More New Tricks!!!

   After yesterday's embarrassing attempt at a powerslide; I spent today making a list of tricks I wanted to learn (and nursing my wounds haha) I can't believe it's the first day of Fall already!! I've had such an amazing summer... and it dawned on me that my deadline for my 2nd progress video is coming up QUICK! I've been working so much, I've barely had time to film :[

   I got home today, determined to stick something new. I've been working on a tricks, but haven't had a real break-thru since learning the 50-50 and the boardslide. I want more flip tricks!! BUT, I watched an awesome Scott Stevens edit that really inspired me. It reminded me that, not everybody hucks flip tricks down stairsets; and that there are tons of different ways to skate and have fun. It's exactly what I needed to see :)

   After warming up (and feeling good I might add) I decided to skate my mini. It's been awhile. I can drop in from 5-0 and 50-50, but coming up the ramp; all I can do still is kick turns and fakie rocks. I'm getting a lot more consistent and confident with them, but I still wanted to do more. I remember seeing my buddy do nose stalls and figured I'd give em a try...

   Hallelujah, I got it on the first time! And it felt GOOD, too! After working em some more, I started taking a foot off and adding some flair to em ;] then decided to try fakie tail stalls. ALSO STUCK IT FIRST TRY! It was just the boost of juice I needed! I spent the rest of the afternoon working them both back and fourth. Felt great

Things Got Sketchy

   I had a small window of time to skate today... decided to take advantage. As soon as I got warmed up, it started sprinkling. I was bummed, but determined to stick it out as long as possible. I was feeling pretty good; so I figured I would try a powerslide for the first time. I figured the light mist would make it easier to slide.

   I go up to the top of the small slope infront of my house. Wet blacktop. Too much speed. Twisted my hips and got 90 degrees... slide for 3 (or so) feet; and got hurled off my board. Had enough time in the air to think about how much it was going to hurt :[

   Let's just say; I got a nice case of the road rash and pulp palms. As I laid their in the middle of the street; bruised hip and bruised ego... the rain picked up. I dragged myself back to the house and decided to chill for the rest of the day hahaha Maybe next time!!

Yeah I Do Both

   After taking a few days to rollerblade; I jumped back on the board. Felt weird as hell at first.. but after an hour or so of the basics, I warmed right back up. The entire experience was really eye opening. I fell back in love with blading; but I was also anxious to get back to skateboarding. Infact, I'm proud to say that I DO BOTH! In a world where most people feel the need to separate and segregate the two sports... I find harmony knowing that I can do (and enjoy doing) both! I want to keep it that way ;]

   Ordered some new frames for my Deshis. I have 3 pair, and I always have to rotate out the one pair of frames I have. I think this will a) keep them in better shape by leaving the frames on each skate instead of constantly putting them on and off.. and b) breathe some new fresh life into my blades. Hopefully, it'll make em all last another year too!! I'm excited to see how they look when I put em all together. Might make we wanna blade more ;]

First Time All Summer..

   I've been working 60+ hrs a week; and it's really bummed me out haha!! I haven't been able to skate nearly enough. AAAAAND; I realized that I haven't even bladed this entire summer. Not even once!! It was a crazy (and kinda sad) thought. A year ago, I would have been so stoked to skate my mini ramp with my blades. Hell; I build a PVC p-rail in March with plans of blading all summer. . . . and then skateboarding happened.

   It made me go home, and lace up my Deshis ;]

   To say it felt weird would be an understatement. I assumed my newfound board skills would add to my talent on the blades. But, it was awkward. It felt unnatural. It took about an hour or so; but then I was back to my usual self :) 

   I made a list of tricks to learn on my quarter pipe. Aside from skateparks, I never really had a chance to skate transition on blades. And even when I did; I usually stuck to street. SO, I took this as an opportunity to broaden my abilities on the skates. 

   As expected, the new tricks came to me pretty quickly. The whole experience really reiterated the fact that blading is much easier. That's not a BAD thing (not to me, atleast!) I still had a blast!! And plus, I've been rollerblading my entire life! But it was noticeably simple to stick tricks that I've never done before. And it felt good to learn some new stuff on the blades 

Proper Session!

   I had a buddy come over today to skate. He's much better than me at skating, so it was cool to roll around and pick up some tips. He definitely broke in the new mini ramp, too! Blunt stalls, smith stalls, little airs... it was gnarly to watch! 

   Then we moved out into the street and busted out the flatbar. After a little instruction, and a few attempts; I got a FS boardslide!! It felts so good!! That means I can check BOTH grinds off my list of tricks I wanted to learn this summer :D which is an amazing feeling. I'm gonna spend the rest of the season really honing them in; but it's nice to know that I can stick a 50-50 and a boardslide... the two essential skateboard grinds! Getting close to no-complies, too. I'm pretty stoked about that; I can't lie!!!

  Video footage coming soon ;] stay tuned. . .

Raise The Bar (teaser)

   Progress Video vol#2: "Raise The Bar" teaser - http://youtu.be/wosUVOsZk2Y 

   I've been so busy with work; that I haven't had a chance to skate as much as I want to!! BUT, I'm still working on my second progress video. This is a little preview of some new(er) tricks. I hope to finish filming and editing by the end of September ;] 

   ..until then-

Fakie Rock-n-Rollin

   I can't stress enough, how much I love this quarterpipe. It's so well-built; and it's the perfect size! I've already got some basic tricks down (fakie rock & FS/BS kick turns) but I can already tell it has the potential to teach me a LOT!

   I've started a new job; and it's REALLY eating into my "skate 3 hours a day" time hahah but I've got responsibilities to prioritize. Either way; I'm having fun and learning tons. I'm so glad I decided to try skateboarding this summer. It's been one hell of an experience!

Fade To Black

   Soooo; my tail chipped last night. Soooo; I went and got a new deck today ;-D

   Nothing beats that New Deck feel!!! I went up to the local shop and wanted to try an Element deck... ended up copping that Nyjah Huston black on black board. Had to threw in some new bearings too; so I'm rollin' on butter. First time on Grizzly Griptape too... so I'll let you know what I think of it after a few good days of skatin'

Thrifty Thrasher ! ! !

