Longboard: The Kings of Extreme Downhill

Adventure Tourism in Peru Adrenaline and speed are for many a perfect and addictive mix. But only a few can enjoy it on a board at 70km/h and just a few centimeters from the ground. Kick, encapsulate, cut through the wind, and let yourself be carried away by this adventure sport that grows more and more in our country every day.

Photo: Ytimg.com

What is longboarding and how did it originate? Longboarding is an uncommon sport that emerged in the 50s and 60s in North America. This activity consists of a board similar to a skateboard but longer than usual, commonly used to descend hills, slopes, roads, or simply as a means of transportation and fun. Initially, longboarding emerged as an alternative for surfers who, when lacking good waves, decided to hit the city streets.

Photo: Surfer.cl

Over the years, this has been perfected, creating modalities and improving the boards, expanding worldwide. Nowadays, there are many modalities that can be practiced on this board, including Downhill, Sliding, Carving, Slalom, Dancing, or Freeride.

Photo: Longboardmedia.fr

Although there are many modalities, the most popular and extreme, easily recognizable by this type of board, is Downhill, which basically involves descending hills at high speeds encapsulated, requiring the use of protective gear such as helmets, knee pads, elbow pads, and gloves.

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Another well-known modality is Sliding, which involves a technique to slide the ground on the board to then brake or reduce speed. This technique is crucial for controlling speed during Downhill.

Photo: longboardpucela.blogspot.com

Carving is more than a modality; it's a way of skating, allowing you to move from side to side, turning, zigzagging, similar to snowboarding. The best tracks to practice this are long and less crowded slopes.

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In Peru, there are excellent places to practice Downhill, depending on your level and technique. The main ones are: El Valle in Tarma, Morro Solar, La Nuclear, Los Alamos, and San Cristobal in Lima, El Ñuro in Talara, Ñaupe in Lambayeque, Callahuanca in Ayacucho, and many more spots waiting to be discovered.

Photo: 40sk8.com

To discuss the types of longboard decks would take up an entire post, so we will only talk about the basic components of each longboard.

• Deck: There are many shapes and sizes, ranging from 35 to 45 inches in length. The shape of the board greatly influences the style you want to practice. They need grip tape attached to prevent foot slippage.
• Trucks: These provide the direction and tilt of the board on the asphalt, with many types having specific characteristics. It's important to choose trucks based on your weight and the modality you practice.
• Bushings: These are soft accessories that go on each truck, two on each, providing the appropriate response to the longboard during turns, significantly affecting handling and balance. It's recommended to choose them based on your weight and technique.
• Bearings: Determine the acceleration and rotation of the longboard wheels, located inside the wheels to allow them to spin quickly on the truck axles.
• Wheels: Measured in size and hardness. Size categories are in millimeters (mm), and hardness is based on how soft or rigid they are. There are special wheels for downhill, others for freeride, depending on what you want to do.