Had to bring boards to 303. As usual I was slightly late. I wanted to skate a little before heading back. I started at this area just because I know it’s a good area for warming up and it’s close to free parking. I did a few lines to begin. Ollie off the ledge in the background, kickflip, front 180 the first stair, switch 180 the second. Switch 180 on flat, ollie up the first stair, back 180 the second, nosestall the ledge. Front 180 off the ledge, switch 180 off the first stair, back 180 off the second. I felt somewhat warmed up so I moved on.

Went a block over to this secret little gem. Well, not so secret, but if you skate it just right you can remain a secret from security. Just don’t go past the window and you can have a one push session at this ledge for awhile. I did a few crooks. They felt great, it just glides. I was working on crooks to fakie when a security guy nicely gave me the boot. Guess my plan didn’t work for all that long.

So I went across the street to this spot. Got a couple long front 50s that felt so fun and fun powerslides after. Bones wheels slide so much better then Spits. Then I got the boot from a security lady that was extremely upset. I told her to chill out and be nice next time. She didn’t like that. Oh well.

Then I hit this ledge for awhile. I had full range from the backside, but frontside I was limited by avoiding a window that security could see through. I did noseslide, noseslide to fakie and a couple horrible crooks. The worst frontside noseslide ever. Couldn’t get enough speed for front 50 and was too scared to do back 50. Partially because of the crack, partly because of the ash tray, but mostly because it’s tall. I was pretty beat at this point and started heading back to the car.

But then I found the ol’ Wells Fargo area had been totally redone! I thought security would be on my like flies on a rib roast, but no. I had 30 minutes before nicely getting the boot. On the curved ledge I did slow noseslide and noseslide to fakie. The curb was so good for slappy crooks. And somehow I struggled to ollie the little bush. I mostly just ended up trying to front 50 the ledge. It’s tall. I got into one grind, that was it, before getting the boot. Bummed at how hard taller front 50s are, but I’ve never been able to get on this ledge. It felt like I was making some progress before I had to leave. Not the most fun night, but as normal with street skating, the little I landed felt rewarding.

(setup: 8.25 null control room deck, venture v-hollows 5.2 hi with 3 washers inside, venom 91a bushings, 50mm bones stf V1 wheels, nbnumeric pj stratford 533 black/gum)

Went to the Research Center again with a bit more energy. This time I just went to the ledge. I started with noseslide, noseslide fakie, boardslide flop out. Crooks took awhile. Back 50s still suck, but I got a couple horrible ones. When I was going up the hill I mostly tried switch heels and I got pretty darn close often. Dream trick! Hopefully some day. I had some success with other flip tricks in the street below the ledge. No heelflips, but one horrible 360 flip. It’s been awhile since I’ve landed that one. The most frustrating part of the night was not being able to do a front 50. They felt like they would be easy, but they weren’t. Got a bad halfcab noseslide, tried to do one to fakie. Got a really bad crooks to fakie, some more crooks, not close to halfcab crooks or kick back 50. I left in a decent mood.

(setup: 8.25 null control room deck, venture v-hollows 5.2 hi with 3 washers inside, venom 91a bushings, 50mm bones stf V1 wheels, nbnumeric pj stratford 533 black/gum)

Went to the Research Center not feeling very energetic. I just wanted to skate flatground as it’s been a long time. I went to the back area that is lit really well and has some smooth concrete. I started trying some slappies on a parking block and didn’t get close at all. That was the beginning of the horribleness. I would get a few kickflips, halfcab flips, etc and the harder wheels generated more pop, but man, I didn’t not land anything somewhat hard for me. It was so frustrating. I left before focusing my board.

(setup: 8.25 null control room deck, venture v-hollows 5.2 hi with 3 washers inside, venom 91a bushings, 50mm bones stf V1 wheels, nbnumeric pj stratford 533 black/gum)