    I am beyond geeked right now! After days and days of day dreaming about building a DIY; I finally decided I would make a little mini quarter pipe somewhere. I knew of tons of plans online... and material costs seemed somewhat affordable ($150-$200) ...then it dawned on me!! 

I SHOULD CHECK CRAIGSLIST AGAIN! lol

   Imagine my amazement when I found a 2ft x 4ft mini quarter, posted hours earlier, listed at $40 delivered! I could hardly contain myself; I've wanted something like this since I bladed as a kid. I was so blessed to, again, struck pure gold on Craigslist. The timing. The location. The condition. The price?! Both, this, and the flatbar I bought 2 weeks ago for $20; as exactly what I could have ever asked for. I have no excuse for not getting as good as I can personally get.

God works in mysterious ways.

Wind, Rain, And Ankle Pain

   Slapped my ankles a few good times today. I was trying to fakie 360 shuvit, and I just completely lost sight of the board. Griptape kissed the ball of my lead foot.

   I stretch it out a bit, and "walk it off" and try again, this time just a fakie shuv. SMACKED MY OTHER ANKLE!! It was a pretty ironic experience, but uncool. Had to laugh at myself

   Before ya know it; the rain rolls in. It's been like this all week...

I've Got Options

   When I first started this little adventure into skateboarding; it all began with nice smooth black top. Flat ground. I got a board, and wanted to learn them darn fancy flip tricks haha!! It seemed like an easy way to, "put the board down and cruise around and do some kickflips real quick" lol well that's how it started, and it's now an addiction.

   It didn't take long before I gathered up some cinder blocks from the backyard, and laid out a little manny pad off to the side of my driveway. And, just like that. There it way. Obstacle #1

   Obstacle #2 and #3 were a natural progression. Got a few bricks? Stack 'em up and ollie over! Four more bricks, and a 2x4? That's a perfect hurdle to hippy-jump thru! Just add some additional bricks as needed (and they're easy to store)

   Obstacle #4 was a flatbar. I knew I wanted a rail, but I already had a PVC round rail. It's perfect for blades; but not too suitable for the board. This had me thinking about round vs square; and rail vs ledge. As soon as I decided on fabricating a transportable flatbar; I found one online and had it delivered that day!!! It felt amazing to see it all out together.

   I've been working on some 50-50s; which has been gratifying to say the least! My first grind ever on a skateboard. It has opened a huge door of opportunities for me, just having a little rail like this to practice with. Not a lot of people are fortunate enough to have ONE; let alone all the different little homemade obstacles I have to skate right outside my front door

   The last time I skated the new rail was pretty punishing... "I think I'll just work some flip tricks and practice manuals today.." haha Feels blessed to know I've got options

My First 50-50 ! ! !

   Today, was a good day! I woke up, determined to grind my new rail!! I made breakfast; had some coffee... did some errands around the house..... and then got ready to thrash.

   I figured I'd begin by hanging the rail off the side of my driveway, into the grass. I set the board on the rail; and started running and jumping onto it. The balance was WAY harder than I imagined it'd be... even considering I've bladed for 10+ years! After 5 or 6 fails; I finally had the hang of it. I could slide the entire length of the rail and land in the grass.

   Next, I figured I would do the same thing, but in the driveway.. so I could get the feeling of riding off the rail and rolling away. I nosebombed the first few times, but finally got the hang of it. I was exploding with happiness! I knew right then at that moment; I would do my first 50-50 today. There was nothing stopping me!!

   At this point; the rail was already starting to feel a little sticky. Granted, I wasn't riding up to it with any real speed.. but I didn't wanna risk getting caught up. Sooo; I did something kinda ballsy and waxed the rail up a little bit. Not a LOT; juuust a little ;-]

   I started off 3 pushes away from the rail. Way too much speed haha! So then I started with only one push..... not enough. I had to find the right balance between necessary speed, and beginner's precaution. And then; it was time to fall. A lot.

   I'm glad I put my wrist guards on; and I'm glad I know "how" to fall properly; and I'm glad I have the agility and balance to "catch" myself.... because, honestly, a few times could have been pretty bad. To say "it's hard" would be an insulting understatement. I've always respected the skill it takes to skateboard.... but today; I learned a hard lesson in humility.

   ANY time you see somebody grind on a skateboard; take your hats off to them and show them some kudos. Until you've tried; you'll NEVER comprehend how difficult it is. You need to truly say "fk it" and commit to doing the sketchiest thing you've ever done before. Period. Looking back, it BLOWS MY MIND to think about the level of skill it takes to pull off some of the tricks you see these guys doing. And not even in "perfect" skatepark settings; but down the gnarliest ledges and handrails that you wouldn't even want to stand on with your sneakers!

   It's crazy! ! !

   BACK TO THE STORY, THO! I tired and tried, and fell, and Got back up; and tired some more. I got reeeal close a few times. I slipped out a couple dozen times. I got a little hurt. And then... finally... I ollied up; felt that metal on metal, rode it out; and when I felt my wheels hit that pavement I knew I had done it! I could type and type and try and explain how good it felt; but it's an indescribable feeling! It's like nothing I've ever done before.

   Gratifying; to say the least.

   I kept skating for the rest of the day. I fell a few more times. I got hurt some more hah But I landed a few more 50-50s. All in all, it was an incredible day! This little flatbar rail was an awesome purchase, and awesome investment. I'm so geeked to work it into my repertoire, and I'm excited to see what kinds of grinds I'll be doing by the end of this year. 

   Hallelujah, skateboarding!

One Man's Trash

   We've all heard the expression before! It's true, too!! The irony of today is; I started the morning off by watching some clips that Richie Jackson posted on his facebook page. It was him trickin' off random trash near a dumpster, with the caption: "Please keep throwing stuff like this away." haha I loved it!

   Later in the day, I was thinking about building a metal flatbar to start learning some grinds on. I already have a real nice 12' long PVC p-rail, but I made it for my blades. I'm pretty sure the metal trucks of a skateboard would crack that PVC after one or two sessions. 

   I drew some plans up, and started estimating material costs... and then the lightbulb in my head went off!! Whynot try and find a USED rail?! I called up to all the Play-It-Again Sports stores in my area (a used sporting goods retailer) but none of the three stores had any. I'm not gonna lie, I was kinda bummed. I figured it was worth a shot...

