Longboarding?
McKendry posted,
I still have my first longboard and it's not that old, 1990 I think? I would ride along the beach and watch dolphins hump during sunrise. I would skate early mornings to the boardwalk hotels and sneak in to steal the breakfast spread they put out for the paying guests. Longboarding was a way to feel the wind in my eyes, smell the salt air and free doughnuts. When I moved to Colorado the board was more of tool for transportation. A beer run or trip to the store for a can of tuna. I didn't know then how to brake or how to stop and jumping off was the only way I could come up with to avoid something. My love for snowboarding and the feeling of the g's in my gut made me ride more and more every summer. I happened to catch the first Gravity Games on tv one day and saw speedboarding. I remember all the names and the gear. How they stopped and how they crashed. I wanted this. I wanted the gear, the thrills and the higher speeds. With my new Dregs board, motorcycle leathers and motorcycle helmet I gave it a try. After one day and a real hard crash I was almost ready to give up. I went to my first race either to learn how to do this or sell all my shit. The first race was an EDI event and I was able to meet the guys I saw just a couple months before at the Gravity Games. I learned so much in one day and that day still plays over in my head as a great time. I was lucky to ride with some of the best downhillers in the sport and took with me valuable lessons I still ride with today. I've ridden mountain roads I would walk through snow to get to. I've dodged animals big and small at sunrise and in the light of a full moon. The people I've met...well I can't put into words how fortunate I've been to find these friends. The places and things I've seen through longboarding have spoiled me. I can also remember the terrible injuries that have happened over the years. I can remember seeing grown men cry at events over the loss of a friend. It didn't happen that often but I won't ever forget those moments. I know as a community we are seeing more injuries and sadly deaths because of the increase of riders. The boards, wheels and trucks have improved and you can buy a setup that'll get you in over your head from the mall. The idea of freeriding has changed. It's no longer cool to have wedged trucks, shitty wheels and skate a hill as flat as your first girlfriend. A few years ago the only time you could go full speed without worries was on a closed hill with straw. We now have websites and forums with videos and directions to some crazy fucking roads. Roads that are open to traffic of all kinds. As much as we would like to think this sport is growing and becoming more popular, it isn't. The car, bike or chick walking her dog doesn't travel uphill looking for a speedboarder. You as a rider are rare, fragile and usually a guest on any hill. I've looked over my shoulder to see a rider behind me on the wrong side of the road. I've gotten to the bottom of a hill and given some people an earful of WTF! I know one of those riders didn't listen to a fucking word I said because they ended up in the hospital after being hit head on for crossing the line. I don't know if it's being young, inexperienced or ya just forget the road's live? My close friends and family have always been told if something happens to me while riding never to say "well at least he was doing something he loved". Bullshit! I would have loved to make the fucking turn! I'm deeply saddened by the frequency of deaths I'm reading about. I hate to think about all the loved ones, friends and innocent people involved in these accidents. If we don't respect the dangerous nature of our sport the tragedies will continue. I'm currently teaching a 15 year friend how to longboard. He knows if catch him fucking up, not obeying me or the rules I set forth he will find his board cut in half. I want to not only teach him how to brake, stop or slide but to take in the beauty of longboarding. It's not always about being in front or bombing the hill from the top. We didn't get into this to injure ourselves or anyone else. We didn't get into this to be the fastest rider in the World. Glory in this sport is short lived. The real joy comes from being able to ride everyday without close calls, injuries or harassment. I don't know what happened in some of these accidents and I apologize if I have offended anyone. Maybe these accidents were just a momentary lapse of judgment by an uncontrollable mishap. I've drifted across the yellow on accident I was damn lucky that nothing happened. I'm so very sorry people are getting injured and killed. My World and outlook of longboarding has changed with the news of every victim. The people who are telling you to wear a helmet care about you. The people who are dying...they are the ones who are showing you life is amazing. Look up to the sky the next time you ride and let the warm rays of the sun remind you to stay in control and pay attention. It's not a race unless you pay an entry fee. I'm sorry.
2010 October 31 12:18 AM
Jack, Dew Crew replied,
My Group of guys try to involve new kids that get boards and show them the ropes. Same idea, we all where helmets, and one of the best moments ever happened my last session, We had made a transition drop early grab spot and some kid with a brand spacken new arbor board (i know kinda gross) but we generally try not to judge riders by what they have or wear. Anyways, this kid wasn't wearing a Helmet, usually we don't push the use of helmets right when we meet somebody new as most riders are shy and feel threatened by a big group of experienced riders. We asked the kid if he wanted to hang out with us, add another kid to the crew. He said he had to go home first and drop his bag off, he came back wearing a helmet. So because our crew all wears helmets this kid just made the connection by himself to wear one as well. It isn't always about telling people what to do, sometimes it's about leading by example.
2010 October 31 3:40 AM
Dyll replied,
Sick read man.
2010 October 31 4:01 AM
some fag replied,
WORD.
2010 October 31 1:19 PM
Dr_Ifter replied,
thanks for posting this up rob, well said.
skate in your lane like it's all the road you got. if
you can't take every corner in your lane don't skate
the road. practice taking rights on the most inside
and lefts on the most outside. unless your in one of
those places that you drive on the wrong side...
then vice versa. roll with control. a friend once told
me anyone can go fast, only the best can
consistently slow down and go slow. it's true,
getting mad speed on the hills we skate these days
doesn't take much skill, but slowing down does.
practice that!
2010 October 31 5:59 PM
replied,
could have used more dolphins but w/e good read.
2010 November 1 2:57 PM
Wester replied,
Well put Robby
2010 November 1 6:28 PM
replied,
Thank you