Michigan Longboarding!

**ska1234** · 03-23-2007 06:39 PM

oh and 5th element rocks

**ska1234** · 04-14-2007 07:55 PM

michigan longboarding...........!!!!

**Fat Bastard** · 04-15-2007 05:12 PM

Even the hunter has a longboard!

**Jark Shak** · 04-25-2007 08:32 PM

How come I never saw this thread.

Big ups the michigan longboarders.

**lbTweezy** · 10-13-2007 04:30 PM

I see nobody has posted in this thread for quite some time. What, does everyone pack up for the fall or something. I've been skating downtown GR most nights, haven't seen anyone else out there.

**bucksaw87** · 10-13-2007 05:25 PM

Originally Posted by lbTweezy

I see nobody has posted in this thread for quite some time. What, does everyone pack up for the fall or something. I've been skating downtown GR most nights, haven't seen anyone else out there.

oh you're from GR? i'm from there, but i'm in college in marquette currently. pending weather, we'll have to sesh it up over christmas break

**bboomgaard** · 10-13-2007 09:02 PM

I'm sure dboomgaard and I will be heading up to MSU again to hit up the parking garages. You Grand Rapids guys should join us next time.

**GoGreenLongboarding** · 10-17-2007 07:39 PM

Originally Posted by bboomgaard

I'm sure dboomgaard and I will be heading up to MSU again to hit up the parking garages. You Grand Rapids guys should join us next time.

get ahold of me, they're skating distance from my house and i can rally my troops.

ON A F(*@#ED UP NOTE:

every "wheeled apparatus" under the sun, except skateboards, are allowed on the bike trails in kensington metro park. I had a really long ####ed up experience i'd rather not type here involving rude cops lying to me saying "it's posted in the office" (it wasn't) and taking our boards from us, making us walk back to get them at the front gate and leave.

they did FINALLY give the ordinance to me in writing after several times of telling me "you have to trust me on this one" and "IF A COP SAYS SOMETHING IS ILLEGAL, ITS ILLEGAL!!!! DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME!!! DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU MURDER IS ILLEGAL?" (seriously.... he said that. to which my friend replied, "no, because it's morally wrong." his next example was speeding. not a very smart officer.)

**dboomgaard** · 10-17-2007 07:45 PM

I actually am planning on going out to MSU for the parking garages on the weekend before Halloween, weather depending, but I'll still be in East Lansing that weekend.

**GoGreenLongboarding** · 10-18-2007 06:13 PM

My letter to the Milford township parks dept (they have jurisdiction over kensington park, where i was forced to leave the bike trails)

Dear Sir-

Myself and a couple of my friends were made to leave Kensington Metro Park yesterday, because it was brought to our attention that skateboards are not allowed. We simply wanted to use the bike trials in a controlled and courteous manner in compliance with all rules and helmet regulations.

While I fully understand and support the need to keep skateboarders away from park benches, stairways, roads, parking areas, etc. I simply cannot understand banning them on the bike trails. Before you ask, "why not go to a skate park?" you must understand that I don't perform tricks. I simply ride my skateboard in a manner similar to a trail biker or recreational rollerblader. I ride for fun, distance, and exercise. The boards I ride are larger than normal, have large wheels, and can be operated safely on any paved trail. I frequently ride the "river trail" in lansing, but it is in serious disrepair and I can cover the whole thing in a day. Asking me to go to a skate park is like asking lance armstrong to ride his bike over huge jumps. It's just not the same type of riding.

Transportation boards are different from normal skateboards. To keep from having to define the different types of skateboards, other states have addressed this issue by enacting a "four wheel" law. Simply put, skateboarders must keep all four wheels in contact with the ground at all times. No tricks, jumps, grinds, etc. This policy deters any "trick" skaters.

I beg you to consider changing the outright ban on skateboards (ordinance 160 I believe) to say something like the following:

Use of skateboards in Kensington Metro Park is strictly forbidden in any areas outside of the hike/bike trail. This includes picnic and parking areas, and roadways.
Skateboarders using the bike trials are required to wear a helmet, and must keep all four wheels in contact with the ground at all times. Skaters must be able to demonstrate their ability to keep full control of both their path of travel and velocity at all times. Any skater not able to comply with these regulations will be asked to leave, and my be subject to a fine of $25 plus damages.

