Just bought my first skate board.. ever.
Rode them a lot as a kid but Santa always gave them to me.
Took so much skin off in those days of the GT boards with hard wheels with no grip.
So.. Today I'm thinking there's a nice big long hill near home.. Slipped off the Croc's and put on runners.
I'm thinking nice big slow turns to keep my speed under control.. Well this worked fine till about half way down..
Then things got interesting..
Much faster than I wanted to go.. Started stringing recoveries together as I brought the speed wobbles under control..
The road flattened out at the end and it didn't end in tears.. But.. My heart was nearly jumping out of my chest and my legs were shaking.
For a while there I thought I was going to end up going to work as a patient instead of a worker.. 
My legs are still shaking.
DJ
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Select to expand quoteDavidJohn said..
Then things got interesting..
Much faster than I wanted to go..
I've also found that the long boards are MUCH faster than the short boards ... certainly faster than I remember from 40 years ago!
Practice your J turns and your power slides chief or you will be loosing a lot of bark
Select to expand quoteTux said..
Practice your J turns and your power slides chief or you will be loosing a lot of bark
Explanation please... What is a J-Turn and how do you do it?
Also need some info on how to achieve a power slide. The last time I tried it I cam off and broke my wrist...
Yep,
and counter-intuitive but putting your weight a bit forward over your front truck will help settle the wobbles.
Anecdote from (circa) 1964, in the days BEFORE those GT boards with hard white wheels that DJ was referring to...
Boards in those days didn't like stones, and the stones jammed under the wheels, stopping the boards in its tracks, sending the rider cartwheeling forwards.
So...was skating up and down the driveway with my mate Billy on our boards, until the inevitable stone got in the way. Cartwheeled forward until stopped by the slamming of the bridge of my nose into the tow bar tongue of Billy's Dad's car. Managed to create a continuos geyser of blood all the way across the street as I ran home in terror.
Still a distinct and scary childhood memory...
good fun, my son doesn't like me riding them
, reckons I'm too scary to watch
. I told him don't watch
Select to expand quoteHelmy said..
Anecdote from (circa) 1964, in the days BEFORE those GT boards with hard white wheels that DJ was referring to...
Boards in those days didn't like stones, and the stones jammed under the wheels, stopping the boards in its tracks, sending the rider cartwheeling forwards.
So...was skating up and down the driveway with my mate Billy on our boards, until the inevitable stone got in the way. Cartwheeled forward until stopped by the slamming of the bridge of my nose into the tow bar tongue of Billy's Dad's car. Managed to create a continuos geyser of blood all the way across the street as I ran home in terror.
Still a distinct and scary childhood memory...
Ouch that would of hurt like hell
Select to expand quoteHelmy said..
Anecdote from (circa) 1964, in the days BEFORE those GT boards with hard white wheels that DJ was referring to...
Boards in those days didn't like stones, and the stones jammed under the wheels, stopping the boards in its tracks, sending the rider cartwheeling forwards.
So...was skating up and down the driveway with my mate Billy on our boards, until the inevitable stone got in the way. Cartwheeled forward until stopped by the slamming of the bridge of my nose into the tow bar tongue of Billy's Dad's car. Managed to create a continuos geyser of blood all the way across the street as I ran home in terror.
Still a distinct and scary childhood memory...
That explains those rugged good looks Helmy 
.
Christmas 1972, Western Sydney:
Picture a 10 year old boy dressed only in purple speedos standing atop a steep hill and a newly-laid road, one foot resting on his new, red, bullet skateboard...picture that same boy 15 seconds later...starfished on the road, the purple speedos half torn off, head to toe gravel rash down his left side...and it's just starting to bleed...
Took mum about an hour and a half to pick out all the black new-road stuff with her tweezers. Can still see a couple of the scars.
. 
Here's the thing. If you fall off your skate board, and you will, possibly break or damage a limb or head,
How long before you are back into you're first love? Tarmac is very unforgiving, water? Not so bad.
(friend of mine was out of the water for a few months doing just that.)
Select to expand quoterockmagnet said..
Here's the thing. If you fall off your skate board, and you will, possibly break or damage a limb or head,
How long before you are back into you're first love? Tarmac is very unforgiving, water? Not so much.
(friend of mine was out of the water for a few months doing just that.)
What he said x 2
Wear your protective gear, burn off speed with your turns, take care DJ.
Have fun.
DJ you need a land paddle, i use mine to push along then you can use it to slow down on the hills, cars give you a wide berth too when you have 6 and half feet of wood to swing around...
Select to expand quoteAir80 said..
DJ you need a land paddle, i use mine to push along then you can use it to slow down on the hills, cars give you a wide berth too when you have 6 and half feet of wood to swing around...
DJ, I have a spare land paddle you can have. Going to sell my Kahuna long board and other paddle before I damage myself on it.
Select to expand quotePiros said..Helmy said..
Anecdote from (circa) 1964, in the days BEFORE those GT boards with hard white wheels that DJ was referring to...
Boards in those days didn't like stones, and the stones jammed under the wheels, stopping the boards in its tracks, sending the rider cartwheeling forwards.
So...was skating up and down the driveway with my mate Billy on our boards, until the inevitable stone got in the way. Cartwheeled forward until stopped by the slamming of the bridge of my nose into the tow bar tongue of Billy's Dad's car. Managed to create a continuos geyser of blood all the way across the street as I ran home in terror.
Still a distinct and scary childhood memory...
Ouch that would of hurt like hell
And he never skateboarded again........
You should come and try that on my hill DJ , I ride down it in the morning to get the paper.Only brave enough to go from half wayA guy actually died in the street a few year back trying to skate down it , irony is they ashphelted the street about 3 Months after his accident.I copped eight stiches in the head and knocked myself out skating around the house and ran into a low hanging beam , DOH!
Select to expand quoteHumanCartoon said..
Yep,
and counter-intuitive but putting your weight a bit forward over your front truck will help settle the wobbles.
Did that and it did help.. I do need to buy a trucks key and tighten up the trucks a little.
DJ
Select to expand quoterockmagnet said..
Here's the thing. If you fall off your skate board, and you will, possibly break or damage a limb or head,
How long before you are back into you're first love? Tarmac is very unforgiving, water? Not so bad.
(friend of mine was out of the water for a few months doing just that.)
Yes I know the risks.. and I also know the rewards..
I know they're dangerous.. but so are ladders..
DJ
Select to expand quotePTWoody said..Air80 said..
DJ you need a land paddle, i use mine to push along then you can use it to slow down on the hills, cars give you a wide berth too when you have 6 and half feet of wood to swing around...
DJ, I have a spare land paddle you can have. Going to sell my Kahuna long board and other paddle before I damage myself on it.
Thanks Paul.. Using a land paddle stick was my plan.
Great looking board DJ a few of us longboarders have Longboard Larry's,can you post some close up pic's of the board, truck and wheel set up please.
hopkin.com.au/pages/buyers-guide
Some good info on tuning your board. The guys in the shop are all skaters, many of whom have been skating longer than some people on this forum. And always happy to give free advice on email and phone.
Select to expand quoteAir80 said..
this will either help or not but this guy goes fast
h
Great vid..
