Street Luge Boards

Skaters train 'illegally' for growing sport

Burbank, California (CNN) -- Downhill long-board skateboard racing is making a comeback in the United States. It's considered a gravity sport along with downhill luge racing. That's when skateboarders lay down on their long boards and race downhill. But in this downhill skateboard racing revival, the skaters are standing up.

Ryan Lowery, 23, is an admitted adrenaline junky who meets with friends a few times a week on a hillside road in Burbank, California.

"When you're coming down this hill, you're thinking about nothing. You're thinking about what's in the moment. It's like your whole mind just shuts down," Lowery said. "You can turn a bad day into a good day after just a few minutes of downhillin' man."

You can also turn a good day of downhilling into a bad one if you wipe out at speeds of 40-plus mph. But Bob Ozman, vice president of the International Gravity Sports Association, headquartered in Southern California, said injuries are rare during sanctioned racing events.

"We require the full-face helmets, full gloves, full leathers. We do not allow these guys to come out with just kneepads and shorts or the butt pads, we really push safety," Ozman said.

Lowery said he understands why riding skateboards on private property could be viewed as a nuisance, but said he doesn't find it dangerous.

"No one seems to mind it when street bikes or mountain bikes come down a hill at 50 mph," he said. "It takes them up to 50 feet to stop. I can stop in 10 feet from the same speed," he said.

However, law enforcement officers such as Burbank Police Sgt. Robert Quesada question the safety of the sport.

"We're not anti-skateboard, we're anti-injury," Quesada said. "We don't want to see kids, or people, adults, getting hurt because of things they're doing that are dangerous," he said.

The sport began in Southern California in the 1970s but didn't catch on. It grew in Canada and Europe before coming back to the United States and gaining in popularity a few years ago, according to Ozman.

"I think with Europe it's a lot easier for promoters to find a lot of roads to sanction these events, where here (in the United States) it's a little bit tougher," said Ozman.

But times may be changing for this evolving sport. There is a world championship event starting June 29 in Goldendale, Washington, and for the sixth year in a row, a national race will be held this summer in Long Beach, California.

Street luge information – getting started | Xtremesport

Continuing with our blog about street luge we have used the how stuff works website http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/outdoor-activities/urban-sports/street-luge2.htm to assist us in putting together what follows which explains what is involved should you wish to make further research into this extreme sport.

The modern street luge sled closely resembles the sleds we see on the ice luge track in the winter. It’s made of aluminum or fiberglass and can vary in length depending on the size of the rider. Most luge sleds are 8 feet (2.4 meters) or shorter. Sleds may feature two or three axles that hold up to six wheels. Below are some examples which because they are generally made for a specific person do not come cheap.

With the simplicity of most street luges, it can be tempting to try to make your own board to save money. After all, this sport was started by DIY pioneers who modified their skateboards to reach a new level of thrills. Remember, though, that much of the danger of street luge comes when you wipe out, and the best-made boards are least likely to fall apart.

Alternatively new riders may want to consider starting with a basic long board, or buttboard, instead of a steel or fiberglass sled. Buttboards are similar to skateboards, but are generally about 4 feet (1.2 meters) in length. They’re also slightly wider so the rider has more space to fit on the board. Buttboards are made of wood, with steel bearings and hard plastic wheels. They’re heavier than a sled, but also slower and easier to learn on. These boards often cost just a fraction of the price of a street luge sled, making them the perfect choice for riders looking to give this sport a try without breaking the bank

Depending on the style of your board, your feet may rest on a set of handles or foot rests. In this type of street luge, riders steer with their feet. Simpler boards may not have a footrest at all, with riders steering by shifting their weight. On this type of board, your feet will rest straight out in front of you on the board itself.

The wheels measure in diameter between 2.75 and 3.5 inches (70 and 90 millimeters) on average and are made of hard plastic, which is stronger than the softer rubber tyres.

Steel bearings connect the wheels to the axles. Newer ceramic bearings are much more durable than steel, but are also more expensive, which means that most recreational riders are still stuck on steel.

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