A video of Swedish skateboarder Anton Linden travelling down the Remarkables Skifield access road at about 65kmh is making a social media impression.

The video, which also features Linden on a downhill stretch in Christchurch at dawn, has been viewed almost 30,000 times.

The 20-year-old is in New Zealand for two months as one of his sponsors, Acid Longboards, is based here.

He only began skateboarding about six years ago and found himself naturally drawn into downhill riding on a longboard, rather then the more well-known street skateboarding style.

He loved the feeling, he said.

"Just the feeling of going downhill - the wind and the shaking from the road. You are going fast downhill and it's only you can make the board stop and go faster."

In competition and wearing full safety equipment he has reached speeds over 100kmh  - the current world record is about 135kmh - and while he stresses that he does not take unnecessary risks, there have been a few injuries as well.

"Mostly my injuries have been my own fault and during races. I've had a dislocated shoulder and a really bad hit to my hip at about 85kmh. Nothing was broken but my muscles were really sore and took a really long time to heal up.

"I've got scars everywhere - my elbows, shoulder, knees and feet. Shit happens but you get used to it."

Linden works at a warehouse in Sweden to save money to compete in longboarding competitions and now ranks within the top 100 of about 3540 registered international riders. He has ambitions to climb the ranks.

"This year will be my first worldwide competition year. I will try to join as many competitions as possible. The more competitions you join the better your chances," he says.

The skaters who had supported him here were amazing, he said.

"My tricks would be nothing without all the people here who showed me around, drove cars, offered coaches and breakfasts. My trip would be nothing without them."

Although he is due to leave New Zealand in about two weeks, he has applied for a week-long extension to allow him to compete in the Mt Ruapehu Gravity Festival.

- The Southland Times