   Then the lightbulb went off again! WHAT ABOUT CRAIGSLIST?!?

   Would you believe it?? Not only was there one for sale; but it was less than 5 minutes away from where I live; and it was posted less than 5 hours ago! It felt like a blessing!! I responded to the ad, and was instantly contacted back!! We made arrangements to meet after I got off work

   Perhaps the greatest part of all: I just got this 6ft long (barely) used flatbar rail; which retail online for $130; for the low low price of $20!!! YOU CAN'T BEAT THAT!!!

   I advise everybody to check out Craigslist for similar things. I've never bought something off that site before; but I am certainly a believer now! I'm so excited to try it out tmrw

   What a treasure!

Eat. Sleep. Breathe.

   I find myself constantly thinking about skating. Making lists of tricks I want to learn. Sketching skateparks. Day dreaming about ramps and rails I want to build. Its never ending

   Yesterday, I got extremely close to landing my first kickflip! I can feel it!! Its going to happen soon; I know it! I couldn't comprehend them at first, but after making little adjustments to my body position and foot placement, it all clicked! A liiiiittle more pop, and I'll catch it

   All my other tricks are beginning to get a lot more consistent too! It makes me real excited to see my progress in a month or two! Next; I wanna start working on grinds. It should be fun!!!

I love how much this sport has consumed me

Thru The Pain

   I've been skating on my bruised ankle; nothing major Just rollin around for an hour or so a day after work. I figure, if I'm gonna be honest with myself, this is probably one of the least severe injuries I will sustain skateboarding.

   It feels a little stiff, but not too bad. I keep telling myself, skate thru the pain! I imagine all the are skaters out there, with terrible injuries, still getting gnarlier than I could ever imagine to be haha So I keep pushing

   There's something liberating about pushing your body to its physical limits. Its like a drug. Addictive. Gets you high. When you finish, you're slumped over on a couch somewhere. 

   Exhausted

My First Rolled Ankle :[

   I must be pushing my physical limits haha because I rolled my ankle a week after getting my first shinner. I guess it's just like they say; you've gotta pay to play. Too bad it's the same leg (my lead foot) haha it just can't catch a break *knocks on wood*

   It wasn't as bad as it could have been; honestly. It hurt a bit, but I kept skating. Didn't think much of it, at the time it happened. I was getting frustrated because I kept missing on some of my simple tricks. My front foot kept slipping off. I didn't understand why haha. Then I came inside and showered, and saw it was all bruised and swollen :/ so I iced it up and I'm gonna take a day or two off. It sucks, because I work on my feet... so I can't really avoid being on it.

   I'm slowly learning, it comes with the territory.

Do It Yourself

   I'm so romantic about the idea of building (or helping build) a secret D.I.Y. skate spot! I see all these pictures and videos online, full of amazing concrete ledges and ramps and gaps. Stuff you can't find in your typical park. Something abstract. Hidden. Unorthodox.

   Unfortunately, I don't know a ton of skaters yet.. but the comradery and teamwork really interests me. The building techniques. The ingenuity. The creativity. It's something I desperately want to be a part of!! Hopefully, soon-

   I'm also real excited to get the chance to learn how to ride a mini-ramp. I see tons of clips of real stylish skating in minis. They look so chill! Honestly; if things keep going the way they're going; I may just build a small one out back behind my house haha!!!

   I think that's one of the greatest aspects of skateboarding. The DIY attitude. The ability to take "trash" to someplace "abandoned;" and use a little elbow grease and sweat equity to turn it into your crew's favorite skate spot. To make YOUR OWN skate park.

   That's a beautiful thing. It's awe-inspiring.

My First Real Shinner

   My new job gives me Fridays off; which is awesome! I woke up early, and took care of some errands around the house. By 10am; I was ready to skate!!! 

   After pushing around for a bit; I started working on some new tricks. I've been trying 360 shuvs and 360 flips; but haven't landed one yet. On this particular attempt; I really thought I'd stick it. I had a nice pop, and nice rotation. I lifted my legs up high. It spun and...

..BANG! Slapped the holycrap outta my shin! I jumped around and screamed out in agony!!!!

   In my adventures skateboarding; I've already hit my shin a handful of times. But this... this was different! It immediately swelled up!! It looked like a baseball growing out of my shin; freshly black and blue and purple, and bleeding. The kind of pain that makes your eyes water and takes your breath away!!!! 

   I went inside and put a bandaid and some ice on it. I got some water to drink; and elevated my leg. After 20 minutes or so; the initial pain had gone away; but it was still pretty swollen. I changed out the bloody bandages, and decided to go back out skating. 

   It was way too early to quit!

   Even tho my leg had a mountain growing out of it; I pushed on. I'm not gonna lie, I was worried I would hit my bump again. I could only IMAGINE how bad THAT would hurt... but I realized I couldn't dwell on it. Over-thinking my injury was sure to distract me, and cause me to get hurt. All I could do, is focus. Skate as best as I could, and have fun!

   Luckily, nothing else happened..... infact, I had a great session!! The pain went away, and it didn't get hit again. After a few hours of skating, I went back in and showered and iced my shin some more. It was still bleeding; but by the end of the night, most of the swelling went down.

   My first shinner was a nice reminder; you've gotta pay to play! Especially in something like skateboarding; injuries are a part of the sport! It's this balance of risk/reward that makes it so exciting. If it was easy, EVERYBODY would do it!! 

   I've learned that, it's not about the injury. It's about HOW YOU HANDLE the injury! Don't get discouraged. Don't quit having fun!! Nobody is invincible; but that's what makes Life so special. That's what we've got to appreciate and love about our sport

   Lesson learned.

Back To The Basics

   After taking some time off from my "3hrs a day" routine; I find myself feeling a little rusty on my board. It was kinda disappointing; BUT, it made me realize that I need to honestly stick to my schedule. Rain or shine; injured or busy... I need to skateboard every damn day. Even if it was flatground for an hour or so. Even if it was just pushing around and cruising..

   It took me about 45 awkward minutes to warm up; but then I was back feeling comfortable. Then I went thru my tricklist; over and over until I landed everything :] it was a great feeling. Like visiting an old best friend that you haven't seen in a looong time! The smile it puts on your face; being with something familiar. Something you love.

