The Definition of Stoke
The East Coast “kids of the future:” Chris Ono Buono, Pat Schep, Keith Rebhorn and Jeremy Ross went on an epic spring break journey to the fabled mountains of the Old South and the images you are about to see are indeed from this trip and are actually on the East Coast. The trip they took is something we all dream of and I am so happy to help them share this experience. There is nothing like getting your friends in a car, forgetting the real world, and just going to find and conquer the gnarliest terrain in your way. Buckle up for their tale of what the word stoke really means.
Anthony – Pat give me a quick run down of your trip.
Pat Schep – After spending much of the winter virtually exploring the NC mountains on google maps, I knew where I wanted to spend my spring break. I invited a lot of people to come out and spend the week with us in NC, but in the end it just ended up being myself, Keith Rebhorn, Chris Buono, and we met up with Jeremy Ross for a bit once we were in NC. We started the week with an itinerary and a list of hills we wanted to hit…. but we then ended up just winging the whole week and just playing things by ear. The week is one long blur of skating, sleeping, drinking, and just hanging out in awesome places with some of my best friends.
Anthony – What drove you guys to go on this hill search mission and what did you find?
Pat – Myself and Madison Blake had spent a lot of time in google maps scoping out new possible gnarly spots over the winter and while many people flock to the west coast for gnarly skating, I wanted to prove to myself and others that the east coast had just as awesome terrain. We ended up finding a gold mine of gnarly technical hills…. Multiple steeeep 3+ mile runs with over 15 hairpins.
Chris Ono – Well it was a very long and hard winter for all of us on the east coast, the most snow fall in some areas in 100yrs. So naturally the DH itch turned in to a full out rash, that only Google Earth could help find the cure for the first nice weekend to go all out and shred the gnarliest roads on the east coast. I feel that the east coast longboarding seen is not recognized enough. Everybody thinks it’s all out west. East coast has “IT” in our own back yards and in our riders. This trip was a trip to show that we have bigger then life mountain runs that you only dream about, self endurance, and above all throw myself down a mountain road and have as much FUN as possible I have found Happiness in the Blue ridge. From 23 + hair pin roads, to 60mph runs passing Semi trucks, to a 7 mile leg burner, to “The secret Surf Spot” When we go to the west coast they won’t believe we came from the East coast.
Anthony – What was your favorite part of the trip?
Chris – SO hard to pick one. Skate wise, that fact that some roads took 20mins to drive up and 15mins to skate down and the roads were never straight and the mountain views that came along with the rides.
Hang out wise, after a long day of riding; we ended up at a Chinese Buffet. Witch was the best idea ever because we didn’t eat all day and skated 8 hours. I made a less then appropriate joke to Keith and Pat,it sent Pat in to an uncontrolled crying his eyes out laughter for about 5 minutes!!!!! My cheeks hurt so badly from laughing at him after that!!!(If you see pat hum the chicken dance song)
Pat – Probably the night we camped at the bottom of this gnarly hill right on a river. The campground wasn’t even technically open for the year so we had the whole place to ourselves and it was just an awesome time.
Anthony – What’s riding the gnarliest roads ever found on the east coast like?
Pat – Scary as hell. Hahah not really, the first few runs are always somewhat terrifying but once you get warmed up its really fun. You really have to be on top of your shit because the consequences for messing up on these roads are pretty harsh.
Chris – SO MUCH FUN!!!! To wake up in the morning grab your deck and bomb 3 miles down a mountain with 20 hairpins at 15% grade for your warm up run!!! And on the EAST coast at that!!!! You can’t beat it!! And that we rode so much that what we skated in the morning felt like we skate the day before by the end of the day.
Anthony – How many hairpins did you skate throughout your trip would you guess?
Pat – At least 70 different ones and probably 250+ hairpins total.
Anthony – What drives you to drop everything and go out and explore the world like this and do you realize most people don’t do things like that?
Pat – We kept realizing this fact at various points throughout the week and kept tripping out about it hahaha.
I do it because I love the adventure of driving to new places and seeing awesome new things. Skating gnarly roads is awesome, but half the fun is getting and being there with your friends.
Chris – An unexpected dream come true. I just love to skate and have fun. My drive is to not be the fastest or best, but the one having the most fun. I think at the end of the winter I started to realize that not every body skates at this level. Honestly I had no idea. I thought we were a small group on the east coast doing it along with other groups riding mountains. Keith and Pat explained to me that not every body rides like us and were we do. I think its funny really. I’m so use to hanging out in the mountains and skate with my friends in small groups. I forget that this sport is growing so fast and there are so many riders. I must be doing something right? I did something worth an interview!
Anthony – How do you safely skate roads like this?
Pat – Always slide before the turn so you can stay in your lane coming through it. Push yourself, but stay within your limits… on roads like this getting down safely is the number one priority, not getting down fast. It is always smarter to err on the side of caution.
Chris – Early spring, late fall, after the trees have died for starters. This way you can see down the mountain to see were cars are. Always drive up and scout the road first so you know if there are down trees or big rocks. STAY IN YOUR LANE unless your 100% there is no cars coming up. Blind turns, wait till you can see your exit and that it’s clear if you need to cut lanes. STAY in your limits. Mountain roads are no joke you can die. Would you jump off a rocky cliff? Would you jump off a rocky cliff at 35 mph? A 100% coleman slide (pendy) you need this, nice clean narrow and controlled if you don’t have this don’t bother trying mountains. Most of all have fun! Keep your self in check so you can live another day to tell your stories.
Anthony – What advice can you give to kids getting started downhilling on the east coast?
Pat – Learn to slide and/or footbrake at any speed you plan on hitting, skating safe is more important than skating fast, and never forget to have fun!
Chris – If your new to this sport and you found this interview on Beastcoastlongboaring.com your on the right track! Every body on this site is friendly and helpful. No bs like the fish.
Skate buddy: Find someone around your skill level to push each other. And when you get the chance ride with more experienced riders they will teach you every thing you want to know, and things you haven’t thought about.
BE SAFE you know what to do with this one. This sport is growing very fast now. That means more newbs on boards, it only take one person to ruin a good thing. Death is never cool. PLEASE PLEASE wear your shit! I’m down to ride with any body any time, I’ll teach you every thing I know, but if you don’t have a helmet on, don’t bother me.
Most of all if you’re a new skater. You need to fall down a lot, if you’re not falling your not trying hard enough! But most importantly HAVE FUN!!!!
Anthony – This trip in five words or less, go.
Chris – IT’S ONLY MARCH, WHAT NEXT?
To see the full photo gallery from their trip check out Keith’s flickr here.
