Issue date: 8/24/06 Section: News

Matt Ishler

Some students enjoy road trips or relaxing family vacations over their summer break. But Cal Poly student Matt Ishler has a different idea of summer traveling.

Ishler, a kinesiology junior, skateboarded from San Luis Obispo to his hometown of Santa Monica in three days, a 230-mile-long journey.

"It was a random impulse at the beginning of the summer, and then it just sat at the back of my mind and the impulse grew," Ishler said.

This is the story of his solo journey across the Central Coast and into Southern California atop a skateboard.



Saturday, August 19

The 230-mile quest began at 7 a.m. when Ishler skated to Broad Street in San Luis Obispo and started his ride into Arroyo Grande where he continued on U.S. Highway 1.

The highway would take him the rest of the way to his final destination, the Santa Monica pier.

"It's going to take awhile, and I think it might be illegal," Ishler said. "But I've got a month before school starts and it's going to kick ass."

Ishler had originally planned to float down the Mississippi River with a friend for his summer stimulation, but when plans fell through, he switched gears.

"I've got to have some kind of adventure, so I decided to skateboard to L.A.," Ishler said.

In the beginning, there were going to be four friends accompanying Ishler on the ride. Some of them planned to skateboard, while others were going to scooter or bike.

But they ultimately all bailed and the ride became a solo mission, Ishler said.

"I think it's really cool that he ended up going by himself because it's such an independent achievement," said Nicole Balvanz, a biology sophomore and Ishler's friend.

Ishler purchased a new carbon fiber skateboard, a Rolls Rolls, that was made in Germany for his trip and averaged 10 to 15 mph on flat surfaces.

"It's super low to the ground and way quick," Ishler said. "I can get up to 30 mph on the downhills."

In addition to the skateboard, Ishler traveled with a 30-pound camping backpack that included a gallon of water, Clif bars, a sleeping bag, headlamp, clothes, trash bags, glass necklace pendants with thank you notes and a pirate flag.

"I made glass necklaces to barter," Ishler said. "I traded some people for rides and left them with the people I camped with."

A ride was necessary just outside of Lompoc because of rough roads. Ishler hitchhiked about 17 miles after walking for six miles.

Continued...

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