|
|
|
| Speedboarding (19049 Posts)
|
| Topic |
Speedboarding |
|
standing up or getting down
|
|
On 8/23/2000
Brian
wrote in from
(205.188.nnn.nnn)
I woul like to know if it would be more aerodynamic to stand up like you see everyone in the races do or if getting down closer to the board (so your clafs are touching you thys) I find sharper turning to be easer this way if someone with more experience could help that would be geat
|
|
|
|
|
minor details
|
|
On 8/23/2000
cmc
wrote in from
(208.50.nnn.nnn)
You guys that dont worry about minor details probably never get better and know it all. I guess you would never make good plate riders then, where minor details improve your riding skills regardless of what level you are at. It's usually those "minor details" that set normal riders apart from the elite world class.
|
|
|
|
|
Obsession
|
|
On 8/23/2000
david
wrote in from
(209.178.nnn.nnn)
i'm not saying its just you who is obsessed, and you are probaly right that in a compitition .002 mph probaly would make a difference. i just find it a little funny how some people(not just you chris!!!) get really really into very minor details. but the minor details probally do matter in a professional race, all i'm saying its a little funny that all, if i ever race professionally(cough cough) i probally would get into all things about air pressure.
|
|
|
|
|
Sinking to my Level
|
|
On 8/22/2000
Chris Chaput
wrote in from
(63.168.nnn.nnn)
Related photos of my speedboard setups:
http://www.ChrisChaput.com/speedboarding
On the subject of lowering your CG, I have come up with the follwing analogy.
If you don't think a lower CG is important, then you should have no problem with riding a board that is the equivalent height of your existing board PLUS two 3/4" plywood boards stacked on top of it. If I told you to raise your board an inch and a half for no good reason you'd probably tell me to go to hell. By saying that a low CG doesn't matter, the implication is that a standard board setup should be acceptable and therefore raising my board from 3 1/2" to 5" shouldn't really have much effect. Think about it. Would YOU want to ride something that is higher by two board thicknesses for no good reason? A picture is worth a thousand words. Check out the pictures and tell me what you think.
|
|
|
|
|
Obsession
|
|
On 8/22/2000
Chris Chaput
wrote in from
(63.168.nnn.nnn)
David,
62.55 mph is the OFFICIAL world speed record set by Gary Hardwick in September of 1998 in Fountain Hills, AZ. I not only want to break that record, I want to CRUSH it. I want every whiner and complainer in skateboarding to bitch about how "Chaput used all this high tech aero crap..." and how "Chaput went up this hill at high altitude on a hot day with a tailwind..." and that "What Chaput did is not REAL skateboarding..." as long as they spell my name right in The Guiness Book of World Records for the next ten or twenty years. As long as there are people like you who play it safe by offering nothing and by criticizing others, I'll have it made in the shade. I wrote ONE post seeking information about hot versus cold air in a SPEEDBOARDING forum and you react by saying that "people are so obsessed..." and that "those minor deatils" somehow stand in the way of having fun? One post and I am "obsessed"? Is your criticism a way of showing us what a FUN guy you are?
Gary, Biker, Duck, Leemo, Daryl, Cliff, Mark, Dane, Dave and John, Dread, Caveman and others and I are all going to Seattle in a couple of weeks to get PAID for repeatedly bombing a hill in front of spectators and camera crews and I guarantee you, if I go .002 mph faster than the second place rider, I'm gonna be the dictionary definition of FUN. Losing sucks but it is a lot more palatable if you can use your brain, go back to the drawing board, and find ways to improve. I will never apologize for trying to be the very best that I can be, especially when the cost is merely asking a question and taking the appropriate action.
|
|
|
|
|
air pressure
|
|
On 8/22/2000
david
wrote in from
(209.24.nnn.nnn)
does it really matter what the air pressure is, some people are getting way to into really minor details about speed and how it you will go .002 mph faster. some people are so obsessed about humidity and all those minor details they are't even having fun... and is'nt that what its about?!?!
