SERPENT ROAD
I have always wanted to join longboarding events that are held outside Manila but things like financial concerns, my busy schedule, parents’ permission served as barriers for me to do so.
This summer, I had the chance of joining the first ever Mindanao Longboarding Tour which was hosted by the BXU Local Locos in partnership with The United Skate Shop (TUSS), Driftwood Local Ent (DWLE), Joint Outdoor Culture and Fun Box. YAY for this dream come true.The event covered areas like Iligan, Cagayan de Oro, Nasipit, Butuan, Liangga, and Lanuza.
My favorite hill was the Serpent Road in Iligan. It speeds up to 80-90 kph. I was really scared to bomb it in the first place because I haven’t skated for three weeks, as in literally no skate. I bombed it little by little, going higher after each run until I felt like I was ready to bomb it from the top. Doing it slowly helped me bring back the confidence I needed when bombing hills. Here’s the thing: Even if you start from a low point, when your scared, you’ll fall, but no matter how high you start from and how fast you get, as long as you’re relaxed, you’ll get out alive. Like I always tell myself when skating and surfing- Once you doubt, there’s no way out. It always ends up with a wipe out.
I asked Fab and Dandoy to accompany me as I bomb the hill from the top. They suggested that I do a free ride first for safety. Being hard-headed, I tucked from the shoulder of the hill. Reaching the finish line, I realized it wasn’t that hard. So I asked them again to accompany me for a second run from the top, this time I decided to tuck it all the way. Dandoy told me not to because it was too fast and I wouldn’t make it. Di ko daw kaya. I understand that he was just concerned but I know deep inside that I can, na kaya ko, and I’m gonna own it. So I did it. I tucked it all the way from the top. And hell yeah, I MADE IT!!!!!!!!!!! I WAS REALLY REALLY STOKED THEN! I felt the craving for more.
When the Iligan local, Jo Romano, invited everyone to bomb the hill from a higher point, I was overjoyed. It was faster, and much better 
(C) Kent Sato, Mark Andrian Ian Flores
Ahh, Serpent Road…I am in love. I hope to see you soon.
