Lately, a new trend has been taking Gustavus sidewalks by storm. The pavement has been hit with an epidemic of longboarding fever. It’s nearly impossible to walk from Eckman Mall to Confer/Vickner without spotting at least one, if not more, of the four-wheeled fiends.

Longboards originated as “sidewalk surfing” in California in the 1950s. They were originally intended to give surfers the feeling of surfing on land. They are similar in composition to a skateboard, with a deck, trucks and bearings.

On our campus, they are most commonly used as a form of transportation, but are also used for cruising and downhill racing.

“I started longboarding early this year, mostly as a way to get from point A to point B. It’s a fun, fast way to get hurt and get where you need to go,” First year Erik Velgersdyk said.

Though they disappeared in the cold winter months, the boards are back in town, and more and more people are finding the benefits of using them.

“I really enjoy longboarding because it reminds me of snowboarding, carving in and out, weaving through people. I used to skateboard but never learned any tricks, I just liked to ride around. Longboarding is better ‘cause it’s a smoother, faster, more entertaining ride,” Junior Biology Major Dan Shimek said.

It’s mostly guys who are rolling around campus on longboards, but it’s not all that uncommon to see girls trying to learn, too. The interest in this warm weather sport is growing fast on campus, and networks of longboarders are starting to pop up. Veldersdyk and friends are planning on forming a longboarding club on campus in the fall.

For those interested in learning to longboard, knowing your footing is a good place to start. If you use you right foot in back, you’re regular. If left, you’re goofy. An easy way you test this is by walking up the stairs.

Whichever foot you start with is the foot that you should have on the back of your board. Another way to figure this out is to find a friend and have them shove you from behind. Whichever foot you use to catch yourself is the foot that goes in back. Just like most people are right handed, most people are regular footed.

Successfully getting from one place to another without any major scrapes or bruises means you’ve mastered the basics and are ready to move on to more complicated tasks.

The more serious longboarders use sliding gloves. These are gloves specialized to have strong leather gripping on the palms, or pucks, attached for better gripping when curving in and out of turns.
“I have pretty sweet scars from longboarding; chicks dig scars.” Junior English Major Andy Setterholm said. “Try not to bail on your way to class. Chicks don’t dig that.”

No matter the skill level, boarders of all kinds are out in full swing now that the weather has changed.