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| Soulriding (2099 Posts)
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Soulspeak |
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On 12/26/2001
Speedy
wrote in from
(129.8.nnn.nnn)
You want soul? Your nine-year-old brother borrowing your new longboard to ride it up and down the wood-floored hall because it's too cold outside and he wants to play on "the good one". That's soul.
-Speedy
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On 12/26/2001 Coldnuts
wrote in from
(198.81.nnn.nnn)
I am 6.4....230....and 47...Shaved head...ZZ Top beard....
Ther ain't nothing like bruising and cruising...Riding the
big stick....The kid and I skate all over...The cops jst smile and wave!...Nothing like it....
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On 12/25/2001
Biffoz
wrote in from
(64.168.nnn.nnn)
Carving Jones!
Out the door...
Bomb the village drop.
Pass 2 cars who honk at me.
Coleman at the stop sign.
Escape from police up the trestle stairway.
Back on the couch 2 minutes later...
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On 12/25/2001 MissouriMatt
wrote in from
(208.141.nnn.nnn)
I started sk8ing to fill the void of waves I won't ride. My wife understands this about me, and bought me the book "Maverick's", a surfer's journal t-shirt, a TSJ video - Great Waves Hawaii, and my third set of torsion trucks.
I watched the video and was awed by the beauty and power of the waves. I lived in the Caribbean several times, and it doesn't take much to get me jones'n for the ocean. But when the video was over, and I pondered fickle weather, crowds, etc. I thought, "here I am, Columbia, Missouri", my waves are frozen in time. Chuncks of asphalt and concrete that change slowly, as they are effected by ice and heat, repavings, leaves and acorns. But they are very dependible, and never crowded. I'll never see a pair of spotted rays the size of a car hood rise up in tandum and break water (yes, that happened) but I'll see the beauty of the life that's here, and I'll recharge my soul. And the hills just sit and wait, they don't go away, they don't let you down on your day off.
When I got my first set of torsions I felt like someone had just layed a foot of water over every street in town. Thank you to all that continue to inovate our sport and equipment.
Merry Christmas to everyone scratching thier itchy soul on a longboard with wheels. Ride on. Anyone scratching it with a handboard and fins, God bless you, I'm right there with you.
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On 12/25/2001
Speedy
wrote in from
(129.8.nnn.nnn)
I GOT A SECTOR!!! *goes flying down the street in giddy excitement*
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On 12/24/2001 Repairman Cam
wrote in from
(4.48.nnn.nnn)
It's been a year of adulthood firsts for me:
First longboard ride
first riding session with my 10 year old son
and most recently My first fall!
It was almost karma like...my manager warned me to be careful so I threw on my leather jacket as an afterthought.
Winding down at the base of a local hill when a small rock decided to imitate a wheel chuck and stop my board cold! one or two sholder rolls later I'm laughing on the ground, thankful nothing broke (thank God for helmets!)and looking for the rock as a souvenier. This has'nt happened to me since 1969! biggest difference is this time i aint quittin'!
Unfortunately now I stare at a new first...first winter waiting for skating weather! Oh well I can always bundle up and ride...
Happy Holidays to all!
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On 12/23/2001 h0dad
wrote in from
(202.37.nnn.nnn)
Mat...perhaps you should have stretched out your hand and taken
that wave el natural dolphin style ;)
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On 12/23/2001
Mat (lushlongboards.com)
wrote in from
(213.121.nnn.nnn)
Hi, it's great to see some names I know from other places in here, you know who you are.
I have to say that DanG, your post was beautiful. You took me, in my mind, through the streets that I ride perfectly, sharing in the same way I feel when out at 4am. Absolutely beautiful, thankyou.
On of the most soulful moments for me was whilst I was surfing in South Wales this summer. It was the last day of an amazing surfing holiday. The beach we went to was quiet and the waves had just started going off. The waves had been about 3 foot all week, but on this day every wave was 6 foot+ up to about 8 foot at some points (I stayed in the water for about 3 hours total!).
Anyway, I paddled out and sat looking for my next wave. I spun the board around as I spotted a wave, but then I saw the one after it and decided to sit up and wait for the second wave. The first wave had other ideas and started to suck up, picking me up right on the top. As my board tipped over the edge I laid down and paddled like crazy. The board was now completely vertical and moving forwards. I popped up, there was nothing else to do, and if I caught this wave at the top I knew it would be a crazy ride down the face, I stood, feeling like a king, rushing forwards, grinning like a madman, I started to turn, but I was to far forwards on my board and going too fast, the nose pushed under and I leaned back to rescue it, but my board was too vert to pull it back and the board dived under with the wave pushing me forwards. The wave was so powerful, I tucked up and covered my head, I knew that I was near the rocks to the left and I waited to hit them or for my board to come crashing back through the water. The wave swirled around me so fast I could not tell which way was up, there was no control (I am a strong swimmer being a lifeguard) I was beginning to worry. THEN...suddenly it came to me, I knew that there was nothing that I could do against the power of all that water, I thought that I may as well relax and enjoy the experience. I curled up tighter and just held my breath, covering my head. I felt weightless, surrounded by water, being swirled around. I felt oddly safe, I felt happy, peaceful, content. I could feel the immense power of the wave all around me, my mind cleared, I smiled. As I eventually surfaced, I felt as though I had been somewhere else under that wave. I came out different from how I went in, changed in what was only a few seconds, but what felt like hours.
