Meta Narrative
Longboarding is an up and coming sport and hobby within the U.S. and personally I love to longboard with my friends. I choose to do my photo essay on longboarding because it is a sport I am really interested in and have been pursuing it for the past year or so. Also I choose to do this because I wanted to educate others on longboarding, because I feel that many are intimidated by it.
Longboarding
Longboarding originated in Oahu, Hawaii. Surfers used longboarding/skateboarding as a sort of cross-trainer that served as surfing when the waves were dull and could not surf. Longboarding was big during the 1970's and died down going into the 1980's, but it picked back up in the 1990's because of the thrill and adrenaline of riding down a hill.
History
At first longboarding was not called longboarding. When the waves were dull surfers would imitate the moves of surfing as they would "surf" down the sidewalk. Which was the original name of longboarding.
First longboard design
The first longboards that were created were just a plank of wood, trucks that came from rollerskates and the metal wheels that were on the trucks. There wasn't much to the boards because the sport had not grown enough and many people just built theres at home.
Sizes
Longboards come in many different shapes and sizes. Compared to its very close relative the skateboard, longboards are typically longer and wider in shape and size.
Different Designs
The first longboard was just a flat plank of wood. Throughout the years longboards have changed and evolved to different designs for certain types of riding, depending on what the rider wanted to do or their experience level.
The sport of Longboarding
Longboarding is very well known for downhill racing also known as Slalom. After many years it has also grown to be a big hobby. Many of my friends and I love to go out on a summer night and cruise around the streets for fun.
Future..
Now today longboarding is a great hobby and progressing sport. You cannot drive through a college campus and not see a few students longboarding to class. It is growing around the nation and has a great future.
Photo's courtesy of..
http://www.infinitylist.com/video/derringer-mini-longboarding/
http://www.infinitylist.com/video/longboarding-freeride/
http://nickc182.blogspot.com/2011/04/longboarding.html
http://skatessentials.com/index.php/tom-sims-inventor-and-pioneer-of-snowboarding-passes-away/
http://apps.inglishindustries.com/ii/wordpress/
http://yxgm.en.alibaba.com/product/613116101-213919400/37_5x9_25_inch_Canadian_Maple_Longboard_Deck.html
http://www.lushlongboards.com/workshop/lush-deck-layups-c-199_368.html
http://www.outdareadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Redbull-Downhill-Longboarding.jpg
http://www.students.stedwards.edu/mbrenna/myhobby.htm
http://www.narragansett.k12.ri.us/NHS/computer/First_Semester_10-11/FS_2010_Period_1A/Hunter_Trowbridge_Alternate_Transportation/Longboarding.htm
http://www.infinitylist.com/video/longboarding-freeride/
http://nickc182.blogspot.com/2011/04/longboarding.html
http://skatessentials.com/index.php/tom-sims-inventor-and-pioneer-of-snowboarding-passes-away/
http://apps.inglishindustries.com/ii/wordpress/
http://yxgm.en.alibaba.com/product/613116101-213919400/37_5x9_25_inch_Canadian_Maple_Longboard_Deck.html
http://www.lushlongboards.com/workshop/lush-deck-layups-c-199_368.html
http://www.outdareadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Redbull-Downhill-Longboarding.jpg
http://www.students.stedwards.edu/mbrenna/myhobby.htm
http://www.narragansett.k12.ri.us/NHS/computer/First_Semester_10-11/FS_2010_Period_1A/Hunter_Trowbridge_Alternate_Transportation/Longboarding.htm