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Not only did this guy help host the event, but he also destroyed the competition! 261.8 miles in 24 hours! No easy task, but this guy pulled it off making him the new world record holder for most miles skated in 24 hours! Check out this killer interview from Seismic rider Brandon DesJarlais…
Brandon DesJarlais: To start off, what was your set up and why did you choose it? What advantage do you think this gave you over the competition?
Andy Andras: I’m a Team rider for Subsonic Skateboards so my set up of course starts of with a Subsonic GT40 longboard. It’s a drop down and drop through deck that Scott Moore- owner of Subsonic, foam cored specially for me with the Ultra-Skate in mind. This deck rides quite low and is extremely light for its size that helps tremendously in distance push and is my “go to” deck for a long distance event. I mount this GT40 with Buzzed trucks. Buzzed lightweight precisions truck keeps my set up low to the ground for a minimal step-down on my push. My Buzzed trucks get the finishing touch of Riptide bushings, cubby’s board side and barrels roadside it give it a responsive but stable feel. I like to tie this all in with Seismic 85mm Speedvent wheels and 10mm Seismic Tekton bearings, which go together smoother than peanut butter and jelly. Seismic Speedvent have been tried and true for me in all my distance push endeavors and I find the 85mm the perfect size. 10 mm bearings is my little secret touch I use for pushing distance. I feel the sustained roll of the ceramic 10mm Tekton bearings is superb.
I have logged many miles and been in many push races with this exact set up. I believe the advantage of this set up comes not only by the science behind the light deck and trucks or great rebound of the thane on the bushing and wheels, but also in being confortable on your set up and having complete and utter confidence that what your riding works perfectly for you. It needs to feel just like an extension of your body. When you have everything dialed in like that, you just feel like you have a little edge on the rest.
Brandon: At what point was the most mentally straining part of the whole 24 hours?
Andy: Funny enough, you would think the hardest part of this race is the latter part of the 24 hours, and I definitely not saying it isn’t, but actually the biggest mistake most make is going to fast early on in the race. So a big mental part is staying on your pace earl in the race no matter how many times your completion is lapping you in the beginning. Racing at your pace and speed is a big key to success later on when the going gets tough.
Brandon: Did you ever have any doubts about achieving your goal?
Andy: 24 hours is a long time on a skateboard, and while you push for that long lots of thoughts go through your mind. You have ups and downs constantly. That’s what makes this race so hard, it’s not just physically demanding, but it tests you mentally as well, it will test your soul! You will be confronted with lots of trials and tribulations in though out the event. But staying true to the personal goal you set and keeping a persistent mentality will see you through it.
Brandon: A F***ING WORLD RECORD!… What next?? Any big plans for this season? Disneyland?
Andy: Ha-ha, Yeah I had my eye on this record for a while, I always felt I am best built for the long-haul races. I don’t have the top end speed like some of the greats in this sport, but I found that the longer the race goes the more the scales tip in my favor.
Just excited to look ahead to some of the next events this year has to offer such as the Chief Ladiga/Silver comet Sk8 Challenge. I really enjoy the company, commodore and completion the other distance skaters bring to each event. Hanging with riders form all parts of this country and other country’s is as fun as the push itself.
Brandon: Any words of advice for going the distance?
Andy: Get a solid game plan together. Training, pace, nutrition. IF you don’t have these things dialed in, a long distance competition will expose you real quick my friends.
Push, Push, Push, The Push Life.
Andy “La Maquina” Andras