Recreation
Akoni Kama and others are taking the board off-road
By Michael Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
Akoni Kama is arguably the best all-terrain skateboard rider in Hawai'i — which begs a few questions.
Like, what the triple-ollie is an all-terrain skateboard? And, how many riders is Kama the best of? And, really, who's arguing?
First things first. An all-terrain skateboard is — boing — a skateboard you can ride on all terrains. (They're also called mountainboards, trailboards or dirtboards.)
All-terrain boards differ from traditional skateboards in that the decks are larger (about the size of a snowboard) for more stability and the wheels are way larger — up to 12 inches in diameter — enabling the rider to cruise comfortably over rocks, grass, roots and other traditional skater impediments.
As for the number of off-road riders out there: There aren't many — for now anyway. But Kama figures that won't be the case for very long. One of his sponsors, Outback Mountainboards, recently introduced a three-wheel model that Kama says will help open the sport to recreational riders.
"Right now, I can kind of enjoy it all to myself, but pretty soon you'll see these boards everywhere," Kama says.
If and when that happens, Kama can expect stiffer competition locally. Until then, Kama — who regularly places at or near the top of various national competitions — gets to keep his best-in-Hawai'i distinction with little argument.
Kama, 27, says he took up off-road skateboarding years ago as "something to do when the surf sucked."
Outfitting homemade decks with offroad wheels, Kama says he and a friend would race from his Pupukea home down the steep winding road to the nearby Foodland at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour.
"It takes like a minute and a half," Kama says proudly.
Kama took videos of his exploits and soon parlayed them into corporate sponsorships. He now rides Outback three-wheel boards exclusively.
"It's the closest thing you can get to surfing without being in the water," Kama says.
And unlike surfing, Kama says, the thrill of the ride isn't over in a few seconds.
The first all-terrain board was designed by Australian surfer John Milne in 1992. Coinciding with the growth of so-called extreme sports, all-terrain skating found a niche within traditional skate havens like California and the Pacific Northwest and has has enjoyed small but steady growth over the last few years.
One of the drawbacks has been cost. The boards aren't cheap. Mongoose sells standard four-wheel boards for about $240. Outback's three-wheelers cost upwards of $350.
Still for the adventurous, dirtboarding explodes the old boundaries of skateboarding.
"They're incredibly versatile," Kama says. "You can use them for steep rock descents on trails, tow-in jumping, surfing grassy slopes. And in Hawai'i, there are great places to ride on every island."
Kama has already tackled some of the most extreme riding surfaces in the state, including a pair of volcanoes: Haleakala on Maui and Mauna Ke'a on the Big Island.
The boards also make everyday riding easier, allowing the rider to move smoothly from sidewalks to less predictable terrains.
Most boards come with decelerator mechanisms to help with turning and stopping. Stock wheels are good for most surfaces, but they can also be replaced with specialized wheels for particular types of riding.
On three-wheel boards, a single wheel in back acts as a pivot, allowing for greater maneuverability, Kama says.
Kama recommends that beginning riders find their skating legs on hilly, grassy areas before moving on to more difficult terrains.
"As you develop your skills, your view of everything changes," he says. "You learn to read the terrain and your mind just opens up. It's like everything is rideable."
