Longboard therapy
I’d rather go surfing than do just about anything else. It calms me, centers me, feeds my soul and plus it’s fun. But since the beach is just over an hour’s drive away, I don’t go as often as I’d like. So I look for alternate forms of “therapy.”
We’ve got a great skatepark in our town–perfect for old guys like me, with big transitions and carvable walls. Us old guys go down to the park in the morning, before the middle schoolers and high schoolers are able to wake up, and we get some good sessions. Park skating is a good workout, but just not the same as surfing. And concrete is harder than water, as my elbow was recently reminded.
A while back I had a nice Dewey Weber longboard skateboard that was a lot of fun. I rode it into the ground and then gave it away. Kinda missed it ever since. So I recently put in an order for a board from Longboard Larry–a local shaper down in Salem, OR. I went down to his shop, rode a couple of boards and then put in my order for a Cruiser. Larry finished the board today, and I’m loving it! My 4-year old son, who’s just learning to skate, stood on the tail of the board while holding onto my back pockets and we cruised around town. Very fun and relaxing. Longboard therapy is good.
Sounds like a blast! I recently sold my mountain bike (for various reasons); maybe a board in the future…
You live in Oregon, is it waterproof?
I’ve been looking on getting into longboard skateboarding but I have no experience on skateboards (although I am an OK snowboarder). Any good resources for newbies on how to pick boards, etc?
I forgot about longboarding. Surfing is still number one in my book but I live in Phoenix so not much of a beach around here. I have an old Sector9 long board i had when i lived in Florida and used when the Ocean was flat. I need to get the board back out!
Oh yeah, ill need to get some elbow pads too.
Just to update I got out the old longboard last nigt and went for a spin. Im an Arizona and it was a nice 101 degrees at 8:30 last night. Maybe 115 today so maybe longboarding isnt such a great idea. I need the ocean!
I think thats great that you gaot a longboard too. I used to skate in my teen years. I recently saw a longboard at a store and wanted one very bad. I’ve always wanted one as Im used to ride a firends years ago. I recently wnet to Zumiez and bought a Sector 9 Autria Model. http://www.sector9.com/2006/ I enjoy going to my local skatepark and doing about the same things you said , go early and ride the banks. I was surprised at the “surf-like -feel” to this. We have nicely paved bike paths around us as well. So I can emjoy a nice cruise as well. Enjoy your Toy. I’m getting the excorsize I need!
Yes I have knee pads and wrist guards & a Skull Bucket (helmet) but yeah I need to find elbow pads as well. At 43 I don’t heal as fast either.