Adventure Skating
(CITY SPORTS Magazine - March 2000}
by Eddy Matzger

Friendly Planet Adventure Travels

Looking for outragous adventure? It's in the bag -- your skate bag that is!

It's a given that you need your own wheels to seek good fun, so bring those skate along and let spontanaity roll! There's no need to load your car down to the point where every little whoop-de-doo makes your tires scrape the wheel rims.

Inline skate are the most extraordinary adventure travel facilitators ever invented. To prove it, I'll name a few places where you too can meet adventure on skates:

Negril, Jamaica

Jump off the coral cliffs! Most people do it on foot with a few beers in them, but it can be done on skates too, without the alcohol. Get a skating start out on the road and cut a swath onto a section of well-compacted shoulder that's relatively free of debris. Ride with your weight back on your heels to maintain as much speed as possible over the gravel and rock, then launch into the Caribbean doing a backscratcher.

Sam Lord's Castle, Barbados

Scout Barbados' best swim sites on skates! Barbados has excellent pavement and continuous views of the rugged coastline from the road. Trade winds keep the evaporative cooling going whether you're boogying down a bituminous stretch or pausing at a lighthouse to scan the horizon. If you make it past the point, you'll love the wide sandy beaches around the island's back side.

Moshi, Tanzania, Africa

Chase the kids at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro! Natural runners, kids won't confine themselves to the road, so get ready to range far and wide in pursuit. The cow pastures are well grazed and offer a surprisingly good rolling surface. When a good chase is in progress, you won't have to think twice about riding down steep embankments or going over the edge of a dirt drop-off. Relax and roll on impact!

Honolulu, Hawaii

Skate up to Diamond Head and pierce through the rim of the caldera via the tunnel! You will be reborn into world of the bowl. It's possible to skate another half mile on the concrete footpath but you'll have to hoof it for the final assault up to the volcanic rim. Hold on to something. There's no preparing yourself for the stunning view and the butterflies in your stomach.

Lunyuk, Sumbawa Island, Indonesia

Eat fruity shaved ice by the river, and get asked by a school principal to come in later and give a demonstration! It'll be the best show-and-tell you've ever done. Even if the schoolyard's substrate is hard-packed dirt and grass, you'll end up playing tag in the schoolyard and the kids will scatter to every compass bearing squealing with delight.

Taj Mahal, Agra, India

Take off your sponsor stickers and skate free at India's landmark jewel! The polished white marble of the Taj Mahal is smooth beyond belief. Giant slabs of rock fit together seamlessly and simulate interstellar conveyance when skated upon. There are extensive grounds and many vantage points from which to watch the day dawn in surreal, smoky citrus hues.

Raiatea, French Polynesia

Skate up into the lush crater of the south Pacific's most sacred island and marvel at the view of the turquoise lagoon from the rim! Take your skates off and descend through the steep narrow footpath, aptly named "the tunnel." You'll have to portage your skates up over your head numerous times as you sqeeze through dense undergrowth and cross creeks with carbonated sources bubbling from the bed. You'll be happy you still have your skates along when you pop back out on the deserted road and want to coast back down to civilization.

The beauty of adventure skating is that there's never any program, because the program always unfolds for you. There's no planning ahead because serendipity is your guide. Get ready for one little miracle after another.

The key is to travel light. No need to bring a kayak, a mountain bike and miles of rope. Fit everything -- including your skates -- into something you can carry around comfortably. Take my skate bag for example. Out pop the flying shoes and off I go for a free ride.

Adventure travel is not about driving the X-Terra with a fully-loaded Thule rack up to the cabin in Tahoe. Adventure is about shedding accoutrements and taking on a real challenge. Like moving your own body under your own steam on skates from wherever you may be to wherever you may end up. Leave behind the itinerary, the four-star hotels, and the air-ride suspension gel seat. Go on an adventure without all the trappings. Go with the wind!



Whether it's criss-crossing the world for races, delivering skating workshops, or just getting away from it all, Eddy owes it all to travel sponsors Salomon, TWINCAM, Explore, Transpack, Air Tahiti Nui, and over 300 workshop participants in 1999. Eddy's ultimate idea of a travel adventure is skating the annual bull run in Pamplona, Spain.