pavedwave longboarding

LDPanda · Joined: 21 Nov 2008 Posts: 418 Location: Seattle, WA

So I went out for a really long sesh yesterday, the weather was unseasonably nice, i was well stretched and energetic, i had a great time. The only bad part of the whole trip was the two times i passed this punk biker and he had some disparaging remarks for me (ones i dont feel the need to repeat here). Now, it was a great sesh, i dont let the words of some stupid kid get me down, but it got me wondering: why dont ldpers enjoy the same respect as downhillers or even street skaters? Whats so wrong with what we do? Im not skuffing up curbs or grinding down rails, im not speeding around cars on a busy highway, why all the hate? Admittedly, i do get a few supporters out there, bikers who want to chat about the sport and are genuinely excited about it, but i get as many if not more who are rude and (like this kid) downright mean. Maybe some of you have had this happen? Any ideas why?

scooterdad · Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:05 pm Post subject:

Well, I've been lucky enough not to have this happen to me (yet), but I think people often have a natural tendency to dislike that which is unfamiliar. And it does look kind of goofy to the uninitiated.

I do notice that when I ride around on our bike path here, people give some really long, long looks, following me with their eyes for minutes at a time it seems. My wife tells me that's because I'm an older looking dude on a skateboard than what they're used to, or that I'm wearing a helmet, or something else. I think it's just because I look different doing what I am doing. Most people will probably think cool- that looks like something fun and different. Others will always react with negativity, thinking it looks stupid or lame or a waste of time. Those people may never be happy, so it's pretty easy not to get discouraged by them. There are more people that fall into the first category though. At least in my mind Wink

Those are the ones I try to surround myself with.

The others, well, there just isn't enough time on this earth to care too much what they think.

model.citizen · Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 10:42 pm Post subject:

we look geeky. not surf-soul-hippy-kewl, not hesh. geeky.

who cares.

we're the ones with the smile and stoke...

northcoast · Joined: 09 Sep 2008 Posts: 64

why no love? because we don't "look" cool. DH'ers have the mad speed and stormtrooper helmets to go with them; sliders have their spinny moves; street skaters have the flippity kicks and junk; even slalom has an element of excitement from the racing. but, LDP just has average dudes on goofy looking boards humping air and going down bike paths. i personally have gotten many odd looks, and a bunch of comments.

don't let it get you down, you're one less car on the road and one less hipster on a fixie Wink

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jat. · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 4:35 am Post subject:

What ever man, I slide so I'm at least semi exciting Cool

Haha. But jokes aside, I've gotten a more positive vibe from the people I've passed on my sessions. I've gotten my spanking hand gestures under control though so ... I might have been kind of uncool-ish at some point. =P
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Gawd

pavedwave · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 1120 Location: seattle wa usa

Belegnole · Joined: 23 Jul 2008 Posts: 86 Location: Appleton, Wisconsin

Unfortunately there always seems to be snobbish people about. I guess some people will always have to look down on others to boost their egos or make them feel better about the thousands they have spent on their particular hobby. I have always enjoyed even just the thought of not having to put a foot down while riding a skateboard even if it can look dorky.....and it can.
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No matter where you go, there you are....

ZapZang · Joined: 17 Sep 2008 Posts: 32

Gotta agree with what's been said - yeah we can look dorky - especially when learning - but it can't dampen my love given the huge, genuine smile I feel plastered across my face when I'm pumping down the trail.

When I was a kid I had a Ramp Rat - a huge Variflex plank with hard wheels - and when I'd ride down hills - trying to get some speed up by riding on the narrow strip of cement between the curb and the bumpy asphalt, I could feel that by snaking the front of the board back and forth I could ever-so-slightly propel myself faster than gravity pulled me.

I remember having awesome dreams, kinda like flying dreams, of being able to turn that tiny bit of self-propulsion into something very much like what I've now found myself able to do - so pumping is like living out a childhood dream for me.

Between that and how damn good it feels physically (working my whole body, flowing, breathing, blood and endorphins pumping - this is just about the ONLY 'workout' type activity I enjoy), it's a habit I'm quite comfortable enjoying, no matter how silly it may sometimes look, no matter what friends and strangers who don't get it might have to say.

The stoke can be shared, but it cannot be squashed.

wafflesole · Joined: 15 Apr 2008 Posts: 82

my first 'proper' board. A variflex ramp rat.

Alec · Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 12:24 pm Post subject:

You think it's bad getting 'hate' from cyclists?

I could take that, it's the hate towards the whole LDPumping/LDPushing disciplines from other branches of skateboarding that I don't understand and that annoys me.

I pity the fools