Alki Boardwalk Surfskate / Skog / LDP
Alki Boardwalk Surfskate / Skog / LDP
Link to Youtube: Longboarding the STP 2015
A classic shape I derived from riding many vintage 70’s mini decks to the point of destruction as well as dozens of self made plywood minis in a variety of shapes. Named after Alki Beach Park in Seattle.
These are truly old school “oak plank” deck shapes that I’ve been riding off and on for 36 years. The main point of these boards: mastering the art of riding switch. Small decks like these helped me learn to pump and push switch with confidence. For skateboarding as a whole, flat planks is where it all began. Whenever I reach for a surfskate / skogger, I prefer a completely flat deck like this because it gives me the most freedom for foot positioning. Skogging is ambidextrous, improvisational longboarding. Even though many long distance skaters share roots to skogging, there aren’t many pure skogger (flat) decks to choose from out there because concave gives you more performance and deeper carves. But skogging is like jazz compared to the house music of long distance riding. Chris Yandall, the skoggfather, also preferred a flat deck for skogging.
Riding a flat deck is a little different at first, but it’s like playing period instruments to play baroque music. if you really want to know what it felt like to skate back in the day, and why people got so hooked on skating in the first place and it became such a fad, flat decks are a good place to start. Popular decks like the Penny and Nickle are reminiscent to the Alki and Alki mini. However, the Alki series are both slightly longer, stiffer, and flatter (not to mention higher quality) than the molded plastic construction of the Penny and Nickel.
You can transplant the trucks and wheels off a Penny or Nickel board to get you started on the Alki or Alki Mini.
Available with or without the wooden angle wedges:
Wedges help open up the pump similar to a surfskate.
Wedgeless gives a classic / tiny dancer / freeride setup.
Available in baltic birch or caramelized bamboo ply just like Blumenstein Audio speakers.
Great for learning / mastering LDP pumping as well as learning / mastering ambidextrous riding.
Caramelized Bamboo + Wedgeless version currently in stock.
Uses narrow 3”-4” width trucks of any brand. Wheels 60mm→ 70mm. High rebound (fast) yet solid urethane (coreless) wheels like Abec 11 Reflex formula Zig Zags or Seismic Defcon formula wheels recommended. Polarizer trucks from The Heated Wheel are also really cool and pumpable.
Water resistant but not waterproof. Otherwise basically indestructable.
Call or email for options / advice with complete setups.
For beginners, intermediate, advanced.
What do longboards have to do with Audio? Balance.
Ships worldwide
60 day in-home audition, 1 year warranty
Email for lead time estimate
Ambidextrous training -
Balanced, ergonomic athletic training on a skateboard. It is important to work long-term to open up the other side of your body to board sports as soon as you feel you can, even if this slows down your speed. For training goofy (or regular) stance, pads and slower than normal cruising speeds are strongly encouraged. To begin pushing with the other side of the body, try pushing uphill. Ambidextrous propulsion and training on a longboard is a healthy, safe, fun, and fulfilling sport.
Notable Ambidextrous Rides
75 miles Athens to Atlanta 2023 50% goofy stance
65 miles Athens to Atlanta 2022 50% goofy stance (1st longboarder invited to A2A)
204 miles STP 2018 50% goofy and then with no boardside bushing for last half of day 2.
204 miles STP 2017 on a bicycle
204 miles RSVP 2016 50% goofy
206 Miles STP 2016 50% goofy
209 miles - Ultraskate 2016 - 50% goofy stance (plus several more ultraskates in Miami and Netherlands over the years)
206 miles - RSVP 2015 - 70% goofy stance (2nd longboarder to complete RSVP)
204 miles - Seattle To Portland 2015 - 50% goofy stance (3rd longboarder to complete STP)
30 miles Passport 2 Pain 2014 - 55% goofy stance (1st longboarder invited to P2P)