Recently in the Philippine Longboarding thread somebody asked about helmets that can be used for longboarding. I don’t know what happened to it, but I just want to stress out what I said regarding the proper helmet to use.

Again, I’m not forcing anyone to wear a downhill longboarding designed helmet. I’m just strongly suggesting you use one. 

In the last Mt. Samat race I witness a helmet flying off someone’s head after crashing in front of me. If the situation was a bit different, say his helmet flew off and he hit his head, he would have probably gotten seriously injured or worse, dead. 

Paragliding helmets weren’t designed for downhill skateboarding, I know there are a lot of pros out there who still use them but there is also a good number of pros who are now using helmets designed for downhill. 

Helmets cannot guarantee that you won’t get hurt, but it’s your best protection for your head. 

I’m going to stop being a helmet nazi now. Go Skate!

SPEED, BALES, SLIDE and FREERIDE!

These are the four things that I really loved about Gravity Games Asia’s latest race last weekend dubbed Karera ng Kagitingan (Race of Valor). There was enough speed for everyone to enjoy, sometimes too much even. At the fastest point of the course you can probably reach 80-85kph in a really good tuck then you are welcomed with a left bender. Some of the fast goofy guys chose to bust out an earlier air brake then grip the whole thing. On the other hand most of us regular guys threw pre-drifts. What I really found tricky with this left bender was it was an incline and there were times when we had to guess where the apex would be so we can properly throw the pre-drifts. After that corner, you will then accelerate up to at least 70kph before you enter a right double apex hairpin. I remember Patrick Switzer describing it as the trickiest part of the course. Again there were different approaches to this corner but the most common one I saw was a pre-drift before the rock and grip it all the way before you enter the left hairpin where most of the spectators were stationed cheering on everyone. After this hairpin, it’s a race to the finish with sweeping corners of 70-75kph I believe. If you time it right, you can still catch a draft in this part. 

My favorite part of the entire event was Saturday’s freeride. I’ve always seen Samat as the ultimate course to bomb. If you can handle this then chances are you can handle a lot of hills. Gravity Games did an awesome job in setting up bales and controlling the traffic for everyone’s safety. It gave everyone the chance to charge the hills without too much fear of breaking anything. Of course, there were a few crashes that lead to wounds and sprains, but that is still an outstanding performance from the crew because there were no major injuries the entire event. Everyone had an awesome time hitting the hills. For the racers, they were able to dial in their slides and for the freeriders or sliders you can see them throwing all the slides they could do in one run. I have to agree with what Zak Maytum said in one of the issues of Skate Slate magazine “Freerides are an absolute smile factory”. Everyone was smiling and stoked the whole day.

After that was the slide jam that I was able to commentate on. The level of sliding from everyone was off the hook. Dandoy was rallying the hill switch as if it was a race. The St. Ig boys were doing 360’s and fast toe side stands up on the corners. Some of the guys from the south went down with serious style. Almost everyone did a no-comply to I don’t know  move. Joemarie’s raddest trick composed of a no-comply, slide shuv it, cross legged landing and possibly a switch somewhere in all of those tricks. Dandoy on the other pulled one of his original toeside hands down to 360 slide shuvit move, that I would rather call the Triple D Since the board spun at least three times. Matt was pulling out early grabs and no comply’s both in his regular stance and switch! It was insane. For the longest stand up, Joaquin Romero thought he had it until Dandoy pulls out a slide that was at least a foot longer. 

The highlight of the race was the stupid rain who ruined the course for me. For safety reasons, all of the racers agreed to start at the middle. After the left bender. I had to change my strategy completely. During the practice runs I noticed that everyone tried to slides and around 50% of them failed. So I decided on whether to be cool or to win. Fuck it, I didn’t pay 1,500 to lose. So on my first heat. Duke and Gerard stomped their way to lead and I hung around on the back and when we reached the corner, I threw a classic footbrake. Luckily for me, Gerard miscalculated his pre-drift and crashed. I believe Rafe crashed as well. Although Gerard’s board decided to take me out, I was still able to finish second in the heat. I made the wrong decision of sticking to my foot braking strategy on my later heats because the road dried up and I was coming in so hot into the corner on rain wheels that I couldn’t grip the first corner. I crashed in all of my next heats so I basically lost. Loser hahaha. I’ll get everyone next time!! As far as I know as what I saw from clips. Gerard slipped at the start, giving the lead to Dandoy. They were followed by Pedro and Rafe. Pedro crashed in the first corner giving, Rafe the chance to claim the third spot. Gerard trailed on Dandoy and pulled away just in time to win the race. It was epic.

