Very uncommon, however one occasionally sees (mostly in residential neighborhoods) people on skateboards. In spite of your astute observation about the bend in the road, commonly-taught safety measures include the rule of walking against the flow of traffic. This is to give non-motorists the ability to see what traffic is approaching. Had a vehicle sped around the bend towards this man, he might have become roadkill. On my return I saw no trace of him on the road.
