Unboxing and First Impressions of the LandYachtz Switch

       Boy, I'm lucky that UPS shares a pile of the workload of delivering packages around Kamloops with Purolator. If they didn't, I'd surely be waiting until Wednesday to go and grab my board from their warehouse since they make 3 attempts before letting you pick stuff up in person, that means I'm usually forced to wait 3 extra business days to receive things from them. Today, shortly before noon, a familiar Purolator delivery guy showed up with the box in the post below in hand and I was quite giddy. I did try to make an unboxing video to show all of you what to expect when you open the box the board is delivered in but the angle I had my camera set to was lower than where my hands were holding things up to show.
       When a LandYachtz board is delivered, it comes in a pretty plain-jane sort of box; there is no special logoing on it, it's your typical, unremarkable shipping box, likely provided by UPS themselves. Once the cardboard box is opened, there is no additional LandYachts product box containing the board, instead your board lies very nicely packed right inside. Mine came with some very heavy duty paper crumpled up at either end to prevent the board from sliding around the box. The board is wrapped in a thin sheet of styrofoam material to keep it from getting dinged or scratched in transit, it has cardboard wrapped around the tips of the board to keep those from getting beat up, and to hold all this packing in place, there is some shrink wrap tightly wound around the tips holding the cardboard and styrofoam sheet in place. It all was very tightly and professionally done in my opinion, good presentation in the packing department over all. The board itself (I ordered a complete) came fully assembled. Also included in the box was an issue of "Skate[Slate] Longboarding Magazine" as well as some stickers for the discerning gentleman who can't get enough of putting decals on everything he owns.

       On to the board itself: I whipped out a measuring tape last night just to get an idea of what to expect from 41.25 inches. To me, it seemed pretty big, to some of my friends not so much. The board arrived and indeed looked a lot smaller than anticipated so I busted out the measuring tape again and it was indeed the length advertised. Spot on to boot! That's not even taking into account the curvature of the board, if it were a perfectly flat piece of wood with no concaving to it, the board would be even longer. Width-wise it was as wide as I'd anticipated, not quite wide enough for my feet to be 100% on when standing on it but I have big feet (12) and was prepared to work with this. The weight was good, not quite as heavy as anticipated but ample all the same. The grip tape on top had a red and white LandYachtz logo designed into it which I thought was a stylish final touch on the board. The design on the bottom of the deck.... seems a little kiddish, a little cartoony, I knew what I was getting when I ordered the board but still not a giant fan. I have a tablet and stylus though, and so might design my own graphic to turn into a decal and apply there. The wheels are way bigger than I imagined they'd be and I'm happy about that, LandYachts isn't lieing when they call them "Monster Hawgs". As far as I'm concerned I think a larger area of contact with the ground will help keep the ride smooth and stable so I'm all for it.

       On to feel: I placed the board on my kitchen floor and stepped on to it and... WOW those are some smooth bearings, barely any movement placed on the board and it wants to start rolling. I immediately get nervous, steady myself with the assistance of the counter and get on with both feet. I stand up straight. The ride height is exactly what I'd hoped for. Since I slouch a bit (something I need to work on) standing on the board feels exactly like standing up straight and I feel quite at home height wise. The concaving at either end of the standing platform is not as aggressive as I thought it would be which I'm very happy about. It's noticeable, will definitely serve a purpose for me later, but isn't so much that the deck feels wrong if you don't use the foot holds or if your foot is half in and half out of them. The deck has some concave to it running the length of it as well which feels alright to stand on and I can already see it helping to keep a flat standing platform when I shift me weight left or right standing on it while stationary. When I quickly shift my weight up and down there is just the smallest bit of flex to the board (I'm 220-ish, keep in mind) and it feels quite ok. As for rebound provided by the bushings when shifting my weight from side to side, something a little stiffer might be a little more appropriate for my weight. I find I have to wait a little when I'm leaning in one direction to feel balanced enough to shift my weight to another side, they are stiff enough to hold me upright when standing straight on the board, no wobble to notice.

        Now I must admit, the only testing I've subjected the board to has been on my kitchen floor, pushing from wall to wall and trying to weave between some arbitrary points in the smooth tiling it provides but I've had a blast doing it so far. I'm tense though, for sure, and I remind myself of what I've learned through doing research: bend just a little at the knees and what a difference that makes. I'm already getting the sense that this will feel better outside where I can get just a little bit more speed and have more wiggle room than the shelving units along the walls of the kitchen can provide. It feels like it's going to be a lot like riding a bike, having some speed behind you helps you stay upright, where as very slow speed movement feels wobbly and unnatural.

A Box? From Versal Manufacturing? For Me?

