Downhill: Speed is king

A young man dressed in black clothing, slide gloves, and a full-face helmet stands atop a hill in The Alpes. With a determined gaze down the mountain, he places his foot on the board. From this vantage point, the roads resemble serpentines. He takes a deep breath and pushes off to gain speed. In mere minutes, he's racing down the steep slope, sliding through hairpin curves at over 80km/h.

His name is Jens Verner Nielsen, and he is among the top downhill riders in the competitive downhill world. As a professional rider, he travels across Europe to conquer the steepest and curviest roads.

“Downhill gives a rush that's out of this world. Your head is empty. The focus is on the road, and the rush in your head as you race down the mountain and through the hairpin turns is intense. The feeling is indescribable. You have to try it for yourself,” says Jens.

Jens uses a bamboo deck from Rayne. To ensure maximum stability and the best possible response, the deck is very stiff. Furthermore, the concave of the board “locks” Jens’ feet onto the deck, making him more stable at high speeds.

The grip tape on Jens’ setup is the “Lokton” from Seismic. It’s a 36-grit super coarse grip tape for longboards and provides the rider with superior grip. Additionally, the roughness of the tape makes it extremely durable.

Jens uses a variety of wheels from RAD. The choice of wheels depends on the roads he's riding. He appreciates the range because they are durable and have a big, solid core.