Style. What is style they all ask…and by all, we mean all those who don’t skateboard and are merely listening in on conversation poking a question in here and there to try to seem actively involved when really, they are just looking like idiots. But what is it? Overall I guess it’s the spirit you present on board, but for the fun of it…lets head on through the different styles we can think of, so you can make a more informed decision on what kind of ‘style’ you’d like to emulate, even though, naturally…you’re just going to have to come up with your own.
- The first one, and arguably the best looking would be the ‘California Stand up” Style. With an old school, hands free approach, and a major bowl/street influence of people who are trying to not attach the word ‘longboard’ to their name, speed is scrubbed preferably with only f/s and b/s stand up checks and it makes this one of the most carefree and easy projections of skateboarding, let us tell you though, trying to rail a corner hands free at speed is no careless and easy way of going about it, and neither is straight bombing down a hill cause you have no gloves on or knee pads on….but its all about projecting an image, right? We love you California, keep doin what you do.
- The second most dominant style in Downhill Skateboarding is the Canadian Slasher Style. You know…up here we deal with our own elements, including and not including the rapidly changing weather. Things like gloves, pads and horrible outfits are the norm as longboarders blaze through the streets with helmets, their skins on, and shorts overtop. Oh wait, we’re talking about skateboard style…not fashion style. Same shit. What I m getting to is that Canadians started to get really fast, really quickly, and the style that developed was one where you skate as fast as you can from point A to almost point B then drop a hand on the ground and scrub that damn speed off last second (pre drift mega super champions). If you wanna control at least a bit of that speed before getting to point B, then you are constantly doing quick little stand ups (slashes) to maintain your speed till you get there. Open highways and Bricin Lyons have made Canadians very fast, aggressive racers…and horrible at clothing decisions.
- Type 3. Silly Style. These people can be from anywhere. They are simply the ones who have found a ‘new way’ to do something and often don’t realize it looks absolutely 100 percent ridiculous on board, but they can feel the wind passing them by different and that’s all they need for convincing. Often these people live in their own worlds anyways, so your really just not expected to understand their ‘unique?’ and often hideous sense of individuality. They are rare creatures in anything documented on film, and your best chance for seeing one is at a local slide jam or something…or in Europe. I know exactly who i need to put a picture of in here, but i just can't bring myself to publish it. no hurt feelings here, okay? mmmmmmkaaay.
- The big boy stance. Get on low board. Make low board move. Stand still, hold on to the nose and let the freighttrain that is your ass take care of business. See Douglas Daluha or Taylor Riley.
- This one is my least favorite, only because I don’t nessesarily enjoy the feeling of a quick heart attack when I think someone is about to completely loose it but it’s the ‘Hang on and don’t die’ style. This person is Reckless, Scared to death but still doing it for some reason and hopefully has a helmet on. Probably ‘the useless at every other kind of sport’ kid and thought that for some freaking reason, DOWNHILL SKATEBOARDING would go better. Wtf? Your scaring EVERYONE. Usually this type, and the silly type are one in the same, or best friends.
Do you think that there is a certain personality related to Downhill Skateboarding, or at least, would certain styles on board relate to certain styles of personality? Can people have 2 styles and would that make them have 2 personality types? Is it truly regional? It would be interesting to find out! I’ll tell you what. Why don’t you take this 7 minute quiz and send us your answers with a photo of you riding and tell us where your from…then We’ll make the decision. Sorry in advance if you get made fun of.