I really want to thank the Gravity Games Asia crew for throwing this event. It wasn’t easy throwing this event and it still feels like a dream bombing the Samat with bales. But thanks to them we were able to do it. I would also want to give high fives to all the sponsors of the event. They lightened the load of GGA in organizing the event.

I just want to say SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SKATE SHOPS. THEY’RE THE ONES HELPING, ORGANIZING and THROWING THESE COOL EVENTS FOR US TO ENJOY. 

With that I want to congratulate everyone who went down Mt. Samat last weekend and give thanks to all the guys who supported the event. 

Also congratulations to Gerard, Dandoy, Rafe and Ordep for dominating the race. Everyone who participated in the slide jam and entertained the spectators.

For really cool photos check out the photo albums of Patrick Cuison, An Estrada, Lougie Dela Cruz. They’re pretty sick!

Excited for this weekend’s race at Mt. Samat!!

Thank you to Longboards Manila for hooking me up with these Landyachtz Goodies. These wheels are awesome! 

A Call to Step-up your Skating and Join Next Weekend’s Gravity Games

Every now and then I read about people complaining about how spots aren’t shared by others, and people guilty of such were being called hypocrites with regard to the matter. “Share the stoke daw pero nagdadamot naman ng mga skate spots”.

Just my 2 cents with regard to this (and only MY personal opinion)—for the most part, the more important reason why people don’t openly post every new downhill run they find is because it’s for the safety of all riders, specially the newer ones. Just because you are already technically proficient in performing all types of slides at varying speeds and conditions or what not, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll be able to perform it under pressure, or given close-call situations. Skill is different from experience, and it takes both to handle skating in more challenging open-road runs.

So people are of course hesitant about sharing some spots because it won’t rest well with their conscience to send someone down it, without being sure that the said person can handle it. I don’t know about the other reasons people have, but that’s one that I find to be valid.

Anyway, I guess my point is that more people should take the opportunity to push their skating in more controlled environments when they can. Sure it’s not the only way to do it, but definitely the safest, most efficient, and most effective way.

With that being said, next weekend is a very important event for downhill skateboarding in the Philippines because it will be the most challenging race to date. It’s also important in a sense that it will show who actually considers putting in the time, effort, and whatever resources they have for the sport, hobby, lifestyle, or whatever else you want to call it.

So come on down next Saturday and Sunday, May 12-13, to Mt. Samat in Bataan and push the limits of your skating here. Join the freeride, the slide jam, the amateur or open race, or join all of the above. And even if you won’t skate that day, come anyway and support your friends, or volunteer to marshal if you want to help out. The course will be baled with a total of 1000+ sacks, closed to traffic,and some of the best Philippine riders will be there skating it.

This upcoming Gravity Games will be full of opportunities—to meet most of the people who support longboard skateboarding in the Philippines; witness exciting downhill racing; and for some, a chance to prove themselves and push skating in the Philippines to another level. I’m hoping to see you all next week.

Gerard

Pre-register here

Check out what my girlfriend got me for my birthday. Here are all the longboards I ever had.  

(L-R)

Ladera Respect Roots, Kahuna Pohaku, Loaded Dervish, Landyachtz Drop Speed, Kix Cream Custom Board Dancer, Rayne Avenger, Rayne Killswitch, Sector 9 Lacey, Landyachtz Wolfshark and the Landyachtz Switchblade!

 

Check this guy out! No excuses! 

Crazy Trucks isn’t my favorite course. My first downhill skateboarding experience was there and even today I can still remember how scared I was stinkbug grabbing through the corners. And the feeling of going down that hill again still gives me the creeps sometimes. It’s not the speed that gets you it’s the character of the pavement. It’s bumpy and it’s narrow. On the first left turn, the asphalt changes to sticky or slick even on Centrax it still gave a feeling that you’re about to slide off. And before you enter the straight, the bumps are there. Call me a gear whore, but the “vibration dampening”  of the Ronin’s worked for me. It didn’t make me a better skater, but the ride was definitely better. The road felt so much smoother. Another scary part are the gates, the sight of two posts freaks me out. I also did a 360 body varial in the air there a few years back. And of course the crash corner, there’s an inconsistency on the road that makes you lose traction and a lot of skaters lose their composure and crash there. 

