The Jam is On!

The Fingerboard Jam Returns February 11

Story by Carlee Wright | Photos by Jason Pluemke

It might sound like an epic music competition and while fingerboarding very well could help your musical prowess (and vice versa - more on that later), what we are actually talking about is a retro-revival where all hands—or rather, fingers—are on deck.

Just ask Andrew Norman, former keyboard player of The (now retired) Ferenjis and organizer of The Fingerboard Jam, a family, friendly, all-ages welcome competition happening in February at The Bad Space.

“Fingerboarding was invented by a couple members of the infamous Bones Brigade in the mid-80s. Lance Mountain is widely credited with building the first fingerboard out of popsicle sticks and the wheels and axles off a die-cast car. The Bones Brigade riders would hang out and ride these fingerboards in sinks and tubs, using the miniature board to figure out the physics of tricks they were attempting in bowls and halfpipes,” Andrew said.

Children of the 80s and teens of the 90s may recognize the name Tech Deck, which dominated the fingerboard toy market for many years.

“‘Professional’ fingerboarding has existed since 1999 with the advent of German company Blackriver, followed soon after by FlatFace Fingerboards in the U.S. in 2003. It remained a quiet hobby/sport, particularly in the U.S., until the COVID-19 pandemic struck,” Andrew said. “With more time to spend indoors, and the opportunity to pick up new hobbies, fingerboarding is seeing a massive resurgence in popularity worldwide.”

Long story short? Fingerboarding is skateboarding with your fingers.

Chris Daniels rolls away from a kickflip back tail at the end of his Best Run heat.

Photo by Jason Pluemke

“A Tech Deck is like the base-level starter board. Most hobbyists enjoy collecting Tech Decks, but not skating them,” Andrew said. “Today, there are hundreds of fingerboard makers in the U.S. alone. "Professional" quality decks differ from Tech Decks in their design and construction: where a Tech Deck is thermo-molded plastic, professional fingerboards are made from (typically) 5 plies of wood veneer and glue pressed in a mold, much the way full-sized skateboards are produced.”

Professional fingerboards feature further advanced construction.

“Professional fingerboard trucks are made from tougher alloys than Tech Deck trucks, ranging from aluminum to steel. Fingerboard wheels come in a variety of durometers (the measure of a wheel's hardness or softness), and include small ball bearings, whereas Tech Deck wheels lack bearings (with the exception of Tech Deck's most recent professional product release).”

Mallory Curtis performs a textbook kickflip 5-0 during the Best Trick contest

Photo by Jason Pluemke

Andrew was one of those kids that played with Tech Decks in middle school, yet put it away almost 20 years ago.

He got back into it last summer while recovering from a skate-injury-related surgery (He tore his Achilles and had a plate and a couple pins put in his ankle). “I was laid up on the couch for a couple of months… Being unable to walk or skate for a couple months had me depressed and restless, and I picked up fingerboarding as an outlet for that frustration.”

Organizer Andrew Norman with a fakie godzilla flip Mallory Curtis performs a textbook kickflip 5-0 during the Best Trick contest

Photo by Jason Pluemke

And it has helped his musicianship, too.

“I have noticed an edge in my ability to learn tricks fairly quickly, especially when it comes to really fine motor control and precision. Having played piano for 25 plus years, and having professionally taught piano, guitar, bass, drums and woodwinds in the Willamette Valley for the last 12 years, I've noticed I have a bit of an edge on true 'rookie' fingerboarders."

But more than anything, Andrew will attest to the humility and dedication fingerboarding requires.

“Learning a trick means not landing it hundreds of times, and making small adjustments until it clicks. You really have to be okay with failing, a lot,” he said.

Ready to check it out?

The Pacific Northwest Fingerskate Collective is hosting The Return of the Fingerboard Jam (the first one was held in November 2022) on February 11. There will be multiple skateparks and competition brackets for professional and amateur fingerboarders. Everyone is welcome to watch and/or participate. The family-friendly event takes place at The Bad Space, which is an extension of Santiam Brewing that features a full bar and restaurant menu, stage and more.

“Our last event drew attendees and competitors from across the Pacific Northwest,” Andrew said.

Enoch Alder performs a boneless back noseslide during his Best Run heat

Photo by Jason Pluemke

Looking to participate?

Competition registration opens on the day of event at 12 p.m. and closes 30 minutes before the competition starts. There is a $5 entry free, which covers all three events in your bracket (Best Run, S.K.A.T.E. Tournament, Best Trick). And there will be awards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each competition.

The rules?

You can find the at usafbl.com

Want to get more involved?

Andrew recommends two Facebook groups: Fingerboarding Unlimited and Worldwide Fingerboarding. He also manages the Pacific Northwest Fingerskate Collective page.

Return of the Fingerboard Jam

When: 12 to 9 p.m. Saturday, February 11

Where: The BAD Space at Santiam Brewing

Cost: $5; $10 to participate