Team Geared Up

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LONDON, UK (Team Geared Up) - USA to Zurich, Zurich to London, next Ireland or Singapore…. who knows where this board will surface next!? Eitherway I enjoyed my first day of Longboarding today. Big thanks to Bustinboards.com for sending TGU a board for review (read our Bustin Boards Complex 42inch Review by Alx).

For an outsider like me to the sport of skating, Longboarding seems to have roots in the ‘outdoor community’. It’s widely compared to surfing or snowboarding and today I could see that. It’s also cooler and more practical. Although I’m not sure how practical any of this is unless you live in the rolling hills of California!

Descriptions of Longboarding vary. I’ve been trying to find some riding tips before hitting the tarmac today (literally)! I got a little worried when I came across this description of how to brake on wikipedia:

Air braking involves standing upright on your board as tall as possible with arms outstretched to catch as much wind resistance as possible. This is primarily done in speed boarding to reduce speed but is not an effective way to stop. This only works at high speeds.

Hmmm. Best to keep under running pace I think!

Here’s how the pro’s do it… this will be me in a few weeks :-) watch this space. In the meantime, watch Adam Coulton… incredible balance:

I would actually like to be able to ’slide’, aka using your hands with special gloves to powerslide. Looks great:

-Robin-