Went the fastest I've ever gone, for a newbie..

**rumsurfer** · 03-25-2007 10:51 AM

It's 2am, the streets are empty, I worked up the balls to try this downhill street near my house. It's actually not a big street at all, but it's got this short steep section which looks scary as hell during the daylight hours.

I kicked off at the top of the hill where the incline wasn't so steep, and about 1/4 down this gentle incline I'm already shitting myself because I was already going about as fast as I've gone so far and I know if I tried to bail now I would trip and fall all the way down the hill. I totally regretted doing this & was preparing for how I'm going to fall without losing a limb or too much skin.

About 1/3 way down I hit the steep incline and my brain is going ARRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH. I was going through an adrenaline dump and was seriously panicking at how fast I was going (maybe 30kph?). I swear I wasn't going to make it.

At the 1/2 way point down the steep slope I suddenly got a grip on myself and I started seeing before my eyes stuff I read about speed wobbles from the Silverfish forums - DON'T PANIC, JUST RELAX, KEEP YOUR BALANCE AND RIDE IT OUT. It took a shitload of willpower but I forced myself to loosen up and relax my stance.

I made it down the slope in one piece and slowed down to a stop as the momentum carried me up the next incline.

All this happened within the space of ~30 seconds.

I swear I will NEVER do that again. My legs are still jelly as I'm typing this.

I was on this board I bought off eBay a few weeks ago:

Kernow Longboard
L 37"
W 9 3/4"
H 6"
with 4" wheels

**green** · 03-25-2007 11:04 AM

Nicee eeee.

**Jemwielder** · 03-25-2007 11:07 AM

A good buddy of mine once told me this: Almost dying is usually pretty cool, so long as you don't go that extra mile.

**rumsurfer** · 03-25-2007 11:11 AM

Not nice, man. I was this close to shitting myself.

I should've mentioned that I have been bed-ridden (more or less) in the past few days from a case of food poisoning (drank bad milk and some other things). Yesterday was the first day I started to recover from it.

**jshalvorsen** · 03-25-2007 11:21 AM

I miss the thrill of speed!

They really need to get the gravel++ from the winter off the streets so I can do some bombing on my mini too, nothing like a little wobble just when I start to footbrake from 30mph on that thing! Just wear protection and a fall shouldn't be a problem. Falling at 30mph is scary as hell, but you probably wont hurt yourself if you wear protection and don't crash into something :P I'm amazed at how bad I can fall with kneepads, spine protector, a helm and some slidegloves without getting as much as a scratch.

Next time you try anything in the neighbourhood of what you did you might wanna get a more stable setup and some proper protection..

**rumsurfer** · 03-25-2007 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by jshalvorsen

I miss the thrill of speed!

They really need to get the gravel++ from the winter off the streets so I can do some bombing on my mini too, nothing like a little wobble just when I start to footbrake from 30mph on that thing! Just wear protection and a fall shouldn't be a problem. Falling at 30mph is scary as hell, but you probably wont hurt yourself if you wear protection and don't crash into something :P I'm amazed at how bad I can fall with kneepads, spine protector, a helm and some slidegloves without getting as much as a scratch.

Next time you try anything in the neighbourhood of what you did you might wanna get a more stable setup and some proper protection..

30mph is faster than 30kph, but for a 32yo newbie like me, it's hell-for-leather speed. Plus, the road isn't exactly smooth (the big wheels saved me while going over the bumps this time), and there were cars parked on both sides.

I cannot imagine doing that on my mini, I would've fallen for sure. You seriously do that on a mini??

What would be a more stable set up? I thought the setup I had there would be quite stable.

You're right about the protection, I have knee & elbow pads, wrist guards and a helmet but I stupidly left them at home.

**rumsurfer** · 03-25-2007 11:28 AM

Did I also mention that I haven't learnt how to stop yet? Still can't do a footbrake or a Coleman.

**ska1234** · 03-25-2007 11:43 AM

dude...nice wheels..
and you will do that again..you just gotta ride more..most of those hills you find like that arn't even bad if you do them a few times you'll keep wanting bigger and bigger, thats what I did.
now i need a downhill board cause when i get over 30 i dont like my flexy deck and my original trucks under me anymore.., you'll get used to it though

**ska1234** · 03-25-2007 11:46 AM

..oh and make gloves, they will help a ton when you wanna learn how to slide... footbreakings easy you just gotta get used to the turney trucks first.