This is the same soul feeling that I get when I skate. DanG, I know how you feel, I hope that everyone else does too. I'm sure you all do.
Have a great Christmas and a peacful New Year.
God bless,
Mat.
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On 12/23/2001
MissouriMatt
wrote in from
(208.141.nnn.nnn)
The fruit bowl looks like serious fun. Another great pic. I had a soulful session a year ago at Kona, a park in Jax Florida. Here's to the "J" bowl and the SNAAAKE!(you gotta shout it before you go), and a Christmas toast to all the soulful skateparks out there, a toast to long runs with banks and speed!
Yes, and a toast to Mark's Christmas poem.
Peace on earth,
Ride on.
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On 12/22/2001 lons lane
wrote in from
(24.187.nnn.nnn)
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On 12/22/2001
Speedy
wrote in from
(129.8.nnn.nnn)
Wow... So much soul, I'm not sure I can take it... Haven't skated much lately, it being rainy here and at school, and my board being in school. But I still got my share of soul. Went snowboarding today. Fifteen inches of fresh powder. Got sick of the hills, and talk to some chap and his lady by the picnic tables. Turns out he used to live in Moro (however you spell that) Bay, and hang out with all the surfers about twenty years ago. Came home, went to a solstice party with a massive bonfire. Did some firespinning. Came home, hit the web, and I'm greeted with all the wonderful pics posted in the past few days. It is a good thing.
Oh, Yeah, and a GREAT poem!
-Speedy
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On 12/21/2001 yule be cool
wrote in from
(199.46.nnn.nnn)
'Twas the night before Christmas and all 'round the bowl,
not a shortboard was stirring in our session of soul.
Wristguards and kneepads were hung on us all,
in case we should sketch and succumb to a fall.
The kids were attentive to lessons "old school",
for this was longboarding and they knew it was cool.
And I, in my Converse Chuck Taylor's so high,
cross-stepped to the nose for a stylish glide by.
When out on the flats there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my board to see what was the matter.
And what to my wondering eyes should appear,
but the ghost of Torger Johnson in full skating gear!
A little old ripper so lively and quick,
I watched very close so I wouldn't miss a trick.
He dropped in the bowl and did carve wide and high,
throwing laybacks and Berts, oh man could he fly!
Drop-knees and g-turns, every move did he know,
drawing lines through the park with maximum flow.
We watched him in awe as he tore through the park,
then he carved out the gate and into the dark.
And we heard him exclaim as he bombed out of sight,
"Merry skating to all on their longboards tonight!"
happy holidays everyone,
Mark Colden
Dallas, TX
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On 12/21/2001 Ed Economy
wrote in from
(4.41.nnn.nnn)
Matt,
Once you find that perfect bowl it is hard to ride anything else. In the 70's the fruit Bowl was this over size pool. Perfect for longboards even though I was the only one riding a board at this size in this time. We skated for 4-5 hours hoping someone else would show up to skate with. Then as the pool got famous from skateboarder magazine it got to be a joke.
Then as luck would have it a new skateboard park opened down the street the Concrete Wave. I skated there what a joke You had to pay money, wait in line, wear gear, and they were these crummy little banks the soul was gone. As the park got booming we went back to the fruit bowl and skated by our selfs back to the soul of skating me my longboard and my friends...
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On 12/21/2001
MissouriMatt
wrote in from
(208.141.nnn.nnn)
Ed and all the other park riders,
I've slowly found myself skipping the hills in favor of the park. Lots of sweet lines on the smooth banks. Airs and grinds, but mostly the long, high line. Every once in awhile I read a post that tries to define soul riding by saying what it is not. That can't be done. It's all for the soul.
Love the pic Ed.
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On 12/20/2001 Longboardbuddha
wrote in from
(213.48.nnn.nnn)
Hey i just lost my board last night, i wont bore you with the details but i am gutted. As for the pic, whooha. Something i always noticed when burning a bowl or ramp on a longboard is that you never get dropped in on by another skater, they just stand there with their mouths open with dribble collecting at their feet. You finish your ride and exit the bowl...they watch you go in silence, everything has stopped. They catch up with you later and ask you how,why,can i? Best soul moment this week? Taking the xmas shopping back to the van on my board, one man...one daughter 5 years old sitting at my feet laughing,7 bags of shopping as we carved through the public.The local Hare Krishnas laugh and shout out to me, the public just stare blank faced.
holiday peace to all.
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On 12/20/2001 Duane
wrote in from
(63.21.nnn.nnn)
I'll always remember my first...longboard. Four feet of skating pleasure, crafted by my own hand, silkscreened "V-Jam Skates" on the bottom. Rode it down to a girl's house who had just moved onto my street, got a first kiss sitting side-by-side on the board. Drifted into the house, heard a sickening "CRACK", her father had just run over my pride & joy.
