Going the longboard way

“Riders!” “Riders!”

The shouts fly down a narrow, brush-lined road just north of Rancho Diana Park outside Loop 1604, a warning to clear the way. Then comes the hiss of urethane wheels, followed by the whoosh of helmeted racers crouched over long skateboards, their arms stretched behind their backs like lanky wings.

The riders zip past the gravelly sidelines, a blur of ripped jeans and shorts with light and dark T-shirts and low-top sneakers. Many sport blocky knee pads. A few rock full motocrosslike leathers. They are eager to embrace speeds of 30 mph or more on a mere plank of wood, all that separates them from the unforgiving pavement.

Longboarding is on the rise in San Antonio, and the first-ever Mysterious Downhill Race is one of the fastest-paced examples of its growth in the Alamo City.

“There's a bunch of college kids, bunch of high school kids (doing it),” says Ehren Mohammadi, 22, a few days before the big race, which he organized. “Also like older people in their 30s and 40s.”

Longboard rider Austin Barker, right, 17, competes in the Mysterious Downhill Race, Saturday, March 23, 2013, in San Antonio. Barker traveled from Houston for the event. (Darren Abate/For the Express-News) Longboard rider Austin Barker, right, 17, competes in the Mysterious Downhill Race, Saturday, March 23, 2013, in San Antonio. Barker traveled from Houston for the event. (Darren Abate/For the Express-News) Photo: Darren Abate, Darren Abate/Express-News Photo: Darren Abate, Darren Abate/Express-News Image 1 of / 29 Caption Close Going the longboard way 1 / 29 Back to Gallery

Mohammadi opened Insanity Boardshop in November to meet what he sees as a growing demand for longboards.

The skateboard's bigger cousin, a longboard usually runs about 3 to 3½ feet long with 10-inch wide axles called trucks and chunky wheels that hug the road. It's a ride that favors travel over tricks.

“It's a much more accessible form of skateboarding,” says Justus Zimmerly, editor in chief of Skate[Slate] Longboarding Magazine.

Zimmerly says longboards are more stable and beginner-friendly than typical skateboards, thanks in large part to their longer wheelbase. The softer wheels for longboarding also make it easier to navigate the roads than those on a conventional skateboard.

Casual longboarders just cruise on streets or sidewalks, while so-called free-riders slide their wheels while they roll for a more technical and stylish run. The more adrenaline-fueled longboaders, such as the Mysterious riders, “bomb” down hills at breakneck speed.

Those Mysterious racers run the gamut, from fresh-faced riders called “groms” for “grommets,” a slang term for younger skaters, to a few of those aforementioned elder chairmen of the board called “O.G.” for “older guys,” a play on the acronym better known to mean “original gangster.” The race draws 80 entrants, including a handful of women.

One O.G. on the scene especially relishes the course. His assessment might speak for local longboarding in general.

“It's actually phenomenal,” says Michael Eng, co-founder of San Antonio Longboarders, or SLAB, a deliberately scrambled acronym.

At 47, Eng looks like a sun-baked Bruce Jenner, an old-school skater with graying beach boy hair and a twinkle in his crinkled eyes. He sports a blue, black and white motocrosslike jacket with blue jeans, black knee pads and black sneakers.

Eng has been skating for more than 30 years, longer than many of the day's riders have even drawn breath. He and fellow longboarder Kelly Francis launched SLAB almost six years ago. What started as a handful of riders has blossomed into a legion of more than 400 members, most of them young, though the oldest is a 61-year-old dentist.

Zimmerly says longboarding really exploded nationally about seven years ago, as pockets of longboarders discovered each other through YouTube clips and Internet forums. What started as a grassroots resurgence of downhill skateboarding from the 1970s soon grew into a full-fledged scene, with longboard brand support and sanctioned events.

Contrary to any renegade typecasting, SLAB stresses longboarding safety. No one can join SLAB for a skating session without safety gear.

“Our motto is: Support the SLAB, invite a friend, safety first,” Eng says.

Not that that keeps Eng from engaging in some street-shredding derring-do. He recalls hitting 55 mph at San Antonio Ranch. His record speed: 58 mph.

“I want to hit 60 before I'm 50,” he says.

Of course, not all longboarders hop on to scorch asphalt. Zimmerly says some just longboard for the commute to work, while others do it for weekend exercise. Some parents even longboard with their kids as a family fitness activity.

“There's a common joke,” Zimmerly says, “that people who can't skateboard start longboarding.”

And then you have those who just like to roll through campus. Take Kamaria “Kam” Peters, a 20-year-old student at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Peters steers clear of downhill action, happy to coast to class on her longboard with the breeze blowing through her hair.

“It's very relaxing,” Peters says. “Very calming, actually, believe it or not. If I'm not going fast ... ”

But the need for speed tends to lead the charge. UTSA student Jah'Chin Hooey founded the Rollin Runners longboard group last fall. He sees plenty of what he calls campus cruisers, but says downhill is where it's at in longboarding. “Overall, I'd say bombing is definitely the most popular.”

Which is why, like Eng, Hooey also stresses the need for safety. The Mysterious Downhill Race proves that point with its share of wipeouts where it curves into a turn buffeted by some mercifully placed hay bales.

Julien Vincent has by far the gnarliest slam. The gangly skater hits the hay bales so hard he actually blacks out for a few seconds. Then he stretches a long arm up for a reassuring wave.

“I'm good,” he manages while buried in a pile of hay and rocks.

The fall rips open Vincent's white Skate House Media T-shirt, leaving his back peppered with scratches like bloody buckshot. His full-face helmet ensures he can still offer a tired smile after the crash.

Later at the top of the hill, Vincent talks about how he started working at the local Fast Forward skate shop in September as a longboard tech. He predicts longboarding will boom here in the next two years.

“It's really growing,” Vincent says.

No doubt, San Antonio is in for an exciting ride.

rguzman@express-news.net

Twitter: @reneguz