   Right then and there; I told myself: never again will we be apart for this long ;)

Being An Adult

   I'M STOKED! I took a new (higher paying, less hours) job last week; and it's awesome. Unfortunately, it has really cut into my "skating 3hrs a day" routine. During the interview process, I was extremely busy between work and making all the preparations. And now that I've got the job; I've been extremely exhausted by the time I get home. I work less DAYS a week, which is incredible... but I work more hours each day; and adjusting to my new schedule has been pretty difficult.

   Not to mention; I've been nervous about falling and getting hurt. It's not something I can really afford to do at a new job. At my old job; I wouldn't have cared too much (lol) about going in with a sprain wrist and explaining what happened. But it's not a good look to a new employeer.

   It's kinda been a slap back to reality. I love skating soo much; but I've got to keep in mind.. I'm an adult. It's not like when you're 13 years old, and you go into school with a cast on your leg or arm, and just laugh it off with your friends. I have a job. I have a child. I have a home, with bills and obligations. Finding the fine line of sacrifice is difficult; but it's not impossible.

   I love pushing myself further and further into progression; but I've gotta know WHEN and WHERE it's appropriate. It's a funny balancing act; but I'm sure I'll get better at it with time. 

   Man...... being an adult, sucks!! hahahaha

Independence Day

   HAPPY 4th OF JULY!! I hope everybody had an awesome, relaxing time with their family! Me and mine went camping; but you already know I brought my board with me!!

   I still love the FREEDOM and the INDEPENDENCE of skateboarding; the ability to do it anywhere you can use your imagination! Infact; the weirder, more "unskateable" a spot is.. the better!! The more challenging. The gnarlier. That's the beauty of skateboarding to me!

   I didn't get a ton of skating in; BUT, I was able to really enjoy a few hours. Made a little bank with some plywood; and worked on fakie rocks, FS and BS rocks, 50-50 stalls; it was awesome. It almost rode like a mini ramp, and got me excited to actually practice in a real one! I also had a nice parking lot to work on some new flatground tricks. 

   The other AWESOME thing about this 4th of July is; it's been exactly ONE YEAR since I've had a cigarette!!! I can't believe how much time has flew by! Quitting smoking (cold turkey) was one of the best things I've ever done in my entire Life, and I'm so proud of myself for wholeheartedly committing to it. I can feel the difference in myself; physically and mentally. It really reassures me that I can accomplish anything I put my mind to! Not to mention, all the money I save (about $7 a day) makes it easy for me to afford a new deck every month-or-so ;]

Wood Pusher

   Progress Video vol#1: "Wood Pusher" - http://youtu.be/umZxhY62nvE

Filming For The 1st Time

   So; I decided to finally film and edit my first "progress" video. 90 days on a skateboard. I haven't GONE PRO yet, hahaa!! But; I've had a lot of fun and I've come a long way!!! I've learned a few new tricks. I've gotten better. And more than anything; I can only imagine how good I'll be in one year

   Putting together this video; has me real excited to start stacking clips and putting together lines. Finding hidden spots. Pushing myself. Making an actual "edit"

   These past 90 days have been some of the best. It's like dating a woman you know you're going to marry. Weather, injury, nothing will stop me in my pursuit of getting better. Broken boards; bruised shins; scrapped palms. Bloody elbows and knees. Skateboarding is now something that I eat, sleep, shit, and breathe.

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

New Bag Of Tricks

   My hardwork and dedication is definitely paying off! I've been able to get a deep scoop, allowing me to rotate the board for treflips and 360 shuvits!! I still haven't landed one yet, but I can feel it getting closer!

   I've also been messing around with boneless 180s! The techniques of footplants are certainly weird and awkward (at first) but I've been able to really hone them in!! To me, footplants look so stylish, and I think they're getting me more comfortable with putting my foot down, which will help me towards doing no-complies!

   I haven't started grinding yet, but I've been practicing doing ollies into 50-50s on a 10' ledge. From the 50-50 position, I started doing ollies off and rolling away. Then, just the other day, I started doing FS shuvits off!! From flatground, FS shuvs feel very awkward still. But, coming off the extra height of the ledge; FS shuvs feel perfect!!

   Not to mention, I've been working on my ollies from all positions. I can ollie and fakie ollie with ease; but I've started doing switch ollies and (for the first time ever) yesterday I was poppin' nollies!! It's like completely RE-learning how to ollie hahah But I know with a little bit of practice and persistence, I'll be throwin' em like nothing!!

   I'm pretty proud of my new bag of tricks; and I'm excited to see what a few more months will learn me! Hardwork and Dedication, definitely pays off!!

Rain, Rain, Go Away

   It's been extra wet these past few days. Huge bummer! Luckily, I have a covered awning on my driveway, so I can always practice my fliptricks. Still not quite the same :/

   There's something special about the feeling you get when riding as fast as possible. The breeze. The sound of your wheels on the ground. It's freedom.

   I just want to ride.

Go Skateboarding Day '14

   365 days ago, June 21st would have meant nothing to me. First day of summer, maybe? Or 9 days before my birthday... but that's about it. Just another Saturday. But since beginning my adventure in skateboarding, I started hearing about 6/21 as "Go Skateboarding Day"

   I was really interested in the idea of uniting skaters, and celebrating this incredible sport. Skating with friends; skating with strangers... beginners and pros alike; coming together to do what we love, and appreciate beautiful weather. It's symbolic. It's meaningful. It's worldwide.

   Last year, I had made plans to go camping on the weekend of the 21st. So, unfortunately, I couldn't attend the grand opening of the new A2 skatepark in nearby Ann Arbor, MI. Tony Hawk and Andy McDonald were scheduled to be there; and I'm sure it would have been awesome! However, I was still excited to rent a cabin with my family. And as you could guess, I brought my skateboard with me :)

   Lucky enough, the cabin we rented was at the dead-end of a paved street. I woke up Saturday morning, stretched a little bit; and laced up my DCs. It wasn't much, but I got to spend a little over an hour skateboarding in the fresh air. Beaches across the street. Tree canopies overhead. The wind in my hair and the sunshine on my shoulders.

   I even got my 4 year old daughter on the board for a little bit! 

