This project is coming to a close, and although I didn't quite complete all my goals, (perfect the ghost ride kickflip and 2 second nose manual) I still think I achieved a good amount of progress, and learned a lot. I would like to thank Jordan Watson and Jordan Davis for being my mentors throughout this project, as well as Megan Houle for keeping me motivated. Im glad I was able to longboard as much as I did, but wish I could've done more. I will continue longboarding in the future, and this project has helped inspire me to keep going.
Hang ten and keep longboarding
Kyle
Tuesday 16 June 2015
Wednesday 10 June 2015
Progress Grind
After the perfection of the 180 pivot in my last post, my desire to perfect the rest of these tricks before the end of the project has increased. Since last time, I have practiced more nose manuals, and succeeded in doing one for a long second. This isn't quite up to snuff, with my goals yet, but it's close.
The nose manual is a trick you can practice over and over, without needing to stop the board, so it's not as frustrating. The ghostride kickflip on there other hand, in unforgiving. I first practiced on the grass to get the footing and flip right.
Next, I practiced while moving and on the pavement. This proved to be significantly more difficult. Usually I would get the flip right, but then the forward momentum of my jump would pull me off the board, or if my feet were too much to one side, I would have to bail.
That last video shows how much each try differed. I would go from almost landing it, and then completely missing the board. Although, as I kept trying, the latter would happen less and less.
This video I think is the closest I came to landing and continuing on, but unfortunately my back foot was too far on the board, so it slipped out from under me.
Next, I practiced while moving and on the pavement. This proved to be significantly more difficult. Usually I would get the flip right, but then the forward momentum of my jump would pull me off the board, or if my feet were too much to one side, I would have to bail.
That last video shows how much each try differed. I would go from almost landing it, and then completely missing the board. Although, as I kept trying, the latter would happen less and less.
This video I think is the closest I came to landing and continuing on, but unfortunately my back foot was too far on the board, so it slipped out from under me.
Monday 8 June 2015
Progress 2.0
Lately on my spares I have been going on the Transcona Trail to longboard, and it has been quite beneficial. This is where I practiced my hard carving by cutting in between the lines at high speeds. I have also practiced some nose manuals, and succeeded in doing the 180 pivet multiple times in a row.
The 180 pivet
Carving between the lines
Saturday 6 June 2015
Unforeseen set back
By nature of my job (vegetable market garden), whenever it is nice outside, I am working. There is a lot to do in the spring when working at a market garden, so I was always busy. This, of course, will conflict with my longboarding time. As a result of the nice weather, I haven't had NEARLY enough time to practice for my goals. This project is coming to a close, yet I haven't even attempted some of the tricks I set out to learn, so therefore I think it is time for a change of my goals.
If you check out my Goals page, I will be adding a revised list of goals, in addition to my previous ones, to avoid confusion.
If you check out my Goals page, I will be adding a revised list of goals, in addition to my previous ones, to avoid confusion.
Thursday 16 April 2015
Parts of a Longboard
After some casual cruising, I noticed that my longboard was making a grinding/scraping sound whenever I rode it. I asked my friend Jordan about this, and he said that I was probably my bearing/trucks, and that they needed to be tightened. This made me come to realize that I know nothing about repairing a longboard, or even that much about the parts themselves.
This post will be dedicated to describing the parts of a longboard.
The Deck
The deck is where you stand on the board, where most of the action happens, and obviously an essential part. There are three main types of decks. Drop-through, Top-Mounted, and Lowered. These types of decks differ because of how the trucks are attached to them. Drop-through decks have holes where the trucks can protrude to the top of the deck, and connect from top down. These boards are generally carving, cruising, or trick boards, and are lower to the ground. Top-Mounted decks have the trucks attaching to the bottom of the deck, connected bottom up. These boards are usually higher up from the ground, and are cruising, or downhill boards. The Lowered decks are a combination of the two, and are attached bottom up, to the bottom of the board, but then decline in a concave fashion, to get the rider as close to the ground as possible. These are generally a mix of the two styles. Longboard decks can differ greatly from one another, from flexibility, length, width, grip, concave, wheel and less importantly, colour and design.
