Green Banana offers ‘greener’ boards

The Green Banana logo.

The Green Banana Skateboard Company is based out of Glassboro, New Jersey. Green Banana currently makes the only 100% post consumer recycled plastic skateboard on the market and they have an exclusive affiliation with Satori Wheels. They were recently featured on the main page of Silverfish Longboarding.

James Giberson, owner of Green Banana

James Giberson, owner and operator of Green Banana, is friendly and easy-going with a have fun, stress-free, positive outlook on life. He has been skating since 1987 and skating seriously with his friends since 1995. I recently sat down with him to see what the Green Banana was all about.

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Spring cleaning

I love that spring has arrived. It’s so tempting to walk around outside, bike, or longboard. Alas, my homework has crept up on me.

• Longboard Update
  I received an email from Stoked Skateboards on Monday. The email told me that they had some “spring cleaning” of their own to do on their website, and that they no longer had the deck design I ordered. They are mailing me a different deck, but unfortunately I do not know when I can join the rest of the longboarders on-campus – hopefully before Easter. [Update 3/27/10: My board is now en route from Carson, CA!]
• Looking Ahead
  I recently interviewed James Giberson, owner and operator of The Green Banana Skateboard Company, and it went extremely well. Look for that to go live some time this weekend.
• Tastyskates Update
  Team Tastyskates has rescheduled their 1.8 mile push race for Sat., April 10. Meet up at the Campbell Library at 12 pm, and the race starts at 1 pm. Helmets are required. Winner will receive a free Green Banana Skateboard Company deck. I will be around all day so be sure to stop by and say hello.
• Rutgers University
  The Rutgers Longboarding Crew is also hosting their own 2.7 push race on Sat., April 10 at Buccleuch Park. Meet up at 11:30 am and the race starts at 12 pm. Helmets are required. The event is sponsored by Phat Deanz, Daddies Board Shop, Original Skateboards, Central Jersey Skateshop, Knockaround, The 365 Life, Gravity Skateboards, East Coast Core, Loaded Boards, Orangatang, Seismic, and Bustin Boards, and the top three racers will receive prizes. Find updated information about the race on the Fish, and anyone who is interested in submitting pictures from the Rutgers push race should leave a comment on this post.
• Tragedy
  Unfortunately, not all skateboard and longboarding-related injuries end well. Skateboarding Magazine reports that 19-year-old Austin Langhaim has died after sustaining a fatal head injury from skateboarding. My condolences go to the family, and it is a familiar and unfortunate message to skateboarders just what can happen if you do not wear a helmet.

On a lighter note, here is a preview of Green Banana’s prototype deck in action:

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Longboard Anatomy 101

While I may now throw out longboarding jargon like it’s nothing, I tend to forget that I was – until very recently – quite confused by longboarding terms. What are trucks? Bushings? What goes where?! Just shut up and give me a longboard to ride!

I recently sat down with a friend of mine to explain to the nuts and bolts of a longboard (excuse the pun). John Welder is a sophomore mechanical engineering major at Rowan University; he is also the friend whom I originally discovered longboarding from. Here is what he showed me, using his 38″ Insect Mosquito (with Bear Grizzly trucks, Rush Ceramic bearings, and Orangatang 70mm slide wheels).

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Visual decks

Something that comes along with going to gallery openings with my art major roommates is a keener eye for the unnoticed. Maybe my newb/girl is showing, but when I first started noticing longboards around campus I didn’t pay attention to the deck brand, the wheels, or the trucks.

I noticed the design on the bottom of the deck.

It goes along with the whole “judging a book by its cover” ideology, but until I know more about a longboard, I will judge how I like it based on its skin. Many boards such as Sector 9 have preselected skins. Others, such as Bustin Boards allow you to customize the skin.

Here are suggestions when looking for and/or designing a deck skin.

Be different.

© alexl1190423 on Flickr

Be bold.

© markrabo on Flickr

Show pride in what you love.

© confidence, comely. on Flickr

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