VISALIA
The longboard holdouts and eccentrics of
yesteryear have been joined by thousands
more. Contemporary types like Jerry Fisher
and Sean Young are taking it to the limit
while pres like Ethan Fowler and Dan
Drehobl are occasionally going long as a
goof. The Seattle crew is quick. Take the
tales of Kurtis Head bombing it at 85 mph
and go from there. You've got Roger Hickey
and the luge runners on Glendora Mountain
Road. Established masters like Tom Sims,
Brad Strandlund, Steve Olson and David
Alan Petersen
Visalia, CA
Hackett continue to expand their reperto-
ries. Like Hackett says, "Ask iny girls, they
all know longer is better."
Antique stuff like Makaha Commanders,
Maharajas, Madrid Longboards, Turner
Summer Skis, Sims Taperkicks, Torger
Johnson Logan Earth Skis and Santa Monica
Airlines Rocketsleds are still in demand. And
new edition equipment of the longer variety
is coming forth from Element, Sector 9,
Real, UFO, Think, Black Bottom, Schmitt,
Powell and Santa Cruz.
There once was a time when there was no
industry, or sport for that matter. During the
fifties, Malibu surf types began riding the
hills en masse. Legendary surf riders such as
Mickey "Da Cat" Dora and Mongoose
Muñoz rode steel wheels with a vengeance.
Who was the first? Skipperboy Engblom had
a clientele for custom skates by 59. Mark
Richards sold an assembled skateboard over
the counter at the opening day of his Val
Surf Shop on October 6, 1962. If these guys
aren't the first, then they are the oldest, con-
Craig De Nolf
Line Lexington, PA
Jim Fitzpatrick
Los Angeles, CA
Brad Strandlund
San Diego, CA
Anson Dancette
Santa Rosa, CA
Breat Fellows
Portland, OR
tinuously active individuals in the business. Engblom used to
brand Makaha skateboards, founded Zephyr, was a Makaha
team manager, and still runs SMA. Skip relates, "After four
decades of skating, I don't pay attention to trends. Equipment
either works or it doesn't. Hype and ads don't mean shit."
Longboarding, in Richard's estimation, "is a generational
thing. I usually sell longer skates to fathers who come in with
their kids. Now, some of the hotter
kids are going longer as well. I
remember when Herbie Fletcher used.
to skate around with baby Christian
on the nose of his board. Now
Christian skates with his child,"
IN SURFING, longboards are ridden
because they are easy to catch
waves on. They're still a little harder
to turn, but that just means you have
to dig in a little more. The long ones
also offer the option of smooth moves
that are unthinkable on short boards
and allow otherwise minute rides to
take you all the way in to the beach.