Leeds Street Luger Andy Speight prepares for WDSC

We meet 57-year-old Leeds Street Luge competitor Andy Speight as he gears up for the World Downhill Skateboarding Championship on the Isle of Man.

Transcript

00:001976, that's when I first started skateboarding.

00:04Street lugeing really started in 2017

00:08when a friend of mine just kept pestering me to make a street luge

00:12because I'd only been making skateboards then.

00:14Would you ever go down a hill at around 80 miles per hour on one of these?

00:2257-year-old Leeds street lugeer Andy Speight competes internationally

00:27and ahead of the World Downhill Skateboarding Championship on the Isle of Man

00:31between the 4th and 6th of July, his return to the first hill

00:34he skateboarded down as a youngster in Roundy Park

00:37for some slightly slower paced practice.

00:40In 2019, having been convinced by my wife to make a metal street luge,

00:47an aluminium one, basically because I've been an engineer for 30 years

00:51and that's what I was used to making, that's when I made the first one

00:55and the first race in Wales that I took it out to, I ended up winning.

00:592022, I did my first international race which was in Cappadocia in Turkey.

01:05I've gone back to Turkey three more times to race, but this time in Erzinsan.

01:12I also raced in Italy and Austria.

01:16I'm doing the Championship Tour with the WDSC, which is the World Downhill Skateboard Championship.

01:23Anyone can join, but you will have to go through the Qualifying Series.

01:28So you join at the Qualifying Series and the top three will go through to the CT, the Championship Tour.

01:35Never been to the Isle of Man.

01:37We all know it's the birthplace of the Manx Grand Prix and the TT.

01:43Yeah, so it's for myself that rides motorbikes.

01:46Yes, it's one place I've always wanted to go, even if it's on the street luge.

01:50People drive and go to go-karting and I remember doing a bit of go-karting

01:56and go-karting by comparison to driving because you are so low down, it feels really fast.

02:03Well, with the street luge, you're approximately four centimetres off the floor.

02:08So it does feel every miles per hour of 77 miles an hour.

02:13I've always liked skateboards, yeah, from being a young nine-year-old.

02:18Whether it be skateboards, whether it be surfing, snowboarding, mountain biking,

02:23I still do all them.

02:26Keeping fit, yeah, you've got to keep fit.

02:29I usually work out every day.

02:31I have a home gym, so it's easy and convenient for me.

02:34I do a routine every morning to keep me strong and keep me in shape

02:38because going down the hills at 70-plus miles an hour,

02:42especially on the street luge, core strength and arm strength for the push is key.

02:47I can't get enough of it, to be honest, whether it be racing

02:50or whether it's just trying out hills anywhere.

02:53It is really relaxing and stress-free for me.

02:57So, yeah, looking forward to the next races.