skate journal: solo frustration at southern hills (June 11, 2012)
Pretty hyped on skating all day after PJ won BATB5. Kinda wanted a solo session and went to Southern Hills. I did all the things I normally do throughout the day to feel good. Rode the bike at work for a bit, stretched, walked for awhile, etc. But when I got on my board it felt horrible. I’m still getting used to the new shoes, but clearly it was more then that. My knees were stiff and it felt like I had ankle weights on. Ugh, arthritis sucks. I tried to skate hard, but multiple bails while setting up for tricks is tough on the confidence. I stuck with it and did a few things I should be somewhat proud of in hindsight. But everything was done poorly and even slower than normal for me. Noseslides and crooks were the only decent tricks with speed. The crooks hyped me up because I wasn’t just doing the end of the ledge, I was getting on at the start. Granted I wasn’t grinding all the way, but it was cool. Other tricks I got on the ledge, front 50, front nose, front nose fakie, front board, front 50 180 out, noseslide 180 out (so bad) and a weird crooks to fakie. Flatground was bad too. In total I got a bunch, but it took a long time and they were slow as hell. Kickflip, heelflip, varial flip, fakie big flip, fakie heelflip, 360 flip, f/s halfcab heelflip (PJ inspired minus a half) halfcab flips both ways. I left feeling pretty old. My body is not working so well. The arthritis seems pretty bad in my shoulders and knees right now. I can’t even throw a ball to Ollie without it hurting too much. Ugh.