r/nextfuckinglevel • u/redbullgivesyouwings • 2d ago

Diego Poncelet sets downhill skateboarding world record at 94.34mph

🔎: Full Article

đŸ›č: Diego Poncelet

đŸ€: Red Bull Skateboarding

4.4k Upvotes

95% Upvoted

580 comments sorted by

1.9k

u/MonstahButtonz 2d ago

The fact there's zero room for error is terrifying.

441

u/redbullgivesyouwings 2d ago

r/SweatyPalms

558

u/steeple_fun 2d ago

We need the footage of how he stopped.

409

u/Mode_Appropriate 1d ago

https://reddit.com/link/ph1heti/video/9l69iwo14rvh1/player

100

u/ropean 1d ago

Everybody speculating elsewhere and you’ve got the receipts. Thank you

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u/Crush-N-It 1d ago

Thanks for that. I was thinking to myself “he better have at least 200m to slalom his ass to a stop” if it’s even possible in that board

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u/jerry111165 1d ago

That’s pretty much the perfect way to stop lol

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u/barb3dwire 1d ago

damn you must be very well trained to be the one in the car, I can't imagine how hard it must be to catch up at such high speed and yet be so accurate with your positioning

11

u/FuzzyFun4009 1d ago

The car that slows him down is the same one that filmed him all the way down. The chase car is sketchily close the entire way down the hill so when they get to the bottom they are going the same speed still incredibly sketchy and need to be skilled but much easier than trying to swoop in and match speed

4

u/Face88888888 1d ago

I was hoping for a giant ramp for him to launch into the water over there.

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u/SquirrelMemoryFail 2d ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/f61XhrlzeCDSZ5xK8t

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u/thederevolutions 2d ago

That’s basically what would’ve happened if he wobbled too much before those barriers. Thank god for his giant balls to add some extra gravity.

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u/ComfortableCaptain61 2d ago

I'm envisioning one of those runaway truck ramps

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u/Large-Difference-409 2d ago

As a former longboarder, if you touch any sort of surface that is slower than what you’ve been riding on
 you’re in for a bad time. Like even just going from pavement at 10mph to grass you can’t ride out. You have to kind jump off and run right as you’re entering the grass

2

u/trippin-mellon 1d ago

I wonder if he had a flat area where he slows down gradually with those huge ballon barriers they have after mega ramps to fly into.

Though I do see his pucks. But envisioning board sliding at 95mph is wild. He had to have a flat area or a slight incline somewhere to slow down.

6

u/Mode_Appropriate 1d ago

He grabbed on to the car that was following and filming and slowed to a stop.

https://www.reddit.com/r/nextfuckinglevel/s/uJGUcn6xnj

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u/trippin-mellon 1d ago

That makes a lot more sense than just cruising for a long ass way to slow down.

2

u/Large-Difference-409 1d ago

He needs a big empty parking lot to do circles in until he loses all momentum

3

u/MrK521 1d ago

I can’t imagine a parking lot big enough to do a circle in at that speed lol.

6

u/markhachman 1d ago

My knowledge of 90s action movies suggests the airport would be ideal to reduce or maintain Speed.

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u/Academic-Dealer5389 1d ago

You sound like an expert. Will message you as the need arises.

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u/Crush-N-It 1d ago

đŸ€Œ

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u/MeesterCartmanez 1d ago

"Oh great, now we need to build an airport just to stop one stakeboarder? Where are the planes going to land, Johnson?! Tell me where dammit!!"

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u/Crush-N-It 1d ago

A loop de loop would be awesome

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u/humblepaul 1d ago

This, i was wondering how an earth you'd do it, a parachute or something, although at 93mph, even that would be dangerous

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u/MonstahButtonz 2d ago

Good point, I didn't even think about that!

