By Marti Schodt
If you leave the house on a semi-regular basis, you’ve probably seen kids, and adults, riding around town on what appear to be mutant skateboards. Rest assured, we are not facing a hoodlum invasion. What we’re experiencing is the beginning of a booming trend among the young and the young at heart: longboarding.
As a nineteen-year-old college student, you’d think I’d be well informed on the topic, but truth be told I’m just as bamboozled as you. How do they balance on those wobbly contraptions?! So I went to my much hipper friends to bring you a breakdown of the newest and coolest sport around. Together, we’ll get with it. Or get the deats. Whatever the kids are saying these days.
Gavin Brown: The Trendsetter
Gavin Brown, always ahead of the curve, took up longboarding in 2008. “My dad bought a longboard and never really used it, so my brothers and I took it over,” said Brown. “We learned how to ride together.”
Brown began with a basic board, and has since upgraded to a custom creation of his own imagination. Longboards, like cars, are completely individualized to the rider. “There’s different kinds of boards. Some are designed for speed; others are made for cruising,” said Brown.
Speed riding consists of racing down hills at high speeds and is pretty dangerous, even for the most experienced of rider. Cruising is more low-key, and involves drifting along a nice trail or sidewalk. Brown practices both styles and his board, Sasha, loyally takes him wherever he wants to go.
Sasha is a classy lady, worth an estimated $300. Her price comes from the graphic on her deck, and the loving care put into her overall construction. “Longboarding is an expensive hobby,” said Brown, “But it’s worth it for the freedom of a good ride.”
Jessie Santillan: The Experienced Boarder
Jessie Santillan began longboarding in 2010 after riding down a hill on one of his friend’s boards. “It was such an adrellenine rush. I loved it,” said Santillan.
Shortly after, Santillan bought a board from Daddies Board Shop in Seattle and has been riding ever since. Santillan and his board, Richard, frequent McAllister Park with partner in crime, Brown, where hills are abundant and thrills are endless. Both have received numerous cuts and bruises; Brown has even broken his foot, but nonetheless they ride on.
Santillan explains that aside from hill riding and cruising, tricking is a common practice among boarders. He demonstrates “dancing” on his board, which is exactly what it sounds like. As the board rolls along the Chehalis Western Trail, Santillan does a kind of jig atop it, moving and crossing his feet while keeping balanced. He further explains a “tuck” which involves folding into yourself to enhance aerodynamics when traveling downhill. “People get crazy with tricking,” said Santillan, “There’s some incredibly talented people out there, and they’re always finding new ways to ride. It’s constantly evolving.”
Ethan Metzger: The Newbie
Ethan Metzger bought his board in June 2013 and is just getting into the longboarding lifestyle. “I finally had some spare time and money and I’d been wanting to get into it for a while.,” he said.
Ethan is mainly interested in cruising and considers it more of a hobby than a passion. “Longboarding is whatever you make it,” said Metzger. “Some people are seriously dedicated, I’d rather just chill with my friends.”
Metzger has christened his board “Angie,” and admits she’s a work in progress. “I got the super basic board,” said Metzger. “I’m definitely looking to upgrade before I head off to college.” Metzger and Brown will be leaving for college in the next few weeks and are adamant about continuing their riding.
Longboarding is a popular mode of transportation for college students looking to get to class in a speedy and fashionable manner, and if there happen to be some large hills on the way to class, well that’s all the better.
Brown, Santillan, and Metzger have formed a little longboarding community built on a foundation of friendship and adventure. They come for the boarding; they stay for the conversation and imminent injury. If your friends aren’t as cool, you can meet up with fellow longboarders through the facebook group, Local Longboarders, administrated by Brown and open to anyone interested in the sport.