my 2 cents
david
|
|
|
|
|
MMmmmm
|
|
On 8/22/2000 Herbn
wrote in from
(208.192.nnn.nnn)
What cherry bombs?,what through the board?Hangers hold the axle,flipping them only lowers the board a little and makes them center a little quicker,out of turns.If you already have a dregs,scan the links for alternate boards,look deep,links from links,or just a search engine,do you have a Motherlode, their 44x10.25 is the board i wish i'd gotten from them,i was young :), crazy and in a hurry,i got the 58 inch monster and i'm relucant to cut it down because ;it will probabely ruin a blade cutting through the grip,which will make the trim job come out like sh1t,and i will probabely be able to sell it eventually,then get the board i wanted. They can do a custom,shape/flex/drilling.
|
|
|
|
|
AIR TEMP?PRESSURE?HUMIDITY?
|
|
On 8/22/2000
JON WARBURTON
wrote in from
(195.8.nnn.nnn)
CHRIS, HERES MY TWO PENNYS. RACING AT THE GRAVITY GAMES LAST YEAR, I HAD MASSIVE PROBLEMS TRYING TO AIRBRAKE INTO THE SERPENTINE. IT WAS A VERY HOT ,STICKY DAY, AND I JUST WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN. I ASKED A COMMERCIAL PILOT FRIEND OF MINE WHEN I GOT HOME , AND HE CONFIRMED IT. HOT AIR MOLECULES TAKE UP MORE SPACE THAN COLD ONES, SO YOU WILL NEED TO PUSH LESS AIR AWAY ON A HOT DAY. AIR PRESSURE FOLLOWS THE SAME REASONING. AS FOR HUMIDITY, WET AIR QUITE LITERALLY LUBRICATES ITSELF AND EVERYTHING IT TOUCHES. SOME MIGHT SAY THIS IS TAKING IT TOO FAR, BUT I NOTICED CONSIDERABLE EFFECTS ON THAT DAY AS DID OTHER RACERS. ASK A PILOT, AND HE WILL TELL YOU TO PUT MORE POWER THROUGH YOUR ENGINES ON HOT, WET DAYS. ITS THAT SIMPLE. I JUST WISH I HADNT REALLY HURT MYSELF FINDING OUT!
|
|
|
|
|
raceboard
|
|
On 8/21/2000 RobMcIII
wrote in from
(204.232.nnn.nnn)
Thats what I have. I will mount the trucks through the board soon but then what of clearence for cherry bombs? Is there a stiff short TVS, stiff, with no wheel bight. What of other setups, My Dregs race is great but just need a new one for the quiver.
|
|
|
|
|
Dregs Race
|
|
On 8/21/2000 Herbn
wrote in from
(216.107.nnn.nnn)
Sorry Rob,between my experiments with superconductor magnetic bearings,and descending in linear particle accelerator, i forgot to mention that the dregs race board,set up with R2's would probabely do ya good,something smaller in wheels like Sector or Krypto 65 mm ,or even 62mm,should work nice,try flipping the hangers because you'll have the clearence(small wheels)carve wheel wells if needed. Swiss,Chinabones, speedemons(gold) depending on budget and availability. Happy skatin',your palz;ALBERT.
|
|
|
|
|
hows the weather
|
|
On 8/21/2000 RobMc3
wrote in from
(64.12.nnn.nnn)
Since my post about a deck choice you guys have spent more time talking about the temperature, barometric pressure, and which way the gods are blowing. I understand what you're going for but I like to turn once and a while(even if it is only 45mph)
|
|
|
|
|
Speedboarding at Night
|
|
On 8/21/2000
Brad Smith
wrote in from
(192.251.nnn.nnn)
I've just gotten back into skating. I'm an "old School" skater from the 70's. Back then we used to do our highest speed skating (47mph was our record) at night. Before anyone jumps to the "what an idiot" conclusion, skating at night has a couple major benifits: (1) it's certainly cooler, quiter, and there's less traffic and (2) most importantly, you can see a car's headlights at night long before you can see a car in the day, especially if trees block the view of the uncoming traffic (you can see headlights thru tree foliage). Another technique we had was to follow the skater down the hill in a car to get the skater's speed. This doesn't sound too bright either, but if there are intersections to the road you're skating, another car is far less likely to pull out into the skater's way if they see the lights of the car following the skater. Naturally, the person in the car needs to be reliable, alert, and ready to hit the brakes (or drive off the road to a predetermined bail spot which is safe for the driver) should the skater wipe. We didn't have much of a choice but to use this technique. In the town of Williamstown, Mass, skating was never really hot or even accepted, and my freinds and I were the only ones to attempt such speeds. Needless to say, I don't particularly reccomend this style, but it worked for us...We're all still alive, and never crashed once......