       Well, looks like the longboard is in and I have to start subjecting myself to all the thrills and spills associated with longboarding. I'll be sure to throw some form of unboxing post up so folks know what to expect to find in the box. Feeling quite nervous right now, and a little self conscious about going out and potentially making a fool of myself in public. I'm going to cut it open now, and maybe give myself a tentative push across my kitchen floor on it....

Getting Wood: What to Ride On?

       You've been introduced to me, my town, and what my general commute is looking likes it's going to be, but I haven't yet made mention of any particular longboard I plan to do this on. The board itself is not in my loving arms yet, it's still going through the postal system. If you look at the image/link at the top right of this blog, you can probably make a safe bet on the board itself being one of the boards from LandYachtz. I did my research before making a purchase and LandYachtz seemed to have one of the more diverse selections of boards available, at least from what this noobie could tell. I liked what I saw; the board designs, the variety, the being located in Canada, the price point, and what people had to say about them on forums also agreed with me. I knew going into this that I wouldn't be doing anything too crazy right away and so purchasing a board specially designed for something in particular wasn't a necessity. I did have some criteria which I felt had to be met on this purchase however.

       I'm a big guy, about 220 pounds, closer to 210 on a good day. I'm also 6'3” so I'm not a very 'low rider'. My centre of gravity is a bit higher than most so I knew I'd feel a bit top heavy and figured a pin tail style board that sat well above the trucks would potentially make the situation worse; I needed some added stability. That's two of my criteria: something that can take my weight, and something that can keep me low with my head out of the clouds. From my readings and hear-say knowledge, I also knew a wider ride would help keep me stable, as would a longer board, preferably more than 40 inches. Another thing I learned would help keep the board stable was the weight of it. A heavier board can take more jostling and remain a stable smooth ride than something light weight. A weighty and rigid board lacks the flex of a lighter model, however, and flexy models also can soak up some jostling as one rides around so there's a trade off there. Trucks and wheels were of little concern during the research portion of the purchase as I knew the stock ones would keep me going for a good while until I gathered up some more knowledge and became a more competent and aggressive boarder.

       I took a very long gander at LandYachtz' selection, and narrowed it down to some of their downhill model boards. There was the Switch, Switchblade, Evo, 9two5 (this blog was very nearly “Longboarding 9-5” I should mention), Time Machine, and Drop Carve. I liked the Switch and 9two5 the most of those listed previously, the 9two5 for it's low ride despite being mounted on top of trucks and it's flat riding surface, and the Switch for it's dropped riding surface, and it's fabled rigidity and weight. I wasn't sure what to make of the concave foot holds but decided that they weren't so aggressive that they were going to turn me away from the board entirely. I knew before making my order that I'd need to consult with someone from the company and see if I really knew what I thought I wanted.

       Given my criteria for a board and what I'd looked in to, the LandYachtz rep agreed that the 9two5 and Switch were good options but that the Drop Speed also shouldn't be ruled out given how stiff it was. After briefly explaining the pro and cons of the models, he decided that for me the Switch would probably be the most comfortable choice for a beginner commuter like myself. This made me happy as my mind had kept wandering back to that board even when considering the other models. I quickly ordered one, as well as a skate tool.

       The picture above is of the Switch, of course. Aside from talking about the board's length (41.25 inches) there isn't much else that I can say having not seen, held, or stood on the model. I've probably commit a longboarding faux pas having not tried prior to buying but I'm going to trust in my judgement based on the research I did in advance and hope that my first board doesn't have to be a perfect match to how I end up riding. A link to LandYachtz to check out there full product line is at the top of the blog to the right *red and white picture) at the time of posting this, a link to the Switch in particular can be followed by clicking here. UPS are the guys delivering the board and as I look at the tracking number I see that it's currently out for delivery. Past experience with UPS tells me this is probably a lie because I've waited at home for their delivery man before on numerous occasions and he hasn't entered my little apartment building ever, opting to update the package with a failed delivery attempt instead of actually trying. I'm not sure if it's UPS policy not to enter apartments or if they're just being lazy, either way I'll likely have to wait till Monday at one to pick it up.

Anatomy of a Town: Kamloops, Part I

       Let's talk about a town called Kamloops. It's a city someone decided should be built on the side of a mountain. Not all of it sits at a high altitude though, a small percentage can be found on a flood plain where two rivers meet in the centre of town but for the most part, if you have somewhere to go, you're either headed up or down a hill, and it's a pretty steep one no matter how you approach it.  

Thankyou Google Maps, Click to Embiggen

       I'm going to break it down into four parts for people unfamiliar with the locale: the North Shore which is the large, flat, aforementioned floodplain, and when you first drive through it it makes you think “oh my god, it's Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas”, and it has a desert climate a crime rate to match. Downtown, which is south, across the one and only bridge connecting it to the North Shore and is relatively flat but still possesses a modest incline of it's own. Sahali, which is up the mountain (south) from Downtown and is perched on a terrace. And Aberdeen, which is further up the hill (further south still) from Sahali and has no flat parts to speak of; it's all hills. There are decidedly few traffic arteries connecting the areas of town and for every two that exist, only one will be pedestrian friendly.

