It's The Little Things in Life
One of my favorite hobbies has always been longboarding down by the beach!
Where it All Started
San Diego, California
Growing up roughly 15 – 20 minutes from the beach has its perks. I had free access to the boardwalk almost any day of the week, and to top it all off, the sunsets were the best around. The cool ocean air always made it feel the perfect temperature and gave a nice, fresh feeling to the air and life around.
I got my first longboard around my sophomore year of high school, and I started a small collection shortly after. With so many types of boards, you can never get bored! Some boards are meant to go fast downhill, some for dancing on (Still learning), and some just to simulate surfing.
The Collection Begins
The Groove
The Waves
The Slopes
The Power
One of the skills I want to pick up is Longboard Dancing! Stepping around on the board and spinning around on your feet, all while in motion. Yes, it’s just as hard as it sounds, but it always looked like a ton of fun.
Some Longboards are known as Surf Skates. They have a wider range of motion in the way the board leans and replicates the feeling of surfing on land! No need to push either, just using momentum from carving around.
Newest in skateboard technology is the Free Skate. These have an extra set of wheels in the middle and do a perfect job of replicating a snowboard! The extra wheels sit lower than the normal wheels, so you can go completely sideways and still be in motion like a snowboard.
Tired of pushing? Need a way to get around traffic? Well, now we have electric longboards! They have a remote you hold in your hand to accelerate, and the best thing about these….BRAKES. Yes, brakes really are that amazing when you’re able to do the speed limit in residential areas.
Evolution of Life
The Beach Boy Style
Of course, adopting the high-top Vans shoes was going to come eventually, as well as the total takeover of my personality. I only own Vans shoes now, and most of my shirts/hoodies are from Vans as well.
Electric Upbringing
Soon after moving to Idaho, I was met with hills and unkept sidewalks. A conventional Longboard became a hassle and not a great means for getting around town. I expanded my view and bought my first electric longboard! Able to conquer the poor quality roads and get me around town, I have never regretted it. It’s been 4 years and has taken me 2180 miles to date.
New Roads
Thanks to my E-Board, I have been able to explore more areas than I thought possible. I spent some time in Boise and was able to ride the greenbelts as well as the downtown areas. It brought a whole new excitement and joy to my life that I never knew I was missing out on. I would drain my battery every day just to get out, explore, and enjoy the little things.
When Life Gets You Down
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by life sometimes. A lot of stress can build up or be dropped all at once, but sometimes all we need is a little breath of fresh air to remind us to enjoy the life we have.
Learn to Take a Breather
Longboarding is one of my favorite ways to get that breath of life. It makes me enjoy all the little things in my life, it allows me to level out my head when there’s too much happening, and it just makes me happy. (When I’m not falling)
And Enjoy The Little Things
From something small like being happy about a smooth road to meeting someone who’s riding the same board as me, I have always found a way to make my day just a little bit better when I go out.