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