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Active Expert: Gale Bernhardt

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Last weekend while my buddies and I were ending a mountain bike ride when we noticed two guys with skateboards (officially called longboards) standing around getting ready to hurl themselves down a road descent that locals call "the backside of Rist". The fellow dressed in black was all excited because he reached 72 miles per hour on the last run.

 

My thoughts began racing...

A crash at 72 mph on a skateboard is going to leave a mark, or two, and most certainly a Band-Aid will be necessary - even though he's dressed in full leathers, helmet and Vans shoes.

I grab brake coming down that descent on a bike.

My max bike speed has never exceeded 60 mph.

I have brakes.

I wonder how many Vans/brakes it takes to make it through a season of racing?

 

We did watch them come down the hill and it was really amazing. The focus, skill and athletic talent it takes to do this sport is interesting to me, though I am not remotely interested in trying it myself. I snapped a couple of photos the guys on the run-out, which gives no justice to the sport.

 

 

 

 

 

I chatted with the guys a bit and found out that they competed in the 2009 Buffalo Bill Downhill the previous weekend. Below is some footage of the racer I spoke to, Josh Weisfeld (in the all-black leathers in my still photos), going downhill fast outside of Golden, CO:

 

 

[Josh Weisfeld longboard racing | http://vimeo.com/4567389] from Jason Blevins on Vimeo .</p>

 

I did a little more research and found out that other longboarders have discovered Rist Canyon as well. Apparently the steep drop, curves (yes, curves in the road) and the run-out make it perfect for longboarding.

 

I’m happy I have brakes…

1,763 Views Tags: skateboard, longboard, josh_weisfeld


Comments (4)
May 21, 2009 1:21 PM Guest Peter  says:

Interesting .. my son just bought a long board this week and goes to school in Golden.  I'll worry when he starts talking about buying "leathers."
May 22, 2009 6:57 PM SteveDouglas SteveDouglas    says:

Those guys were pretty cool.  If I had the time and some leathers on me I wouldn't have minded trying some of that from part way up the hill. :-).  One of the guys,  Don't remember which one did let be ride his board for a "just let me see how it feels".  He seemed impressed that I could do that foot brake thing the way they did....  Hmm, I already have some leathers,  now all I need is a board and some larger stones!
Jun 1, 2009 9:26 AM Guest Joel Putrah  says:

Gale,

 

In response to your vans question, i run through about 4 right shoes a month.  Although my downhill buddies and I are avid riders and sk8 almost everyday. (im red and black in pic) 

 

There are other methods to burn speed such as slides and predrifts.  Predrifting is much like car racing where you start to drift before a corner so you can burn off speed to grip through the apex of the corner.  Sliding is also a way to slow down or through an emergency stop.  Having pucks on our hands you can throw the board into a "pendulum" slide where you can slow down significantly or slow if need be. 

 

Rist cannon is a hill that only a small amount of speedboarders ride.  The sheriff is not stoked on us riding there as we more than double the speed limit, and has even threatened to confiscate our gear.  The risks of crashing at 70 plus are nerve racking as well.  Rist is known worldwide in the speedboarding community as being one of the fastest hills in North America.   

 

To find more info about speedboarding check you www.silverfishlongboarding.com

 

p.s.  it makes our day when people get excited about our sport!  thanks so much!

 

-Joel
Jun 1, 2009 11:37 AM Gale Bernhardt Gale Bernhardt    says in response to Joel Putrah:

Hey Joel ~



Thanks for hunting down the blog and answering my vans/brake question. Also, great explanation on predrifting, I had no clue.



For others reading the blog, we were on a road ride yesterday doing the Rist loop and we saw the guys skating again. I went and greeted Joel and when I shook his hand, I noticed it had a plastic "plate" of sorts. So I inquired about the use of it. He can certainly be more technical about it - but scrubbing speed and protection.



Pretty cool that Rist is known world-wide. I'm sure the Sheriff isn't excited at all, in the photo above it's easy to see the 30 mph speed limit sign. Boards and bikes alike are well above that limit on descents.



I have checked out silverfishlongboarding.com. Cool site.



I love to learn about other sports and athletes. I'm always intrigued by the conditioning and skills that each sport requires - not to mention the nerve.


Ride on ~

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