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u/verraeteros_ 2d ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/9a0JMvfEbj4SKNsq5I

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u/lorenoIII 1d ago

You’re literally watching a Red Bull ad

18

u/Wooden_Researcher_36 2d ago

Stop trying to be cool, grandpa.

5

u/djaqk 1d ago

Dude they fund all the craziest shit in extreme sports. Of all the brands to shit on, RedBull is one of the coolest and least offensive in thier adverts. I don't even drink the shit, I dig the content

18

u/tiorzol 2d ago

How did he stop?

24

u/Significant_Monk613 2d ago

slowed down with his hands and posture until the trail car caught up with him, and he hung on the side of it

18

u/TwoscoopsDrumpf 2d ago

I was hoping he hit a jump and flew into the water. That would be pretty cool. Maybe next time.

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u/the-final-frontiers 2d ago

How did he stop?

he still goin

6

u/SkeeterMan23 2d ago

Definitely could've given him wings

5

u/my_little_throwny 2d ago

Maybe its balls, maybe its stupidity. I know youd never catch me trying it..

https://giphy.com/gifs/wYyTHMm50f4Dm

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u/andreasbeer1981 2d ago

The fact that a tiny stone pebble on the street will kill you, too. Red Bull must have sweeped that street 10 times back and forth and then visually inspcted every single meter.

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u/MiKLMadness 1d ago

Ive broken quite a few bones because of pebbles on the pavement. I didn't breathe while watching this.

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u/Kapper-WA 2d ago

I wonder how many of these Redbull videos end really badly, but we just don't see them? Some of the stunts they do are extremely dangerous, they can't all be successful.

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u/MrHookup 2d ago

https://youtu.be/u3ydV2RVJvc

Just finished watching it... Nutty!

25

u/andreasbeer1981 2d ago

so now we have two versions where they don't show how he slows down.

10

u/MrHookup 2d ago

Yeah if you watch it there are some pre-runs he did and basically he slows down by lifting his arms up and is slowing himself down like a sail, and then because the pace car is behind him it comes up beside him and slows down while he holds on to the window mirror.

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u/alkalinedisciple 1d ago

he didn't slow down, in fact he's still going

3

u/PineSand 1d ago

They were runs were it showed him spreading his arms and sliding sideways and then putting his hands on the ground for stability. He has some type of special gloves. But yeah, it didn’t show him stopping in every clip but I can only assume he used a combination of tactics to stop. It would be nice to see how he stopped on his record run because it’s amazing he went that fast
 and also amazing he stopped without dying.

That dude must have nerves of steal to not lose it going that fast. And the segment where the wind was hitting him sideways and he was wobbling was just insane.

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u/Duubzz 2d ago

You see the board slightly wobbling and you now every muscle in that man’s body is fully tensed and focused on keeping it steady. Crazy work.

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u/Full-Fathom5 2d ago

What we'll do is, we'll make sure you hit top speed right about the same time the road narrows and concrete walls appear.

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u/Magus_Incognito 2d ago

Speed wobbles at 90 miles an hour gives me the heebie jeebies

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u/Alternative-Maize23 1d ago

That’s redbull for you. Tbh, I love that they do this shit. Athletes come to them and they make events happen. It’s fun when everything else is so fucking lame now.

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u/trippin-mellon 1d ago

My thought was about the tiniest of pebbles. >.>

2

u/Particular-Serve-894 1d ago

100%! I used to longboard many many years ago and would regularly do some pretty crazy hills....of course nothing even close to this. The fastest speeds I ever hit was maybe 40m/h or so...which still felt crazy. I can't even imagine it at this level.

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u/whatdoblindpeoplesee 2d ago

I don't even like traveling 90mph in my car on a wide open freeway.

108

u/Creeperseatfood 2d ago

I've never even driven faster than 88mph lol

103

u/javawong 2d ago

Time travel can be scary

26

u/WinterWontStopComing 2d ago

It’s all fun and games until you become your own father

11

u/kitkatrat 2d ago

I built a Time Machine. But it only goes forward in time at regular speed.

