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| Freecarving (257 Posts)
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learnin new stuff
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On 12/20/2005 Grim Reefer
wrote in from
United States
(71.105.nnn.nnn)
hey whats up, me and my friend just started skating longboards a lot more but i wanna learn how to pull off some birds but cant really get it down any pointers would be a great thx
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Long boarding in Socal..
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On 11/2/2005 anonymous
wrote in from
United States
(130.132.nnn.nnn)
>> the best spots are from Santa Barbara to Anaheim..
Oh man... late, late at night mind you... drop down any of the canyons from Mullholland Drive... try Benedict Canyon, North Beverly, Coldwater Canyon
Here's a general shot taken from Mullholland which runs along the ridge of the mountain...
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory=&location=xYgkzsZ0TXXQ1W%2bvzI0caioVYH7SRbubxWKpCDeeq53fwV3jaJM70nIB%2fHFS1HvwHeBzN1h0QSgMr0KntfWIjphpdECaeVVGf7y0b2EtrN3dbphob733NQWt9uO1Sv4UYPtCFZ1nofG%2bjGAmLgLFqm1X6utY6FI9fUBoDbM45ZI%3d
Here is a shot from further down the hill, closer to tyhe bootom, where you can see a lot of the names I mentioned.
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory=&location=%2f4JuQu6OQ2jfCW6j5YnJYofpgCFpXMHueF%2fFnlrLIfAZ%2bscA60yOVXBPIpYscNrXCuzoUOWg8RKIu1lgGdE9%2fCpeEQypoSgLYFdvtsr8N9mHUASHjCW6J3g0SClVc%2bKQ0qMBPGXifHhfesmkECPV2FMqU2srgNBA
That's just the warm up...
Than try Kanan Dume Road on the backside, going down towards Malibu...
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&formtype=address&addtohistory=&location=ZkdLEn5%2f2IyI2q8%2ft2xMS%2b0eD9D3w9dI2agvl%2fVUZbkr1yUzXPmu3R91sBaNUjo0lp%2fdppjIVnsnQ6hRR60HiP6sdqGHItjr9yD9rUimvz215Sfu9lip0JBraMsGPMq7NEqDqWEiw3xxyDbiWjGz%2bRNLtREXhwkP (zoom out to see context)
Moved away in 1997, but before that I rode these hills a lot. Please take these hills very seriously. Don't kill yourself. I am NOT responsible.
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Wishing to pursue the Arts
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On 10/18/2005
David
wrote in from
United States
(209.165.nnn.nnn)
Good afternoon all! I am a 41 year old returning to boarding with hopes of taking up longboarding vs the rather insane shortboard stuff I used to do as a teen. I totally enjoy the arts of hill carving and the occasional moderate hill bombing and am curious if a board exists that allows me the flexibility to do both without changing components back and forth? After much reading I have come to like the Loaded, Subsonic, Rayne and Fiberflex offerings on the net, not to say the others out there aren't worthy, it's just my personal taste. I would like some flex to my deck, and wheels that can handle some not so smooth asphalt. Also, would I be asking too much from a board if I would also like to carve up my local legendary Indian School Ditch here in Albuquerque? Any set-up suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Stay safe friends.
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Long boarding in Socal..
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On 10/14/2005
Pete
wrote in from
United States
(70.34.nnn.nnn)
Hi,
My buddy and I are looking to do some serious downhill longboarding. This site kicks and I was hoping to find out where the best spots are from Santa Barbara to Anaheim..
Any tips would be rad!
Thanks,
Pete
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freecarving on the loadeds
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On 9/13/2005 ray
wrote in from
United States
(67.174.nnn.nnn)
The loaded boards like o]pintail and vangaurd are so sweet for free carving. im savin up for a vangaurd after ive tried it and the pinatil in the store. I would not recommend carveboards because they arent that googd on flatgound cruising because you cant adjust the trucks, so you always have really loose trucks which sucks for tricks and flatgound. fun for carving though, but what do you do when you get to the bottom of the hill...
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Help an idiot English guy with no idea?
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On 8/10/2005
Rich
wrote in from
United Kingdom
(212.134.nnn.nnn)
Can anyone offer me a few words of advice please??
