As sophomore Joseph Henson carves through the streets of Northwest Arkansas, he feels the breeze of the cool spring day, winding through his hair during his afternoon ride on his longboard.
“I am one with the board,” he said. “When I ride, I tame the beast that is under my feet,”
A longboard is a surfing variant of a skateboard. It is similar to a surfboard with wheels. Used for cruising, downhill racing, sliding, and more, most stunts on a longboard are very different from that of a skateboard because they are usually designed for descending hills.
“It’s all about just chilling while you’re riding,” said Henson.
Henson started longboarding five years ago, and still enjoys it as much as the first day he started.
“It’s a good past time,” said Henson. “I started skating before so I tried a longboard because it was new.”
Sophomore Mason Dunn also spends his time on the board when he rides with friends or to the store.
“I always have fun,” said Dunn. “It’s a good thing to do with friends.”
Dunn began his journey into the longboarding world the summer of 2011 after he saw a video online.
“I thought it looked really cool,” said Dunn.
The cost of a longboard, depending on quality, can range from $150 and up.
“It has a surfy feel,” said Dunn. “It definitely rides different than a skateboard.