Rich. (Bowlkook) / cruising@lushlongboards.zzn.com

Sometime late '70s - early '80s a guy in my street shaped a bit of wood and screwed cut up roller skates on it. I had a go at wobbling down his garden path on it. I wasn't allowed one though...Twenty years later (Early 2000) having dabbled with bodyboarding/surfing for a few years while holidaying in Cornwall, I decided I wanted something to carve on in between infrequent trips to the coast. I came to the conclusion that a popsicle wouldn't do, so got a skate mag and mail ordered some random trucks, bearings and the biggest (56mm...) wheels I could find. When these arrived, they were mounted on a 48" piece of marine ply cunningly shaped to resemble a surf board. Messed around on this and it's successor made from the same bit of ply until I saw a Libtech Surfer going cheap. By this time, I was beginning to find stuff on the internet relating to longboarding, so was becoming aware of what proper longboarding trucks and wheels etc. were about. The Libtech was soon upgraded with Indy 166s; Krypto wheels and Bones Reds. Proper long board at last! All the spare bits have since been recycled on home made boards I've knocked together for my kids. My next board was a home made (Ash) 60" cruiser with Randals on it.

Just after I made that, I saw stuff on the web about one of the 2003 Watlington jams. (Most of my skating up to then had been in billy no mates mode. I had sessioned a few times with another longboarder from Milton Keynes, but that was it..) I went along, but didn't venture into the bowl until a week or so later, when I went up on my own and tootled about in the bottom of the bowl on my Libtech. It wasn't long before I was rolling in... Later in 2003, I got married (2nd time, different story there...) and ended up in Florida on holiday. A visit to the Vans skatepark in Orlando resulted in me bringing an Alva Squaretail home. One longboarder well and truly hooked on carving bowls!So far in 2004, I've been to the Novice Jam in Leicester to get a bit more involved with the whole ramp thing. As it's only the 3rd time I'd been in an indoor park, I didn't do much more than get some kick turn practise in. Hopefully the rest of 2004 will bring lots more concrete bowls to carve and a bit of progress on minis. Already met a fair few other MASers over the past few weeks/months and am looking forward to hooking up more! I'm feeling that 2004 is gonna be GOOOOD!That about covers it. Hope it's of use.See you soon!Rich. (Bowlkook)