ASK THE DOCTOR
Unidentified
biker in
Wrightsville
Beach, North
Carolina,
takes a jump
in the lake.
So many of you ask about the same
things, questions I've answered
many times before, such as how to
ollie and how to support your skate
habit. Check this out, before you ask
a question, read a few back issues to
see if your answer is awaiting you. If
not, perhaps a little imagination and
creativity is the key to getting it
answered. Remember, thousands of
other skaters read your letters also,
and probably can relate as well.
OLLIE PHYSICS
Some friends and I are doing a project
on the physics of the flat-ground ollie,
but we've run into some snags. We
conducted an experiment with video
digitizing to figure out the angles of a
skate as it's clearing an obstacle, and
we've also figured out that the tail of the
board acts as a first-class lever and that
the skater's jumping ability helps to
make the board clear its own center of
26 THRASHER MAGAZINE
gravity. What we don't know is how the
skater's feet work in the ollie process.
Do they pull the board up with friction or
do they hinder the board from reaching
it's maximum height? C'mon, Doc, this
is your chance to break new ground in
skateboard physics and to help out
some fellow skaters at the same time.
Isn't it about darn time that scientists
started taking skateboarding seriously?
Anything you could tell us would be
most appreciated. Thanks.
Nick
Lewisburg, PA
Actually, I would like to put this
baby to bed, seeing as how forty
percent of my letters are about ollies.
-how to, why I can't, will I ever, and
so on. It's actually quite simple to
explain, but extremely difficult to
master. All you're doing when you
ollie is popping the board up off the
tail into the air the same as you
would if you stood off the board and
stomped on the tail with one foot.
The baby flies, right? You're right on
the first point-the board is a lever
and your front foot acts as a fulcrum
to stabilize the board in flight,
leveling it horizontally and enabling
the tail to clear whatever you try to
ollie over. The feet don't pull or push
on the board, they more or less
guide it in flight. And, yes, scientists
should take a closer look at the
dynamics of skating, as long as they
stay outta the way.
CHICKEN TRUCK
There is this real dick in the
neighborhood where I skate. My friends
live there, and when I go over to skate,
we seem to "run into each other". We'll
be out skating and he'll come flying by
in his truck doing at least 45 m.p.h.
We've had the cops called on us a few
times and they tell us we have just as
much right in the road as long as we
yield to the vehicles. So, we step to the
side of the road whenever a car goes
by but he always seems to get a little
too close. Once he threatened that if
we want to play chicken he'd run us
over. What should we do?
The Last of the King's Hill Skaters
Ryan Garther & Co.
Daenia, GA.
Are you kidding me? You're going
to let some chump driving a four by
four stop you from skating? Think
again. Maybe next time he gets too
close your board will accidentally fly
into his windshield. Or you could get
real and find a good place to skate.
You know, like find a pool, or build a
ramp in a buddy's backyard or a
vacant lot. It's not too hard to figure
out. If it's a bust or a hassle to skate
somewhere, you should find another
spot or create your own.
BIKE GUY
I've got a problem with my friend. We
both started to skate last Christmas but
about two or three months ago he quit
and got out his bike. He is starting to be
a jerk. Whenever I skate to his house,
he won't skate. He keeps up his skate
posters and wears some skate clothes,
but he won't skate. What should I do?
Brian Olander
Richmond, VA.
All you can do is stoke him on the
intense skate sessions you have and
what he is missing out on. If he's not
interested, drag him with you to your
best skate spot and if he's still not
running for his board, then forget it.
Some people just weren't meant to
be skaters. Keep on skating and
don't worry about him.
-Dr. Rick Blackhart
ty gilbert
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LOOKING
AT?
DEADBOLT
TRUCKS
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