LIVESTRONG 24-hour Ultra Skate -- Seattle and beyond

[pavedwave]

I'm hoping it rains out the Oct 10 date. My birthday is October 9 (hint hint) and I will be taking a little vacation with my gf that weekend. The weekend of the 17th is wide open and I should be completely refreshed and ready to rock.

Happy Birthday in advance Ken!

October is sketchier as far as weathers concerned, so there's actually a chance for a postponement. If so, we'd first move from the 10th (Friday) to 11th (Saturday) and if that rains out, we'll push it to the following weekend. We'll make the call middle of next week.

Rain is organizing a Food Drive for the Seattle ride and will be picking your brain about that Ken.

We've got the most 24-hour riders of any previous Ultraskate, in three different countries now, UK, US, and NewZealand!

Sign up's on NCDSA for 24-hour attempts, people riding for personal bests, and those skating for support.

[kenofseattle]

Happy Birthday in advance Ken!

October is sketchier as far as weathers concerned, so there's actually a chance for a postponement. If so, we'd first move from the 10th (Friday) to 11th (Saturday) and if that rains out, we'll push it to the following weekend. We'll make the call middle of next week.

Rain is organizing a Food Drive for the Seattle ride and will be picking your brain about that Ken.

We've got the most 24-hour riders of any previous Ultraskate, in three different countries now, UK, US, and NewZealand!

Sign up's on NCDSA for 24-hour attempts, people riding for personal bests, and those skating for support.

Thanks James!!

I wouldn't mind if you postponed the 24 HR... but if it goes down without me I'll live. It really is fun riding along in the middle of the night chatting about insane things back and forth.You can't appreciate that quiet and night weirdness until you've done it.

As for the Food Drive, I DO have a plan, and I WOULD gladly lend my support for the effort. There are rules about soliciting donations in a public park, but I was thinking about obtaining space in a parking lot near greenlake where we can accept food drop. That way people who come to the lake can stop by the donation station on the way to and from cheering on, or riding with James and Co.

So that's my idea. I'm thinking I'll set up a tent, some barrels, and music, and a grill for some weenies and then maybe we'll rip cones or do some longboard dancing in the parking lot. Once we've met our goal, we can go check on James a few blocks away?

I was hoping to bring the next big haul of goods to Ballard Food Bank at 70th and 24th NW.

LMK if this sounds reasonable and/or fun. I think it will work if we get the word out well in advance and hit up everyone we know for donations. It would be great to break the old record of 400 lbs and go all the way to 500 lbs! Think of all the meals that 500 lbs of food could provide! Thanks, Rain for taking this on. I'll be glad to jump in and help with trucks and some shadies to help do the hauling!

[Gecko]

Good luck to all on this one as I'm not going to make it out there, but I'll make sure I pump a few miles at home with you.

I hope you reach the 500 pound mark too!!!

[Gecko]

So it's this weekend, right?
How's the weather looking?

[pavedwave]

Yep Gecko, the last week always gets a bit manic. This one's no different

The Seattle ride starts at 8 AM Saturday at the Stadium corner of Greenlake. Friday looks clear with chance of rain 20%, Saturday and Sunday improve to 10% chance of rain so we're moving it out a day.

Ken, your humor will be seriously missed. Especially those late night early morning boosts.... Next time for sure bro. Thanks for helping Rain out on the food drive advice...

Rain's collecting canned food donations for Food Lifeline this time:
Food Lifeline - Working to Feed Hungry People in Western Washington

A New Zealand crew is joining the insanity, as well as Eric from Texas once again!! So it's San Diego, Seattle, Houston, UK, and NZ now. 34 riders on NCDSA so far, including a Viagra spambot that keeps trying to sign up

Northwest buzz here:
Forum thread: 24-Hour ULTRASKATE V - October 10th 2008

pavedwave longboarding :: Ultraskate V - October 2008 - Skatefurther & Pavedwave

[pavedwave]

Rain's Food Drive Thread is here
Forum thread: Ultra-Skate Food Drive

This has been VERY low key, very low-promo, so Seattleites please spread the word to friends / family you know.

Encourage them to drop by Greenlake near the stadium where skaters and supporters will be camped and collecting canned food donations --- protein-rich foods like Tuna fish and Peanut butter are especially needed.

Food Lifeline - Working to Feed Hungry People in Western Washington

Thanks again Rain!!!

[samhell]

I'm signed up.
Here in SD, it will be myself, Rodgon, Thane (Griffinsk8), Yandall,
possibly sleeveless..
We'll keep you posted on everything.

[Gecko]

Good luck to you all!
Can't wait to hear how it goes.