The Trucks
The trucks act as the axel to the longboards wheels, so where the deck and the wheels are connected. This is also an essential part of the longboard. Longboard trucks can be tightened or loosened, so that you could either carve faster/harder (loose), or slower and more controlled, especially useful for downhill (tight). These can come in different designs and colours, as well as small variations of shape, although both not of utmost importance.
The Wheels/Bearings
The wheels on a longboard are attached the trucks, and inside of the wheels are bearings. This is what makes the longboard move. The bearings are often overlooked, (as I certainly overlooked them), but they are also an important part. The type of bearing is not specific to your riding style, but it is generally a good idea to get a decent pair of bearings. The wheels on a longboard can be chosen by what style of longboarding you prefer, such as sliding, cruising, or downhill. The type of wheels are not that crucial to the board, but once you find your style, it would be wise to seek out the appropriate wheels.
This post will be dedicated to describing the parts of a longboard.
The Deck
The deck is where you stand on the board, where most of the action happens, and obviously an essential part. There are three main types of decks. Drop-through, Top-Mounted, and Lowered. These types of decks differ because of how the trucks are attached to them. Drop-through decks have holes where the trucks can protrude to the top of the deck, and connect from top down. These boards are generally carving, cruising, or trick boards, and are lower to the ground. Top-Mounted decks have the trucks attaching to the bottom of the deck, connected bottom up. These boards are usually higher up from the ground, and are cruising, or downhill boards. The Lowered decks are a combination of the two, and are attached bottom up, to the bottom of the board, but then decline in a concave fashion, to get the rider as close to the ground as possible. These are generally a mix of the two styles. Longboard decks can differ greatly from one another, from flexibility, length, width, grip, concave, wheel and less importantly, colour and design.
 |
| Slightly concave deck |
 |
| Drop-through deck |
The Trucks
The trucks act as the axel to the longboards wheels, so where the deck and the wheels are connected. This is also an essential part of the longboard. Longboard trucks can be tightened or loosened, so that you could either carve faster/harder (loose), or slower and more controlled, especially useful for downhill (tight). These can come in different designs and colours, as well as small variations of shape, although both not of utmost importance.
 |
| Trucks |
The Wheels/Bearings
The wheels on a longboard are attached the trucks, and inside of the wheels are bearings. This is what makes the longboard move. The bearings are often overlooked, (as I certainly overlooked them), but they are also an important part. The type of bearing is not specific to your riding style, but it is generally a good idea to get a decent pair of bearings. The wheels on a longboard can be chosen by what style of longboarding you prefer, such as sliding, cruising, or downhill. The type of wheels are not that crucial to the board, but once you find your style, it would be wise to seek out the appropriate wheels.
 |
| Bones super redz bearings |
 |
| Wheels with bearings inside |
Thursday 9 April 2015
Getting Comfortable
Over spring break I went longboarding for the first time this year with my friend Jordan, and as I intended, I got very comfortable with my board. I mainly just cruised, did some hard carving, went down some steep hills, as well as some very basic tricks that I was working on last year.
Now that I am comfortable with my board, tomorrow I will bring it to school and on my spares I'll start trying to learn some tricks (hopefully the "shove it"), and master the ones I already know.
Now that I am comfortable with my board, tomorrow I will bring it to school and on my spares I'll start trying to learn some tricks (hopefully the "shove it"), and master the ones I already know.
Friday 27 February 2015
Starting Up
Welcome to my blog about longboarding. My name is Kyle and I will be attempting to increase my current skills (minimal) on and off the longboard. Throughout this semester I will be posting my learning progress as well as trying to help explain to you how it all works. Some pictures and videos of my attempts are bound to end up on this blog at some point, but for now I will just be researching different tricks and lingo.
If you want to learn what this blog is all about and are wondering what is going on, go to my About page. If you want to learn about my mentors for this project, go to my Mentors page. If you are interested in longboarding and want to learn for yourself, you can go to my Resources page to find out more. If you want to see what my goals are going to be for this project, check out my Goals page.
If you want to learn what this blog is all about and are wondering what is going on, go to my About page. If you want to learn about my mentors for this project, go to my Mentors page. If you are interested in longboarding and want to learn for yourself, you can go to my Resources page to find out more. If you want to see what my goals are going to be for this project, check out my Goals page.
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