       My typical commute on a longboard will demand making my way from Sahali (just to the right of the Thompson Rivers University label on the Google Map) through Downtown, headed east (to the Green “1” above “Valleyview Drive”) or to the North Shore. It's a 4km trip either way, and it's just about all downhill at least one of those trips. As mentioned earlier, there is one bridge connecting Downtown to the North Shore but its a pedestrian friendly connection and doesn't have much demanding geography. Getting from my apartment in Sahali to Downtown is a different story entirely, however. There are three (and a half) ways to get down that part of the hill. Two of them are 4 lane highways which lack sidewalks, one of which is a 'real' highway (the Trans Canada) and fines pedestrians for walking along the side of the road. The other is called Summit Drive which has a very small shoulder for cyclists and is super busy during daytime hours. It's also a very long and winding road which adds time to my commute and doesn't put in me in a part of Downtown which is easy to traverse. This leaves me with one (and a half) options.

Battle, top looking down

Bottom, looking up to curve

      The half option is Battle Street which is two very quiet blocks south of my apartment. This option is “half” because from where I live, getting to Battle is only doable on foot since my apartment has it's parking lot gated off and that lot connects to the aforementioned quiet two blocks. The other side of the parking lot connects to the rest of Sahali, so it's understandable why the gate here is locked to keep non residents from screaming through the complex at all hours. Battle is a somewhat appealing option given how quiet it is and how it has a fairly wide road, but it has quite a few blind corners mind you, and a very narrow sidewalk if I had to resort to that. I might try this one if I turn out to be any good at carving. The last option for me is a street called Columbia. This is a busy a four lane artery I won't be riding down the road on, but it has a generous sidewalk which I think I can get down at slightly better than running speed, with a little advance practice that is. Although the sidewalk is very large here, it has a steep hill on one side, and retaining walls holding up townhouses on the other, making it feel tighter than it is. Columbia is a slightly steeper option than Summit Drive or the Highway, but is slightly less steep than Battle Street. Given the sidewalk space and the fact that it spits me out at a nice gently inclined area of Downtown which should carry me to the end of my commute, it's the most preferable for now. Another nice thing is that Kamloops' hospital is located on Columbia, so if I wound myself I'm only a stones throw away from medical attention.

Very near the top 

Columbia, bottom up

Middle up

       Though I don't plan to do much in Aberdeen, I did mention it and so should address the means of getting in and out of it as well. There are three ways to get there: the Trans Canada Highway again, Hillside Drive, and Summit Drive which turns into a nicer road when it comes out the other side of Sahali. As mentioned earlier, the highway prohibits pedestrians which is a good thing for the stretch between Sahali and Aberdeen since it's a whopping six lanes wide there with traffic flow to fill it. Hillside is another bustling 4 lane road going up the side of a mountain. Like Columbia, it has a nice big well kept sidewalk for pedestrians. Unlike Columbia, it's not hemmed in on one side by retaining walls so there's a little more wiggle room for a slow speed bail. Where Summit Drive meets Aberdeen it looks nothing like it does between Sahali and Downtown. On it's way up the hill it goes through several changes. It tapers into a two lane, instead of four lane road, gets a hell of a lot steeper, and also becomes a lot more pedestrian friendly with nice big sidewalks on either side. Toward the top of the hill it turns back into a 4 lane road but not as it was before, it's much more like a boulevard with grass and trees making up the centre line and also becomes much more gentle at this part.

       There is a plethora of other areas located on the hills around Kamloops, each one having just one road entering them, and as my skill rises on a board, I'll be making missions of my days off from work to try and tackle some of them. I'll do a Part II to this post addressing each one later on, but I think this was enough geography homework for one day.

       P.S. I'll get some perspective shots of some of these roads soon to give you a better idea of what these roads look like. I have spotted some experienced riders having a good time on all of these roads with the exception of the highway, perhaps some day I'll be able to join them?

Introducing the Author, and Introducing the Author to Longboarding

       Every time I create a blog, join a forum, or get involved in any social media sort of thing, I always neglect to type up a post about myself; an introductory sort of thing. Without this, my writing lacks a face, and as a result I probably don't connect to readers in the same way a lot of other professional writer's or news figures do, which in turn ends up costing me a little readership I'll bet. So just who am I? A guy who's about share too much information with the internet for one thing.

