Why I suck at "longboarding"

[stringtheory]

Although I'm a fairly young guy (33), I've been skating in one form or another for 23 years, 10 of them on longboards. But, after a year and a few months on Silverfish, I have come to realize that I suck at "longboarding." I've compiled a small list of the reasons why. Enjoy.

-I have never owned Big Zigs in any color. Or Zigs for that matter.
-Sometimes I just leave the stock bushings in my trucks and skate them till they die.
-I learned to skog without paying $150. per hr for lessons. Then I never did it again.
-I think it's OK to own a Dervish if that's what floats your boat.
-I have only been in flash chat 4 times, and never said anything but "hi."
-I didn't hate on Randal when Paris came around, then flip my script a few months later.
-I take people to my spots to skate and could care less if they take others.
-I have friends who skate only skate street and transition.
-I don't think Kracked Skulls is the answer to every beginners needs.
-I can ollie.
-I bought loaded slide gloves.
-I think S9 makes good boards, some of them great.
-To me, Venoms are good, but not the greatest thing in the world.
-I did not try to learn to dance after watching the Devish promo video.
-I learned to cross step 10 years ago, because that's what I do when I surf, not because the Adam's made it look fun.
-I actually know which duro is best for sliding...it's on the D scale.
-I have always liked round lipped wheels better.
-I am not raping the gnar with my mega steez, nor do I want to.
-I own more sets of S9 race wheels than ABEC 11's.
-I do not try to out physics the manufacturers on this site.
-I do not tell manufactures how to run their business or what they "should do."
-I can and do still enjoy No Complies, but I can't do them on a longboard.
-Sometimes I invite "longboarders" to skate bowls with me, they usually decline =/.
-I don't put stickers on my boards.
-I have never tried to download Jam Bells.
-I don't like paragliding helmets, they scare me.
-I have never broken out of the 40's (mph) and don't plan to, unless it just happens.
-I believe all "longboarders" should learn skate street, or at least try.
-I know bearings can not make you go faster. But some DO take abuse better than others.
-I throw in some street skating tricks when I'm sliding a hill, mega gay huh?
-I do not wear skateboarding T-shirts every single day...sometimes I wear no name ####.
-I skate in $15. sneakers.
-I have never answered a post with 'Fail."
-I have never answered a post with "Win!"
-I think skitching is the path to brain injuries.
-I am polite to cops and rent a cops alike.
-I know if you want to be a non conformist you just have to wear the same clothes, have the same haircut, and listen to the same music as the other non conformists.
-I own 1 pair of precision trucks.
-Last but not least, I call "longboarding" skating.

Hope you had fun, please bring on the "Phail!"

[Momona Boe]

I always liked you Stringy - that just cemented it!

[stringtheory]

Thank you sir!

BTW, you ever get in touch with Todd at Gardensk8? Apparently the bowl is not 100% yet, but I saw it a few weeks ago and it's so crazy! If you haven't yet, you have to make a field trip over there. It's just gnarly!

[mc99david]

we have a lot in common, well put.. and it totaly agree that everyone should skate street, and tranny, just to be well rounded skaters

[stringtheory]

Actually Dave, I'd given up transition for a while, but skated it a bunch when I was younger. It was vids of you and your brother that made me go skate bowls again. No kidding. I remember you saying in a post that you would go to the skatepark early every day before work and just hit it. That was inspiring to me. =)

[Momona Boe]

Thank you sir!

BTW, you ever get in touch with Todd at Gardensk8? Apparently the bowl is not 100% yet, but I saw it a few weeks ago and it's so crazy! If you haven't yet, you have to make a field trip over there. It's just gnarly!

NO dude, I totally suck!!!! I've just been busy as crap with races and my bands.

But racing ends this weekend, so after that I wanna get over there and check it out.

Please tell Todd that I'm sorry for being so lame and to email me. I'd still love to help him out any way I can.

[stringtheory]

Np, I will pass along the message. Let me know when you head out, I'll make it up there that day as well.

[mc99david]

thats awesome, i'm glad i inspired you.. sadly those days are long gone now.. married, 2 kids, and a job i have to wear a suit for every day, later.. and skating before work never works now.. but man those were good times..

[stringtheory]

I hear you bro, I'm married as well and also work in finance. No bambino's yet, but in the next year or so we begin trying. Lol...

The good thing is my wife started learning to skate last spring, and I take to all sessions now. She can actually slide now...it's kind of nerve racking and scary. Haha...

[pennypusher]

great post string,like it allot.

-I bought loaded slide gloves. i did not know this would make me suck at longboarding.
i bought them also..

I skate in $15. sneakers.
didnt you know that unless you have the 1400.00 nikes you shouldnt even stand on a board

NIKE DS SB WHAT THE DUNK 9.5 SUPREME PARIS PIGEON DENIM - eBay (item 290262577147 end time Nov-21-08 07:16:54 PST)

[bucksaw87]

win



does this mean i fail?

[mc99david]

my wife isnt to the sliding part by any means, but she pushes around a little, and even that scares me..

I'm in financial services also, mostly insurance. doing group benefits right now.. what do you do?

[stringtheory]

Mostly straight up stock and etf investing for a flat fee. i.e. 1%

I've had my 7 and 66 for almost a decade. Although, when I started it was a 7 and a 63 and 65. I've also had insurance licenses in the past, life, health and variable lines. But I haven't sold insurance in almost 5 years, my licenses are dead now.

[concreteSwell]

Fantastic frickin post. I'm with ya!

[Pat S]

-I throw in some street skating tricks when I'm sliding a hill, mega gay huh?

oddly enough.... so does wells. Hmmm, you may be onto something here.

We should skate a bowl or miniramp sometime- no street for me. I'd like to but I just blow at it and i;m still in the really frustrating stage and I normally just get hurt and pissed off. Someday though..... I really need to get a consistent ollie and pop shuv-it.

Stamford closes this weekend (i think), does sayreville close for the winter?

[stringtheory]

Sayerville strangely enough seems to never be closed. When it opened a few years back, there were rules and stuff and big lights at night. I don't know what happened, but the rules went out the window, they stopped turning the lights on at night in the winter, and the place pretty much is anarchy nowadays. They do clean up the graffiti every once in a while though.

I've skated it many times in the winter at night with barely any lights. In fact, that's how I got knocked out there, lol....

[Braden343]

I agree with most of this, especially learning to street skate, I am by no means great, but I get out and do it almost every day, because its just as much fun as any other discipline.

I admit I do skate in shoes that are more than $15, but only because they are what I am comfortable in, so I feel the extra $20 to feel more comfortable on boards I skate on 2 hours a day is well worth it.

[stringtheory]

I hear that man. Don't get me wrong, I also own a few pairs of ipaths because I like them. But when it comes to skating, I use starbury's...pretty much any style. I kill soles too fast for me to keep buying $70.+ sneakers every month and half. I also fall and rip shoes when I slide.

[SgtSparkles]

ummmm....haha...i was totally down with that till...umm the skate shirt every day. they give me those shirts, and i ruined all my others, its not my fault man

[longboardorific]

i think you suck at longboarding because you overanalyze and stereotype a group of people on the internet when you should be skating