pavedwave longboarding

wafflesole · Joined: 15 Apr 2008 Posts: 82

but what do you do with your arms when you are just cruising at a nice speed?

i found myself twiddling my thumbs, shadow boxing, anything to stop them creeping into my pockets..

i need a rubix cube or something!

northcoast · Joined: 09 Sep 2008 Posts: 64

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

Most of the time I've got a water bottle and/or mp3 player in my hands, so they stay either tucked up near my chest, or both arms hanging loose at my sides and just barely swinging. Many moons ago a biker trailed me a while then when she passed she said it looked like I was a dolphin in a previous life -- so I guess I'd call it a Dolphin Pump.

The motions in the "just pumpin" video were really exaggerated slalomish free-form pumps. I consider that almost a caricature because at the time I just wanted to slow something down to show the sequence of movements in a powering, using-whole-wheelbase and body kind of pump -- using the snap and energy from the board by "throwing" your arms, as opposed to the tiny wiggles over the nose. People kept asking for some kind of pumping book continuing where Gesmer left off, and I just don't see the need for so many words for something that is so kinesthetic, experiential, and personal by nature. Now we're all writing books using forum threads Wink

Ironically, I spend only about 10% of my time cranking and pumping like that. Most of the time it's minimalist with my arms cool at the sides or tucked up high.

Putting more weight with your arms higher works great when you're ascending even a gradual hill, adding to the pendulum effect of your core. It's something my buddy Munson focused on hard for a long time back in 2004 when he was conquering this hill we call "Big Mama" on the Burke-Gilman trail. That was no trivial task! Anyone who's pushed up this hill a time or two can see how tough it would be to crest it just by pumping. It was over-the-top, not something the casual cruiser would be out doing every day, but it really did "prove" to us both that the upper body tuck is really useful on hills.

Besides efficiency of motion, there's also a side-benefit that you're more "biker friendly" when your arms aren't flying about, as they tend to freak thinking you're going to swing or jut out at them as they pass. I think the minimal arm swinging is a key reason I've been considered 'compatible' on the summer bike rides I skate.

wafflesole · Joined: 15 Apr 2008 Posts: 82

cheers!

i only pointed it out with regards to the times when i was just cruising along. There are some bits where its stupidly rough or uphill so then the full arm throwing tech comes out!
it just felt weird for them to not be doing anything. they ended up either, like you said, down by my side ( very strange feeling!) or up near my chest in a classic boxers pose

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

When im cruising along at a good pace but not straining my arms are usually doing the same kind of motion as if i was running. Theyre close in to my body but pumping back and forth. If im in a racing stance and fighting the wind or going downhill i keep my arms behind me in a tuck.

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