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On 12/20/2001
bObO
wrote in from
(63.208.nnn.nnn)
ED,
You are my hero, thanks for stoking the fire, and giving all
of us new heights to reach, and not limiting longboard skat-
ing to just flatland. --bObO--
p.s. Hope everyone outthere has a great X-mas, I hope Santa
is good to all!
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On 12/20/2001 Glen
wrote in from
(216.102.nnn.nnn)
ya Ed,
I love that picture, always have.
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On 12/20/2001 ED Economy
wrote in from
(4.41.nnn.nnn)
This was to be with my post
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On 12/20/2001 Ed Economy
wrote in from
(4.41.nnn.nnn)
To me Soul Carving is to take your longboard where no short board dare go. In the 70's there were only a few of us longboarders. We made due what was put in front of us and took on all the pools, parks, banks, hills what ever came our way. I can tell you, when you hit a 16 ft deep bowl with 8 ft of flat verticle wall at speed on a short board it is crazzy. You hit the same wall on a 5ft skateboard there is a rush just like charging down a 20 ft wave. It is rush you have to have once in your life. You are totally upside down looking at nothing but a blur when you get to the bottom all ya can do is smile.
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On 12/20/2001 no name please
wrote in from
(159.87.nnn.nnn)
i did something today i wanna pass on. they had some type of Christmas program going around the office. a lady with good intentions (but clueless) was asking for someone to get something for an 11 year old boy. i took me a moment and i took the task. i will create a little skater Christmas day. i challenge all of you to do the same. pass on the flow, of course i got him a kick flipper board, if he is a skater he will stick it and grow. if he don't like it, it's good swag to trade for something that he wants. he is 11 to him it will be a longboard. i feel better than if i just bought myself a new Turner. try it!
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On 12/19/2001
Speedy
wrote in from
(129.8.nnn.nnn)
Props, DanG, that was one helluva piece:) Good luck on the college apps., I hope you get in your first choice!
-Speedy
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On 12/19/2001 DanG
wrote in from
(141.153.nnn.nnn)
This is going to be one of my college essays and I couldn't just let it go to wast on a college app form so here you go:
“What can you do with that thing?” is the comment I almost always hear when I’m long boarding and I pass a group of band-aid board toting kids. I usually just yell back, “Flow.” and skate away from puzzled looks; but I can’t blame them, there’s no way to understand what it’s about unless you ride. Flying through the streets anytime, day or night, with no destination. The freedom and clarity of mind that come when I’m drifting through a turn, with the only goal being to keep the ride going as long as possible. Carving the black wave from streetlight to streetlight; half in the light half out. Dancing with my shadow, on the deck of my board, which squeaks like a schooner with every turn. Reaching out, and running my hand over the warm black ash fault on a hard backside turn. My board, it’s a boat, riding a tar wave under artificial electric moonlight. Every turn makes it squeak more as the waves hit it from different angles. Up ahead the road gets busy and I turn to the sidewalk. Urethane on cracked concrete makes a teta teta teta… like riding on a train. On this train, I can’t turn only speed up and the tracks head straight down hill. It doesn’t matter though, still moving, light-to-light. Soon it’s a blur, the sound a high-pitched machine gun, the lights whizzing by my head. Shot out of the sidewalk, a bullet with wheels I take to the street again, but this time the only light is from the full moon watching me doing drop knee carves down the road. Climbers, hikers, and marathon runners talk of spiritual moments where everything falls into place, where you can see everything going on around you with a hallucinogenic clarity. If I’m lucky on warm evenings when I’m out boarding by myself I’ll have one, the world and the moment take on a dream like state and it’s hard to tell if I’m awake or not. How can you describe that feeling to another person passing in the street? You can’t, but flow is definitely the closest I’ve come.
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On 12/19/2001 h0dad
wrote in from
(202.37.nnn.nnn)
Bravo, well the h0dad's in his thirties, and despite the pressures
of the buy-a-new-4WD-and-relive-your-youth bullshit, would rather
skateboard to work.
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On 12/19/2001
Speedy
wrote in from
(129.8.nnn.nnn)
Y'know, people allways talk about the older generation and the younger being able to connect over something like skating. But in my humble opinion (Only 19, hardly experienced in this world), skating makes us all so ageless that it really doesn't matter. All of a sudden, it doesn't matter whether you're rich or poor, know how to play stocks or not, can talk employers into a raise. It's about having acces to a good riding territory, knowing how to tune a board, being able to shift your weight into that run _just_ right. Age is allways in your head, but never quite as much as when you're riding. The guy who tought to me snowboard 5 years ago was allready in his fifties at the time, maybe even sixties. Great rider, we still connect when we meet on the slopes. "Hiya, Ed!" "Hey! I'll beat you down!" It's great. Age don't matter because it doesn't exist. Skill and age are not the same thing, and only skill matters; what doesn't matter, may as well not exist.
-Speedy
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