Just a reminder that gravity sucks

And you should celebrate that every day.

These guys give a lesson in how to scrub speed for a turn.

YouTube link to watch full screen

Extra props for using one of my favorite Brian Jonestown Massacre tunes.

Depleted uranium 'nads (or ovaries) to do that.

I was more than a little into high speed skateboarding when I was 17/18. According to my buddy's neon the best I ever did was 57mph. I took a spill at 30mph that wrecked my knee and still gives me issues. I sold all the fast boards and associated gear not long after. It's a thrill, but when things go bad there isn't any recovery, or any brakes at any time. One of the dudes I rode with died doing it, and another is in a wheelchair. 
I just sent a message to an old friend that may have some pictures. 

I think it is more of a pull than a suck.

But... Whoa.

Suddenly my motorcycle seems a whole lot safer after watching part of that.

On live public roads with traffic in two directions? Totally irresponsible. Want to pay to close the road? Have at it. All fun and games until some one crosses the center and miscalculates their ability to stop or swerve. The traffic safety advocate and driver educator in me does not approve. New Xgame?

PPIHD

Pike's Peak International Hill Descent

mtn said:

I think it is more of a pull than a suck.

Actually...

Gravity. It's more than a good idea; it's the law! 

Wicked cool and crazy all at the same time.  Totally get the thrill it gives you.

As an old guy, though, it reminded me of the downhill BMX bike craze of the 80's.  I'm too old to do it at all, but a bike seems safer with the same thrill.

-Rob

John Welsh said:

Gravity. It's more than a good idea; it's the law! 

Or maybe it's an illusion?

Of course gravity is an illusion...what invisible "hook" is allowing things to be "pulled" in - ridiculous

The whole weight on a grid lined flexing membrane model is comforting in its familiarity - but that's all.

What's really happening is that everything is expanding causing objects to bump into each other - squish.

Guess what, the earth is bigger now than it was when you started reading my post and you're bigger now than you were when you started reading my post - the squishing together is what we call gravity. 

@ 7:30, I don't think I go that fast on snow!

I nearly hit a kid doing that. I was going up and he was coming down in my lane. I saved his live by taking to the ditch. How would I have felt if he had been splattered all over the front of my truck.

I've watched a bunch of those.  The cars driving and running the cameras is impressive too.   

I didn't see any senior citizens.

Yeah... this is another one of those sports that makes the bicycle DH riding I do look safe.

Jeeze, those people are nuts. Seems like something you'd want leathers for, and here they are in a t-shirt and jeans. 

I've seen a number of similar videos from Europe, where they typically have a lead and follow car; not just the follow car and sometimes a couple 'spotters'.

watching that particular one, though... it strikes me that "they"/"the 'sport'" need a different wheel... one that allows the same/higher top speed, a higher maximum side-slip decel rate, and a more progressive development in between.  Or, maybe they just need more experience?  But most of that crew seem to be overslowing (outside of the one 'overcooked' corner into the bush, followed by a hospital visit {thus, I understand their approach}) instead of being able to 'link' the sideslip slowing into the exit direction change... ala DriftCars.  ymmv.

This comment shouldn't be interpreted as 'condoning' this activity.

I should buy a longboard.

Kinda reminds me of bungee jumping.  Without the bungee...

In reply to sleepyhead the buffalo :

There are different wheels available now than there were 15 years ago when I was doing it. We got basically 3 choices of urethane, 78a soft and grippy (slow, smooth) 88a, faster and harder, least common, and 98a which is your typical "skateboard wheel". The last are hard and loud, the ride is rough and slip doesn't really mean friction/braking. Then you could pick a diameter and width.
There's more to it of course. Board length and material, truck design/height/axle width. Truck mounting angle. We were just starting to see top-mounted or recessed trucks. 
Im sure with home molding and 3D printing there are a world of possibilities we never considered. But it's much like cars. A drag car isn't an auto cross car isn't a show car isn't a lemons car. And if you want a bit of everything you need to compromise somewhere. And that is before considering technique. You can change your CoG, F/R balance, stance width, body angle, all of it very quickly and almost without limit. 
My fast board was 46" 11 ply maple, 39"wb, 10" wide teardrop. Tricks were 150mm wide "standard" style low rise with hard bushings, 72x30mm 90a wheels with Swiss bones bearings. It was rough and absolutely useless under about 30mph. It didn't turn well and it was too long for me to slide comfortably. But it was fast and I was invincible. 
My crash was on a shorter, softer board with harder wheels. One I could slide and control quite well. Unless there was sand in the road that I couldn't see until I was already committed to the line. It was like hydroplaning. All the sudden I was sideways and had no hope or time to react. Slammed the curb and flew into an undeveloped lot (now a gas station) and slid/rolled about 50'. 
I wasn't invincible after that. 
 

The whole thing with those longer boards was like a descent into hard drugs. I started slow with the big soft carvers, like surfing the streets. It was a way to relax and unwind. Then came "bombing hills", five or six of us wide going as fast as we could manage, short races and short thrills. Then the sliding, putting skid plates on leather gloves and sliding on hands as much as on wheels. Spinning, doing pendulums. Then the real speed, buying mismatched components and rolling our own like the early days of hot rodding. Drilling holes, changing angles, experimenting to see what helped us go faster. I lasted about two years before I washed my hands and just started riding transitions again. 

John Welsh said:

Gravity. It's more than a good idea; it's the law! 

Over enough time, gravity always wins.

johndej said:

John Welsh said:

Gravity. It's more than a good idea; it's the law! 

Over enough time, gravity always wins.

...except for dark energy :)

A shop teacher buddy of mine does this.  He designs and manufactures longboards sold through Landyachts now.

I bought one of his early dropped deck design "DH-Race" boards and a set of Randall downhill trucks. I switched to some super soft Crypto wheels and bailed just weeks before my wedding.  Road rash all over my arms and legs.

The board has been hanging up in the garage for YEARS now, along with my cutting-board-plastic gloves.

A hearty "I remember those days" right along side a "no thank you" all at the same time.

Buddy and his boards:

I used to be one of these guys. 

Groups of 6 of us, 50 mph, minimal safety gear. Utterly insane. I put myself in the hospital twice (nothing major, road rash and broken bones), a couple friends of mine almost died. 

We were part of the leading edge of the advancement of "precision' downhill trucks and new urethane formulas. 

I lived for the thrill but now haven't touched a longboard in years.