R.I.P The Big Board

Albi and I had been discussing how long we could build a skateboard... and how many people could feasibly ride it all at once. I had been eyeing up the old scaffold plank being used as a bookshelf in the garage for a while. One rainy October day, Albi and I removed the books and got to work shaping up the 11ft monster.


The board was shaped entirely with an electric plane. It didn't take long at all, the shape emerged as we went. I took the wheels from my hill bomber and Aaron kindly donated his extra wide trucks. Thanks to Nick Lloyd at J's Skatestore for supplying the extra long bolts!

 

   

It is downhill all the way to the pub.. so that, naturally, was our first outing. We set off four of us aboard... quickly becoming three as I bailed early as we started to pick up speed towards the blind bend nearing the graveyard. By the time we reached the pub.. only two had lasted the distance... the other running like children alongside. 

The pub became the board's new home... we would leave it out the back by the beer barrels... and ride it relentlessly every evening after work. It wasn't long before we had locals and tourist alike bombing the hill. It was awesome, a communal board which everyone enjoyed riding.

However those night time rides were not to everyone's liking. After bombing the hill solo, a middle aged man, slightly balding and very angry,  took objection to me and the board. A few words, several expletives and numerous hand gestures were exchanged before the guy revved his engine, ran over the board and sped off up the hill towards Cherry Tree Farm. The board suffered minor damage with a split in the tail... scaffold boards are seemingly indestructible. I have got the number plate written down somewhere...

The board lived a popular life.. until its demise on the 1st of November 2012. Over zealous house clearing, combined with a large fire in the garden led to Albi burning the board in a ceremonious goodbye.. to which I had no knowledge. I loved you big board.. I will see you again.. but not yet.. not yet.....

This was filmed on a borrowed Gopro. I think I had two runs before the battery died. Thanks to Sean for his editing.