My Own Surfing Thread!

[Flieger]

Originally Posted by slodave

It's called "adrenaline junkie". They have to crank down on the trucks on those boards or else they will get speed wobble and will ditch. BTDT. Because the trucks are so tight, it's hard to turn. It also looks like they had spotters on several sections of the road.

"Adrenaline junkies" to that degree shouldn't pursue their hit on public roads. Same for racing on Mulholland in cars. Driving or riding fast is one thing but if you want to push the limits, take it to a track or to a dedicated mountainboard race with a closed course.

One skateboard guy recently killed himself by riding into a parked car on a neighborhood street in Agoura. Not wearing a helmet was what killed him but brakes would have been handy to have in that situation.

I am not saying that there are no idiots on bicycles out there, however.

[Flieger]

I would be surprised if skateboards are legal on roads. I am absolutely sure they would be in big trouble if a cop came around the turn and saw them in the wrong lane. On Mulholland they slide wide, appearing like they don't have full control.

[slodave]

Maybe they shouldn't, but they do. And to a degree, I understand why.

[Flieger]

I can see why -- it is the same reason I like the road on my bike. But they should not be romanticized if they are breaking the rules of the road. Anyone - car, bike, skateboard who drives like an idiot deserves to be called as such. If they are in control, then I don't have a problem with it but they seem to push the envelope of the boards' performance too much.

I get nervous when I am climbing and they are descending. Thankfully I haven't been in that situation much lately because we usually go at different times of day.

[slodave]

Looks like they are legal on Cali roads, but are supposed to follow the same rules.
Most Common Equipment Violations

[slodave]

Originally Posted by Flieger

I can see why -- it is the same reason I like the road on my bike. But they should not be romanticized if they are breaking the rules of the road. Anyone - car, bike, skateboard who drives like an idiot deserves to be called as such. If they are in control, then I don't have a problem with it but they seem to push the envelope of the boards' performance too much.

They seemed in control to me. Only a couple times did I notice wheels sliding and that was when they went over the paint.

[Flieger]

Wow, so it says be in traffic but going the opposite direction?

Mulholland Highway would be a highway, so would be prohibited? But I wonder about Latigo and Piuma and such.

[Flieger]

Originally Posted by slodave

They seemed in control to me. Only a couple times did I notice wheels sliding and that was when they went over the paint.

I guess I was speaking more of the skaters in general. The ones I have seen in person. Not specifically the ones in the video.

[Baz]

Death is part of life. If you're going to go - might as well go doing what you love.

Now for a nice pic!

[Baz]

Or 2.....

[Geary]

Thanks for the nice pics, Baz ..

In Hawaii, skateboards are "unlicensed vehicles", leading to possible arrest. We had an incident once as teenagers, with a po'd officer who decided he needed to wave his gun around to make his point. Not a fun day.

[tevake]

Nicely done Baz, You have a knack for steering us back to the fun and the beauty. Since this is a thread about surfing those are some of the main goals.

Cheers Richard

[Outback Porsche]

Originally Posted by Baz

Now for a nice pic!

Very nice Baz

[Baz]

Appreciate it guys...love all the posts here too. The skateboarding video was pretty cool - they've come a long way with equipment. A friend of mine showed me a new wheel assembly that twists with you as you shift your weight on the board - the whole assembly twists...I'll try to get a pic.

[Geary]

Wow .. that is an absolutely beautiful surf shot.

Even with the early, very long and stiff Mountain Boards, we found that moving the springs as far inward as possible allowed extremely tight turns .. not quite as tight as the conventional boards, but very tight. With the addition of the brakes, we could confidently go faster, knowing that runaway speed was avoidable. And we hardly every used the brakes .. a couple taps going into a tight turn in the road, or when our carves were getting a bit too drawn out because of excessive speed. I'll be interested in seeing the new design .. so long as brakes can be adapted.

[Baz]

I'll work on it Geary....

--------

Ocean Art by Koniakowsky

[Baz]

Here ya go Tweez....

[JCF]

My star pupil.

This little girl - Last year her big fear was of pearling, which of course happened on her first wave. She surfaced with a little bruise on her cheek where the board hit her with a look that was one between mere surprise and tears - I quickly told her that I was glad that we got that out of the way first thing and that changed her expression to a smile and from there she never looked back.

This year after a long winter away from the ocean ; first wave ; up with one fluid move of perfect grace and standing tall and relaxed with her feet together rides one to the shore.

Next wave, caught before it broke, same thing with the added flair of her hands on her hips.
The adult man I was teaching at the same time who could not get to his feet at all looked at me and said, "that sure is humbling...."

A true natural.

[Geary]

I don't know HOW many years it took me to learn to stay underwater until I heard the board plop. I took so many cracks to the head, and still kept coming up too soon. (Heavy boards back then, too.) So, that's a good lesson to teach .. stay underwater for the count of 5.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by JCF

My star pupil.
---snip---

NICE pic & story JCF! Good for you and your little surfer girl - you both have a lot to be proud of!

Adding to Geary's suggestion...after that 5 second delay.....I stick my hand up ahead of my head as I arise...usually saves some "bumpage"!

Great post - makes me smile....