Category Archives: Skateboarding

The Kickflip Wheelchair Project

Posted on January 24, 2011 by

Hello, I have been skateboarding for over 25 years and have always loved the sport since I could first ride my friends broken in half skateboard down our street.

I wanted to write this article to let everyone out there know some of the cool new stuff going on with skateboarding today. Specifically the collaborative project called “The Kickflip Wheelchair”. This idea is the brainchild of theFUZZco, who are a skate company and group of artists as well.

This non profit project is to raise funds and awareness for the LA childrens hospital Center for Metabolic and Mitochondrial Disorders. Two other companies also have teamed up with theFUZZco to help the project along. Both Russ Ward Auto Shop and Air Engineering used their resources and expertise to turn this vision into a reality. They have created a really unique specially tricked out wheelchair. By using Unique graphics and designs along with HL2 Wheels, skate deck footrests and graphics by theFUZZco also!

This chair is designed to make the overall look and experience better for the user and to help raise awareness to this great cause.Besides awareness and fund raising all involved know this will help raise the spirits of the brave children suffering from these disorders.The initial base chair used to build on was kindly donated by the California Medical Pharmacy.

Wondering where this cool idea gets its name? Some people might not know what a kickflip is.This trick when done properly allows the skater to literally kick his board into a full 360 spin rotation then land back on it again. It was first known as The Magic Flip with guys like Rodney Mullen and other freestyle pros at the time really using the trick a lot in their routines and contests. This is one of the defining tricks of skateboarding like the ollie and 360 flip so it’s a great name to give to such a cool project for helping out kids with special needs!

The Kickflip Wheelchair will be officially presented at the CHLA 5 Kilometer walk for children on Arpil the 30th 2011

with one of Dr. Richard Boles of the CHLA patients name Zack. Both Zack and his mom are excited to see the final product and for him to take the first spin on the new trickled out chair.

This is a preview of The Kickflip Wheelchair Project. Read the full post (448 words, estimated 1:48 mins reading time)
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Skateboards Have Evolved

Posted on December 21, 2010 by

The evolution of the skateboard promises to be the next biggest thrill for skateboard enthusiasts worldwide and of all ages. What has it evolved to? It has transformed to the CasterBoard!

Back in days gone past we used to use the metal skates that attached to our shoes to make soap box racers and also scooters. Those scooters were the precursor to the Razor-type scooters we have today. Wow!! I describe the caster board as a ‘street snowboard’ with 2-360 degree revolving raked caster wheels on a pivoting deck. The above combo makes it easy and fast to get the sculpting you experience when going downhill on a snowboard. And just by shifting your body weight allows you to accelerate or turn without using your feet to push off like you do on a skateboard. You can actually go uphill with out using your feet.

The casterboard is unique in design. It has 2- foot platforms attached either side of a tubular beam that houses a high torsion spring. Beneath each platform is a raked 360 degree revolving caster wheel that provides a smooth ride on almost any type of pavement. Some of the top casterboards and companies include: The Wave, by Street Surfing(I understand they were first on the caster board scene); then there’s the Ripstik by Razor, the folks who make the popular Razor Scooters. There are also Timberwolf Xtreem Casterboards and Axis Casterboarding (they claim a membership site for all Boarders). These are a few of the casterboards and companies.

I like the casterboards that are out there, as well as the skateboards. But I believe that while you can get incredible speeds with the caster boards, cut your way downhill (and uphill), the tricks are limited because of the single raked wheels. With the increased speed and sharper turning ability of the casterboards, one must also be aware that accidents may happen. It is always best to wear the proper, quality gear when riding. That includes a good quality helmet, elbow and knee protection. No matter what skates, skateboard, scooter or casterboards you buy–Love yourself, Protect yourself! Watch out for car drivers–many times they only pay attention to where they are going and not so much to who is on a skateboard or scooter. Always be aware of all the traffic and have in your mind a last minute bail out plan for emergencies. Of course you shouldn’t be in the street competing with cars any way. Be Safe!!

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On the Prowl for the Best Longboards

Posted on November 3, 2010 by

Imagine yourself lying on your 8 foot longboard while you try to balance everything with the help of your knees and feet and you paddle your way through the on-coming whitewater. After sometime, you see this nice swell coming your way. You decide to ride it!

You paddle with all your might as the salt water gets into your eyes and mouth, finally you feel and hear the wave from under your longboard giving your the cue to stand up. Then there is this intense feeling that you have once again conquered nature.

One can never forget the feeling of being stoked from the 1st time you caught your first wave in a surfboard. You long to experience it after time goes by. And being in a country that has no access to surf you’ll try to get the next best thing.

Last week I managed to scour the city hall area of Singapore just to look for longboards. A few searches from Google led me to Peninsula Shopping centre where two shops are currently selling the best longboards in the market.

Walking in the streets from my office under the drizzling rain, I managed to locate this shop in the basement level of the building called Interstate Longboards.

Surprisingly, they have the Original Longboards brand. From what I recall, they have the Apex 37, The 37 Pintail as well as the Pintail 40, and a Malakai 40.

So there I was, ecstatic by the selection in front of me. Holding each one with both hands as I think of the ways and places I’ll be using it. The owner of the shop even mentioned that he already sold 3 longboards for the day and that Original Longboards is one great board to start with.

I am thinking in the lines of just getting an Apex 37 (2011) or a Pintail 37.

Here’s a brief description of the two boards:

The Original Longboard: Pintail 37. Excellent design, it looks like a surfboard on wheels and the graphic is a classic. It appears to be the perfect board for a Longboard beginner like me. but there’s another option that will surely make me think twice.

This is a preview of On the Prowl for the Best Longboards. Read the full post (466 words, estimated 1:52 mins reading time)
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How to Ride a Skateboard

Posted on October 7, 2010 by

Pushing

So once you know what stance you are, you can start pushing on the skateboard.

To push properly you need to have one foot on the skateboard at all times. Place that foot by the nose. The ideal place to have your foot is over top of the front hardware. That way when you place your back foot on, you don’t need to move your front foot further up to make room for your back foot.

Your back foot will be the one pushing off the ground. Try to keep your back foot fairly close to the side of your skateboard. If your back foot is too far from the skateboard, you will lose your balance.

Stopping

There are a few ways to stop on a skateboard.

1) Drag

Dragging your back foot is easy and effective. With your front foot on the front of your skateboard’s hardware, take your back foot off the skateboard and slowly drag your foot on the ground. Drag your back foot to the front-side of the skateboard rather than the back-side. Dragging on the back-side may cause you to lose control and trip over the board.

2) Scrape

Probably the most common way to stop. With your front foot on the front hardware and your back foot on the tail of the skateboard, apply pressure to your back foot to scrape the tail on the concrete. The harder the pressure, the faster you will stop.

3) Powerslide

The most fun and most impressive way to stop. A powerslide is when the skater swings the back wheels of the skateboard 90 degrees to meet the front. Once the skater is facing forward he/she continues to slide, but with all four wheels. The skater will slide like this until he/she loses speed and comes to a complete stop.

Tip: Wind your shoulders up the opposite way you will slide. This will allow you to slide the back wheels easier.

4) Walk Off

Avoid this method of stopping unless you absolutely have to. With some speed you simply walk off the skateboard. Hopefully, your skateboard will not travel too far and become a hazard for someone else. It should only be used if none of the other methods can be used. Yes, you can stop fast, but it shows you’re an amateur.

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