Spring Break, California and a Set of Wheels

Backpack? Check. Tents? Check. Food? Check. Longboard?
            For five students from the University of Arizona, these necessities were essential for the ultimate Spring Break vacation for any longboarder. Andrew Alejandre, Brent Scheid, Raymond Robinson, Austin Paine, and Brianna Gremboski, members of the UA longboarding club, AZ Push, packed their backpacks and made their way to Santa Barbara, Calif. From Santa Barbara, they would make their journey to Culver City, Calif. entirely by longboarding. With their ultimate destination being the headquarters of Loaded Longboards, one of the sponsor’s for the club’s trip, the club began their voyage consisting of over 100 miles this past break.
            “We did the entire trip self-sustained, which means we didn’t stop anywhere for anything. Our tents and food and any other supplies we needed we started off with. Our bags averaged about 40 pounds,” said Andrew Alejandre.
            Along with the supplies that they provided themselves, the members of AZ Push received aid and sponsorship from various companies.
            “We received sponsorship from Orangatang [a company that makes longboard wheels], Loaded and Cliff Bar. Cliff bar donated a bunch of their product to help our cause.”
            Being an adventurous yet dangerous trip, some of the members were injured  in the process.
            As if spending their Spring Break longboarding for more than 100 miles wasn’t enough, turns out that one of their members may be  a possible trendsetter as Gremboski became the first female to longboard such a long distance.
            “Brianna is one of the only girls to have eer done a long-distance skate trip like this one; it isn’t super popular among females,” said Alejandre.
            Being an adventurous yet dangerous trip, the five members experienced  several injuries.
            “Raymond hurt his ribs when he fell going about 35mph down a freeway on-ramp, Brianna fell a few times and injured herself and unfortunately Brent was ill and became injured and had to have his aunt and uncle pick him up,” said Alejandre.
            Despite the numerous injuries that occurred, the club members had an overall positive experience as they reached their final destination in Culver City.
            “When we reached the headquarters of Loaded Longboards, we got to hang out with pro-skaters Kyle Chin and Adam Stokowski. We all made it out alive, and it was fun! We camped out at state beach parks every night, and had ourselves a positive yet unorthodox Spring Break!”