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u/somebob 2d ago

It’s pretty easy to get to 100 accidentally when you have car that’s built for it and zone out on the freeway

I don’t do that on purpose, I’m a “obey the speed limit” guy but I’ve def gone over 100 in the BMW I had

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u/MadiCorax 2d ago

Doesn't even need to be built for it. If you aren't paying attention and are surrounded by speeders, you can find yourself doing 100+ in a modern minivan.

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u/UT_Milez 2d ago

You do not need a car “built” for speed to reach 100mph.

Come to Texas, there’s 4 bangers on every highway almost daily that can make to 100+ when there’s no heavy traffic on the highway.

Honestly I imagine this is not unique to Texas and happens just about every where.

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u/somebob 1d ago

Not my point at all but ooookay

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u/Stagamemnon 2d ago

What happened when you did go 88mph?!

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u/dviper500 2d ago

I think he saw some serious shit

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u/Lintlee 2d ago

That's 151.8 kmh.

173

u/Atomicwasteland 2d ago

Or 75 hotdogs per second.

91

u/thegx7 2d ago

Its actually 276 hotdogs per second assuming a 6 inch bun

17

u/fantastic-damage 2d ago

If you were a hot dog, would you eat yourself?

4

u/thegx7 2d ago

Yeah probably. Topped with jalapeño, onion, tomato. Mayo and mustard

9

u/Own-Review-2295 2d ago

i'm a white dude who can slam mayo on just about anything. that being said, you keep your white emulsified eggs away from my weiner!!!!

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u/mvrander 2d ago

What is it in furlongs per microfortnight?

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u/thegx7 2d ago

2246.2 furlongs per microfortnight

2

u/Xenotone 2d ago

How many microns per femtosecond?

3

u/thegx7 2d ago

4.22x10-8 microns per femtosecond.

Light travels ~0.3 microns a femtosecond.

3

u/Xenotone 2d ago

Respect, brother.

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u/EatVegetables_ok 1d ago

Thanks for the non-dumb reference. The whole world thanks you, except USA.

3

u/muscularsharpie 2d ago

Or 6.9 bald eagles

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u/InternationalSpyMan 1d ago

Bloody Americans

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u/Ulfheodin 1d ago

Thank you

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u/adahadah 2d ago

How does he stop?

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u/kermitthebeast 2d ago

Didn't you see? He opened his arms s/

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u/psych0ranger 2d ago

What's funny is that at that speed opening his arms is how he starts to stop. If you suddenly stand up on a board at like 60mph, let alone over 90, the sudden blast of wind resistance will knock you off the board or at the least, push you back hard enough that you plant on your rear foot and wobb out.

So here's literally how he stops in order: open arms, unzip top of the suit, open arms again, slowly stand up, arms out, maybe pull open the suit for more wind. Once he drops to below ~35mph maybe hell footbrake by dragging one foot (that would be a really fast footbrake but guys at these levels can do that) or maybe hell pull a Coleman slide. And specifically at this hill, after the top speed clip ends, that's the end of the steep descent, so hes also slowly slowing down because the hill flattens out after that turn.

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u/Environmental_Gur_39 2d ago

As a longboarder I can say you gotta be well under 35 to be able to footbrake, more like 20-25mph max. Or he could throw a coleman. Either way you are right about the process.

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u/psych0ranger 2d ago

Hey speak for yourself lol I've panic footbraked between 30-35 before and if I can I know Diego can. The road needs to be pretty smooth. Also look at old photos of Doug dalua doing the brazilian footbreak in races

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u/Environmental_Gur_39 2d ago

I panic footbraked going that fast once and now my elbow is a different color than the rest of my arm... lmao

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u/Realmofthehappygod 2d ago

You must not have panicked hard enough.

