Ridin' Emission Free: Longboarding in Burlington VT

At Ridin' High, wheels, bolts, nuts and trucks are scattered about the counters. The lime green walls are dotted with logos, posters and flyers. Wind floats through the doors, combining the fumes and noise of passing cars with the smell of spring in Vermont. The shop is literally lined with dozens of skateboards, some completely built while others wait for their trucks and wheels. A man with a trucker hat and braided beard tightens wheels to a longboard while he eats a cremee.

John Van Hazinga of Ridin' High Skate Shop

The man is John Van Hazinga, Ridin' High owner and "Chairman of the Board". After wiping the vanilla/chocolate swirled cremee off of his beard and helping a small girl no more than 12 years old pick out her first longboard, we start our interview. Immediately we learn Van Hazinga is dedicated to pedestrian forms of transportation in Burlington, VT.  Longboarding has been around for decades, but in recent years it has developed a larger following and its own subculture.

Van Hazinga, an alumni of UVM, has supported the pedestrian transportation movement for years. He wants riders, walkers and cyclists to "take back the streets" from automobiles. Van Hazinga is a major proponent of bike lanes, and believes that they will effectively allow skaters and cyclists alike to share the roads with drivers.Van Hazinga cited several incidents of cars striking riders, one which turned a weekly celebratory ride into a vigil.

There are some downsides to longboarding as a means of transportation. First and foremost is the issue of safety. Riders have no "brakes" per se. You use your foot to create friction, or you can spin to kill speed, much like a snowboard. In a hill city like Burlington, stopping power can turn out to be an important factor to maintaining control, especially to novice riders. However, skilled riders can find ways to stop even on steep surfaces. There is also the issue of weather. In snow, longboarding is next to impossible. This means it will never be a full time, year round solution for rising gas prices in Burlington.

The major perks of longboarding however are the fun, and convenience. Longboarding allows the rider to move quickly around city streets without the liabilities and responsibility of cars or bikes. A rider can ride their board when they want, and then pick it up to hop on the bus or enter a business, making it a great means of transportation in the spring, summer and fall. There is no need to lock it up as it is light enough to be carried by the rider, and small enough to be leaned up against a wall without a major hassle to the rider or business owners.

Located on the corner of Battery and Pearl St, Ridin' High offers Burlington residents a fun, fast, and highly convenient form of transportation. Hours are Thursday-Saturday 11AM-7PM and Sunday 12PM-6PM and you can contact them at (802) 658-6187.

Sam Wilson