Longboarding

A Who, What, Why & Where of Longboard Skateboarding written by Skate Project Mentor, Wesley Knowler.

Downhill Longboarding Falmouth Style.

Aloha Everyone,

I was thinking the other day, (dangerous stuff I know), and I realized that some of you guys who are thinking of coming to skateboard club may be a little confused as to why we make the boards we do. That longer, more flexible, old-school shape that’s really different to what most people ride. I mean, if any of you know anyone who skates, chances are they ride that shorter, stiffer, modern kind of board. Almost, Blind, Plan B: those kinda’ brands. But here at the Bideford College Skate Project we make longboards.

Longboarding is a kind of break-away style of regular skateboarding, and sticks more closely to a carvy, old school feel. Because after all, skateboards were originally designed to replicate the feeling of surfing, but on concrete. And that’s what modern day longboards do: they’re very smooth, fast boards designed for street-carving and insane downhill, with flexible wood and awesome graphics: designed to replicate the feel of surfing.

Longboarding is popular worldwide, with big scenes in California, Cornwall (bizarrely), large areas of South America, and a growing Asian scene in China and Japan. It’s normally considered more laid back than shortboard skating: just a good bunch of mates going out to find some hills. But some people take this to a whole other level. Several longboard skateboard companies send groups of their riders off into the heart of Peru or high into the Andes in search of great hills to ride. A great example of this would be Loaded skateboards recent monumental skate trek across Morocco or Westward Ho’s very own Sam Benson and his insane-4000km-Devon too Santander-challenge . It’s this kind of “adventure” culture that separates Longboard Skateboarding from regular skating that really appeals to me, and is one of the many reasons why I prefer it.

All in all, it’s a laugh, it’s a great way to exercise, it’s something to do this summer, you’ll meet new people, and it’s a lot of fun.

So go see Mr. Fordham, sign up, build your longboard and get out there and skate guys. It’s the best.

See you on the hill!

Wes.