THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK board sports

Isabel Thomas

a Lerner Publications Company Minneapolis Board sports should only be practiced with the guidance of a trained professional. Some cover stories of the moves shown in this book should not be attempted by readers without proper supervision. Ensure that protective clothing and headgear is worn at all times.

First American edition published in 2012 by 16 Lerner Publishing Group, Inc. Published by FEEL IT arrangement with Wayland, a division of Hachette Children’s Books Read all about the buzz of ! Copyright © 2011 by Wayland All U.S. rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, STAR STORY photocopying, recording, or otherwise— 14 without the prior written permission of Find out about the life of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc., except for legend Tony Hawk. the inclusion of brief quotations in an acknowledged review. Lerner Publications Company A division of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc. 241 First Avenue North 10 Minneapolis, MN U.S.A. Website address: www.lernerbooks.com FIVE-MINUTE INTERVIEW On the Radar expert and skateboard Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Thomas, Isabel, 1980– pro Geoff Else lends us his boarding Board sports / by Isabel Thomas. p. cm. — (On the radar: sports) expertise! Includes index. ISBN 978–0–7613–7763–4 (lib. bdg. : alk. paper) 6 1. Extreme sports. I. Title. GET THE GEAR GV749.7.T48 2012 796.04’6—dc22 2011000995 Find out what you need to start boarding. Manufactured in the United States of America 1—CG—7/15/11

Photo Acknowledgments Images in this book are used with the permission of: Alamy: PCN Chrome 12–13; Doomwheels 9r; Flickr: Sharese Ann Frederick 2bg, 21tl; Getty: Darryl Leniuk 9l, Wireimage 2cl, 14; Nancy NG Photography 2tc, 16–17; Rubicon: Lotta Anulf 28–29, Tim Parker 24; Shutterstock: Afaizal 3br, 20bl, Magnum Johansson 30–31, Andrey Khrolenok 8bl, Ronen 1, 4–5.

Main body text set in Helvetica Neue LT Std 13/15.5. Typeface provided by Adobe Systems. eISBN: 978-0-7613-7717-7 Contents cover stories

thepeople 10 FiVe-minute interView Geoff Else 14 star story Tony Hawk 24 reaL-LiFe story Skater girl 28 bLog spot James Johnson themoves

18 show me The 22 Zone in Skate stunts 26 show me The kickflip thetalk 4 aLL about Love to skate! 6 get the gear Board style 8 big Debate Rad or bad? 12 why Do it? Board mania 16 FeeL it To the limit 20 the Lingo Skate speak 30 puLL a number Get this! 32 Fan CLub Get more info

32 inDeX LOVE TO SKATE!

Take a wooden board, add four , and you have a passport to an insane number of ways to have fun. From breathtaking tricks to jamming with friends, board sports have it all. Here are the -based sports that are leading the boarding revolution. takes off In the 1940s, surfers began riding boards with wheels and created the world’s most popular . From street to , there are many different styles of skateboarding. Flatland skaters pull tricks on flat ground, while vert skateboarders use ramps to grab big air and perform spectacular stunts. Speed on wheels In a quest for more speed, some skateboarders in the 1960s made their own boards by attaching wheels to surfboards. These became known as longboards. These new boards were longer, faster, and better at turning than regular . soon became a sport on its own, with special boards and a new range of skills to master. Longboards are used for downhill and slalom or just for cruising the streets for fun.

4 ALL ABOUT

kiteboard crazy Land kiteboarders use a kite and the wind to pull them along flat terrain at high speeds. Riders can grab amazing air, so they have their feet strapped to the board ready to do flips and tricks. Many land kiteboarders ride on beaches, but a soccer field on a windy day is as good. Mountain mayhem Mountainboarding is like but without the snow! Sturdy boards with inflatable tires are used for downhill riding, dirt track racing, and freestyle stunts. mountainboarders launch themselves down all kinds of terrain just for the challenge. 5 BOARD nose STYLE

Each board sport requires a truck different type of board. Here, On the Radar provides some expert advice on board style.

up the Mountain! Mountainboards are larger than skateboards and have soft, inflatable wheels. Most have snowboard-style foot bindings so the rider does not lose the board when getting air. Some mountainboards have brakes to make deck them easier to stop when hurtling down a mountain slope!

Skate scene Most skateboard decks turn up at the nose and tail. This concave shape gives the skater maximum control. Skateboard wheels are made from a tough plastic that gives good wheel traction. The top of the deck can be covered with nonslip tape to help the feet grip and control the board. 6 tail GET THE GEAR

helmet

Long and skinny Some longboards look like miniature surfboards on wheels. Others resemble long, skinny skateboards. All longboards are designed for speed. Large wheels carry the board over cracks and bumps in the road. Like all land-based boards, they have trucks that let the rider move cleanly from side to side.

elbow pad kite rider Riders new to land often start off on longboards or mountainboards, then upgrade to shorter, ultralight kiteboards to do tricks. The kite is a nylon sail, joined to a control bar or handles.

plAY safe! Board sports are fast and dangerous.

Here is some of the protective gear everyone should wear: t)FMNFUT‰BWJUBMQJFDFPGHFBS  whether beginner or pro! t1BETGPSLOFFTBOEFMCPXTQSFWFOU

the most common injuries such as breaks, sprains, and scratches.

t8SJTUHVBSETIFMQDPQFXJUIUIF stress of a fall. t.PVOUBJOCPBSEFSTPGUFOXFBSGVMM body armor, padding, or leather kneepad shin guards to protect their skin in a crash. 7 RAD OR BAD?

Millions of boarders and fans worldwide believe FOR: that board sports are more than just a hobby, they can be a way of life. They argue:

1. Board sports rank high on style points! There is a cool, underground music and fashion scene to accompany the sport that fans and boarders can enjoy. 2. Doing board sports is a great way for young people to have fun and take risks without behaving in an antisocial way. 3. Boarding is mainly about competing with yourself and not against others. This allows riders to develop their style and technique at their own pace. 4. By practicing board sports, individuals can be active while meeting like-minded people. 5. A boarding activity can help develop the confi dence and ability to cope in all areas of life. If you can surf down a mountainside or somersault off a ramp, you can face most of life’s challenges!

8 BIG DEBATE

However, other people believe that board sports are not respectable or are just too dangerous. They argue: 1. Doing board tricks in public spaces Against: could hurt pedestrians or damage curbs, street furniture, or natural features, such as shrubs and trees. 2. Boarding’s hip and cool culture can mean that boarders resist wearing helmets or other safety gear, risking serious or even fatal injury. 3. Boarders may feel pressure to spend money on expensive skatewear and shoes, which can go out of fashion or wear out quickly. 4. A skating jam session in which large groups of skaters get together can be noisy, disruptive, or intimidating to the public or to local residents.

Right or wrong? Board sports can be exhilarating and exciting. Nothing beats getting outdoors and experiencing the speed and the thrill of awesome stunts with a crowd of like-minded friends. Like all sports, board sports need to be practiced safely and with guidance.

9 The tritricks, stunts, thrills, and spills of boarding addadd up to a culture that is addictively cool. Make sure it’s on your radar! Inside you’ll find these features: STAR STORY Read about the life of skate legend Tony Hawk.

FIVE-MINUTE INTERVIEW Find out some awesome boarding tips from On the Radar expert and skate pro Geoff Else. FEEL IT Experience the exhilarating rush of mountainboarding!

Are you On the Radar?

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