From graphics of psychedelic sunflowers in all hues of the rainbow to racy women, draped suggestively over the bottom of boards, the colors and statements of long boards have brought new excitement to the streets of Westport. Whether it is a weekend or after school, if the sun is out, so are the boarders. Cruising, dancing, and carving up the southeast region of Westport, longboarders have made their mark on the town by taking a new trend to the next level.
Longboarding is a form of skateboarding, but ask any longboarder and they’ll tell you it’s a more advanced form.
“Longboarding is a lot smoother than skateboarding because the board is bigger and the wheels are bigger,” said Alec Wrubel ’13, adding that the whole point of long boarding is that it’s supposed to be “like surfing, but on land.”
Griffin Noyer ’13 has been longboarding ever since an old friend brought out the longboarder in him by showing him that this sport was easy but could always be improved on, thus providing a fun challenge.
Alex Zuckerman ’13 also chooses longboarding. “Long boarding is a smoother ride than skateboarding. You just cruise. It’s not frustrating like learning skateboard tricks.”
Another reason Zuckerman would choose his New York-made longboard over a skate board is the stereo types associated with skate boarding. “There isn’t really a reputation with long boarders. Anyone can really be a long boarder. You don’t have to dress the part or do any of that stupid stuff.”
Zuckerman also appreciates the group aspect of longboarding. “It’s almost like a sports team,” he said, adding that, “definitely, going longboarding with people, you get to know them better.”
Alec Wrubel ’13 added that longboarding, to him, is just as much of a sport as anything else.
“Longboarding is Staples football,” Wrubel said.
Noyer appreciates what a group dynamic can add to a session.
“It’s always a great group of kids,” said Noyer, “and that makes skating a lot more fun.”
Fellow longboarder Jake Shore ’13 sums up his passion for long boarding in simple terms. “I love it and it relieves my stress.”
Taking it to the next level
The nonexistence of unhealthy competition and an aura of relaxation lure many longboarders back to the smoothly paved roads and flexed boards they have come to love, time and time again. Anyone can glance at a sport and pick out the best players, but longboarding is calmer, in that everyone has their strengths in different categories, athletes say. Noyer described the different areas of longboarding, stating that some people are simply “better at certain things than others.”
There is “sliding” or “drifting,” which, according to Wrubel, is when “you turn really hard and get the wheels to turn horizontally and slide down the hill, similar to drifting in a car.” The intensity of this trick creates a feeling that “the whole board is just going to go sliding out from under you and you’re going to hit the pavement—which is what happens if you don’t do it right,” said Wrubel.
In addition, there is “dancing,” which entails fancy cross-stepping footwork up and down the board similar to dancing—hence the name. There is also “downhill long boarding,” where speed comes into play, “cruising and carving,” which is where the similarities of long boarding and surfing can be seen, and last but not least, are the board tricks. Some examples of board tricks are kick flips, which, according to Wrubel, are as difficult to do as they are to describe. “Basically you get the board up in the air, then you kick it so it does a barrel roll and you land on it,” said Wrubel.
Noyer himself takes pride in downhill, but gives Zuckerman credit for board tricks and Shore credit for dancing.
Shore has been cultivating his longboarding talent for years, and has taken it to the next level. He is currently the recipient of a sponsorship through Original Skateboards and Dope Skateboard Shop. He earned this longboarding status through his You Tube videos, posted under “theracoonofjake.” The owner of Original Skateboards saw his videos and contacted him.
Shore dreamily recalls the conversation that began his sponsored longboarding career. “The owner said ‘sup, I like your videos a lot. Can you ride for the team?’ I said fook yah.”
His job on the Original Skateboards team is to represent them wherever he goes, including competitions. Shore competed in a competition on Sat., Oct. 8, called Slide Jam, where he and the other contestants did tricks and participated in races in front of a panel of judges.
Noyer has also taken his interest in longboarding to a higher degree. He recently participated in an event called the “Broadway Bomb,” where thousands of long boarders skate down one of the busiest streets in New York (Broadway) and take it over for the day, or as long as needec for everyone to reach their final destination.
The Price They Pay for a Passion
While the hobby may seem harmless, groups of longboarders have been taking some heat from the public lately. They have been seen on the Post Road, and the activity of long boarding tends to take up the better part of most roads.
While Zuckerman says the longboarders try to stay off the Post Road and other main roads for the safety of themselves and the drivers, and Noyer added that it’s nerveracking to longboard with cars around, they can recall countless times where drivers have been unhappy with their presence.
As the hobby has gained popularity, and groups of longboarders have risen to up to nine members at a time, there have been a flurry of complaints regarding the blocking of roads and even one run- in with a police officer.
“A nice citizen once reported that we may or may not have been blocking the intersection, and the police just asked that we not block the intersection or block traffic. We politely obliged,” said Noyer, recalling the incident.
While there has been a minimal amount of fuss surrounding the hobby, there have been no particularly serious outcomes. “We’re not causing a major traffic disruption,” said Zuckerman.
Noyer encourages the hobby, whether it includes some complaints by citizens every now and again or not.
“Longboarding is a lot of fun, and if you haven’t yet, find a friend and try it,” said Noyer.