I believe this is Mike a.k.a. My Life on Board’s first organized race. There were some hiccups throughout the day but there were bails and a medical team on site which is always a good thing. There was free water too! And at the end of the day, I’m stoked to see more people stepping up and organizing events and race that help promote skating. I expect to see more races from the MLOB team this year and I will definitely be there as long as it’s not a push race… hehehe I didn’t get into downhill skateboarding to push up a hill!

Just in case you didn’t know, the race had a Class A and B format. This means that racers are ranked through a qualifying heat. The top two go to Class and and the rest go to Class B. But in cases like all the racers in the heat are Class A quality (seasoned racers) The losers are allowed to join Class A. But as Epos explains it to me, if you qualify as Class A you can’t go to Class B. And if you’re the type who is actually good and goes to Class B so you can win prizes, fuck you!!

Anyway, my first Class A heat was with Dandoy Tongco and back on his first downhill race after almost a year? T.O. Cruz or Buzz Lightyear was with me. Off the kick, I was first. I had to push extra because I heard Dandoy was still pushing behind me. I lead all the way until the crash corner where Dandoy took the outside line and passed me. I saw my mistakes in that heat and felt pretty awesome to have found that out and qualify to the next round.

The next round was pretty intense. Probably the hardest heat for me during the day. I was up with Kiko Lacuesta who has a pretty powerful push and Jay Razon who also has a power kick and has been in form lately. And my boss, Jay Mitra. At the start, everyone was pushing and Kiko Lacuesta was leading followed by Jay Razon, Jay Mitra and me at fourth! I was fucked. I hate drafting!! after the first left everyone was close. Jay Mitra and Kiko Lacuesta’s wheels even kissed. This slowed down Kiko and Jay Mitra and Razon including went forward. We were chasing Jay Razon down the straight and before we entered the gates, Jay Mitra overtakes Jay Razon and I took a gamble and stucked the inside line. It was a bit sketchy but the opening was there. I had stick an arm out so that Jay Razon and I wouldn’t crash. In the end I was able to pass Jay Razon and finished second after Jay Mitra.  All this in one heat! 

In the Semi finals, it was Epos, Enzo Villareal and me. The other heat consisted of Gerard Cancio, Jay Mitra and Dandoy Tongco. Off the push, Epos lead and I followed. I knew Enzo was in good form and plays the drafting game really well so I tried my best to get away from him as far as possible. Coming into the gates, I had the chance to overtake Epos but there was no point in risking a crash since we had a hefty lead and was guaranteed a spot in the finals. After I crossed the finished line, I was ecstatic! I haven’t reached the finals since December and it felt good to be back! In the other heat Jay Mitra and Gerard Cancio qualified. So it was Gerard Cancio, Jay Mitra, Epos Falcone and me! I remembered watching the Whiskey Hill race videos and I was watching these guys and it felt a bit weird to be racing with them. In the finals Gerard Cancio blasted off and left us. Followed by Epos and Jay. For some strange reason, I’ve been fucking up in my push. And I was there again! Last at the start. I followed Jay who was following Epos. Jay overtook him before the gates and I was gaining enough momentum to pass Epos but the crash corner was up and I wasn’t able to overtake Epos. In the end, Gerard was first followed by Jay Mitra, Epos then me. I was really happy to have made it that far considering I had a hyperacidity attack that morning. (Thank you to the medical team for giving me medicine! I almost didn’t race). 

I want to congratulate Mike for organizing an awesome event. Mike was cool to call me this morning to tell me that I also won a set of earphones from Aerial7. Watch out for Kiko Lacuesta, Jay Razon and Enzo Villareal! 

Many thanks to Longboards Manila for supporting me and the team! Agencies Unknown for awesome Magic Bearings, Logic Precision Spacers and Skanunu! Get Some!!!

Happy Birthday to me! Hahaha!

I don’t have any pictures hehe.