Racing Leathers

    As I continue to push my own limits, I become more aware of my safety. So, I decided to finally pick up a leather suit. I found my from a friend off of silverfishlongboarding.com. It’s a gray/black suit from Motogearusa, which recently went out of business.

When I first received the leathers, I was shocked because of how tight the suit felt. The pants felt fine, but the jacket was so small my little sister barely fit in it. However, after I zipped up the two pieces together, the leathers started becoming looser and a better fit. Unlike most clothes, trying on leathers at a store won’t really help that much. The best fit leathers are actually ones that feel really tight and uncomfortable at first. After breaking them in, the leathers will feel much better.

Also, when picking leathers, avoid as many design patterns as you can. More patterns equals more stitching, meaning it will tear apart more easily. Most riders will only pick one or two colors and simple designs to avoid the suit from falling apart. Also, try and avoid perforations. While they may be good on a hot day, perforations will tear up very easily.

Most suits will also come with padding. However, for longboarding, not every pad i necessary. Suits are designed for motorcycles, so they are designed not only to slide, but also for impact. In longboarding, there is generally less slamming down on the ground and more sliding, so I have taken out most of my pads. I do this also because pads restrict my movement. However, the most important pads are your knee pads. After falling, most people will roll onto their hands and knees. Having sliding pucks and knee pads are a must. Of course, I’m not saying avoid the other pads altogether. There will be times where you have hard falls, so pads are generally good if it doesn’t restrict mobility. There’s nothing more dangerous then coming around a hairpin and not being able to crouch down and make the turn.

Leather suits are a great investment if you like skin. Although they may cost a lot, think about how much you value your life. Of course, you don’t need it if you barely DH, but it’s a good idea. I picked mine up for under 200, and you can always find better deals at craigslist and ebay. Skate hard and have fun.