So I know you've got to be asking by now, "How do you stop?". There is a simple technique used by every experienced distance skater known as "footbraking". The skater simply keeps one foot on the board to steer, and uses the other foot as a huge brake. This technique is far more effective than the "brakes" on rollerblades, and can be safely used at speeds far in excess of the legal speed limit on the trails. Summed up, despite popular belief, we do have brakes.

I was told by an officer that someone died on a skateboard on a hill. While my deepest sympathy goes out to that skater and his/her family, I still cannot see this as reason enough to ban skateboards on the trail. Either the riders gear or experience was inadequate, and the same situation could have just as easily happened to a cyclist or inline skater.

I don't want any trouble, just a safe place to ride by skateboards. I drove all the way from Lansing to skate your trials, just to find out that because of my choice of "wheeled apparatus" that I was not welcome. If people can use rollerblades and ski poles, I should be able to ride my board. I would happily demonstrate my ability to skate in control, and demonstrate the use of proper safety gear and braking techniques to you and your orginization/department upon your request.

Earl Alexander Kwiecinski
Founder, Go Green Longboarding
517-490-0880
GoGreenLongboarding@yahoo.com

P.S.- More information on long distance skating is available at www.skogging.com

**Doors** · 10-18-2007 06:37 PM

Thats a pretty good case. I think i may have been to the kensington park your talking about. Is there more than one kesington park in michigan?

**teddy** · 12-24-2007 07:41 AM

Yo Michigan sk8erz, so its been years since i have skated...... many years and then it was just messing around in A2 with some of the locals. I roadrace motorcycles. I train on mini dirtbikes......... I have snow boarded........ my first snow board was snurfer in 1969........ I've surfed.......

So I'm into getting a long board that I can take with me every where and rip some hills. I have full roadrace gear so crashing is not an issue...... speed is no problem........

I'm just outside A2 and need some advice on what to maybe get for a first LB? I'd go to Launch and buy it.

**Fat Bastard** · 12-24-2007 07:47 AM

I'm guessing A^2 is Ann Arbor?

**teddy** · 12-24-2007 07:52 AM

Thats correct

I was at a party the other night with some of the A2 skaters, Wes, Trevor ala Yerboy and others......... So I have to get a LB and start. They had no clues for me since they rider concrete bowls etc... they are the A2 localchaos crew....

oh yeah I go to western Pa a few times in the summer and just freek on the hills.......... sicne i'm already there with all my race gear why not rip some hills?

**bucksaw87** · 12-24-2007 09:03 AM

talk to the guy on these forums, his name is THCmachete...he builds some NICE boards and he's based outta grand rapids. or, wait til chicagolongboards comes back and order something nice from him.

on another note, any of y'all michiganians ever dealt with chapter11 in spring lake? i have and i'm not impressed at all....i will NOT ever go there again after my two experiences

**teddy** · 12-24-2007 09:22 AM

Pm'ed him........

I'll bet I end up with 2-3 boards by the end of the summer

**Fat Bastard** · 12-24-2007 12:09 PM

As for THC Machete, check out his company's myspace page in my sig. (5th and pinned)

I never bought anything from chapter 11, but I entered (and won) the skimboard contests for a few years...I never had a big problem with the guy, but I've heard stories. What's yours?

**dboomgaard** · 12-24-2007 02:02 PM

Ned, the owner of chapter11 in Spring Lake doesn't really seem to know a whole lot about skating, he just hays a ton of sector and landyachtz completes, not too many components. Until I discovered this site I got most things through him since its like 2 miles from my house.

**teddy** · 12-26-2007 02:53 PM

Well I went and tested all the demo long boards at Redbellies in A2 today........

Looks like i have a plan for my first long board. Launch

is way cooler though than RB... which is super yuppie kids.......... I did like the fact they have a parking lot where you can check out boards prior to dropping coin on them.

I know all the hills in A2 since i spent my entire youth riding BMX, and skating in A2. Looks like we'll have to have some sessions on the north west side8)

Later

**bucksaw87** · 12-27-2007 11:21 AM

Originally Posted by dboomgaard

Ned, the owner of chapter11 in Spring Lake doesn't really seem to know a whole lot about skating, he just hays a ton of sector and landyachtz completes, not too many components. Until I discovered this site I got most things through him since its like 2 miles from my house.

makes me laugh, his "longboard expert" propogates SO many myths or whatever...

that, and his really cocky attitude REALLY turned me off of that place