Fingerboarding

  • Thread starter Thread starter BMW_M6
  • 16 comments
  • 1,764 views
B

BMW_M6

Messages
33
đź‘Ť Hey guys, I doubt anyone remembers me, but I was on this forum for a bit around 6 months ago. I have since acquired a new hobby, (along with gran turismo :sly: ) it's called fingerboarding. Now most people think of it as techdecking or something else. but it actually has a HUGE following throughout the world. In germany and the other parts of Europe, there are major competitions. There are companies who make wooden decks, such as Prete, Substance, Holywood, Shortwood, Homewood, Berlinwood, and several other companies. There are bushing companies, grip companies, and sometimes there's even a truck company or two, most notably Public. It's a very fun hobby, and I reccomend it to anyone who loves to skateboard, needs a new hobby, or whatever. It's really addicting, and at first it seems like it's just a toy, but it's much more than that. It's an acquired skill, just like skateboarindg you have to practice to get better.
Some notable websites are:

www.blackriver-ramps.com (supplyer blackriver ramps, and berlinwoods)
www.fingerskateshop.de (European Fingerboard shop)
www.fingerboard.de (german scene, mostly)
www.fingerflipinc.com (american, and canadian scene, with several other countries)
Several other links exist, by exploring these websites, you'll find more. Peopel of many ages do this 10-35 it doesn't matter, anyone can do it. Practice makes perfect. I hope I've inspired some of you to try it out, some day.
 
I used to do this with my cousin a long time ago, About the time tony hawks pro skater came out for ps1.

I was really surprised to see them start selling again a again.
 
Oh man I used to fingerboard, I made parks with some bought ramps and video tape cases. lol
 
They used to sell these things in target with little dolls..... What was it called?

EDIT: Oh yeah, they were called Tech Deck Dudes! :dopey:
 
Tried it the first time it came out, I was just as naff on the small thing as the real thing lol...definitely died out over a lot of the UK I know that much...can't remember the last time I saw it in the shops around my town
 
I was competing in the nationals, then I mis-timed a 900 and broke a finger. My fingerboarding career was over. :(
 
I can't believe this is still going on like it is. I remember doing this in middle school, everyone who skated was real big into these, I spent way too much money on them. I remember them coming out when THPS 1 was out also, because they came with cheat codes telling you how to do a certain skaters "special moves".
 
I remember the codes too. my cousin got one where the guy would lay on his board.

The first time i saw them come back was when my sisters friend came over. I look on the table and see a fingerboard then ask, where in the world did you get one of these. "oh, i bought it a week ago" oh rly :odd:, where? on ebay?. "What are you talking about, i got it at walmart" and then she goes on thinking its some new craze having no idea of its past popularity
 
I've got a couple fingerboards myself. They've always been available over here at Wal-Mart and Toys R Us for the past 5-6 years or so. I really got into it over 5 years ago, and practiced a lot everyday. I still have most of those skills today. I recently bought another TechDeck and use it every so often, maybe once a week. I also have this "miniature skate park" to use it on, with quarter pipe and ramps and that kind of stuff.

Some of the tricks I can still do, albeit I was much better years ago, nowadays it would take a couple tries to get it successfully:

- 360 flip
- 720 flip
- impossible
- double kickflip
- triple kickflip
- 360 slide (dont remember what this is called)

All of these are standing still on a flat surface. I can also ollie like as high as you want lol..
 
I used to have a fingerboard, and I learned how to do real oillies with it, not the "flip it up with your thumb" thing all the kids used to do back when they were popular.
 
Yea I do the real ollie, pop the back with middle finger, then slide index finger. Putting your middle finger or ring finger under the board is cheating. I am not sure how you would flip it with your thumb though.
 
MustangSVT
I am not sure how you would flip it with your thumb though.
Click to expand...
They don't really put their fingers like feet on the board, and lay them on top instead. That way they can grab the front end of the board with their thumbs and pick it up.

EDIT: Then there's those people that when they get the board off the ground, they turn their hands upside down and lift the board so they have more air time.
 
Wow... that brings back memories- when the whole tony hawk/ scateboard craze got started, we used to make them out of cardboard and play with them in the classrooms. By the time the 'real' plastic ones came out (with actual wheels) most of us were over it.
I can't believe it's still going on - those miniature skate parks look great!
 
I can get the board off the group and turn it vertical and upside down, so that way I can do any high of ollie, but in a way it is pretty much cheating so I don't do it anymore.

I'm not sure how I would ollie or do tricks if I put the fingers directly down on the board, I just lay them down. Using the thumb like you described is 100% cheating however.

I'll see if I can get my dad's video camera and film the triple kickflip and 720 flip. Like I said though, it takes me a couple tries at it.

BTW, the whole fingerboard thing, over here in Canada anyway, started around late 2001 and ended around mid 2002, that was grade 9 for me. That being said, I was only one of like 3 kids with fingerboards at my school though, and I kept it going throughout grade 9, I would just practice during lunch. Always impressed people with the triple kickflip and ollieing over books by putting it upside down by just popping it really hard. Haha.. In fact, in a way, my fingerboarding skills landed me my first girlfriend back in grade 9, haha..
 
BMW_M6
Actually, you aren't supposed to use your thumbs, and ollies should be done realistically, here is a recent video I've done, i'm not very good compared to most.

http://www.vimeo.com/clip:186386
Click to expand...

Obviously you're not. We were commenting on how it's cheating. I do similar tricks to your video. I could do probably most of them, but it would take me a couple tries to get them right.
 
I would personally like to thank fingerboards and the fingerboard industry for giving me a device to keep my sanity during school days. Thanks.
 

Latest Posts

Back