I am looking for a board to replicate surfing and to keep riding when it's flat. I ride a 6'4'' and a 6'10'', and have recently tried a Carveboard, which I just loved. I now want to get my own, but with all the boards around just don't know where top start.... Board size? Wheels? Just a few words of advice would be hugley appreciated...
Love and respect
RVX
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Vanguard
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On 8/3/2005 lonerider
wrote in from
United States
(65.249.nnn.nnn)
Tried emailing you but the email bounced back as user unknown (so I go the mail server address right)
Hi... well the Flex 4 tops out at 170 lbs in terms of recommended weight. If you could shed 10 lbs down to 160 I would recommend that without question. Otherwise it would depend on how faster you are going... If you aren't doing anything steeper than parking garage and doing a lot of flatland pumping... then go for the Flex 4. If you plan to be bombing hills, go for the Flex 3.
Hope that helps
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New Longboarding Club in Boulder, CO
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On 7/30/2005
WAC-Handle
wrote in from
United States
(67.174.nnn.nnn)
WAC Longboarding wants to invite all boarders in the Boulder/Denver area to our weekly Board Meetings every Sunday evening. They are a great chance to meet other local riders and demo some of the latest gear. Once all that is done, we pack it up and ride the local hills 'till the sun goes down. If this sounds interesting check us out at www.waclongboarding.org or email us at waclongboarding@yahoo.com.
MIKE JEFF TANNER ANDREW DAVER CLINT TRAVIS
WAC Longboarding Team
Loaded Carving Systems
And yes, the Vangaurd is the best board I've ever carved on!
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loaded
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On 7/20/2005
liam
wrote in from
United States
(67.22.nnn.nnn)
hey i want the loaded 38" vanguard. i weigh about 170lbs and usually i carry about 10-20lbs of extra weight with me. just wanted to know should i go for the flex 4 (120-170lb)or flex 3 (150-200) some one please drop me a line?
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vanguard carving
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On 7/10/2005
surfinsmiley
wrote in from
United States
(220.106.nnn.nnn)
SO..... thanks for the advice on the boards guys.
I am now the proud owner of a loaded vangard!
Best damn skateboard I`ve ever owned(I`ve only had it a few days).
I am now practising my "freecarve" on the hill that runs past the local hospital everynight.
Come snow season I`ll be ready! Again many thanks.
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Loaded Vanguard Review by a Carver
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On 7/8/2005 lonerider
wrote in from
United States
(67.188.nnn.nnn)
http://www.hardbooter.com/news/archives/39-Loaded-keeps-us-carving-all-summer.html#extended
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Overload..
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On 7/7/2005 PSR
wrote in from
United States
(69.161.nnn.nnn)
Sorry about that... :-0 Got to ramblin'.
As for the resiliency 'list', You did it yourself. Durometer will play a role, as softer usually means bouncier.
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More bushing talk
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On 7/7/2005 lonerider
wrote in from
United States
(67.188.nnn.nnn)
Infomation overload! Could you do a simple scale in terms of which are the most lively?
Yellow Stim > White Khiro > Suregrip Double Action > Clear Radikal ... etc?
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Bushings
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On 7/6/2005 PSR
wrote in from
United States
(69.161.nnn.nnn)
Lonerider, the Sure-Grip double-action urethane bushings are pretty good, though not quite as lively as Tracker's Stimulators. These are just 'short' enough to use as a 'top' bushing (paired with Radikals or Stims) on Randal trucks if you've put in a 1/4" longer kingpin. They work well on most other trucks as a 'bottom' bushing. I like the 'soft' and 'meduim' flavors myself, but bigger riders or faster riders will appreciate that even the 'hard' duro has some bounce to it. The Sundance single-action bushings are a waste of money IF you have to buy them in sets, as the 'top' bushing is way too short to use. The taller 'bottom' bushing is too tall to fit most any current skateboard truck, but is easily trimmed to fit, worth getting a bushing at a time. Hopefully your local RollerRink has similar stuff, and you can buy single bushings.
