Erik Lundberg makes history - becomes Sweden's and the world's fastest man on a skateboard
"You need to be real with yourself. You need to be calm, stable, and super-focused. You need to be in the moment because you're trying not to move at all. You need to be locked in the moment," Erik Lundberg, 2016
The world's fastest man on a skateboard is Swedish. The legend and one of the board world's most handsome characters, Erik Lundberg, has done it again; impressed the rest of the board world. Erik set the record just in time for Sweden's National Day, which makes the holiday even more worth celebrating in the future. We expect to at least see Erik adorn the next collection of Posten stamps.
photo: Matt Kienzle
130.63 km/h
When Erik stood at the top of a long hill in Quebec, Canada, with a gradient of 18% on most sections, he wasn't worried about falling. There was so much more to focus on, he says. How to start kicking, his tuck (the position of the body to minimize wind resistance on a longboard) and how to maintain stability throughout the ride. If he did everything right, he would have a chance to break the previous record.
Lundberg is probably one of the greatest we've ever had in the sport and he never ceases to amaze.
photo: Matt Kienzle
He started with a few practice runs before setting the record. Erik knew the route well and had ridden it several times before. He knew which parts of the asphalt were extra smooth and where the gradient changed. “All he had to do” was go for it.
"You want to smile when you're going down, but you have to focus and not move. You celebrate after the run,"
photo: Emma Daigle
One of the most important things to remember when downhill is perfection and focus. The slightest mistake can cause you to fall. Quick movements can have an extremely large impact on your board and the risk of wobbling increases radically.
Erik said he was surprised to have made it because he had some odds against him. The weather, humidity, street conditions, and new equipment he hadn't had time to break in. However, everything fell into place and now he is the world's fastest man standing on a skateboard.
"The rush that goes through your body is incredible. You're vibrating with adrenaline and happiness," Erik told me after the adrenaline rush subsided somewhat
So ladies and gentlemen. A clarification, 130.63km/h is filthy fast. Especially when you're standing on a board. Absolutely don't try this "at home". Erik Lundberg is one of our greatest and he has this as a profession. But feel free to be inspired by his energy and enthusiasm.
The article cut from Red Bull
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