Flatspot Team Rider: Mike Benda

We would like to announce the beginning of the Flatspot Team! What better way to kick it off than to welcome Mike Benda onto it? 

Photo Credit: John Huey

       We are proud to announce that Mike Benda is joining the Flatspot family. For those of you who got into longboarding only AFTER topmounts became incredibly popular, a brief history lesson may be in order. Benda shredded before the grom generation was even a twinkle in their parents eye, and he continues to consistening take home freeride podiums every year. With a background in hard wheels, mike was getting tech with Chris Dal and pushing for underrated riders like Kevin Riemer to get noticed and sponsored back before this glorious sport exploded. He has his finger on the pulse of longboarding in vancouver, and that comes from being a genuine guy. No one rivals his gnar on the demonseed, and to top it all off, this amazing skater spends a great deal of time promoting OTHER riders by making videos and sponsorship refferals, just cause he is an awesome guy. Not only is he indespensable for the vancouver longboard community, but he is a panda as well (which is just cray cray). 

If you want to see some riding from a little ways back, see if you can spot him in this classic rayne compilation.

I would HIGHLY suggest checking out his Vimeo Channel for butt-loads of superb vancouver shredding.

Mike Benda Bio:

Longboard Alias?  panda; serial5

Age?  29

Where are you from?  West Vancouver

Where are you chill now?  North Vancouver

Got a favorite hill?  Giant’s Head

Other sponsors or flow?  Rayne Longboards; Abec 11 Wheels

What are your favorite set ups? Rayne Demonseed with 52 Bear Grizzlies and 78a or 81a Abec 11 NoSkoolz.  JimZ bushings and Bilt-Ins.

Very first skateboard?  Landyachtz Dan Mitchell

Gnarliest Bails?  The ones I can still feel