Got a thing for speed and do you live for the adrenaline rush? Did you know that you can experience experience riding at high speeds with your skateboard and a little help from gravity?
There’s a variety of ways on how you can enjoy your skateboard and one of them is downhill longboarding.
Speeding Downhill On A Longboard
Downhill longboarding is a sport that involves a downhill road, a skater and his longboard skateboard. There are different variations. Some involve a skater standing up on the board, others crunch down while some lay down. Nevertheless, its a sport that packs up speed, which is why it could be dangerous.
Some consider the adrenaline rush as a fair trade to bruised or scraped skin and other injured body parts. Skaters are well informed about the risk of serious injury even when they are wearing protective gear. Nonetheless, many still choose the sport for the love of speed and for the love of the game.
North Carolina Downhill Longboarding
Here in the North Carolina, the roads aren’t as steep as those in the Rocky Mountains but that doesn’t mean that it’s easier to do the sport. The roads here tend to be more winding and the condition of roads vary.
Potholes, gravel deposits and unpaved portions are only some of the road issues the skaters face. Local skaters scout roads firsthand to test their skills and to assess whether the roads are suitable for any local event they’d want to organize.
Gearing Up For The Ride
Before you scout for downhill roads in your vicinity and get serious about downhill longboarding, it is best to equip yourself with the right gear. Here are the things you should ready:
1. Longboard
A high quality longboard is the best option. You wouldn’t want to entrust your life with just any board. You may already have a board you use for skating but you should still make sure that it is suitable for supporting you during your downhill descent.
One thing to remember is to get a board that’s a bit concave so that your feet won’t easily slip off the back or the front. You need this especially when the speed is up Longboards come in a variety of sizes, shapes and materials. For more details about how you should choose a longboard, read our post on Choosing The Right Longboard.
2. Helmet
Helmets are a staple to any extreme sport and you shouldn’t skip on wearing them. It can save your life no matter how goofy you think they look. In selecting a helmet, make sure that it fits your head perfectly so it doesn’t get in the way of your vision.
Select either a hard foam half shell helmet or go for a more badass look by getting a full faced helmet. It doesn’t only look cool, it adds to your safety too.
3. Gloves
Whether you get them as a set with your helmet, separately or create your own, make sure you wear gloves to save your fingers and hands from being twisted. Putting your hands on the pavement while riding helps provide better stability while cornering slides. It’s definitely a must-have for any downhill skater.
When choosing gloves for longboarding, make sure you consider the position and material of the puck attached to the gloves. There are some with just a puck on the palm while others have additional pucks on the fingers and thumb area.
4. Elbow Pads And Knee Pads
Further protection against concrete is offered by elbowpads and kneepads. Invest in these and you can be less fearful about taking on speed. You will definitely skid out but with these will help protect your joints.
When choosing elbow pads and knee pads, you need to find the right balance between durability and flexibility. You’d want something that wouldn’t easily tear apart upon impact and you’d also want something that you can move in.
Before you begin…
If you think that getting your gear is the only preparation you need to start with downhill longboarding, then your wrong. Before you head out for the downhill ride, you first need to know the basic techniques.
Sure you know how to ride your longboard but do you know what to do when it takes up so much speed on the way down? If you want to avoid unnecessary pain while learning the ropes, you first need to learn the techniques. And that my friend is our topic on our next post.
