Jason Mitchell, Seismic Nationals 2007, Hybrid Slalom.  Photo by Greg Fadell Northern California Downhill Skateboarding Association
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Bank and Ditch Skateboarding

 
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Banks & Ditches (2951 Posts)
Topic Message
N.M. Kaylee & Sharon..
On 6/7/2002 Bozi wrote in from (152.163.nnn.nnn)

Heys guys, Are there any pics posted or do you guys have any of the Ditches out youre way, Ive always wanted to end up out there, now I have one more reason.
As I write this im thinkin youre off to Breckenridge rite about now & probably wont see this..........
Have fun, Jeff

 
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NO Skool longboarding
On 6/7/2002 Scabs wrote in from (66.21.nnn.nnn)

I know this is a redundant post to my recent post on Parks and Pools but check out the banner on the Vendors forum.

Chris has shot the channel and bridged the gap...no more school debate. It`s all good!!!

 
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New Skool Longboarding
On 6/6/2002 lbk wrote in from (63.215.nnn.nnn)

Hell yea Mick keep on growing your longboarding scene! I'll post up directions to some ditches real soon for MD & VA.

 
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past and new school longboarders
On 6/6/2002 Mick wrote in from (68.33.nnn.nnn)

Hey,
I am new school longboarder. I was never a skaterboarder. I am just not all about the general attitude of them. Dont think there is a total loss in new skateboarders there is actuaaly a budding pop of longboarders in maryland at least. i know 7 kids in my gradde that are getting or have longboards. I try to get skateboarders to start longboarding it doesnt always work out but Ive been succesfull a few times.Im a freshemen and in my school after this year leave i will be the most experienced longboarder there. Im thinking about starting a club to get more longboarders. I would not say that carving is going to be lost. I think after this whole tony hawk craze ull see more skateboarders go to longboarding. I hope it happens soon. I dont wanna be a lonecarver.

-Mick

 
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Butter In SF Bay area-Let's talk or hook up!
On 6/6/2002 Jimmy Savage wrote in from (209.77.nnn.nnn)

Butter. I saw what you posted on Tuesday. I'm a geezer too, but have recently gotten back into longboarding a fair amount. This is the first time I've been on website. I live in Oaktown. I hear there are good runs in the Oakland hills but I haven't been up yet. I just moved here from Portland. I heard there is a really good run above the UCB campus. Have you done it? My phone number is 510 452-1475. If you want to talk about this or go drive around looking for runs sometime call me. I got a couple buddies that would probably be with it too. Santa Clara, the street in front of my house is pretty fun,but kinda short and flat. There is a steep part if someone is looking out for cars, but even then....ya know. Hope to hear from you.

 
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Pot spring ditches
On 6/6/2002 Mick wrote in from (68.33.nnn.nnn)

Are you kidding there is a good ditch in around potsprings that is skating distance from my house. can you tel me where it starts a intersection i can plug into map quest or something. That is crazy a ditch near my house and ive drove for hours looking for one.plz tell me the info. is it around dulaney gate?

Thanks ,
Mick

 
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God's Land of the Ditches, Albuquerque New Mexico
On 6/6/2002 Sharon wrote in from (204.134.nnn.nnn)

I agree with Kaylee: "Words fail." Our ditches are supreme!That's why I moved out here to the SouthWest (Albuquerque).
You can ride for 20 minutes (powder-puff skater like me) or fly down the ditches in 10 minutes (like my bro' Kaylee). Indian School Ditch is smoother than our skatepark and it'll make you drool for more runs. Tony Alva visits us and rides our ditches. He can tell you that they are epic.

 
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Ditches in MD
On 6/6/2002 Scumbag wrote in from (207.68.nnn.nnn)

I've never been able to find the arbutus ditch...i've looked and looked....if anyone can help that would be wonderful.
I've found a pretty decent one right off the Washington Beltway...its the exit for rt.214 central ave. get off it and head towards dc...you'll see a shopping plaza on your left with a staples and ames in it...the ditch wraps around the side of the plaza...I skated it today on my lunch break for a little bit, too damn hot out...anyways its alot like the potsprings one...except its never been skated before...

 
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ditches and the past
On 6/6/2002 loneskater wrote in from (159.87.nnn.nnn)

lbk great post. i can't figure it myself. i see todays skater being kicked off the school campus (for stairs and rails) and CARRY their boards while they walk to the next site to "skate." i am not really a "longboarder" in the trad sense, i ride a 33" park board, a 36" Powell Rosebone my first long board in 95 and mostly my Comet D/O, younger skaters think that speed is scary. in my travels across the US and military bases etc, i always had a board. see a ditch give it a go, see a hill and carve it. we have to get the next generation carving! George.

 
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SoCal Ditch Report
On 6/6/2002 Slammer wrote in from (63.203.nnn.nnn)

I have been compiling a ditch/pool/skate spot list for a while. Email me if you have a spot to trade and I'll forward a copy of the list.

 
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Maryland Ditches
On 6/6/2002 GBJ wrote in from (68.49.nnn.nnn)

Mick, My knowledge is very old. I'm slalom-only these days, but I believe you're referring to Arbutus ditch. I've only ever been there once, about 15 years ago (OUCH! feels like yesterday!), and couldn't tell you how to get there now. I have some friends who'd know, I'll find out.

Pot Spring Ditch. Alternately very rider friendly and a bust, their is a ditch that crosses under Pot Spring Rd., in the Timonium area, between Chapelwood Ln. and Deer Fox Ln. It sits right in someone's sideyard, and I was always amazed at some of the crowds I'd seen there in the early-90s. Moved out of that area in '95, have no clue now.

I know of several more ditches in the D.C./Md. suburban area, but none that are really very longboard friendly. Most of 'em are relatively small.

