Skating The Perfect Road

Skating The Perfect Road

by Lincoln Price

Publication Date: June 1998

I have traveled many miles looking for it...keeping my eyes open just to find the right road to ride. A good road deserves to be ridden. It deserves to be loved and enjoyed for what it's really worth. It should be glided upon as you control your hips and ankles to its every angle, moving your body in perfect sync with its every direction. A good road is beautiful - a gift from man and god alike. Little did I know that I would find such a road at a place somewhere in Northeast Florida.

"You've got to go," my friend Trevor explained to me one afternoon after discovering it. "It's as if the thing was actually designed for skateboarding, and it's one of the most beautiful places you can find around here."

"That good?" I asked, still a bit incredulous. I was guilty just as many others for stereotyping Florida to be a flat and level land, void of any true hills or mountains.

"It's perfect man. Trust me," Trevor said. It was all he needed to say. We share the same love for skating, the same understanding. When he told me that he had found a place that's perfect for riding a skateboard, especially a longboard, I could only nod my head and believe that he was right. You see, Trevor is a man who knows a good road when he sees it.

A couple of days later five of us decided to go. There was Trevor, Justin, my friend and photographer, my other two friends Dave and Dave, and me. It was a good crew - the kind you want with you when exploring unchartered waters. Each of them knows their way around a skateboard. They know how to carve and to shred, to glide and to slide, and most importantly, they all know a good road when they see it. So we packed ourselves into Justin's car and headed out. I wish I could be more specific on the location. The most I can say is that it's a state garden, and to ride inside the place you must be subtle and discreet, something that we all failed to do upon entering.

"You boys aren't planning to ride those skateboards in the park are you?" the guard asked as we pulled the car up to the gate.

"Uh, no sir. We're just planning to walk around for a while," Justin said as he handed him the fee required to enter the park. The guard looked inside the car with an obvious curiosity. Looking at all of us cramped inside with our boards, an encouraging smile slowly grew on his face. He knew exactly what was going on. He saw it in our eyes. Fortunately, he was also a guy that knew a good road when he saw it.

"Well, I guess this would be a great place to ride now that I think about it. It's too bad that skateboards aren't allowed here," he said as he handed Justin his change. "You boys enjoy the park and make sure the maintenance guy doesn't see you with those when you pull in, and have a good day fellas."

"Thanks!" we shouted with understanding enthusiasm. We were in. There was no question what we were about to do, and we had just realized how it would have to be done. "Out of sight - out of mind" seemed like a good strategy to take if we wanted to do it right.

I knew right away that it was going to be good. Lush green trees hung above us creating a surreal and majestic looking tunnel. Flowers and plants shone throughout every corner of your eyes while your nose was filled with a scent of beauty and freshness. You could hear birds and other animals crying out to one another through the garden, oblivious to anything but themselves. It was just perfect. The scene was so beautiful you couldn't help getting stoked to be a part of it. Then, there was even the road itself.

Steep and smooth is the key to any good road and this place apparently held both aspects. It looked steep enough to get just the right speed that you desire. A road that's too steep might as well be useless. On a longboard you'll get going so fast that your wheels and trucks can't handle the speed, making you wobble out of control. This, however, looked to be just right. It was steep and perfectly smooth, everything a longboarder could ask for.

We all examined the road quickly, measuring the distance and direction of the road for what it was worth and what could be done with it. Trevor, Dave and I decided that we'd be the first ones to go while Justin and the other Dave kept an eye out for the occasional pedestrian. We figured it would be out of pure respect to warn people ahead of time what was about to come flying down the road. Once we decided this the three of us started pushing our boards up the hill. We reached the top about a mile later.

"I'll go first," Dave said as we looked down through the park. "I'll probably have the most speed but let me know if you're coming up behind me."

It was a sensible thing to say. He had been there once before with Trevor and knew what to expect. His board was specifically designed for the road, a Sector 9 Downhill. I rode a Sector 9 myself but knew that it had seen better days and Dave would have an edge as far as speed was concerned. Trevor would follow because his board was designed more for the street rather than speed. It might not move as fast as Dave's or my board, but the hard wheels and tight independent trucks make it perfect for throwing out big carves and power slides. Besides, the kid only likes to ride barefoot. This fact alone made me realize that he was in a league of his own and I wanted to keep to my own path.

"How much kick do you usually give," I asked, wondering if you should even bother starting off by using your feet. Dave just looked at me and smiled.

"As much as you can," he replied and dropped his board to the ground. In one giant lunge, he hopped onto his board and began kicking as hard as he could. I let out a quick breath and dropped in behind him.

Picture yourself flying at a quick speed with nothing but a piece of wood separating your feet from the road. In the back of your mind you clearly understand that if you were to fall at any given moment the result would be crucial...broken bones and shredded skin are a minimal consequence. This however eludes your thoughts entirely. The only thing you can do is go with it; see the road in front of you and push your board whatever way the road takes you. To gain speed you crouch down and lean all your weight forward, grabbing your rail just to know it's there. You can drop your weight to your back foot and throw your tail outwards causing what in proper terminology is known as a "power slice." No matter what you do, the fact remains that you're moving extremely fast and you just have to move with it.

As you wind and turn down the road, you always have to make sure who and what's around you. A "heightened awareness" enables you to cross in and out of your own path as well as your friends. A connection is made with yourself and your friends that ride among you. You are in active flow that holds no thoughts or words, just actions. Your body is moving at an incredible speed and what you are doing is real, so none of you can afford to make a mistake. At the bottom your friends are waiting, stoked to go next.

Off and on you skate, rolling through a path that might as well be laid out in the middle of the rainforest. Each ride only gets better as you explore one path after another. Eventually we all try "Dead Man's Curve," a steep drop that turns into a ninety degree angle at the bottom. It's the trickiest part of the whole park and you have to be on the ball. When you come up to the curve, you need to crouch down low, leaning your entire weight into the curve. A successful attempt means that you've managed to distribute your weight properly and your board makes the turn, barely. An unsuccessful attempt is either a balk or commitment. If you balk, you just decide to bail into the grass before your speed becomes too much. If you commit completely and fail, you end up plastered into a chain-link fence or drilled into the dirt and leaves. Either way, you've got to love it all.

The clock was ticking, but we knew we had time for one final ride. One final ride was enough for all of us. We took it for everything it was worth...going as fast and as big as we could.

The sun dropped down into a golden horizon as we pulled the car back onto the interstate. Few words were spoken...few were needed. We were all too stuck in a state of bliss and serenity. I myself felt an incredible peace. I had experienced one of the best feelings I could desire - the realization that I had just skated a perfect road. I had traveled many miles looking for it, searching through hills and valleys, parking lots and city streets, through countryside after countryside. Little did I know that I would find peace and satisfaction somewhere not too far away at a small, magical spot in Northeast Florida.