   All in all, it was an awesome way to usher in my newfound love for skateboarding. Now that I know about June 21st and it's significance; I'm sure that next year's "holiday" will be full of shred!! I still can't complain about my first Go Skateboarding Day

Stylish

   I've been watching a lot of videos that capture the pure style and finesse of skateboarding. Lots of guys may not throw the BIGGEST or most TECHNICAL tricks; but they ooze style. Their tricks are creative, inventive, and entertaining to watch. The types of tricks that make you pause, rewind, and rewatch them over and over and over again.

   Sometimes, you can't even understand WHAT or HOW they're doing what they're doing!!

   I've been trying to learn a lot of these types of tricks. I'm fascinated by them! Today, I worked and worked and (finally) got ollie sex-change down. It's a cool, simple little trick.. but it's a lot of fun to do; and it looks really interesting when it's done right.

   It's a great example of FUN skateboarding. You don't need to huck your body down 12 stairs, or throw nollie double flips to have FUN!! Just go out, and ride! That's what it's all about

Landing Your First

   Two younger kids rolled by my house today on their skateboards. They said they've been watching me skate every day, and they were wondering if I could "help them out"

   I explained to them that I, myself, am just now learning... but offered them to stay and skate with me. It felt nice knowing I was inspiring somebody else to try. As we all know, if you never START... you'll never SKATE. It all begins with the desire to begin. To go out there, and TRY.

   By the end of the day, I had helped one of them get his first ollie!! His excitement reminded me of MY first time popping an ollie. The feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment! It was completely gratifying to be apart of that experience. I invited them to stop by whenever to skate; and hope they do!

Who Do You Skate For

   I've come to realize that I'm solely skating for myself. That's what skating is all about. That's what makes it beautiful. It's a reflection of one's true ambitions. Your personal style. Your drive. How far you will push yourself?? How far will you push your skating???

   I've set a few goals for myself for this summer. (1) I want to be able to kickflip. (2) I want to be able to do a 50-50 grind. (3) I want to be able to boardslide. (4) I want to learn how to do a no-comply. And finally, (5) I want to feel comfortable riding switch. I know that the ONLY person who can push myself to accomplish these things; is ME. So; I know in my heart; I will.

   Without goals; without dreams... we wonder this World aimlessly. I feel like, a lot of skaters reach a point of comfort, and they quit pushing themselves. They settle for what they have. Me? As long as I am physically capable; I will continue to push myself.

Can't We All Just Get Along

   This week has been frustrating for me. Not, skating wise... but with the community itself. Over the past few years; I really re-submerged myself in the local blade scene. I met a ton of kickass people; amateurs and pros alike. I've traveled out of state for comps; and supported the local skaters as best as I could. With that being said; I'm pissed.

   It seems like none of them understand my desire to learn how to skateboard. Infact, I'd go as far to say that some of them completely disagree with it. And honestly, that's okay. I can live with that.

   Needless to say, I was super excited for the X-Games this year. In the past few years, I haven't been able to full enjoy them. I'm not sure WHY blading isn't included anymore; but it was the reason that I wasn't too interested. But now that I've started skateboarding; I was anxious to watch the pros throw down on the street course and vert ramp.

   My excitement turned to anger when I saw all the X-Games bashing pop up on my Facebook timeline. I can completely understand my fellow bladers' frustrations... but does that really entitle them to belittle the entire event? Just because THEIR sport isn't involved???

   At first, I tread gently, trying to start a conversation about WHY blading wasn't in the Games, and HOW we could change that. But it was only met with childish, ignorant remarks. Banter.

   I could feel the resentment. And I could even sympathize with it. I understood. But my point is (and always was) Let's use that passion and energy to get blading BACK IN the X-Games, instead of shitting on all the other athletes and their respected sports. Lets fight the GOOD fight; not just bicker amongst ourselves!!

   Stepping on the outside of the blading community has already taught me a LOT. I've gained a whole new perspective of the sport itself, and the major players within. I see folks complaining about the lack of professionalism. The lack of future or career. I see pro skaters, publicly trashing their skate companies for non-payment. I see businesses closing. I see comps shrinking. And over all, I see attitudes getting shittier and shittier. And for what???

   I may not have all the answers. I may not know all the extensive history of skateboarding vs rollerblading. I've never claimed to!! BUT I DO KNOW THIS! Skateboarding is fun. Blading is fun. They're both physically and mentally challenging. They're both full of talented individuals who put their body on the line to progress and evolve their sport.

   So, why can't we all just Grow up, Shut Up, and Skate this World together?!

   That's the way it SHOULD be.

Passing The Torch

   The neighborhood kids are really starting to enjoy my skating; which is awesome. They come down and watch. Ask me questions. Cheer me on. And when I finally land something I've been working on; they celebrate like I was Tony Hawk! It puts the biggest smile on my face.

   I've committed myself to skating for (atleast) 2 hours a day; every day. I want to show them that it takes practice. It takes dedication to do this. I explain to them that I'm just starting... and that falling is apart of the process. I explain to them that it's hard... And it hurts when you fall... But it's all worth it!

   I remember when I was 8 or 9 years old.. I started blading because the older neighborhood kids bladed. One of them had a huge funbox that they would set up in their driveway; and all summer they would skate. And me and my friends would go and watch them (in awe)

   Eventually, one of the older kids gave me a pair of his blades that he outgrew. That day changed my life. No longer was I WATCHING; I started SKATING. 

   From that day on; I was a skater.

   I built my own ramps and rails. I saved my allowance and bought my own skates. I got better.

   Whenever these young kids watch me skateboarding; I'm reminded of my 9 year old self. I'm reminded of how influential those older skaters were on my Life; and I take great responsibility for fulfilling that role for these kids.

   Who knows; maybe one day; they will be reflecting back on how they would watch me, and how my skating changed THEIR life.

Riding Switch

   After days and days of falling; I've finally got frontside 180 ollies!! It was a battle; but I'm really starting to appreciate that. Making small adjustments; shifting my weight; my foot position... until it all clicks together and WORKS. It's the best feeling in the World

   Now; for a whole new battle. Riding switch!!!!

Nothing Is Impossible

   The one thing I love about skateboarding is the different styles... and the idea of developing my own. I watch a lot of edits and clips of skaters all across the world; young and old; new school and old school. And the one thing that stands out in my mind is the individuality. Even if they're doing the exact same trick; their STYLE redefines the trick and gives it it's own flair.

