New York City is famous as a melting pot of cultures and ideas. Yet with all this diversity, for years only one type of skating ruled supreme: street, and as anyone who hasn’t been living in a van down by the river knows, longboarding and roots skateboarding is on the rise all across the US and the world. Though late to the party the longboarding scene in New York is now growing by leaps and bounds, with more events and participants each season. In this report I’d like to give you all an overview of the kinds of events, places, and folks we have here in the NYC longboarding scene.
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MikeD at the Banks
Far and away the most common reason to get on a longboard in NYC is transportation, and many people get their first longboards after moving here as an alternative to crowded subways and sidewalks. Some have skated street before, some may be getting on a board for the first time. But as more and more of us riding longer boards find each other, teach ourselves and each other, and push our limits it’s clear that longboarding as a lifestyle has come to NY and is here to stay.
Though shortboarding and trick skateboarding is still the dominant scene here and elsewhere, many skate shops such as Blades, Supreme, and Autumn have begun carrying longboards and longboard equipment, and New Yorkers are looking forward to having the first store in our area dedicated exclusively to longboards with the much anticipated opening of Uncle Funky’s in the East Village. This will be a great place to learn about the equipment, meet fellow longboarders, and find out about local events.
The Earthwing Friday Night RIP is the strongest local longboarding event. The weekly event is held every Friday night from 8PM-Midnight in the recently repaved Prospect Park Brooklyn and organized by Brian Petrie of Earthwing skateboards. Riders who show up are of all skill levels and ages, and anyone who shows up can expect to see the Earthwing team riders doing their thing, have the chance to ride and give input on recently released or prototype boards or wheels, learn skills as varied as simple pushing and footbraking, carving, sliding, downhilling, or slalom, and generally have a good time and meet other longboarders. Often the weekly RIP spawns larger events. Recently held events include the Prospect Park Push race around the park and the Brooklyn Slide Contest, and upcoming events will include a slide clinic, a Halloween costumed cruise through the Village, and a to be determined girls only race, all held in Prospect Park at night, with trophies and prizes to be won, and demo gear to see and ride. I’m proud to be involved with the Earthwing events, which are fluid, spontaneous, and motivated by stoke, if people are into something one week, we’ll try to do more of that the next week, and make it bigger and better.
The largest, longest running, and most famous events here in NYC are the Broadway Bomb and Central Park Race, both organized by Ian Nichols , one of NYC's most hardcore longboarders, and sponsored by Sector Nine, Gravity, Landyachtz, Shut Skates, Earthwing, Randal, Concrete Wave, and many more.
The Broadway Bomb is an infamous 8.5 mile race through Manhattan city streets straight down Broadway from 110th Street and Broadway at the northwestern end of the island to Battery Park at the southeast tip. This is an illegal street race that is highly dangerous and is recommended only for those with experience skating in traffic. It takes place each fall and is always a great ride.
The Central Park Race is an even more popular race held in the spring each year and runs 1 lap around the central park loop road, which spends 6.2 miles winding scenically around and through the park. Both races attract riders and board companies from up and down the East Coast and Canada. The local favorite and Earthwing team rider, Kaspar Heinrici, has placed first in both events 3 years in a row, minus one race he was unable to attend. This year’s race is scheduled for October 14th and includes a $1,000.00 purse split for the top 3 finishers.
Another event, held when conditions are nice and interest is high is The Jersey Jumpoff. Though not technically in New York City, it is organized by Adam Dabonka, who is active in the NY scene and no stranger to the podium at local races. Riders’ wishing to participate gather in Manhattan’s Times Square in the evening and catch a bus to New Jersey to embark on a tour of scenic and steep hills and courses just across the Hudson River in New Jersey, including some runs with breathtaking views of the city skyline and names like “Empire Drop”.
Events organized by Jeff Gaites of freshpaved.com are another way to get stoked here in NYC. Freshpaved events include the Style Sessions, a 2 session competition of flow, style, and stoke allow riders with an artistic flair to their stance the chance to win trips to skate places like Mt. Fuji, Japan, and the mountains of New Zealand. Freshpaved also maintains a local email list which is an invaluable way for local longboarders to announce or hear about local sessions and contests. Many sessions start as just one person interested in skating a local spot such as the Brooklyn Banks, a famous trickboarding spot featured in countless skate videos, or Snake Hill, a super steep winding hill located in a traffic heavy section of NYC which makes 6am sessions necessary. Even more skate runs including some amazing downhill curves and great scenery can be found all across Long Island including the towns of Oyster Bay, Bayside, Montauk, and more. A garage riding scene is also going strong in the many garages on Long Island and the outer boroughs.
Few of us here in the city are from here, most moved here from other states or countries, and many skaters from Long Island or the surrounding states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut regularly visit the city to skate, fueling that melting pot feeling that New York imbues into everything local. So whether you live here, are in NYC for any reason, or just near enough to visit come on out, you’ve got bros to skate with. Here in NYC the stoke is strong and there’s plenty of pavement.
To find out more about events, sessions, or to get involved keep an eye on the Events and Sessions Forum here on Silverfish, visit or sign up at the following sites, or contact me directly at pyrate(at)rcn.com
www.freshpaved.com
www.longboardnyc.com