about "skate": i've got the demo, and it is insanely cool. if you have a ps3 download it. the replay editor is so good it's not funny, even if you aren't gonna save and look at the replays ever again. it's not quite the topic so i won't go into brutal detail, just take my word for it that it's great

back on-topic: could you perhaps use "motors" (i don't know what they're called in Newton, but that's what they are in 3DGS physics) to make the limbs move with some intelligence? i guess you wouldn't try it until the actual ragdoll is ironed out more, but it could be used to get the skater to attempt to protect his face with his forearms when he stacks it, and whatever other protective measures a real person might take in the brief time between falling off the board and coming to a complete stop.

julz