We hear this question a lot, and when we found this video on Youtube, with the questions and answers, thought we should post it up.
Video is by Dustin Hampton. The skater in the blue is Pete Eubank. Both Dustin and Pete are skating on Paris 180 trucks. The bushings in their trucks are standard Paris bushings but double barrel. That is, a barrel at the top and bottom (replacing the top cone with a barrel). This is what gives the truck extra stability, you are removing the lean you get from the cone and replacing it with more urethane that will be stable when compressed at speeds in a corner and on the straight in a tuck.
Other bushings that can be used are Venom Downhill or Eliminators, either in green or pink formula. If you are going to pimp out your trucks for downhill, it is best to replace the kingpin with a 3 inch grade 8 kingpin. This will give you the extra kingpin to fit on big barrel bushings and washers.
Remember: If you are going to do downhill, you MUST wear a helmet and protective clothing. Only dummies crash without a helmet. You can do serious speeds, and in a normal hill bomb you will be travelling at least 50km/h. You would not jump out of a moving car at those speeds without protection, dont speed skateboard without protection. This aint no kids play at the skatepark.
Jackson Shapiera finishes another awesome episode of his Danger Bay to LA series.
Check out what the stars of longboarding are up to, get sucked into some Canadian longboard action. You’ll see why Vancouver is the land of gnar and steez.
It is old news now, that Louis Pilloni has been picked up by Sector 9. Here is his first video, showing some steeze on a Bullet.
It is good news that Sector 9 is expanding it’s team this year, and there will be more S9 racers at IGSA events. From what Louis has told us, his travel plans include Newton’s Playground in 2010, a huge shot in the arm for the Australian scene.
In totally unrelated news, Sector 9 boards will be in the Hopshop in March, including the Bullet.
Loaded and Orangatang have been playing with Hi Def pro camera’s and the results are really starting to show. Enjoy this one, then go out and freeride.
I have blogged before on the good and bad press we have been getting in Australia regarding longboarding and downhill skateboarding.
There was an article in the East Torrens Messenger about oversized skateboards going down dangerous hills. It started out as the usual media beat up on skateboarders and youth. However, the media did something quiet unexpected. They reported both sides of the story.
When the first negative article was published, the ASRA forums lit up. This flowed through to comments posted in the newspapers online feedback. Nothing was edited, skaters got to have their say. Hagbarth Strom, ASRA’s Presidient wrote a letter to the Morialta MP Lindsay Simmons, explaining the sport and why skaters were using her local hill. They were not anti social youth but athletes practicing for Newtons Playground.
The reply from MP Lindsay Simmons, was positive and open to the idea of future use of the hill by longboarders. From what could have been anger from both sides, a positive dialogue has been opened up between residents, local authorities and skaters.
Local skaters Michael Bowditch and Leigh Griffiths have picked up the idea and are running with it. Kudos to East Torrens Messenger for writing up both sides of the story.
The new Orangefiist trailer for DROP – My Life Downhill is out and it is spectacular.
This is what longboarding and downhill racing is all about. Thinking about sponsoring an event? Being involved in an event? Getting into downhill or longboarding? Watch this and be inspired. More importantly buy the DVD when it is released to encourage more film makers into the sport.
The IGSA World Cup and World Championships is coming to Australia on 27th to 29th November 2009. 200 competitors from around the world racing down Mt Panorama. For the general public, it is a free event, more details are at the ASRA Newtons Playground page.
The race footage in this trailer is from the 2008 World Championships, you dont have to wait for a DVD to watch the 2009 World Championships – see it for real on Mt Panorama at Newton’s Playground!!!
The search for the best downhill territory in Australia continues. The Australian Alps is the target. And as the great American skater Groucho Marx once said “the Lord Alps those who Alps themselves”
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