 
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DC area ditch skitch
On 6/5/2002 WesE wrote in from (207.172.nnn.nnn)

I’m always up for some ditch riding. It makes a great counter-session for anything else. LBK, I’ll show you why I've been ranting about those green wheels you see on my Afroman board. Gotta ask Chaney where the Manassas ditch is too.

 
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VA Ditches
On 6/5/2002 ohm wrote in from (207.172.nnn.nnn)

I live right by Franconia ditch. It's fun for a session. Also if we don't see rain for awhile I got a secret spot that hasn't been skated for years.

 
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ditch near lansdowne
On 6/5/2002 Mick wrote in from (63.117.nnn.nnn)

Hey ibk,

Is that ditch near lansdowne still skateable? and where is it around lansdowne? thanks a lot.

 
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Maryland ditches
On 6/5/2002 Mick wrote in from (63.117.nnn.nnn)

I live in Baltimore county.

 
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Kook's History of Ditch Skating (TX,MD,VA)
On 6/5/2002 lbk wrote in from (64.157.nnn.nnn)

Adam is right on for setting up this new ditch & bank forum. I know this will help bring back a fun form of skateboarding.

I started skating ditches in 1978 with the first being a bowl like ditch in Clear Lake City (now Houston), TX. People laughed at how loud my G&S Wonkers were at the bowl but they made me much faster than anyone else there. My brother and me rode that place every day. We didn’t need any a skatepark cause the bowl ruled. I recall meeting some Surfers for the first time at the bowl and that in turn motivated me later in life to learn how to surf.

Eventually my family moved from Texas to other places and then to Maryland. My brother, a couple of hardcore skaters and myself found the Arbutus Ditch near the Landsdowne Skateboard Park, just off the shoulder of the Baltimore beltway. We weren’t the first to skate the place because the original graffiti included “Greg Weaver, One Handed Rail Grab”. I wonder who was first to skate that place?

Anyway, the Arbutus ditch gave us years of skating. The place was hidden from the cops and was skateable all night thanks to the beltway lights. In the early 80’s we held some ditch contests there and gave out lots of prizes.

I left skateboarding to go surfing during the “Neon Years”. You know the skateboard days of pink clothing; painter’s hats with flipped up bills, launch ramps, no skate parks and decaying half-pipes. When I started to get back into skateboarding about five years ago, I was disappointed that ditch skating had been forgotten mainly because of street skating and the crappy hard wheels that they skater still use today.

A few years ago, I moved from the beach and my surfing days were ruined. I tried to skate my favorite ditches with those hard wheels and all I could think of was of when I skated clay wheels. Thoughts of just getting fat and throwing a massive heart attack didn’t seem so bad after all. Thank God I found longboarding and soft wheels. By the way, why do street skaters still use those crappy hard wheels? Heck, stinking roller bladers use soft wheels on rails and steps. I bet if Abec11 did “Thug” street wheels and had Muska push them, Chaput would be much richer.

Nowadays, I do so much skateboarding & snowboarding that I have to balance things out. I hope to add in some ditch skating by figuring out what are the best softer wheels for ditches in VA & MD. Then maybe I can revive some of my old ditch skating moves or just cruise the banked walls. I might then explore the idea of Ditch Banked Slalom Races.

DR

 
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Maryland ditches
On 6/5/2002 Duane wrote in from (68.15.nnn.nnn)

Is the Riverdale ditch still in action ? It has probably eroded into dust since I last rode it, I left quite a bit of aluminum on the very grindable top

 
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Sacramento Ditches?
On 6/4/2002 Brandon wrote in from (216.119.nnn.nnn)

is there such a thing in sac town?

 
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Maryland
On 6/4/2002 GBJ wrote in from (68.49.nnn.nnn)

Where are you in Maryland, Mick?

 
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thanks Adam
On 6/4/2002 Glen wrote in from (64.171.nnn.nnn)

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you,.

 
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Any dtches in Md
On 6/4/2002 Mick wrote in from (68.33.nnn.nnn)

Hey ive ridden around for hours try to find a decent ditch without water in it i havent been very succesfull. does any one know where some are in Maryland?

thanks

 
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REAL ditches
On 6/4/2002 Kaylee wrote in from (68.35.nnn.nnn)

To see ditches as God intended, you MUST come to Albuquerque, NM. Over 30 rideable ditches in the area, at least 5 better than any you've ever seen, I guarantee. Fast tall downhill ones, mini ramp sized ones, hips, curbs, a longboarders PARADISE. Come to Albuquerque, drop me a line at moebius@comcast.net, and I'll SHOW you what's up! Words fail.

 
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banks and ditches
On 6/4/2002 loneskater wrote in from (159.87.nnn.nnn)

Adam, thank you for the new forum. i made it to the top three of a new forum. one of the best ditches i know El Paso Texas, if you are stuck in that town. west side near a church. i kept me from going nuts in 95. 1/2 mile of gentle downhill ditch about 8 ft deep, good transitions. Banked slalom anyone? good luck if you are stuck there. Keep skating, George.

 
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SF area ditch & bank search
On 6/4/2002 butter wrote in from (12.236.nnn.nnn)

Geezer seeks smooth transition ditch and bank action in SF, CA area. I'm a longboarder, looking for large spots to have long runs. My limited style is not well suited to new parks I've tried. Glad to drive /buy gas. Any help appreciated.

 
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first to post
On 6/4/2002 mikez wrote in from (196.2.nnn.nnn)

WOOOPEEEE, shotgun the prize if there is one,
I dig banks, we just lack them in CT, and the only move I can really do is fat stand up 180 slides, I use the biggest "short board" I can find, at the moment I'm using a huge road rider with a kick and nose.

 
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