Bones Hardcores are very good in rebound, fair in durability, but since they're not a 'barrel' shape, are usually used on my trucks as a 'top' bushing. They have more rebound at the medium/firm durometers than most anything else out there. Khiro does well at bounciness in their three softest flavors in terms of bounce, though it's starting to fade in the Red ones. The Whites are super-soft, and only Tracker's baby-blue bushings from a decade+ ago compare for providing silky-soft super-quick turning. The metal inserts (on Whites esp.)can cause the bushing to deform and peel, and you should not use the softer two flavors without a top washer (true too with Bones Hardcores) for Slalom.I do like that Khiro has gone to the trouble of providing different heights of bushings, and their 'Barrel' shape is really nice in Red-or-softer flavors. Tracker's 'Superball' bushings do respectably well, btw, it's just that the 'top' bushing is just a little short for high-lean turning. Doh-Dohs have a great barrel bushing, but a worthless top bushing, and IMHO don't quite go soft enough to be useful in Slalom/Freecarving for lighter riders, but Doh-Doh didn't really have that in mind...
Indeed, only Radikal, Tracker and Khiro have sat down and thought about making trucks turn better by using better shapes and materials for their bushings. Tracker has in the past done some great stuff, Stims notwithstanding. I'm not yet sold on the 'hourglass' as a bottom bushing, but it works great on top. If they would only dig out the formulas used for Stims... Of course, Stims would be quite nice as a re-issue item, but without that magically bouncy 'flubber' stuff they once used, we'd be looking at what Radikal is doing. Radikal in the Red and Clear are quite respectable, and the Blues also still rebound as well as Doh-Doh's do. The harder formulas lack some resilience, but I certainly have seen worse (NHS, for example). Bones came close, certainly they have good urethane, but the shaping isn't vey useful for a bottom bushing. Meanwhile, Randal has improved their bushings (the newer Red conical ones bounce well), but it's still not quite the right shape,, and the washers still are ugly.
So, it's still a matter of cobbling together parts and bits to create the turning action that feels right. Luckily, there's some decent choices of bushings to pick from, but putting together that 'just right' combo takes a fair amount of wrench action, and an ocassional beltsander, too.
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Lively Bushings
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On 7/6/2005 lonerider
wrote in from
United States
(65.249.nnn.nnn)
Is it just the Suregrip "Dance" bushings? I've found Single/Double/Power "cushions" for sale here - http://www.netskate.com/qplparts.asp#sgpt (I guess I could drop by my local rollerskating rinks). You say these are very lively, I noticed you also mentioned the white khiro barrel bushing. I didn't like the blue conical bushings with the built-in washers that much... they were ok, but didn't feel that lively. Do you feel that the Khiros or the Bones Hardcore softs are more lively than the Radikals?
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Carvestik + bombing...
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On 7/5/2005 PSR
wrote in from
United States
(69.161.nnn.nnn)
Yeah, I Love the Carvestick for it's lean and steering. Going fairly fast wasn't hard to do, BUT, Footbraking damn near spilt blood! Having a board that steers quickly, makes sharp turns, and can Bomb a hill, that's one of those things that has proven to be very difficult to create. Loaded boards seem to be a good blend of manuverability, speed, and pumping flex. Insect and Comet also seem to have that blend in some of their decks.
Lonerider, bushings are amazing little 'tune-up' features, far and away the most cost-effective means of improving a board's steering. The shortage (now) of Stims is entirely my bad. If I had just kept that little bit of info to myself a few years back... The Radikal bushings in the softer duros are luckily a good substitute. Lucky for us that when Mark sees that he needs something, he just goes and gets it made. For other higher-rebound/softer bushings, take a good close look at what the local RollerRink has to offer. "Dance" bushings in the softer duros seem to be fairly lively, and are usually a taller, square-shoulder shape.
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Loaded with Radikal Bushings
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On 7/5/2005
lonerider
wrote in from
United States
(65.249.nnn.nnn)
I love my Loaded Vanguard (recommended to me by PSR I believe), it is the first skateboard I've ever owned as I am a longtime carving snowboarder who was looking for something to do during the warm months. I weigh 150 lbs and I have the flex 4 which I like a lot (rides like no other longboard I have ridden). I have it setup with Randall R2-180s which carve great ... *if* you get the right type of bushings. I started out with Khiro medium blue bushing and they were pretty good and I liked the Loaded already... but a few months later I took PSR's advice (again) and got some Radikal bushings (buy a pack of 10 at radikaltrucks.com), sanded them down to fit the trucks and put them in... *so* much of a difference. I really love the Loaded board now! Maybe since you've skateboarded for a while it's not surprising for you, but for me... switching out these tiny things that cost $3 and completely improving the ride was a big surprise. I know people talk about Yellow Stims, but they just aren't easy to get anymore... eventually I'm going to try some Bones Hardcore Soft bushings to see if they have more rebound... but I'm definitely satisfied with the Radikal bushings.
