Tags: Extreme Sports, Outdoor Sports
By KC Santos
QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA – Skate of the Nation (SONA) is one of the few apparel and equipment stores that sell longboards in the country.
To promote this extreme sport, Carl Medina and Mara Bernaldo, themselves longboarders, opened SONA in 2008.
Longboarding is a lot like skateboarding but with a slight difference. A longboard has a longer “deck” than a skateboard and learning how to ride on a longer deck requires minimal background knowledge in skating tricks.
Christian Borboran, the owner’s store assistant warmly greeted me when I entered the SONA store. The walls of the store are filled with street art providing a good backdrop for the rows of longboards on display.
Christian shares that aside from offering a wide variety of longboards, SONA’s owners are hands-on and would gladly share tricks and tips for first-time longboarders.
Assembly of the longboard from the deck to the wheels is also done in the store. With a vast array of longboard parts to choose from, you’re assured of good quality long boards that will make your first riding lessons a lot easier.
The price of the decks range from 7, 500 pesos to the most expensive, which when bought per set, can cost up to 25,000 pesos. The longboard wheels cost anywhere from 2,400 to 3,900 pesos.
The rest of the skate and longboarding apparel and protective gears are sold at reasonable prices considering the durability and quality, says Christian.
Despite a lack of media exposure, SONA is popular among skaters from provinces like Antipolo. Christian says longboarders from Antipolo would drive all the way to the SONA store in Quezon City to buy their equipment.
Christian adds that the store’s owners also want to promote long boarding as an alternative mode of transportation for commute. He adds that this could actually help in lessening pollution in the city.
He also encourages other sports enthusiasts to support the growing longboarding community in the country.
Christian enthusiastically entertains visitors of the store which is open everyday from 12NN to 10PM except Tuesdays.
Get more information about SONA.
Related story:
For beginners, expert advice on how to choose the right skateboard
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