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u/Awesomebox5000 2d ago

You can foot brake from high speed if your sponsor is buying shoes. Tbh I'm surprised redbull let him do this in so little safety gear. I would expect at least leathers and I was willing to give the benefit of doubt until the hug at the end. Asphalt is more like a cheese grater vs skin at highway speed and you should be dressed for a crash in sports like this.

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u/o0c3drik0o 2d ago

Someone shared the full clip in another comment.

Basically he grabs the side of a car that was part of his team. And the car slowly breaks while he holds on.

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u/SheriffBartholomew 2d ago

I wouldn't want a car breaking while I'm holding it at 90 mph! Braking would be okay though.

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u/korkkis 2d ago

That or powerslide if car is not available https://youtube.com/shorts/LksvqfF4JfI

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u/Boostie204 2d ago

Ramp into the water

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u/StudioLegion 2d ago

I'd actually really like to see that. How far would one fly hitting a ramp into the water at 90mph?

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u/irishhornet 2d ago

We need an I didthemathsguy. I'm interested

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u/Maclunkey4U 2d ago

All the way to the spot where they recover your body, methinks

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u/grungegoth 2d ago

the end of the course flattens. and air resistance

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u/shuyun99 2d ago

I’m sure he would typically follow the process described by the the other commenter, but in this case, he finishes the process while grabbing the support vehicle and casually starting his debriefing process around 15:45 in the full video: https://youtu.be/u3ydV2RVJvc?t=945&is=G3ruSjYtmtWIksPt

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u/Syke_qc 2d ago

There is a curve at the end

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u/therealhairykrishna 2d ago

Carefully 

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u/ElPsyTuturu 2d ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/dTpGIZIsIHKEM

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u/justnotbieber 2d ago

Stupid sexy Flanders!

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u/ALitreOhCola 1d ago

It's like I'm wearing nothing at all !

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u/rel1800 1d ago

Nothing at all


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u/FaceplantAT19 2d ago

Had to scroll way too far for this.

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u/MathematicianOk366 2d ago

My first thought about 2 seconds into the video đŸ€Ł

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u/The-Spaceman 2d ago

Do a kickflip

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u/bloodclots12 1d ago

Could have done a grind on those guard rails to rack up some serious points.

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u/fulhamfan 2d ago

What if he hit a little stone

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u/rolixzs 2d ago

Reckon they clean the road really well before trying this.

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u/uconnboston 2d ago

Yeah I’m guessing they use a street sweeper or similar on the road. Otherwise, dead.

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u/Urik88 2d ago

Still so much that could go wrong, all it takes is is a raccoon, a frog or a deer crossing at the wrong time time. That area of Canada has tons of wildlife and all over the place. 

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u/anon_lurk 1d ago

Just one bird shit right on his visor

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u/BananaReeves 1d ago

A tiny pebble would have done him in let alone an entire animal lol

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u/Dscrypto_2020 2d ago

Meat crayon. Don’t look that up if you have a weak stomach. But that’s what would happen at those speeds.

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u/Desertfoxking 2d ago

Then he’s a smeared stain on the road. Nothing viable left of his person if he loses control for any reason at that speed with that level of safety gear i.e. none

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u/daggersrule 1d ago

You don't even notice little rocks. Bigger ones, you might feel, but again, you just keep rolling. You either roll over them or they shoot out. If your tire hits a 2" rock at 90, you just keep driving.

Source: raced longboards for over a decade, owned a company making parts (trucks) for this exact purpose.

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u/WilditariusAstar 2d ago

Fully clenched. That was on a knife edge to the speed wobbles. Holy nerves of steel.

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u/Bald_Burrito 2d ago

That was legitness.

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u/Tony_Banksy 2d ago

Cameraman breaks Diego Poncelet’s record at 94.35 mph

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u/nukeevry1 1d ago

Yeah how are we getting this footage?

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u/yourboysyd 2d ago

Québec tanarnak!!!

