From: tp923083@vine.canberra.edu.au (Simon Porritt)
Subject: Re: Elvis spotted!(i.e. Stair Bashing)
Organization: Info Sci & Eng, University of Canberra, AUSTRALIA
Date:  8 Nov 92 23:35:34 GMT

In <Bx777F.1EE@inews.Intel.COM> kcreta@sedona.intel.com (Kenneth Creta) writes:


>In article <tp923083.720829540@smoke>, tp923083@smoke.canberra.edu.au (Simon Porritt) writes:
>> Now that I've got your attention;
>> Where are all the articles on doing mad 360's over 7 steps and such
>> like?
>> The last time I looked at rec.skate they were talking about
>> stair-bashing backwards.
>> Anyway...

>I love that term "Stair-Bashing"!  Reminds me of tree-bashing with skis (I 
>can't wait!)  Anyway, I have a few stair-bashing questions.  Could someone
>write a DETAILED reply to this describing how to do this.  I've tried MANY 
>times to shoot the stairs but I have never felt comfortable doing so.  I 
>think like I look how I feel too.

>Some questions for what I'm looking for:

>	Do you put most of your weight on one foot?
>	How much do you bend your knees?
>	I've found that it's almost easier to "stair bash" the faster you
>		go but sometimes you just can't (short runway).  How do you
>		deal with that?  If I go to slow, I get the teeter-totter
>		effect and have NO control.
>	What types of adjustments do you make based on the stair 
>		characteristics?
>	Do you lean forward or remain center?
>	How are your feet in relation to each other?

>I have my own answers to these questions but based on how I feel/look while
>"stair-bashing" something is wrong.

>					Thanks alot,
>						Ken
>						kcreta@sedona.intel.com

Well, the thing is, you just kinda do it! It's funny, but the other day
I bashed a set of four no problem, then i went back to do them again and
I looked at the second step just before I got there, promptly falling in
a ridiculous heap at the bottom. The idea is, you look at the bottom.
Look at where you want to go and ignore the fact that you're buggering
up your bearings or that you are severely destroying your ankles...
It's like chopping wood. If you look at the bottom of the log you will
invariably chop straight through it but if you're only looking to take
out a little bit then that's all you get.

Anyway, on to the technical side of things....

Different people do it different ways, but I seem to have _all_ my
weight on my right foot, the left one just hangs around just in case I
need to bail real quickly.

Bending your knees so that you're almost kneeling seems to help you go
faster. Apart from that, try progressively bending them as you go down
(if that makes any sense) It's kind of like going down a steep hill or
something.  I hope you get that.

Going faster does help, so much so that if you're going fast enough you
fly right over. The only thing is, if you fly over the first couple then
hook up, you're stuffed. A happy medium is always best. As to the
problem of short runways, it comes with practice, really. Try to aim for
the bottom again and forget what's happening in between. Push them down
if you have to. Don't lean back, 'cos you'll die. Leaning forward a bit
when you're going slow helps you to stop them from hooking up.


Long shallow steps are the sort you can just go down without looking.
Short shallow steps are FUN. Big time FUN. They're good because the
shallower the steps the less chance of hooking one up. The only
adjustment you need to make is to concentrate a bit more on steep short
ones, and if they're too short and steep, jump them!

Have one foot in front of the other slightly (whichever feels
comfortable) and lean back _without_ putting your weight on the back
skate too much. I know this sounds weird, but it's like when you go onto
the grass when you're going real fast, you know? But bend a bit more
with stairs.

Well, I hope you get the drift now. Just basically aim for the bottom
and GO FOR IT! Concentrate on getting to the bottom and ignore
everything else. Good luck!!

Simon.

From: kirk@hpcc01.corp.hp.com (Kirk Lindstrom)
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 18:44:16 GMT
Subject: Re: Cleaning bearings a waste of time?
Organization: Shredding the water of SF Bay, HP-OCD