[pavedwave]

I'm signed up.
Here in SD, it will be myself, Rodgon, Thane (Griffinsk8), Yandall,
possibly sleeveless..
We'll keep you posted on everything.

Awesome!!

Well if my math and reports are correct, Rodgon (and crew?) should have launched in San Diego a few hours ago this morning, and the UK tribe over in Dorney about one hour ago!!

Rob mentioned that the NZ start might be delayed due to working out some last minute lap-specifics -- will report if anything else comes this way.

And Eric should be kicking off tonight in Houston at 8 p.m., while Seattle finishes carbo-loading and tries to sleep soundly before tomorrow morning's launch!

[pavedwave]

Text from the UK:

"We got booted out. End. A strategic rethink is needed..."

i guess Dorney park shut them down at midnight, 4 hours into it.

Bollocks!

then half an hour later...

"We start at 8 AM. Bring on the 10-hour challenge!"

Brilliant!!

And on the U.S. side...

Eric Lowell was amped, so he kicked off his ride in Houston at 6 p.m. -- going for 200 miles or bust! And who knows, he's near a popo station so there might be a bust

[rodgon]

So reporting from my night, ill post a thorough report later on, but just wanted to say that i was able to complete 107 miles. only stopping because of a kid and a bike hitting me. ^_^

[samhell]

Rodgon, right on man!
Sleeveless, Thane and myself did Murray Lake.
It's 5.66 miles to the end of the trail and back.
It's not a flat area, many uphills and downhills,
very rolling terrain.
We managed to put in 25.05 miles according to the GPS.
It was very challenging, a lot of pushing uphill..
A good place to train, but not ideal for going the distance.
Next time we're doing this on a flat area, too many hills,
but a fun place to skate none the less, we had a good time
and did our best.
I think we could of doubled our mileage had we been on flatter ground.

[GriffinSk8]

Thanks Sleeveless for finding the lake. I think we could have gone longer if the lake had not closed down at 7:00 PM and if we had lights for night riding. I do think we should set a goal for next time to make 90 -100 miles. 25.05 miles is a good start for me I feel good I think the carbon fiber in the deck helps though. 36"x8"1/2 Thanks to pavedwave for putting it on.
Thanks
GriffinSk8

[pavedwave]

So reporting from my night, ill post a thorough report later on, but just wanted to say that i was able to complete 107 miles. only stopping because of a kid and a bike hitting me. ^_^

RODGON - congrats on making the 100-mile club! great vibe down there -- John and all, if you guys lock down a good 24-hour location, do let me know. i just need more excuses to get a SoCal trip in the works.

the Seattle ultra lasted a little over 16 hours, but we chose to cancel just after 1 a.m. due to rain and wet trails.. A huge crew from Northwestlongboarding skated and came to chill, the biggest turnout so far I think?! the strong mid-day wind at the lake made us work harder to keep up a good pace, plus a large group of people doing a memorial march spread themselves across the trail for a few laps, so we had to go all-terrain and ride in the gravel a number of times, or pick up the board and literally run with it, which eats up a lot more energy. then the night-time stilless came and made up for all that.
Subsonic Scott set up the base camp and skated with his kids a ton, everyone was amped out riding his topmount Pulses and his latest creations in distance hybrids, the "Century" boards (not even on his Futures page yet!!)

the UK skatefurther crowd made the best of adversity and had a total blast, a few 100-milers, including Laura Hatwell, the 1st 100-mile female ultraskater!

the New Zealand crowd did the same, starting with a crew of 11 skating through some rainy conditions-- ending with four guys in the 140-mile range! still waiting for more details from abroad before updating ncdsa...

[rodgon]

ok so after resting and feeling better i thought id take some time to recall my ultraskate experience.

My day started off at 8am here in beautiful San Diego, woke up and got my stuff ready to go, Ipod, WaterBottle, and some tiger bars. took my skate tool, some extra bushings and head out the door.

I got to mission beach at about 9:45 and stretched getting ready to embark once again on my pumping journey, very happy and very pumped up to get to it. i knew that this time i had to pace myself as last time i was completely dead and wheezing after 9 hours. anyways, i put on my ipod, tuned to some techno music and started off. here i go!!!!

First lap i took i took it easy and realized that the wind was kinda heavy but nothing to worry about, i was still going at a steady 13mph pace and a little faster going back since i had the wind helping me. Went on for a couple laps and at 6 miles in Mister Skogg himself Chris Yandall joined me.

