Longboarding has begun to take over the campus at Colorado Mesa University. One student decided to take action after seeing how many people on campus ride their board to class or for fun. Clay Wein started the Longboarding Club with his roommate David Mills. Wein is the president of the club and Mills is the treasurer.
“Longboarding is starting to explode,” Wein said.
The club has recruited 12 members through e-mail, flyers and word of mouth. The club meets every Friday at 7 p.m. in front of the Maverick statue on the west side of the University Center. During the meetings, the more experienced riders instruct the less experienced riders on being more comfortable on their boards and how to avoid crashes, especially with other riders.
“We want anyone to join the club. We want to focus on having fun and creating a close group setting,” Wein said.
The meetings are designed so that anyone on any skill level can join. Riders without any experience or even without a board are welcome. The club is beginning to grow which led Wein to promote more safety at each of his meetings. Wein enforces safety by making helmets a requirement in different club activities such as races. Last week the club held a timed speed race. The race was open for a week and anyone could run the set course to try and break record time. The requirements were that another club member must time and the racer must wear at least a helmet. Prizes are awarded at the end of the week.
The club board hopes to gain enough members so that they can obtain sponsors and go to places such as Montrose or Glenwood Springs once a month in order to hold racing events. Until then the club tries to find new places to ride together each week. The club has a Facebook page where people can make suggestions of where they would like to go.
“We try to go places where everyone has something to do,” Wein said.
The club has spare boards and is willing to teach any new interested riders.
“Once you step on a board, you know that it’s for you,” Wein said.
spfost@mavs.coloradomesa.edu
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