   It's amazing

   I wonder where MY style will fall into play. I'd like to strive for a good balance of park and street skating. I want to learn mini-ramps, and transitions. I want to be technically SOUND; but also incorporate a lot of oldschool; unorthodox style too. With that being said; I know that I can only control so much of my style. A lot of it will develop on it's own. And, with that being said, I'm excited to watch myself skate a year from now. Two years from now.

   It's what pushes me to continue. To learn. To try new things.

   With this sport; Nothing is impossible.

Trick Complexity

   I started practicing frontside shuvits today. I've got my pop-shuvs down pretty good; so a buddy showed me the difference between shuvs and fs shuvs. It never occurred to me!!

   The complexity of tricks has really captured me. The board feel and foot control amazes me!! It was so similar; but still SUCH a different trick. Almost night and day for me. I know, at some point in the near future, they will feel interchangeable. But for now, it's a whole new battle.

   I've also been working on varial flips. I can get the rotations; but can't keep the board under me. It's still awesome to feel myself getting closer to landing such a sweet trick. Combining different techniques, and seeing how they work together to flip the board in different ways.

   It's progress.

Enter The Concrete Jungle

   Me and some buddies visited a skatepark today for the first time since skateboarding. I've been to this same park hundreds of times on blades; but this was different. And when I say "different" .... I mean, very very different!

   Everything about the park felt foreign to me! The gaps seemed bigger. The ramps seemed steeper. I found myself at a loss of words. Here I was, day-dreaming about all the gnarly tricks I was going to try at this skatepark. And yet, I was frozen. Paralyzed.

   I psyched myself up, and dropped into the biggest bank there. Up until this point, I didn't see this as much of an obstacle. Again; I've ridden this park on blades hundreds of times. I'd go as far to say that I've THRASHED this park before. Completely shredded it and everything inside!

   The first bank I roll down, I fall and eat shit! Bent my big toe backwards

   It was slightly disheartening; but equally eye-opening. This was going to take time. Practice. Dedication. It wasn't a video game. It wasn't rollerblading. This was a whole new beast to conquer. And if I thought it was going to be easy; I was dead wrong.

   I will be back!

Flow

   I just watched a movie about happiness; and it really opened my mind about skating! They were speaking about FLOW, and the emotions we experience from doing something we love. Our brain lights up with activity when we push ourselves to accomplish difficult tasks. Something that is physically challenging. Something we do alone, with little material gain.

   Yet, we do it because we enjoy it.

   This type of activity is what truly makes people HAPPY. It's what allows us to escape from our stressful lives. It's what makes us appreciate the World. It pushes us on a personal level. It makes us want to improve. To be better.

   This FLOW they spoke of, is exactly what I experience when I'm skating. I felt it on rollerblades, and I feel it even more-so learning how to skateboard. It's like a drug. It's addictive.

You Can Skate Anywhere

   Went camping this weekend; and brought my board. It never ceases to amaze me, how much fun you can have with the most simple of locations. All I had was a blacktop driveway, 3 car widths wide by 2 car lengths long. I swept off all the leaves and sticks, and started rollin around. I found a 2x4 and some boxes, and set-up a hippy jump hurdle. Then I found a sheet of plywood, and laid it on a grassy hill near the edge of the blacktop. This made a perfect bank!!

   I shredded for hours!

   I'm really falling in love with the idea of DIY skate spots, and using basic materials to set-up little mini "parks" anywhere you go. It's incredibly liberating; and it really pushes your creativity and ingenuity as a skater. The possibilities exist everywhere!!

2+ Hours A Day

   Now I know why skateshoes come with so many pairs of laces!! I've already gone thru 3 pair!! My ankles and shins are thrashed. My deck is shredded. My shoes are shredded. And honestly, I've been having the best time of my Life!!

   I've dedicated myself to ATLEAST 2 hours of skateboarding a day. I can FEEL myself getting better. Comfortable. Consistent. I think about the short amount of time I've spent on a skateboard, and I get excited to see myself in months and years. 

   Progression is the name of the game!

   I went out and got a brand new deck, and a new pair of shoes. At first, it felt so sticky with new soles and new griptape. After 30 minutes of riding around, it felt incredible!!! At this rate; I'll be spending a good hunk of money this summer. But is it worth it? Hell, it's priceless!!!

Out Of Town

   Took a trip down to Toledo for the weekend. Safe to say, I brought my skateboard. That's one of my favorite perks of my board vs my blades... the transportability. With ease, I can step on my skateboard and ride around. Anytime, anywhere. I checked into the hotel room, and instantly went back outside to roll around in the parking lot.

   I decided to take a cruise thru the streets, in hopes of finding some other places to skate. The first thing that struck me was how differently I saw skatespots now that I'm boarding. I did plenty of street skating on my blades; but this was new. Some things that I would have loved to blade; were suddenly HUGE and SCARY and definitely "unskateable" for me and my current skill level on a skateboard. The opposite could be said, too. Things that would be "too small" or "boring" on blades, instantly were amazing opportunities!! 

   It really opened my eyes to the possibilities

Thru The Pain

   Happy to say I've got pop-shuvits down!! It took some practice; but I really like my execution now! A couple times, I really bashed my shins and ankle bones. In all my time blading, I've never had injuries like that. There's something to be said about a "first time" injury; and I'm sure this is only the first of many that I will experience skateboarding. And it sucked; however, it was still rewarding to push thru the pain and finally land my tricks!

Consistency

   Today was gorgeous out! I worked until 5pm, but was still determined to skate. I set up my cinderblocks into a 3x8 manny pad. Then I set two more blocks down the driveway, spaced out about 10 ft apart. It was so cool to ollie onto the manny pad... ride and ollie off.... then ollie the two other bricks, one right after the other. It was the first time that I've worked multiple tricks together into a line!! And it felt amazing!!!

   I'm excited to work on more tricks! I was doing some fakie ollies, hippy jumps, and pop-shuvits too. I have that feeling of I WISH I WAS BETTER but I still smile knowing I'm doing damn good for just beginning. Consistency is my goal.