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u/ggerue 2d ago

Really wanted to see how he stopped. Crazy dude

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u/ubiquitous_uk 2d ago

The road flattened out and then the car filming pulled alongside so he could hold on and slow down .

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u/ctrlaltdelaney 2d ago

Waited so long for the exciting bit: slowing down –only for it to cut to when he find out his speed. 

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u/Curious-Hope-9544 2d ago

For anyone curious, that pose is called a speed tuck and its something downhill longboarders do to minimize air resistance. The boards are also built and setup different from regular ones, utilising some pretty odd angles and specialty trucks to increase the turning radius and lower the ride height, making them more stable at higher speeds.

As for stopping, in "regular" downhill you do it as you would on a snowboard, by pushing out the rear wheels and making the board go sideways. Of course, high speed downhill like this, you air brake or just roll to a stop once the elevation levels out.

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u/Yashabird 1d ago

I tried to find out what his setup was. I was wondering about negative angle rear trucks, since he apparently wasn’t planning on sliding. 

From what I’ve gathered, there is literally no information on his setup except that the deck is custom made (I don’t think there are any aero decks that aren’t custom made?) and unspecified diameter wheels, also custom made by seismic. 

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u/dumbasPL 2d ago

That would be one hell of a r/meatcrayon

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u/dviper500 2d ago

...I'm not clicking that.

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u/xakypoo 2d ago

Absolutely nuts

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u/royaltrux 2d ago

where?

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u/IronCladNads 2d ago

One little rock and he's dead

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u/dhas19 2d ago

Naaahhhh, you gotta show me how this mf stopped

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u/No_Manches_Man 2d ago

Where’d they record this? That’s a smoooooth ass road.

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u/Anacreon 2d ago

Province of Quebec surprisingly.

That road is infamous, in 1997 a bus full of elderly wasn't able to brake and 44 people died.

That wasn't even the first bus accident there.

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u/rmdlsb 2d ago

They rebuilt the road after the accident. Which means that before, it was even crazier

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u/dchap1 2d ago

Imagine coming off at 95mph in a skin suit. Holy crap! His original skin suit wouldn’t fair well.

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u/sthlmsoul 2d ago

Most I've done on skis us around 70Mph and that wax kind of scary. Too much wobbling.

90 mph on a skateboard is madness.

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u/LordDewbert 2d ago

How does spreading the butt cheeks help?

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u/dviper500 2d ago

Helps keep the high-pressure air flow centered for better control. The butt cheeks also become dual rudders, effectively... you can practically steer by clenching one side

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u/EjectorMark 2d ago

I wonder how tight those trucks are to maintain stability at that those speeds.

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u/MTRIFE 2d ago

Fuck. That.

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u/whiskeytown79 2d ago

The wheel bearings at the end of that run must be like

https://giphy.com/gifs/Mpcr9EWbsnhaE

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u/doctordyck 2d ago

I would thought the older drop deck designs would still be the best for pure speed (like a Landyachtz Evo). These new era guys staying that stable on a top mount blows my mind.

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u/Yashabird 1d ago

That’s honestly a good point. Top mount is only tops for maneuverability, but Diego here is just trying for straight line speed. I have to imagine this was discussed beforehand and the decision was made for top mount just because that’s what he’s been riding for years now. Have to wonder how dropping another inch or two would help rodynamics

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u/Ok-Bison-3451 1d ago

I did that once. Corner 2 at Mosport. 6” wide wooden Santa Cruz board, maybe 4” wide wheels and trucks. A bit hungover. Almost made it to the bottom but I speed wobbled, got thrown and landed on my ankle, broken, and then my head. Still remember the date: June 4, 1984. Still got the plate in my leg.

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u/rusk99 1d ago

How did he stop?

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u/LooseFurJones 2d ago

I wanted to see how he stopped, but that was cut out.

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u/CQD21 2d ago

How does he stop???

