This weekend was a rare break, and with fresh snow on the ground, I headed out to Mt. Teine for some snowboarding. But once I got there, the conditions weren’t quite ready—riding would’ve risked damaging my board. So I pivoted and decided to enjoy what little time remains with the LSK8 instead.
On Saturday, I went solo to the usual riverside slope for about an hour. Heading out in the afternoon meant I barely saw anyone else—it felt like I had the whole place to myself. It was also my first ride on the newly acquired arch-bend Sector9. As expected, the rebound was strong, making it a joy to carve tight, rhythmic short turns. Since I was alone, I barely took any breaks and managed to get in a solid number of runs.
On Sunday, I met up with my LSK8 buddy KazNee for a midday session—the first in a while. We missed each other on Saturday, but he’d been testing out those trendy square wheels. According to him, they offer incredible grip but also create a lot of drag, leading to a noticeable loss in speed. So today, he switched back to standard wheels. Unfortunately, the bearings didn’t quite match, and he still felt some drag. After a few runs, he swapped to his spare surfskate and started carving out some deep, fluid turns.
As for me, I stuck with the arch-bend Sector9 again. It’s just so much fun. That said, I’m starting to think about tuning it for a bit more speed. Still, spending a relaxed afternoon sharing the same passion with a good friend made for a truly fulfilling weekend.
The other day, I had the chance to briefly ride Muratu-san’s newly acquired Sector 9 short deck with an arched bend design—and wow, I was instantly hooked by the kind of rebound I’d never experienced before. I loved it so much that I immediately searched on Mercari and—bam!—found one. I didn’t hesitate to grab it.
When I carve short turns, using my upper body as the axis and letting my lower body slalom side to side like skiing, the board responds with a satisfying springiness—it kicks back with a “gyun-gyun” kind of energy that’s just addictive.
The wheels are an older set, the kind that used to come with LSK8s: 73mm x 38mm / 80A. Despite their age, the rubber is still in great shape, so I’ll keep using them as-is. The bearings are probably sealed ABEC-7s, and they spin smoothly with no noticeable resistance.
There’s also a big crash mark on the nose and right side, with some delamination. Still, the surface FRP layer is mostly intact, so overall, the condition isn’t bad.
Since it’s FRP, I can repair it with epoxy resin!
I mixed a two-part epoxy and worked it into the damaged areas.
FRPという事は、エポキシ樹脂で修繕できますね！
早速2液混合を練り込み、ダメージ箇所に擦り込みます。
After that, I applied pressure and let it sit for a while.
Now, let’s see if it comes back nicely.
あとはしっかりと加圧してしばらく放置。
さて、きれいに戻るかな？
Once the epoxy hardened, I sanded it down and polished it with compound. Looks like it’s almost fully restored!
This deck is a wood core sandwiched with FRP, so wood burning isn’t an option. And carving into it with a rotary tool might risk cracking. If I want to add graphics, I’ll probably paint over the FRP or use cut vinyl decals.
I haven’t decided on the graphic yet, but I’m looking forward to taking my time with it over the winter. Can’t wait!
Had a long-overdue LSK8 session with my two fellow riders today.
The air has turned unmistakably autumnal—cool enough to remind us of the season, yet after a few rounds of skating and climbing, I found myself lightly sweating. The body knows.
I brought out my board with custom graphics for the first time. Visually, I’m satisfied. But when it comes to the dancing-style deck, I’m still unsure where exactly to place my feet. Too far forward, too far back—nothing feels quite right.
At times, I feel like one of those guys endlessly adjusting their snowboard bindings, chasing a setup that may never exist.
Maybe one day I’ll glide on it without thinking. Or maybe I’ll keep searching forever. Either way, that’s part of the joy.
Skate, laugh, climb, breathe. The sun sets, and we’ve moved more than our age might suggest. A good day.
Today, I headed out to the Toyohira River trail for a long-overdue session with my LSK8 buddy, KazNee.
The pavement was still a little damp in the morning, but after about an hour, it dried up nicely. We took our time, soaking in the calm atmosphere while waiting for the conditions to improve—and once they did, we cruised.
My board of choice this time was the MAGNETO. It’s one of the shorter decks in my LSK8 lineup, but it strikes a great balance: the smooth glide of a longboard combined with the satisfying flex of bamboo. It’s a joy to ride.
We only had about two hours, but that was more than enough. With the crisp autumn breeze brushing past us, it turned into a truly refreshing and rewarding ride.
After a busy stretch at work, I’m finally getting back to the LSK8 project next week. I’ve just finished the third design: it features a Hawaiian surf vibe with a TikiGirl character as the centerpiece. I chose a clear deck tape to highlight the texture of the board itself.
Now the fun part begins—deciding which design to go with!
