Ok..OK!
I know this isn't a kite or technically a kiteboard either... bear with me though!!
There we were, standing around, wetsuits sitting on the car roofs ready to go on IF the great wind Gods decided that we were allowed any fun when my mate says.... "would you like a go on my new longboard?"
There was a pause of maybe one... maybe two heartbeats and he was quickly relieved of the new toy!!
We were doubly blessed that day... one we were in a lovely large, flat carpark and two we were equipped with a test teenager..... we sent him out on the beast,
Time to describe a longboard for those who dont yet choose to lose knee and elbow skin this way.
Imagine a REALLY big skateboard.. now make the trucks double the normal size...and perhaps tripple the wheel size, then make the wheels run on lovely, big, smooth bearings that go on for ever.... you there yet?
Right.. that is a longboard.
They come in varying sizes and shapes, some as stiff turning as a skateboard, some with soft easy to turn trucks for carving.
The one the Crash test teen was on this day was a mid sized board that turned quite well.
He was soon zooming up and down the carpark.... we deemed it safe enough for older bones so pushed him off and sent him away with the wind meter to the beach.... this was really justto save face if we/when we fell off!
One of the things that REALLY used to annoy me about skateboards was the way they would just stop dead even on a really tiny pebble..... it isn't the same with these babies!!
We were soon doing a passable impression of people who knew what they were doing!!
The wind picked up.... the boy scurries back with tales of 12mph+ on the beach... the board is thrown back into the van and forgotten until the drive home.
Much chatting about the board and it seems my mate knows a place that has them on special offer!!
Next day, working from home, all of a sudden the urge to check the shops website becomes unbearable... my fingers reach for the keyboard without prompting and start tapping!!
Sure enough.. there it is... Lush longboards on sale!
Yeah.. they are last years model... but then again... so am I!
Quick phone call, chat about what they have in stock and the deal is done.... a great big superdooper carvey Kisiwa for me and a much shorter slidey Kuni for the boy.
Now the painful bit a TWO day wait for the new toys to arrive!!
They are delivered to my office in deepest, darkest Sheffield.... I brave the attack of Northern Monkeys and go in to collect them.
Now.. a longboard CAN be just a bit bigger than a skate board.... a Kisiwa is substantially bigger than a skateboard!
As I was pulling it from the box it just kept going..... I was stunned!!
58 inches long!!
Home I shoot... new toys calling from the boot/backseat!!
The boy is waiting..... suit is thrown off as I climb the stairs, jeans and tshirt thrown on, wife kissed as I pass her in the hall... "cant stop... new board needs playing with!"
She looks totally unsurprised and can be heard muttering about how boys seem to never grow up!
Out on the street.... I am very lucky here, we live on a quiet little street, two of my neighbours kite and the rest are... well... used to the sight of a grown man doing stupid things.... I think they are relieved I stopped with the motorcycles... they were never that impressed by me practicing with my trials bike near their cars!
This one is set up VERY soft, so soft in fact that rtying to turn too tightly when going slowly results in the deck touching the wheels and the board depositing it's squeeling rider on the floor..... three times in half an hour.
That sorted all the skin from my elbows and knees out!
An hour later and we were both happily carving down a reasonable hill... great fun.
Then it was time to go gt some food and do the work that needed finishng so real life stopped play.
A day or so later my friend pops round to see if we want to go to the Ikea carpark to have a practise.... sure we do!!
This carpark has a built in slalom course in the form of lamp posts, we spend twenty minutes going around them... then down comes the security gaurd.... as he gets closer he takes a good look at us... he is expecting teens.... he gets two guys in their well... NON teens shall we say!
He proceeds to tell us that there is NO skating here and we both feel really good about it.. we haven't been thrown off a carpark for decades!
Our boards now go everywhere with us, we took them camping and used them to get around the campsite.... then to nip into town to get a drink and some food! ACE!
Now... onto how this is kitey in any way shape or form.
We are planning on using out 2.5m Pepper with this, on short lines.... Urban kiting!!
Just need to get round to sorting the lines out and away we go!!
Until then, these boards have been an amazing purchase, we have had great fun on them and my board skills have advanced lots by being on it so much.
DOWNSIDE though..... I have sprained my ankle with all the kick push action.... I have had to learn to ride switch to counter this!
In conclussion... do you have a few quid spare? Do you like the idea of skateboarding but hate the way they don't just kep rolling? Do you have somewhere you can ride on a fairly regular basis?
Yup?
Well buy one then, you will laugh so much your sides hurt! (and crash so much your elbows bleed!)
By : adamski
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