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carving boards
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On 7/4/2005
surfinsmiley
wrote in from
United States
(220.99.nnn.nnn)
I forgot to say why not a carve stick. I hear they are not fond of high speed runs.
I live in downdown tokyo and the traffic is deadly. Alot of times when I`m carving hills the traffic will come in big lumps and force me to bomb straight downhill, after the traffic has cleared I just try to slide off most of the speed before resuming controlled carving. Most of the roads I use are single lane at best so I also need to consider that I am forced to go (to) fast at times.
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carving boards
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On 7/4/2005
surfinsmiley
wrote in from
United States
(220.99.nnn.nnn)
Thanks PSR,
I have read lots of your stuff, both here and on the snow carving site. It sounds like you know what your about, and looks like it too in the videos!
With regards to flexboardz, I think alot of people are just watching and wondering how good they`ll be. I`ve actually been in contact with them urging them to send out some demo models to people like yourself.
Maybe you could try to get a demo off them directly?
I think I`ll get myself a loaded vangaurd for starters.
I`m also into kiting with my dirtsurfer, so I`m also thinking I`ll get a flight deck from ground industries and some of the giant urethane wheels they offer to make it a dual purpose board, Kite on the beach and carve on the roads.
Thanks for your advice and help.
I`ll get back to you on the snow site about a snowboard set-up.
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Training for Snow
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On 7/3/2005 PSR
wrote in from
United States
(69.161.nnn.nnn)
The best board for lean that uses urethane wheels is the little brother of the Carveboard, The Carvestik. It turns very sharp turns, and dosen't cost or weigh as much as the Carveboard. However, it lacks adjustability in the trucks, and thus you're 'stuck' at certain level of resistance underfoot, which curtails the speed potential a fair bit.
Original Trucks, with their single/spring/cam turning action can Lean and really crank Tight turns. Paired with sticky urethane like Red Avalons or 75A Abec 11 Grippens, you can make arcs that'll almost scare you, even on longer 'traditional' pintails. Add camber and a medium flex to that pinner, and you've got a seriously flowing ride.
Loaded decks seem to have only one 'weak spot', that being energy return. They're flex rated, so I may have been on a deck too soft for my needs (it was 'correct' for my weight, but I still bent it pretty deeply). However, Loaded is Definately making Quality stuff, and these decks can be set-up for your tastes by choosing the truck/wheel combo to suit your local hills. Loaded boards LIKE deep pumping turns, and Love sticky wheels.
For 'Surfy' look into Seismics or Randals R-II's. For more aggressive speeds maybe Tracker Darts/RTS or a 'speed' truck like Jim Z's or Randal R-I's. Going bigger on the wheels, from the 70mm/soft catagory up to 76mm/medium-soft might also help haul along, so long as Wheel Bite dosen't rear it's ugly head.
I haven't tried the 'Loaded Hammerhead', but the idea is Very intriguing to me, and I'd think one could lay in some nice arcs with that board! Silverfish has a rewiew on that board, with very positive feedback.
The 'Flexboards' too seem to have great promise, yet I'm a bit concerned with 'return-to-center' feel (the BMW totally lacked that,like having someone put a Ford Expedition steering rack into your M-3,and then overboosting the powersteering pump), as well as the turn radius. Anyone try one?? [I'd love to hear about these!]
Meanwhile, Surfinsmiley, put some better trucks (Seismic,Exate,Asphaltplayground) on your 40", and maybe upgrade the traction/speed of your wheels by getting stickier Slalom/G.S. wheels (Abec 11 Gumballs,big Manx,3DM Avillas) on it to get more steering, grip, speed out of the board.
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snow carving trainer
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On 7/3/2005
surfinsmiley
wrote in from
United States
(220.99.nnn.nnn)
Hi guys and gals,
I am looking for a skater for training freecarve snowboarding during the summer. I just started snowboarding last year because I moved to Japan.
Saw some dudes "carving" and instantly knew that was the direction I wanted to go.
I had a freeboard but that just gave me bad habits. I still have a dirtsurfer and a 40" board with indy trucks and soft wheels, both fantastic, but not really like snowboard carving.
