Kick… Push… Coast…Kick… Push… Coast… Feet hitting the ground, wind in your face, and letting go. There’s no better way to feel free; at least for members of AZ Push, a new long boarding club at the University of Arizona.
With so many students at the UA who share a passion for long boarding, founders of AZ Push, Andrew Alejandre and Raymond Robinson, decided to establish a club that would spread “the stoke,” or the way of long boarding, to the entire campus. “Lots of people ride to class on long boards and we wanted to create a club that brought together different people of various long boarding disciplines,” said Robinson.
The idea of starting a long boarding club at UA was conceived after Alejandre and Robinson ventured with two others on a 130 mile trip from Santa Barbara to Los Angles, Calif. and their only means of transportation being their long boards. Robinson said, “Anything from food, clothing, and shelter was packed away and strapped to our backs during the trip.”
Although AZ Push has brought together long boarders from all over campus, each individual has their own reasons for wanting to long board and for wanting to be a member of AZ Push. Brent Scheid, vice president of AZ Push, said, “ When I am feeling down, I can just cruise an relax with my board. It is a great way to take my mind off of things as well as a great way to meet new people.”
For other members, long boarding is not only a sport or a hobby, but it is also a way to live ones life. According to Alejandre, “I am long boarding and long boarding is me. It has become part of who I am. It’s a discipline and you learn more about yourself by doing it.”
The more AZ Push grows as a club, the more diverse its members are becoming. Though long boarding is a mainly male-dominated sport, there are a growing number of females who are grabbing a board and cruising with the guys. Chelsea Jones, head of the female division of AZ Push, said, “The community of the club is welcoming and gives me a place to belong. Females who want to learn to long board should not be intimidated or afraid. If they have any interest in learning something new, they should definitely give it a try.”
AZ Push is a fun way for people of all skill levels to come together and practice a sport that is a great form of exercise, a fun way to make new friends, and When asked if members need to already know how to long board, Robinson said, “Not at all. You don’t even need to have a board. As long as you have the desire to learn then we can easily teach a person and will be more than wiling to provide them with a board.” So if you want to learn a new sport and meet new people, AZ Push is definitely a club to cruise by.