The devil's toy

>> Even for experienced skaters, longboarding offers a challenging, speedy ride

by MELISSA PROIETTI

The saying "Longboarding is surfing with concrete waves" may have been true 20 years ago, but people now are taking this variation of skateboarding to new heights. "The longboard is the devil's toy," says Félix Fecteau-Gauthier, Spin boardshop employee and a longboard rider for 15 years. "Going downhill you can reach 30 kilometres an hour without even pushing. It's very evil--you have to take it easy."

The longboard, which pre-dates the regular-sized skateboard, usually goes from 40 to 54 inches in height and has a wheel size between 60 and 80 millimetres. Compare this to a regular 34-inch deck with wheels between 50-56 millimetres and you can imagine what a road warrior the longboarder is.

The concept behind the ride originated in 1971 in Santa Barbara, California, when surfer Tom Sims took recycled water-skis and old roller-skate wheels for a ride. It has evolved considerably since then, offering a smoother ride than a regular skateboard and more durability. "When you buy a longboard it's a long-term thing," says Fecteau-Gauthier. "They don't break. They can last for life, which is why they are more expensive."

Minimally, an entire longboard set-up will cost the rider $250-260. However buying a longboard is like making an investment in an alternative form of transportation. "Transportation-wise it's ideal," says Underworld manager and longboarder Jason "OJay" Pelletier. "More skaters have been buying longboards. It's more like a bicycle."

Since so much of Montreal is on an incline, it offers a lot of great spots to pick up speed while skating. And even the potholes are not really a major problem. "This is one of the best cities for longboarding," declares Fecteau-Gauthier. "Potholes are good! It's good practice, and when you travel to other cities their concrete is like heaven."

The transition from regular skateboard to longboard is not necessarily an easy one. Despite the fact they are both skateboards, longboarding demands more awareness because of the high speeds that are easily reached. In longboarding, there is hardly any emphasis on technical tricks--the basic techniques like turning become very different and take time to adjust to. "Longboarding is made to enjoy the basics of skateboarding," says Fecteau-Gauthier. "You really work your neck muscle and you have to be more aware than on a regular board."

Longboards are designed for racing and are not really meant for skateparks. In places where the longboard is more popular, there are events like the slalom, where the rider has to go around markers on a downhill street. "Longboarding is pretty raw," Fecteau-Gauthier says. "Everyone who does it will come to a point of no return. Some people will give it up, because it is harder. But there are some people who just want to go faster."