Thursday, 31st of January

Learning to Longboard

First off, I was quite wrong. As it turns out longboarding is quite different to my past time passion of snowboarding. The main thing I found is the lack of brakes being quite disconcerting and potentionally hazardous to not only you but to the general public and wildlife.

Day 1. - I'm lucky

A good start, It normally takes me about 15-20 minutes to get to work on the bus, so being quite competitive I was keen to see if I could beat the bus on a human powered plank of wood. Off to a wobbly start, I had to get used to the differences in kerbs and of course the cobblestones that are everywhere in ancient cities like München. I was taking it quite slow and being very prepared for any changes in the kerb and or balance caused by propelling myself forward.

I got to work safe and sound, quite chuffed that I not only got there in one peice, but also without any incidents at all. Returning home after a late evening at the office gave me a chance to improve my night boarding skills by riding through darkness all the way home. Again I managed to avoid fate and arrive home without injury.

Day 2. - I'm not so lucky

A brisk morning greeted me with a few light showers which made boarding to work more interesting. Shortly after departing my ego got the best of me and stroking longer was a little faster than my running speed. One out of line stroke hit the back wheel put me completely off balance and I found myself making acquaintances with the pavement that I had been so hard to keep away from. Luckily no Germans were around and with a bruised ego I quickly made haste back onto the board and got away from the crime scene. I took the rest of the way rather cautiously ensuring I didn't end up tasting gravel again.

Later that evening I decided to traverse across München from my work to a friends place which was relatively close. Halfway through my travels I found myself midflight as the board had hit a peice of pavement cunningly disguised and once again I was brought closer at velocity to my once distant friend. Getting back onto the board I vowed to keep much more attention on the task at hand.

Later still I was longboarding back from the underground, and found myself in uncharted territory. Bemused by some Germans having a bickering argument at 1am in the morning over a flat battery I failed to notice the closing dangers of ice grit on the pavement. I hit the scree at high velocity and once again found myself flying towards a certain doom.

Day 3 - Don't tempt fate

This morning I started to get rhythm and got a quite a lot speed going. I still feel unsafe without brakes, but luckily München doesn't have any hills to worry about. After being told off by several local residents for what I assume was skating on the "bicycle" way I made another successful trip to work.

This evening I don't think I'll tempt fate again, Nice and easy 101. 

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