|
|
|
|
|
Cold asphalt
|
|
On 8/21/2000 Herbn
wrote in from
(216.107.nnn.nnn)
I was gonna say something about the speed of cold pavement,something a lot of californians may not know much about,not to mention cold wheels,you can put thinner oil in you bearings so the thick stuff doesn't slow you down,if the temp stays down the oil may stay on your bearings. How about this, look into special terrain to set the world record,or how about a huge, steep starting ramp on the hill of your choice.Its gonna be a little less cost effective than the high air,or distance jump records,both using special ramps.
|
|
|
|
|
Truck drag
|
|
On 8/20/2000
Chris Chaput
wrote in from
(63.168.nnn.nnn)
Although the polished truck idea has merit, as would hub caps or "wheels seals", my plan is to have the board's undercarriage completely skirted by the deck's 3D design and construction. This would allow the wheel's bearings to breathe and stay cool (without caps) and have both the truck and the wheels out of the airstream entirely. Ground effects at 70mph or so would probably be minimal with an inherently aero vehicle like a longboard. Hard plastic molded shin pads and calve fairings, a Landingham helmet, kevlar leathers under a speedsuit and I would still be LUCKY to go HALF of the speed of today's speedskiers. They currently are topping 150mph and 75mph would be a world speed record in skateboarding. Every little bit helps and the sum total of all the tips and tricks could add up to the fastest documented runs yet. The good news is that all the knowledge gained here will be made public in this forum so that we can continue to push the envelope in speedboarding.
p.s. To anyone just now tuning in, this is only ONE small aspect of speedboarding, maybe a dozen people in the world are really wanting to do this...
|
|
|
|
|
small details for speed
|
|
On 8/20/2000
cmc
wrote in from
(208.49.nnn.nnn)
If one is worried about the temp of the air so be it. Its all of the small things that add up to give you the fastest speed. Knowing that all factors which can contribute to drag are eliminated can be mentally satisfying. Another small thing, has any one that has gone for a speed record ever polished their trucks to a smooth, sealed chrome state? Heck look at golf balls, their divots help with their flight pattern to go further. Wouldnt a chromed truck be faster than its original state? ......It cant be that much faster but shouldn't that have an effect?
|
|
|
|
|
Lugeing
|
|
On 8/20/2000
Hamm
wrote in from
(63.39.nnn.nnn)
Was just watching some X-Gaymes. Was stoked to see that Bob Perriana, sponsered by Solidskate.com, took home some gold. They even had a camera on his board and you could see the Solidskate logo as he crossed the finish line.
Chaulk one up for the home team!
Dave
|
|
|
|
|
speed on the flats?
|
|
On 8/20/2000
Pee-Wee
wrote in from
(205.179.nnn.nnn)
Kanoa-
Dude, how will you deal with the dust that the vette will kick up on you?
|
|
|
|
|
Chris, you are the man
|
|
On 8/20/2000
Danny Connor
wrote in from
(64.12.nnn.nnn)
Chris,
Why didn't you say so? I'm kidding. That is rad man. I can see your concern about anything that would play any kind of role in getting that record. I wasn't trying to be a punk, just adding my 2 cents(or lack of sense as the case may be!) I really hope you get it! Make it a challenge for me when I am going for it, because I will be in the future! Have fun and don't get hurt (just in case your mother hasn't told you already).
|
|
|
|
|
world speed record
|
|
On 8/20/2000 kanoa
wrote in from
(162.135.nnn.nnn)
I want to break the world speed record by being towed by a vette with a water ski rope. Im going to do this on the salt flats useing a special board. I will announce the time and location, it should be around a year from now. legal or not I plan to beat the record by at the very least 50mph.
|
|
|
|
|
Regarding Adam's post
|
|
On 8/20/2000
Cliff Coleman
wrote in from
(216.224.nnn.nnn)
Hello Adam,
The World Long Jump record is now held by Mike Powell. His record was set at sea level and is 8.95 meters.
