Longboarding: The best way to get around campus

By Anthony Bedoy, Guest Commentary

Whether you're going to class or enjoying the sun on one of the quads here on campus, more often than not you will see a commuter on a bike, a scooter, or even a longboard from time to time. I for one prefer the glorious feeling of riding the sidewalks like they are luscious salt-water waves or soft powdery banks at Whistler. Longboards, on campus especially, are such a simple way of transporting yourself from one place to another without worries. Longboarding is my choice of transportation all around campus!

The basics of longboarding are easily conquered, from simply pushing, to pumping, carving, and flowing with the sweet spots on the sidewalk. On top of the skills being fairly simple, an intro level longboard from the local skate shops like Daddies Board Shop or Rip City Skate will run you anywhere from $75 to $150 for the basic setups. Once you buy a longboard, the basic maintanence required is keeping bearings clean (which only cost about $10 for a basic replacement every few months). Bikes can run you anywhere from $100-300 for a basic setup of a cruiser to a road bike. I see so many bikers dealing with issues of bike locks and constant maintenance that I never wanted to deal with the headaches myself. In turn, I chose to kick the old bike to the curb and bring all of my boards, short to long (and when I mean long, the longest I've got is 48.5").

Of course this is an opinions column, so I should probably give you my own opinion of proper longboarding gear, especially in regards to a few things. We should start with rain riding. On a simple note, just don't do it. Rain is terrible for your bearings, it waterlogs your deck, and is overall unsafe if you aren't an experienced rider. If you are going to ride in the rain, first get yourselves a set of bearings you don't much care for because they will probably be worn down and need cleaning all the time. I suggest a set of Daddies Board Shop ABEC 7 bearings that will run you $9.95 on their website. Next you should grab yourself some of the gnarliest grip tape on the market, which is Vicious grip tape. It will cost $14.95 for 3 sheets that will fit most longboards and will keep your feet on that deck in the wettest conditions. You can't really protect a deck too well from rain unless you want to lacker the entire board (which still won't protect it 100%). Rain riding is sometimes fun, but oftentimes dangerous so in my educated opinion, don't do it unless necessary.

If you are a rider interested in getting into longboarding around campus and want a setup that will be the most friendly to new riders and will hook you for a long time, I highly suggest a nice carving board with some flex. The board, wheels, trucks, and bearings all are essential for creating a nirvana-esq feel on your setup. My first board was the Loaded Dervish complete with Paris 180mm trucks and Orangatang wheels. I immediately fell in love with the smooth feeling and the ease of pushing and carving.

For getting around campus, a nice pushing and carving setup will set you just right. I suggest getting a bamboo deck made by a better producer than the simple Arbor, Sector 9, or Santa Cruz. Those decks are fine but they will set you back a decent set of change and won't produce the same feeling as many others. While pricey, Loaded, Bustin, Rayne, and Longboard Larry produce solid products that will last you a long time and keep you smiling day in and day out.

The next pieces of equipment you need are your trucks and wheels. Reverse kingpin trucks like the Paris 180mm or the Randall R-IIs will be a solid choice and if you are into the artistic side of longboarding, the trucks come in an array of colorful blends! Caliber makes a solid truck as well but their products aren't necessarily made for carving.

The final need for your setup is wheels and while many people think it is as simple as getting some rubber and slapping it on the truck, it is not that basic. Companies have been messing with polyurethane formulas since the 1960s and I am hoping their effort is not in vain with the majority of skaters buying a set of stock wheels that will make the riding experience immensely different. My choice set of wheels for an all around perfect riding experience are definitely Orangatang Yellow 4president wheels. They provide a nice rebounding feeling when carving and will keep your speed in each push. Venom has been making an awesome set of wheels as well as Volante and Abec 11, who is one of the oldest and most seasoned wheel companies. Both companies have been shocking the business with great urethane formulas for years.

Now while my opinions might seem simple enough to accept, I suggest to all interested riders to do their research to find a wheel, truck, and deck setup that will fit their desires. Asking around and watching YouTube reviews always helps to discover new and interesting skating options. Enjoy the ride while you can because the rainy season is coming. Go skate, feel every turn, love every whisk of air by your ear and don't forget to ride with a smile and keep it "holesom."

Anthony Bedoy is a junior philosophy major. He can be reached at bedoy14@up.edu

 

Bedoy's Longboard Creation Guide

Deck

For getting around campus, a nice pushing and carving setup will set you just right. While pricey, Loaded, Bustin, Rayne, and Longboard Larry produce solid products that will last you a long time and keep you smiling day in and day out.

Trucks

The next pieces of equipment you need are your trucks and wheels. Reverse kingpin trucks like the Paris 180mm or the Randall R-IIs will be a solid choice and if you are into the artistic side of longboarding, the trucks come in an array of colorful blends! Caliber makes a solid truck as well but their products aren't necessarily made for carving.

Wheels

The final need for your setup is wheels and while many people think it is as simple as getting some rubber and slapping it on the truck, it is not that basic. Companies have been messing with polyurethane formulas since the 1960s. My choice set of wheels for an all-around perfect riding experience are definitely Orangatang Yellow 4president wheels. They provide a nice rebounding feeling when carving and will keep your speed in each push.