There is a lot more to the longboarding club than taking joyrides.
Established in the fall 2012 semester, members tout it as the fastest growing group on campus, and they are always busy trying to keep up the energy that comes along with that.
“[The] English composition two [course] basically describes different subcultures as types of discourse communities. I find longboarding to be a perfect example of that,” said freshman Megan Hostettler, vice president of the club. “There are so many people you can meet, and there’s an entirely different language and skill set that comes from that.”
That language includes words like “bombing” — or free-riding down a hill — an activity the group did in a Tampa campus parking garage several weeks ago. It was an icebreaker after meeting the students of USF Tampa’s Skate Club for the first time to discuss an event they attended on April 7.
The event was a longboarding conference of sorts, titled Cruisa Palooza. It took place on sidewalks instead of in buildings, but the concept of exchanging ideas and mingling was the same. The club’s admission was covered by activities and service fees, and they roomed with students from Tampa.
Cruisa Palooza featured three different races, raffles and lots of time to socialize. The races were for longboarders, but people with other modes of transportation were invited to travel with them. They also got to meet the owner of CaliFlorida, the skate company hosting the races — another perk of making friends with the boarders across the bay.
“Continuing ties with Tampa will be hugely beneficial for the club. Working with them is getting us a lot of connections and really good information already,” Hostettler said.
The club members have a steady stream of activity back home. On March 30 they participated in St. Petersburg Skate, riding alongside USF alumnus and pro-longboarder William Royce. They are one of the few clubs that regularly ventures off campus, a fact that makes club president Franklin Alves proud.
“When we’re out riding we look like a really cool gang on longboards — that also happens to love the campus and hand out Valentines,” Alves said.
Alves started the club in the fall at the encouragement of some friends. He had only been riding for six months.
“I honestly knew very little about longboards when I started it,” he said. “But a lot of people seemed really interested, and if you build it, they will come.”
Membership is officially around 50 people, though 15 to 20 attend the Thursday night meetings regularly.
“We’re trying to do all the things that will get us up and running. Our general members give us a lot of ideas,” Hostettler said. “The Rescigno twins and Brandon Garvett do a kind of promotional work with the logo.”
Alves had the idea to do something for every holiday, so they stylized the logo for Valentine’s Day and Easter. Club members packaged the logos with candy and passed them out on campus.
Outside of promotion, Alves is constantly trying to push grants through Student Government to expand the club’s opportunities. Among recent efforts are plans for an installation of five or six Santa Cruise longboard racks around campus. They will hold eight to 10 boards, and give riders a place to stow their wheels while in class or eating. Another grant request, just approved, will provide the club with safety equipment.
Alves is most excited about the purchase of three “communal boards” that will be lent out to students and used for teaching. There will be lessons for beginners on campus, and off-campus ones for more experienced riders.
“That’s the premise behind this stuff, to get people to learn and get people to join,” Alves said.
The club’s casual and friendly attitude is on display even at meetings. They were so relaxing for Sarah Smith that she didn’t remember that she had been elected secretary, until at one meeting she asked Alves why he wasn’t writing anything down.
“He told me, ‘You’re supposed to be writing everything down!’” Smith said. “I haven’t forgotten since then.”
After meetings, they head out onto the street together for a night ride. For Hostettler, it’s the best part.
“I love being able to freestyle on my board, and I love sharing my passion with other people,” she said.