       My name is Kris Gunderson, I'm a male, a hardcore paintballer, a photographer, a blogger, single, middle classed, between the ages of 18 and 25, like video games, and like so many of you reading this, I'm quite intelligent but don't apply myself to school quite as hard as I ought to. Maybe I don't introduce myself to people thoroughly because I erroneously assume my readers know that I'm just like them. To be fair I'll break down all my listed points to make myself a little more unique.

       Paintball is my passion. I often wonder why it is given that it costs so much money and inflicts so much damage to my body, but I love it all the same. I have been doing it for four years now, and have been working at the one and only paintball field in Kamloops B.C. as a referee and builder for 2 of them. I'm pretty good, some of the younger crew at the field would say I'm REALLY good, but that's probably because my camoflage top matches my camoflage pants, I look big and scary, and working at the field probably helps too. I suppose now is a good time to give a shameless plug to my other blog, Eight Pound Ops Scenario/Milsim Paintball Blog. It can be a fun read, there's about 45 pages of material on there and I've been writing for that one since creating it in December of 2010. You can definitely expect to hear more about that one as time wears on.

       Photography is a new hobby I only developed a keen interest in during the summer of 2010. A great deal of my knowledge in the field was developed through experimentation, self teaching, and scouring the internet for assistance. In January of this year I took a course on the subject which greatly enhanced my grasp on all the goings-on inside of my camera and forced me to do more guided experimentation. Currently I'm doing a fair bit of charity shooting, my most recent 'gig' was a songs for Japan benefit concert at a local Buddhist temple, a month before that I was shooting another benefit concert for the local 'Y Women's Shelter'. I hope to some day make a small return off of this hobby and am currently in the process of setting up a more business like Facebook page as a means of marketing myself as a minimum wage photographer. One thing I've been dieing to do with my camera but haven't had much time to look into is shooting extreme sports other than paintball, mountain biking and skateboarding for example. Perhaps getting involved with the local longboard scene can assist with this?

       Ah yes, the student part, I might as well share that here too. I just came out of four years of doing an undergraduate psychology major and still don't know what I'm planning to do with that or if it was even all that enjoyable. I haven't graduated yet, however, and it just so happens that all the requirements I need to graduate this coming year could be met by cramming a geography minor into one very full year. Taking upper level courses with lower level courses is a must in order to pull this off and it's made gaining approval from academic advisers more than a little hectic. This is going to make for a hellish course load as well, so posting here, and on my other pride and joy paintball blog, may become a little less frequent come September.

       BUT! One thing I would never consider myself is a longboarder. At least not yet. So why am I starting a longboard blog? Because I can, because I'm a fast writer, just invested in an inexpensive form of transportation which I hoped would have a little more sex appeal than a bicycle, a form of transportation which could be easily stowed away in a closet or under a car seat, and because I wanted to try something new. I'm creating this blog, not to create a how-to, but to make a progress report for those interested in getting an idea of how quickly (or slowly) a person with no experience can pick up longboarding as a commuter. I can pass down to you what I learn from personal experience on my own board, what I find online and turns out to be super helpful, and what other people share with me via interviews with local boarders with more knowledge than myself and maybe even you! So many online tutorials are videos made by pros or people with an awful lot of experience, they make it look so easy but I know picking up a skill like this can be hard, more-so for some than others. So this blog is going to be about me, stepping on a longboard on day one, and ideally following through to when I can tackle some of the nasty hills in my town with a moderate degree of confidence. The blog might not end then however, for all I know I'll continue on in the same way I do with Eight Pound Ops, reviewing products and posting other kinds of articles too.

       Secretly I'm a little terrified of doing this. Not creating the blog, I know I have the staying power to write “like a boss” because of how much content I've put on Eight Pound Ops, hell, read this post and you'll know text can just fly off my fingertips. It's actually keeping at practising on my coming longboard is what worries me. I'm a perfectionist, and often if I don't pick a skill up quickly, I get bored and forget about it. My fear here is that without much advance practice on a skateboard, surfboard, or snowboard, longboarding will prove to be too great a challenge for me and I will grow weary of trying. I don't need to do anything too crazy on it just yet, however, I only need it to get from A to B around Kamloops (more on the city itself later).

       That is all I'm going to share about me for the time being. If you're new to my writing, you'll have to get a grasp of my personality through reading this and coming content. Right now I'm waiting on my board to arrive in the mail, I may throw an additional introductory/primer post up prior to it's arrival, and I'm not digging the current look of this blog so that might change too. I like the concrete picture for the background... and I sorta like the yellow header like the centre line of a road... but something feels off to me. Maybe it's just because my other blog feels more like home? I'll take suggestions regarding aesthetics if any comments follow the post. In the mean time, new readers, please check out the paintball blog: eightpoundops.blogspot.com, if you like one extreme sport, maybe you'll like another.