I want the most carve orientated skateboard in production.
My friend has a carveboard that I totally love.
I`ve never ridden randals but I think the loaded vangaurd looks good. Originals and seismics also look great.
The one that has most caught my attention on the net is the ground industries street machine.
Also a new french company "flexboardz" sound like they have the old "BMW" steering system in a bigger but lighter series of boards.
Please help. I have 25 years surfing and skateboarding expirence, but I really don`t know where to start with a dedicated carving skater.
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Carving Randals
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On 6/24/2005 PSR
wrote in from
United States
(69.161.nnn.nnn)
If you like 'em, that's probably a 'good thing'. Randal's do well stock, but Really come alive with a bushing re-fit, and when the 'just right' amount of wedging is dialed in. Khiro's wedge-kit is a good buy for those willing to tinker with that kind of thing.
Gullwing's "Cruiser" is similar, maybe a tad taller?, and seems to be fairly well recieved, but I haven't been on them but twice.
IIf you're serious about Speed, and Grip, then look into trucks like Jim-Z's.
Here's a link below.
http://www.speedparts.ca/
Seismic has spring-loaded trucks that feel a bit different, kind of just roll off into turns, and push you back to center. Nice for a surfy feel with softer springs, a bit quicker 'edge-to-edge' when fitted with medium-stiff springs. They, like Randal, also come in two different steering geometries (30* and 45*) for stable turns or quicker turns. Also, they do well when 'wedged' just so...
Tracker's Dart, and Sixtrac seem to carve well, but not as deep a turn as Randals.
Both GrindKing and Webb have 'longboard' trucks out that steer more aggresively.
I still like the small-roller Z-Rollers for that kind of dual-purpose truck, one that carves well, but also will deal with the 'urban obstacle' factor, like that tasty tar embankment down the local drive-thru...
Then there's "Uptrucks", which feature a bonded urethane construction for a smoother turn and ride. I haven't tried them yet, but hope too soon!
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trucks
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On 6/23/2005 chris
wrote in from
United States
(68.80.nnn.nnn)
hey i was wondering if anyone could tell me of any other good carving trucks like the randals because i am thinking of getting another pair
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Carvin' Snow
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On 5/13/2005 PSR
wrote in from
United States
(69.161.nnn.nnn)
Thanks for the props Trish! Curt, btw, once had a vid snippett online where he carved one of those 360* carves around an entire Ski-School Instructor's Clinic, who had put themselves right smack in the Middle of the trail. It was classic(I say this as a Full-Cert AASI Instructor) PSIA "do as we say, not as we do". ALL of the Instructor's heads turn in sync as Curt barrels at them, below them, back Uphill around them, and then along on his merry way! I made sure the Ski-School Director saw that, but not before showing it to the Snowboard School Staff!
You can clearly see JG's(of Madd Mike's Raceboard fame) influence on Curt's style, what with the loose arms and all.I only wish I could Bend like he does! He's one of the best 'ice riders' I've seen, absolutely carves Every frippin' turn, no matter how sketch the conditions. That's why he rides Madds boards almost exclusively. I prefer the bigger boards like my Tanker. The one I used (besides my Madds 158) in this vid is my midsized 182cm. I also run a 162cm and a 200cm Tanker, which are great freecarving/freeriding boards, as they grip on Eastern Ice, and yet float in the Fluffy stuff quite well. I ride both hardshells and softboots, but prefer hardboots for use on the skinny boards(like the Madds or the Coiler)and on the bigger Rad-Air Tankers. I only wish I could get that much body-lean and edge-grip from a skateboard, but if I did, I'd likely end up eating a guardrail along the way!
Still, Skateboarding is the cross-training one should have if you want to rule come wintertime. The nice thing is that Snowboarding then becomes your crosstraining for the Summer months. Nice how that works out! ;-D
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PSR video
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On 5/13/2005 Utah Trish
wrote in from
United States
(63.230.nnn.nnn)
Hey PSR,
That was a way cool video. I live in the valley of snow and I was a ski instuctor at one time (PSIA!) but I now favor the heat and Mnt. Biking and longboarding. But after seeing your snowboarding and how much it is like longboarding, I am definantly going to buy a board and fill the gap from the winter blaaaas to summer. You and your buddies rock! Thanks for the inspiration.
Utah trish
Proud charter member of the downhillbillies
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