance. He did urge longboarders to wear one even though it isn't required. Madigan said it's important to make sure the helmet fits properly, and is buckled beneath the chin.

"It doesn't do a lot of good if it flies off," Madigan said.

McKensie wasn't wearing a helmet when he crashed last month. He said he didn't want to because it wasn't "cool," but if and when he gets back on his longboard again, he'll be wearing one.

"It's just not worth dying over. It's not worth ending your life over getting a good ride in without a helmet on," McKensie said.

Madigan also warned riders to be mindful of other people, walk across streets and watch their speeds.

"You lose control and there's where you get all the problems," Madigan said.

The surgeon that took McKensie into emergency surgery, drained his blood clots and screwed his skull back together. He said that judging by the injuries, McKensie was going between 35 and 40 miles per hour, something even McKensie says was dangerous.

"I always went really fast. That's kind of stupid," McKensie said.

Now the 20-year-old tries to eat healthy food because he can't taste it.

McKensie said he is still trying to recover his sense of smell, his sense of taste and some of his hearing. He can't drive or play for the BYU lacrosse team anymore.

• Brittani Lusk can be reached at 344-2549 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it