Cliff Coleman, an all sports fan.
|
|
|
|
|
Beamonesque
|
|
On 8/19/2000 Adam
wrote in from
(63.192.nnn.nnn)
Bob Beamon's 1968 Olympic long jump record of 29'2-1/2" still stands, some say, due to the thin air at the high altitudes of Mexico City where the '68 Games were held. Following this logic, the continental divide might be the ideal place to break the current speedboarding record. I imaging a stiff tail wind wouldn't hurt either...
|
|
|
|
|
weather
|
|
On 8/19/2000 brian
wrote in from
(206.105.nnn.nnn)
chris,i think that if you were riding warm air, you would have to be in a very dry area. otherwise, you would get a problem with thicker, humid air. in the cold you wouldn't have to deal with it. my 2 cents.
|
|
|
|
|
Solo Runs
|
|
On 8/19/2000
Chris Chaput
wrote in from
(63.168.nnn.nnn)
Danny,
The run I'm talking about here is a SOLO run for a world speed record. The EQUIPMENT and RIDER play a major role in record breaking. The ENVIRONMENT in which a run is made can also have a dramatic impact on top speed. I am asking because I really want to know what others have experienced whether it be skydiving, speedskiing, speedboarding or streetluging. I'd like NOT to have to re-invent the wheel, if you know what I mean...
|
|
|
|
|
Speed
|
|
On 8/19/2000
Danny Connor
wrote in from
(152.163.nnn.nnn)
Hey guys,
Chris, what is the URL of your site? Is it Longboarders.com? Anyway. I think that it is funny that people are arguing about cold air vs. warm air. I think technique is what wins a race. I got beat in Mammoth and I had bigger wheels and better bearings than the dude who passed me very close to the finish line. He knew what he was doing, and I HAD a sloppy tuck. I've seen dudes with speedsuits and 2 thousand dollar aero helmets get beaten by dudes with 50 dollar leathers and a motorcycle helmet they picked up at a yard sale for 5 bucks. I'm not saying that top of the line equipment won't help, but it isn't what makes someone good. And as far as cold air and warm air-WHO CARES! What happened to just wanting to haul some azz and kick some while your'e at it. It seems to me that if someone is obsessing over the temprature of the air, they are riding for the wrong reasons. Anyone agree?
|
|
|
|
|
Living Dead
|
|
On 8/19/2000
Chris Chaput
wrote in from
(63.168.nnn.nnn)
"Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated." - Mark Twain
Truth be known, I was vacationing at Club Med Ixtapa (Mexico) with my wife and daughter for a week. Surf, sail, swim, kayak, soccer, volleyball, trapeze, food, food, food, etc. I didn't even bring a skateboard. It's time to "hit the road" now and train for the Seattle race. I just got some more Randal Comp II's and spare axles in the mail and I'm setting up an experimental "Aero-3D" speedboard carved out of foam. This setup will have a kind of skirt and nose cone and then "wheel wells" just large enough for the wheels and trucks to turn without rubbing. Air should go around the sides of the board and also air going over the top should clear the toe of my front foot. It will be a full 48" inches but with a wheelbase much shorter than that. I've spoken with Randal about the possibility of creating a "Comp III" that would use 3 Mini Miser bearings to float the axle instead of the 2 larger bearings used now. The ends of the hanger wouldn't have to "bloat" out to accept the smaller bearings and a special cap plate can hold a third bearing in the center of the hanger. At some point soon I'll put some pictures out on my website(s) for anyone who is interested in the progress of my quest for speed. FYI, the boards I'm discussing right now have a very specialized and limited functionality and are NOT set up for racing on technical courses (hairpins and sliding). Some time next season I want to take a stab at both the streetluge AND standup speed records. The location is of course, utmost in importance. I need something at an extemely high elevation for the nice thin air. I've heard opposite opinions as to whether cold air or warm air is better for speed. I would think that as long as the road doesn't get too hot and gooey, the warm air would be less dense and easier to slice through. Some people think this is wrong. If you talk to pilots, they'll tell you about drag and lift in both conditions and skiers will tell you another thing. It's hard to tell how the surface you are riding on and the surface area of your body and board increase or decrease overall speed. Two cents anyone?
|
|
|
|
|
