62 MPH ... on a Skateboard!

Cops in Berlin are looking for a speeder, who was caught on videotape blazing down a steep stretch of a highway at 62 MPH (~100 km per hour), way above the speed limit ... on a skateboard!

A video of the skateboarder, broadcast on German television networks on Wednesday, showed a helmeted figure wearing a red and white protective suit building up speed by holding onto the back of a motorcycle before letting go and freewheeling.

"We put out an all-points bulletin and have received information that gives us useful clues to who the man may be," Stoeckle said. "We are particularly concerned about copycats who may imitate the stunt, putting their lives at risk."

Link - Thanks Brian!

Here's the obligatory YouTube clip:


"Stoeckle said the man faces charges for interfering with traffic safety and endangering motorists, and would lose his driver's license and face a 'substantial fine.'"

Interfering with traffic safety? He was keeping up with traffic just fine! Endagering motorists? How?!? The only person he was endagering was himself. And lose his drivers' license...is that punishment even relevant to what he did?

The attitude of the police - "We feel this man was endagering his life. Because of our feelings, let's find him and rob (fine) him."

Really, whose business is it?

Talk about a case of public officials not having anything useful to do and thus making a big deal about something they know nothing about.

So maybe give him a speeding ticket, 62 in a 50. But an "all points bulletin?" Give me a break.

Longboarding is a well established sport, this is clearly not some hairbrained antic. The guy is in complete control all the time, he obviously knows what he's doing. I've gone above 40MPH on a longboard before, it's a bit nervy, but you still have a lot of control, it's not some death defying stunt. I've seen videos of guys going 80.

And a single pebble wouldn't have changed the video much at all - those big longboard wheels will spit most small stuff right out. I've gone through a bunch of loose gravel on a steep hill before, no problem. And they handle very well too.
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62?

I seriously doubt it doing stand up.

I've downhill skateboarded for years, and getting above 50, even with a slick suit, is next to impossible; you just have too much frontal area for gravity to overcome.

Now if you were doing it luge style, 60 is just where things start to get interesting.
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the point is he did this on an autobahn - the access to which is restricted. for instance, you could not ride your bicycle on the autobahn, no matter how fast you can go- you'd be considered a hazard to traffic. therefore he is facing prosecution. (by the way: the berlin plice are not looking for him; this happened near ulm in south-west germany, so its the ulm police.)
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Getting above 50 mph on a speedboard is not difficult. I live in Oregon, and there are plenty of hills where we are able to get close to 60 mph on. It is not difficult to do as long as you have the right gear (lowered, super-stable board and motorcycle leathers).

If you've been doing DH for years, then I am surprised you think 50+ is near impossible. Kevin Reimer has gone 72 mph standing up, and although that is the unofficial record, there are many others of us who have gone similar speeds. My personal best is 62.6 mph according to the GPS I was wearing.
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