pavedwave longboarding

Odiwan · Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 6:23 am Post subject: Getting my hip out of the way

Hi all, I have been trying to pump for a few months now (I only got into skateboarding last year at the tender age of 33 Smile

Courtesy of the info on this site i got myself a Mermaid which replaced my first couple of decks, homemade from old waterskis. Not bad, considering, but nothing compared with the beautiful Mermaid!
Now my technique query is that the ski board I was riding, that I started to pump on, was very long and narrow (48" x 6.5"), which i was riding with 180mm Gullwing Mission1's and 78a gumballs. Because of the large truck width, and long deck, to pump i had to adopt a very exagerated movement. So, now that i am riding the Mermaid, with RTS/X 129mm and gumballs, i am finding that my technique is sadly lacking.
I know that part of it is a lack of rhythm, joining all the correct movements together, but i find that my hip gets in the way, probably due to my exagerated movements that I learned on the ski. My brother (who is a far better and more experienced skater than I ) has noticed that iI tend to lead/bend from the hip, which means that my pumps tend to diminish my velocity as opposed to maintaining it. His suggestion is to swivel the top of my torso more but I am finding this hard to do
So, after this long winded explanation Embarassed

does anyone have any suggestions, techniques, etc as to how I can unlearn the bad habit of driving from my hip, so that i am enaging my core more?
Cheers!

Shaine · Joined: 08 Jun 2009 Posts: 33 Location: TriCities, WA

I would watch slalom videos. Its very difficult to explain in words and get it across clearly (at least for me) so I won't say too much except start by throwing your lead arm into the direction of a pump/turn and rest of body follows, power driving from the rear. Many others are far more experienced than I.
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/276...kateboarding_world_championships/

Ian the Groove Worshipper · Joined: 03 Dec 2008 Posts: 79 Location: Largo, FL

You might just try focusing more on the improving your results, and letting the technique fall into place naturally, rather than getting perhaps overly-analytical about your technique.

For instance, you might try finding a hill to practice pumping up. Work on getting higher. Your technique will naturally fall into place.

Or, try timing yourself over a set distance. Do repeated runs. Try different pumping techniques - short "rabbit" pumps, longer deeper pumps. See what works better.

You might try getting a GPS. This will give you immediate objective feedback as to how fast you are pumping. Try to increase your average speed. Allow the technique to develop naturally.

You might try giving your board a spin when you are just a little inebriated, maybe it will help you loosen up and flow more naturally. Just be careful.

These are just suggestions. Everybody has their own way of learning that works best for them. The important thing is to just have fun with it. Pumping is blissful and should feel natural.

Odiwan · Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 7:43 am Post subject:

Thanks for the suggestions. Ian, you have me pegged, i most defintely can be a wee bit over analytical. after writing the original post I realised, while skating, that i am pumping, albeit very slowly. I tried varying my stance and have found that to be a good way to break a few patterns. I tried standing with both feet together, which proved to be interesting (I think that I look a bit like rubber man riding like that but it felt great).
I haven't been able to get the "rabbit" pumps happening at all, but I am sure that will come in time.
I watched the slalom vid that you posted, Shaine, and I definitely gotta try throwing my lead arm around more. I tend to move my back arm with some fluidity, but my lead arm kinda "hangs". Now I just got to wait for the rain to clear so I can get out there.

Odiwan · Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 1:31 am Post subject:

Well, it has been a coupla weeks and my pumping is improving rapidly.
I had a minor change to my set up, I got Seismic trucks (105's), of which I found the front truck to be way to short for me... i was getting wheel lift. So i put the RT-X (129) back on and would ya know it, I am pumping the Mermaid!! Very Happy

I think technique wise, it has definitely been a case of letting my rhythm fall into place. I have started gettting my arms moving more.... sometimes "rocking the baby", somtimes "fighting robots" (if that makes any sense).
I feel that the changes to rhythm, stance, arm movements, foot placement, all of it really are quite subtle, but when it locks in place, Bam! Pumping is finally driving me forward. Cool

Cheers!!!