Definition of Sliding

- added 01.20.2005 - (author: "Tuskan L3m0n")

A Slide is when a rider pulls his board out and gets it so the wheels are not gripping the pavement and can be moved freely. There are severl ways it can be done.

1. Toeside: When you put your hand(s) on the pavement in the direction your toes are headed and spin the board in a clockwise motion (It goes clockwise because with the friction in front of you you are forced in that direction.

2. Heelside: When you put your arm(s) out behind you spinnign in a counter clockwise motion.

Slides can be used for many reasons.

1. To stop very quickly: Often you will be bombing a hill when a kid walks out into the road or a car pulls out and you dont have enough room to footbrake. When you slide your speed will decrease rapidly depending on the hills grade.

2. For tricks: Sliding is also very fun to do. There are many different slides like there are different tricks on a shortboard. Some include Pendulum, Boneless, Colemen etc.

3. To show off: As your flying down a road you see some chick walking her dog. Figure the extreme speeds and sense of uncontrole will make her totaly dig you? Well it will. Just dont hit her.

To do a slide you should start with a 180 degree coleman. To do slides you must be VERY committed.

*First get a moderate speed.

*Next bend down and get ready to grab the side of the board that is infront of you.

*You will want too lean as far back as you can without flipping over and put your other hand on the pavement (You will have gloves. I will explain later) and put most of your weight on your hand. You will be whipped around.

*As soon as you do the 180 pull your hand off and stand back up.

* YOU DID A SLIDE DOOD!!!

This will take lots of practice to get perfectly but once you get it, it will stick.

About the Gloves: Gloves are there to decrease friction as well and protect your hand. A glove is basicly a durable working glove with plastic attached to the palm. These can be homemade or bought.

*WHEELS* To do a slide you will want to use a higher duro wheels (85-99). Duro stands for Durometer which is the wheels hardness. To start off if you have a complete shortboard that would work perfect. Gravity often makes well made sliding wheels.

Also a decks wheel-base comes into play. The longer the wheelbase the harder it is to break loose the wheels but it will be a more predictable and controlled slide.

Vocabulary:

Flatspot: (n)(V) A worn away area in the area that rotates on the ground in a wheel. It will be flat patch that will bump as you ride. V: To flatspot a wheel.

http://www.jboom.com/freebord/uploads/flatspot.jpg http://www.jboom.com/freebord/uploads/Flatspots_002.jpg http://www.jboom.com/freebord/uploads/gay_flat_spot.JPG

http://renneslongskate.free.fr/photos/0104/200104-19-petit.jpg
http://laurent.guedat.free.fr/images/longboard/longslideleo2.jpg

-"Tuskan L3m0n"

Definition of Skurfing

- added 11.19.2004 - (author: "Directive0")

There's been some confusion over the use of the word Skurfing to describe a discipline of skating. This will no doubt cause more confusion on this website especially since the more popular use of the word is to describe a form of un-towed wake-boarding. I am writing this description to perhaps help distinguish the bastardized use of the word from its similar, yet unmistakably different, counterpart.

Conventionally, "Skurfing" involves using the wake of a boat to glide along freshly created surf without the aid of a tow cable. Some call it "Skurfing" because of its heavy similarity to both water-skiing and surfing. On the other hand, the word Skurfing has more recently been used to describe (at least in my part of the world) a distinct modernization of the surf style skateboarding (SKate-sURFING) technique that has been around since the sport was created by hacked roller-skates and a derelict two by four. The discipline, simply put, focuses on the recreation of surf style (or more specifically, the revival of the original paradigm of skateboarding with added twists) with the added ability to navigate and claim victory over a challenging and technical route or course.

Focusing heavily on spins, slides, stance change, carves, and while deterring (but not excluding) flips, ollies, and all the many recent advancements of the freestyle paradigm. It is the melding of so many of the "just for show" elements of skateboarding with the technical and practically applicable skills gained from slalom, downhill, or any other high control discipline. The goal is not to execute tricks, but rather to find the most fluid and aesthetically pleasing method of completing a course.

What makes this discipline so confusing is its open-endedness. There are no set rules, tricks, or techniques; only emphasis on a fluid and surf-like execution of a course. One could argue that Skurfing is just like any other kind of skateboarding, and thats kind of the point, there are few to none set rules. And the rules that are set change from person to person. There is no set board, or wheelbase, but it is usually performed either by a 40" to 20" board. The smaller the wheelbase, the tighter and more zippy the carves. Trucks are kept small near slalom standards to allow for easier spins and control. The usual terrain is a mix of steep grades with banked driveways, but since Skurfing is all about first-school revival; banks, ledges, anything challenging is fair game.

-Directive0

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How to Stop on a Longboard

- added 08.11.2005 - (author: "RustyBurrito")

Stopping a longboard can be one of the most difficult things to learn for a new longboarder. Here are some ways that are necessary to know:

1. Jumping off (v)- The act of jumping off of your skateboard.

Jumping off is the first thing that comes to mind if you feel like you are traveling at an uncomfortable speed or getting wobbles. You may experience routine faceplants if you practice this method at high speed. This method is only to be used as a LAST RESORT or if you are just pushing around and something gets in your way.

2. Wind Braking (v)- Standing erect with arms out to increase wind resistence, therefore reducing speed.

Wind braking is an obvious technique often used by racers to reduce speed before corners or to avoid collision. This method works best if you are traveling at a high velocity. If you perform this technique correctly, your speed can be reduced to approximately 25mph (40kmph). Using this technique can also prevent you from going any faster.

3. Carving (v)- The act of making turns across the road to slow/control speed. This method is very popular in skiing and snowboarding.

Carving is often the first thing people learn when they start longboarding. However controlling your speed from carving takes longer to master. The tighter and wider the carves, the more speed you will lose.

4. Rolling off the road (v)- The act of rolling off the road onto another surface that will often cause more friction/drag and will reduce speed.

Rolling off the road is similar to jumping off but is a little less risky. This method works best when rolling into grass. There is a good chance your board could get caught up on something so this method is not recommended.

5. Footbraking (v)- When one removes a foot from their skateboard and drags it on the ground to create drag.

Footbraking is one of the easiest and most commonly used methods of stopping. All you have to do is take you back foot (some prefer front) and place it on the ground starting with the front half of your foot and slowly put the rest of the shoe down and apply more pressure.. Remember to apply pressure slowly or else you may find yourself eating pavement.

6. Sliding (v)- A Slide is when a rider pulls his board out and gets it so the wheels are not gripping the pavement and can be moved freely.

While the hardest method to learn, is generally thought of as the most effective and safest way to stop. The most common type of slide is called the pendulum or coleman slide. To see more on sliding visit this article.

7. Rolling it out (v)- Staying on your skateboard until the hill flattens out and then using one of the methods above or letting natural drag bring you to a stop.

Rolling out is best method to use for stopping. If you do not need to stop quickly this is the method to use.

8. Brakes (n)- A device for slowing or stopping motion especially by contact friction.

Some companies offer trucks with braking systems for skateboards. For more info check out www skatebrake.com and www.brakeboard.com

______________________________________

I hope you learned some new methods of stopping your longboard after reading this article. Now go bomb a hill!

Disclaimer: All advice presented here is the personal opinion of the author. While it is believed to be true, the author cannot be held liable for any injury or damage resulting from following this advice.

-Rusty Burrito