Art vs Life

   After emerging myself into this skateboard culture, I've spent a lot of time watching and pondering it's evolution. It got me thinking about the actual philosophy of skateparks, and their progression. It's like the Art vs Life debate. Do these parks imitate the streets? Or, do skaters find elements in the streets that imitate obstacles to skate?

   When it all started; it was transitions, pools, and banks. In the late 80s, it turned into more "street" skating. Tricks evolved. Styles evolved. Staircases, handrails, drop ledges, and gaps. Skaters set out to prove that ANYTHING was skateable. The gnarlier, the better. All terrain. Short run-ups. Rough landings. It was all fair game! And being the "first" to land a trick somewhere; well, that was bragging rights. It took the sport in a whole new direction!!

   The same mindstate that took skating out of the backyard pools, is the same mentality that drives the new generation of skaters to find new and unique skate spots. Your typical stairsets and handrails just weren't enough anymore! Plus, an influx of laws in the 90s added "skate stops" to a lot of infamous spots. This forced skaters to be creative.

   The vision still lives. Every skater I know sees the World differently. They don't see it for what it is, or what it's "suppose to be." They see it for what it COULD be. How it could be skated. And it's that vision and foresight that sets Skaters apart from the rest of the World

Because It's Fun

   It's weird to think about skateboarding's popularity today. Some oldschool skaters say it's gone corporate. To some extent, their right. There are still tons of skater-owned companies; but even Nike is trying to get a piece of the rebellious pie.

   When skaters started, it wasn't "the thing to do." They did it because they loved it!

   I can definitely relate to that love. Hell, I'm 27 years old. I didn't start skateboarding to LOOK COOL, or GET FRIENDS or GO PRO! I'm past that point in my life. I don't do it for money, or fame. I do it because it's FUN! I genuinely enjoy every second of it. Even when I'm hurt. Even when I'm frustrated. I skateboard because it's FUN

   And that's how it should be!!

Real Progression

   I've been watching documentaries about skateboarding. It's still wild to me that, as similar as skating and skateboarding are... their differences are vast! Rollerblading may have a few landmark films; but the amount of films on skateboarding blow me away! I figured I could catch up on some history, anyways...

   The one thing I can honestly say is; wow! Not only was it an incredible start-up; but, you can see genuine progression from generation to generation. With-in 10 years, the sport had a revolution! It evolved to something that the beginners could have never imagined. Tricks. Styles. Hell, even SKATEPARKS started with skateboarding. They failed. Tried again. Got it right. Got it better. And then, continued raise the bar!!

   Now, you can literally pick from hundreds of thousands of talented teens; all equally progressive in the sport. Pushing the boundaries. Redefining the limits! And these kids are 12-16 years old!!! And they are the definition of a "professional athlete;"

   It makes me wonder how the sport will progress in 5 or 10 years!!!

All Damn Day

   Genuinely woke up, and skated ALL DAMN DAY today! It was incredible! My body has that sore, stiff, satisfied feeling after a long day of shredding. It started as just working on fundamentals. Honestly, my legs felt like crap. I could barely pop my ollies at first. But I kept skating and skating and I'd take a break and then skate again. Within an hour or so, I felt loosey goosey. I wanted to test the limits of my ollie...

   I set up a brick. Laid it down, short ways at first. Hit it 5 or 6 times, no problem. Stood the brick on it's side and tried. Knocked the brick over the first few times; but finally, got it no problem! It felt so good to do something so simple. The coordination, timing, and balance needed... it motivated me to get even better!!! Before I knew it, I had set up a slew of cinder blocks into a DIY driveway skatepark of ledges, banks, and steep drop-ins. I found myself occupied for hours, and it was amazing!!

   A bruised in-step; some bruises on my skins and ankle, and some roadrash palms.... all in all, today was a great day!! I took a few spills (reminders to start wearing my wrist guards) but the pain reminded me of why I even started! To do something great, you've gotta fall down. If it was easy, everybody would do it!!!!

Possibilities & Opportunities

   Stepped on a buddy's longboard for the first time today; and WOW! So smooth!! I'm definitely gonna need to add that to the list of things to get soon. I like the idea of having a few different set-ups; my popsickle board for street; and gnarly 80's style ripper for pools and mini ramps, a nice longboard for cruising; and maybe even a dirt board with some offroading wheels for downhill trail riding!

   If you get creative, the world is full of crazy skatespots. The possibilities seem endless when you really look at all the opportunities out there!

The Simple Things

   I can actually FEEL myself getting more comfortable on a skateboard. At the end of todays session, I decided to get a little froggy! I grabbed a nearby brick, and tried to ollie over it a few times!! I had plenty of height... and I kept landing it, but it was sketchy! That was the first time I ever tried rolling up to something and doing a trick. It takes a lot more focus and timing than skates; that's the biggest thing I noticed. Either way, it was a lot of fun to attempt! I've never gotten so much enjoyment out of a simple brick lol skateboarding is definitely going to change the way I look at ordinary objects

Just Enjoy It

   Today was the first time that I had the "why am I doing this?" feeling lol And I didn't even fall or anything, I actually enjoyed myself the short amount of time I got to skate! But I wondered, impatiently, when I was going to be able to "do more tricks" and all that bs. Got lost from the genuine sportsmanship of it for a second! Came back to reality lol I JUST STARTED! I've already really had a learning curve, too! I can't expect myself to jump out of the screen of a Tony Hawk video game lol or the cover of Thrasher Magazine! Some folks spends years and years of their life skateboarding; and can't land a kickflip (or whatever) it's not about that! It's about the artistry of using YOUR tricks and what you DO know, on WHATEVER is infront of you. That's the universal beauty of skating and skateboarding and bmx and snowboarding etc! It takes years and years of dedications to achieve the level of control and talent that these pros have. BUT! Even after a few days, weeks, and months.. you see results.

   I'm not gonna say I've never seen a basketball. But it's like taking somebody whose barely got a layup or jumpshot; and expecting them to play with the NBA! That's unrealistic of myself to expect those kinds of results!!! Instead......I just smiled and enjoyed myself!

Going The Distance

   Had the plan to skate to this industry park that's a little less than a mile from my house. Got within sight of the street I needed to cross to enter the park, and my legs were already SCREAMING. Between working on my feet all day, and skating pretty hard the previous 5 days; I knew that if I didn't turn around now, I wouldn't make it home.