**The Green Hornet** · 03-25-2007 11:54 AM

I've felt the same way, awesome story by the way. Im familiar with all the hills around me now and im fearlessly bombing them when before I wouldent dream of doing them. Could we get a pic of the hill from the story though

.

**Lee W** · 03-25-2007 11:55 AM

You'll be surprised at how slow 30km/h is, you're probably underestimating your speed. If you kick real hard you can get over 20 most likely...

Just get a friend to drive beside you while doing a more mellow hill to get an idea of how fast you are going, and you'll probably be surprised. (Remember: driving beside/behind in the other lane, NOT directly behind...)

Oh, and work on footbraking all the time. Start at slow speed, and do it excessively until you have it so solid you don't have any second thoughts to slamming down your whole foot on the ground. I still need to learn how to slide too unfortunately...

Good luck, and make sure you know what you're getting into before you pass the speed of no return. There's a reason why I don't bomb large hills.

**sarge1101** · 03-25-2007 12:12 PM

i can totally relate to your story.

last week i underestimated this hill near my house and got the worst speed wobble half way down. i'm still a noob so i was freaking out, but still i still held it to the bottom.

i decided to change my setup and i got a pair of randal trucks. i went back to the hill a couple of days ago and had no problem. the set up made all the difference for me.

good luck with future bombing.

**rumsurfer** · 03-25-2007 12:14 PM

I'll try to get a photo of said street tomorrow.

You guys are probably right, I'll probably bomb that slope again when I get better. The whole reason why I wanted to have a go tonight was cos I was getting more confident from another street I've been practicing on that has a gentle slope.

But for now I'm not trying this hill again or any other new hills unless I'm wearing a fully padded sumo costume:

**george** · 03-25-2007 02:22 PM

Originally Posted by rumsurfer

I swear I will NEVER do that again. My legs are still jelly as I'm typing this.

I assure you that you will. We all do.

**TeenDriver** · 03-25-2007 03:30 PM

funny i did the same thing last night. i stayed up until 5a skating with two buddies. i skated an awesome bridge and got up to 30mph. WHAT A RUSH!!! i cant wait to do it again.

p.s. i was on a lush spooky with Force C7s and 85 speedvents.

**jshalvorsen** · 03-25-2007 04:52 PM

Yeah, I've hit about 30mph on my mini maybe a little less, but I've bombed alot of places after getting comfy on the hill with my demonseed first. When the speedboard gets boring it's time for the 27"

**metothemax** · 03-25-2007 05:58 PM

ive tried the biggest hills i can find and my evo never gets wobbles its so nice

**purplegoat** · 03-25-2007 07:03 PM

Sounds pretty intense!

At least you walked away uninjured and a better understanding of what your limits are which is a good thing.

I've gone 25 miles per hour on a mountain bike before and that felt fast. I can imagine that speed on a board being a little more intense.

**melifont monk** · 03-25-2007 08:18 PM

safe to say, everyone who bails or burns out or whatever eventually goes back to the same hill and does it again...

**ivebeencanceled** · 03-26-2007 05:06 AM

Originally Posted by rumsurfer

It's 2am, the streets are empty, I worked up the balls to try this downhill street near my house. It's actually not a big street at all, but it's got this short steep section which looks scary as hell during the daylight hours.

I kicked off at the top of the hill where the incline wasn't so steep, and about 1/4 down this gentle incline I'm already shitting myself because I was already going about as fast as I've gone so far and I know if I tried to bail now I would trip and fall all the way down the hill. I totally regretted doing this & was preparing for how I'm going to fall without losing a limb or too much skin.

About 1/3 way down I hit the steep incline and my brain is going ARRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH. I was going through an adrenaline dump and was seriously panicking at how fast I was going (maybe 30kph?). I swear I wasn't going to make it.

At the 1/2 way point down the steep slope I suddenly got a grip on myself and I started seeing before my eyes stuff I read about speed wobbles from the Silverfish forums - DON'T PANIC, JUST RELAX, KEEP YOUR BALANCE AND RIDE IT OUT. It took a shitload of willpower but I forced myself to loosen up and relax my stance.

I made it down the slope in one piece and slowed down to a stop as the momentum carried me up the next incline.

All this happened within the space of ~30 seconds.

I swear I will NEVER do that again. My legs are still jelly as I'm typing this.

I was on this board I bought off eBay a few weeks ago:

Kernow Longboard
L 37"
W 9 3/4"
H 6"
with 4" wheels

that #### has offroad wheels??