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u/BastianHS 2d ago

Looks like a mobile game where you pilot gru from despicable me down a hill lol

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u/Lanky_Ad116 2d ago

How the hell did he stop ?

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u/peasinacan 2d ago

Bro went full flamingo

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u/Sac_of_Melons 2d ago

I hit 64mph downhill and it was absolutely terrifying but what a rush. Couldn’t imagine going faster. I’ve hit 70s snowboarding but it doesn’t feel the same.

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u/Babakins 2d ago

Their knee as they get set up looks so unnatural

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u/archiewaldron 2d ago

Beyond his obvious skill, the ball bearings' ability to dissipate heat at that speed is impressive.

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u/Odd-Masterpiece7304 2d ago

At least 5 people clapped, and 1 chick went Wooo when he accepted his award.

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u/Hippyedgelord 1d ago

One pebble and you’re road pizza, fuck that. Mad respect.

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u/Wooden_Researcher_36 2d ago

Crouches like he really needs to pee.

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u/snozzberrypatch 2d ago

Who was filming this and how did they stay so close and steady?

He's definitely not carrying a camera on a stick behind him or anything, that would create a lot of drag.

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u/DetectiveNickStone 2d ago

I imagine it has to be a drone... But I didn't hear one. Driving anything behind him would increase the risk factor exponentially.

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u/TacoBelleNC 2d ago

Another clip shows the chase vehicle is a Porsche with the camera mounted to the hood. Very typical follow car setup for these types of downhill longboard runs.

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u/Prawnski 2d ago

He was being followed in a Porsche. Check the full vid to see the setup.

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u/eddio69 2d ago

Damn

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u/JLightning60 2d ago

I he got the "high speed wobblies" at near that speed, it would have been ugly.

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u/Stunning-Chipmunk243 2d ago

Stop looking at my ass ya' creeper!

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u/teakharmon 2d ago

I went 90 on my motorcycle yesterday. It’s funny to imagine looking over and seeing this guy passing me at that time.

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u/Weirdsk8rHippie 2d ago

The amount of control to not die from speed wobble on a skateboard for that big of a hill is insane.

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u/TallFontPie 2d ago

That median at the end made me clench a little more.

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u/Bandit_the_Kitty 2d ago

What was the cameraman riding?

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u/ubiquitous_uk 2d ago

A Porsche.

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u/DrmnDc 2d ago

Lucky he didn’t hit a single piece of loose gravel

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u/Rufus_heychupacabra 2d ago

Where is the speedometer?

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u/RunV5 2d ago

I can almost see through the pixels

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u/PostedNotes 2d ago

If I tried this, it would be my last day on earth

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u/btbmfhitdp 2d ago

I don't feel comfortable doing 90 mph on an empty dessert highway way. That's bonkers.

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u/Crater_Caloris 2d ago

Anyone other than me ever think about the fact that this has transformed into "redbull product placement, the subreddit"

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u/IllegalGeriatricVore 2d ago

I couldn't even stand like that on a skateboard in motion

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u/StankyTrees 2d ago

Of course it's red bull lol

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u/Mr4Mistress 2d ago

I mean, I could probably do this if I tightened my trucks real good but I just prefer to ride them loose cruisey style.  But I could totally do this too if I just tightened up my trucks.

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u/Falsify-Me 2d ago

The speed wobbles.

This man must have ankles of steel.

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u/ubernik 2d ago

Good thing he's wearing a helmet 🙄

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u/MisterSanitation 2d ago

Not one kick flip. 0/10

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u/BillyBilliamson 2d ago

How did they determine that the Goatse position was aerodynamically optimal?

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u/cone10 2d ago

Assuming 4" diameter wheels, they are doing 8000+ RPM, assuming no slippage. What kind of skateboard wheels are these, what kind of bearings does it have. These numbers look unrealistic.

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u/Massive_Season7075 2d ago

All you need is a steeper hill or a mountain. Own it while you can, but records are made to be broken.

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