   I was right! I barely made it back to my driveway lol even had to honestly step off and walk for a block or two! It blew my mind how out of shape I felt! As "comfortable" as I felt the past few days.... this was a reality check. I had to keep working!!!

   I got home, hydrated, stretched, and got back out there. Back to the fundamentals. Ollie. Shuvit. Push push push, coast! I can feel the muscle memory; it's wild. I'm almost bummed out that I didn't stick with both sports earlier!

   Ended up finding a nice skatespot right down the street. It's not much, but it's enough to mess around on (for the time being) I also found a little line of small hills that I can bomb down! Got the speed wobbles and bit the dust twice lol But I guess that means I was going hard!! Smiled the whole time! Got back up and tried it again until I stuck it, and rode the jello legs all the way back home. Worked on some more ollies in the driveway before I came in for the night.

Back To The Basics

   Beautiful day to skate!! I've been out there really working my ollies back in. I'm already comfortable rolling and olling 6-8" so thats got me geeked. I still get enjoyment from just crusing around. It's comparable to skating, but the difference is noticeable! My legs are snot, too. I can already tell the different muscles being used. Still no major spills but I assume it's only a matter of time. I keep trying shuvits and pop-shuvits. Landed some. Sketched some. Getting anxious to "GO SKATE" but I catch myself and just focus on the fundamentals. I honestly feel damn near as comfortable or "good" as I was in the past, meaning, I'd consider THIS my starting point. I can remember messing around in the past and doing a sketchy FS 180 ollie; but I haven't really dared to try that yet. As said, I'm just gonna stick to the fundamentals.

Whining

   It's raining. I'm pissed. I feel like a little kid who wants to use his new toy.

And So, It Begins..

   Went and got a board today!! I didn't have a real preference for any brands, so I just picked up a shop deck complete from the local board shop. Dude was real cool, and we talked for awhile about what I was doing. He recommended I get some good shoes to skate in, so I don't tear up all my normal kicks. Something I hadn't considered!! All in all, got tightened up for under $150 with a skate tool. Walked away smiling!

   Cruised around my subdivision as soon as I got home. The new house I just bought is in the back of a cul-de-sac, and it has some real nice pavement. It's nestled at the bottom of a gradual hill, too... perfect for carving around. It took a half hour or so, but I'm already fairly familiar with coasting on the board. As I said before, I've rode around on a board before; but that was the extent of it. My injured ankle is my planted foot (right foot - I ride goofy) and it seemed a little stiff at first... but eventually loosened up.

   I'm amazed at the simple enjoyment I've already gotten. Carving back and fourth (I've never been surfing) feels incredible. All the technique put into something as simple as ollieing and lifting the board in the air. I'm accustom to just JUMPING when I wanted to go up!! This was an obvious difference that I was going to need to handle... but it fascinated me, the physics behind it all. Even just cruising the streets puts a smile on my face! Something I wouldn't normally be able to get from just buckling up some blades and skating in circles!!

It's A Brave New World

   I've decided to learn how to skateboard...... at 28 years old! Now I know that might seem crazy to a lot of people; but it makes perfectly good sense to me. It also only makes sense to blog about the entire experience; from major air to major fail. So, here I am!!

   SOME QUICK BACKGROUND: I'm a middle class, blue collar worker from the southwest suburbs of Detroit, Michigan. I'm a musician, whose recently decided to take a break from the music business. This has offered me a tremendous amount of new-found free time. I've always been fairly athletic, and played a variety of sports growing up. Eventually, I feel in love with aggressive inline skating. At one point, I stopped playing hockey to focus on rollerblading. I never dedicated myself enough to "go pro" but its something I always enjoyed. I'm not amazing, but I'm probably a bit more comfortable than your average beginner or intermediate. Enough to have fun at skate parks and skate spots.

   As with a lot of things as we grow up, I slowly skated less and less until it stopped completely. It was odd, however... because skating would occasionally pop back into my life for short spurts. A little at college. A little when my kid was born. And here we are again; after a 2 year hiatus. After a bruised tendon in my ankle. After a hernia surgery. I stand here, again, with the itch to lace up.

   There's something magical about skating. It transcends you to a higher level of thinking. It transforms you into a mythical warrior. An artist. An airborne bird, riding on the jet stream. Even if you're not doing the craziest trick. Even if there is no audience or camera man. There is something to be said about That feeling. The only way I can describe it would be "freedom." A noun that most people think they have, but very few have ever really felt. It's the sense of physical accomplishment after working out, mixed with the creative achievement of painting or sculpting. Its an adrenaline rush; but it's also zen. Its meditation to skate.... and I was itching for it!! But this was a different "itch" this time. For some reason, this time, I wanted to try my hand at skateboarding.

   Now, if you remember skating and skateboarding from in the 90s; you'll know that what I'm doing is kinda sacrilegious. Most folks then (and some still now) picked their sides and stuck to it. Insults. Bias. Fist fights. Something I've never really understood, because I've always found awesomeness and beauty in ALL extreme sports. I've always, personally, preferred rollerblading.... but I always had friends who did snowboarding, bmx, skateboarding, etc! I'll always respect somebody doing what they love!

   And with that being said, I'LL ALWAYS STILL ROLLERBLADE TOO! I'm significantly better at skating than skateboarding, and so it provides a different type of enjoyment for me when I go to a good skatepark or skate spot. But for now, I want to give a genuine attempt at skateboarding! I can cruise around pretty proficiently, but I would like to get better!

   My goal is to be able to do a basic grind by the end of this coming summer. That's 4-6 months of good practice and honest dedication. As I said before, I've got a slight learning curve... but I'm also quite prepared to fall on my ass as expected! I'm willing to get a little hurt, in the name of expanding my horizons a little bit. I'm also excited to see how much it will improve my balance and coordination when blading. All in all, it will be a fun learning experience.

   My purpose for this blog is to maybe inspire somebody else out there who wants to try something similar but it worried about being "too old" to start. A year ago, I completely quit smoking cigarettes. Since then, I've been convinced that anybody can do anything if they put their mind to it. Hope you enjoy reading, and thank you for checking out my webpage!! I'll be posting pictures and videos of my progress when I feel it's suitable. Wish me luck!!!!!!