Yandall and me went on skating for a good 20 miles together ( so 26miles for me) when he ahd to go back home to work, the man is fast... pushing and just flying as he went, carving like crazy but no pumping for him... hahaha, still fun to skate with though, peoples reactions to both of us were priceless. after he left i again had to jump on a steady pace and keep on track.

35 miles down i decided i needed a little more food than just tiger bars so i stopped for a quick bite in a store thats on the boardwalk, got a sandwhich and ate it up fast and head on out again.

i switched to my pushing deck at mile 52 since my toe was annoying me and i thought i should give it a little rest, it proved to be a very good choice since wind picked up and it would have been alot harder to pump with that type of wind. specially since my core was feeling the hours of skating. it was about 5 in the afternoon when i switched.

about mile 56 my friend jerry came to join me and took my pumping board since i wasnt using it, her went and rode with me for about 3 miles, looked at me like i was crazy and went home wishing me goodluck. his pressence kinda gave me a second wind though and i was once again re energized and went on.

when i got to mile 68ish, my girlfriend made her way out to mission beach to see how i was doing, i was about ready to go to my night trail in Eastlake, so we went for one more lap and then at 72 miles we took off for Eastlake.

I was not even feeling the ride all that much except for my little toe on my leading pumping foot. ( might have to find a way to reinforce that area of my foot ...shoe.. ) we got back to my house and i head out to my trail. this trail is awesome and a good way to get some mileage in, its a very easy slope for about 1.6 miles. you can carve, pump, and do anything you want during 1.4 miles, then a very steep hill which you can bomb or carve down, then you just have to push up .3 miles ( 2 minutes ) and you can do it again. all residential area, no people or cars really at night, and no wind! i love this trail ^_^.

So going on my 15th time riding the loop and feeling really good about my mileage, i was going down the trail, ( i have lights and reflector vest on by the way) i get to the part where there is the steep hill, i start bombing it and notice a small shadow, bad thing for me and him was that it was a bicycle rider going fast uphill, i was longboarder going very fast downhill ( 25mph) and when i went to carve around him ( after realizing what the shadow was) he moved in the same direction... i went to avoid him by changing direction again and he does the same!!! so next thing i know i brace myself and crash into him at full force. 200 pounds... going 25mph with him going a good 10mph... im not a mathematician but thats alot of force... i end up knocking him off his bike, and my board totally wrecks his front wheel and chain, i end up with the dude as my cushion, and my board intact! only thing is i pulled the back of my thigh and gouged my knee with the spokes of his bike and road rash the same area. i got up made sure he was ok then told him he was a moron and he needs lights... he agreed and we went our different ways.

so with that i stopped since it was a very bothersome pain in my back right thigh. checked my GPS and i was happy to see it said with the 35 extra miles that i was at 107.

decided to rest and past out the moment i touched my pillow. ^_^ at 1am.

[sumthnsdfrnt]

Good job bud. congrats on the 100 mi. sucks that the D!*K wad didn't have a light on his bike, a little reflective tape sounds like it could have helped a lotta bit too, If your feeling up for it we're gonna skate fri night. and we need to go over the final dimensions for that titanic i'm gonna build u

[Gecko]

Subsonic Scott set up the base camp and skated with his kids a ton, everyone was amped out riding his topmount Pulses and his latest creations in distance hybrids, the "Century" boards (not even on his Futures page yet!!)

Pics or it didn't happen!

Tell him to get it on the future page already.

[pavedwave]

only two and a half weeks until the next ultra!!!

this time Denmark's on the map with a guy who just signed up and has been at this stuff for several years now

great to see a sizeable group coming together for the Seattle ride, and I think it's time for a reminder that our NW ride is SOLO AND UNSUPPORTED -- which means a lot of forethought and preparation is necessary, especially for the first 100 miles where restrooms and emergency supplies are practically nil.

first, figuring out the trail beforehand, even riding the 25-miles of it, is highly advisable. if that's not possible I'm putting together a more detailed map this time as I assume there are some total noobs to the area. but the trail is long and there have been some major detours taken in the past!! on top of that, the obvious WATER plus some kind of protein, carbs, and salt/sodium/electrolytes that will keep you sustained. just don't pass out or die. cause dying's bad, mmmkay?

again, here's the Ultraskate Prep thread and the current maps for Seattle and Denmark. I'm hoping to see some other maps cropping up soon!

pavedwave longboarding :: The 24-Hour Ultraskate Prep

[rodgon]

gotta get ya a map of my route huh? ^_^

[pavedwave]

gotta get ya a map of my route huh? ^_^

you don't gotta, but it would be cool to see. i assume you're not going to ride the same bike path at night where the stealth loonies try to take you out?