I’ve been wanting 8.25″ trucks for a long time. I keep switching between 8 and 8.5 inch trucks. Found out it will be awhile longer before Venture releases 8.25s so I got some Thunders. I’m not a huge Thunder fan anymore, but they skate somewhat similar to Venture as compared to Indy. So I went to Saul’s with new trucks knowing it would be a struggle. Especially with the pain I was in. The first few runs were good though, the trucks turn tighter than Ventures. Carve grinds felt good. Eventually I would start to flail like someone should with new trucks and I started to get sore so I mostly slacked. Saul was ripping some carve grinds, back 50s in spots he didn’t use to stand up on, front slashes on the bricks, getting in to front 50s. Eric had some fire since it’s been a long time since he’s skated and was doing some really good back 50s and front slashes, but couldn’t quite get the back tail. Doh.

Then I went to research for a brief one. I was so sore. Did a few noseslides. Couldn’t switch front nose. Tried a line for awhile of ollie up the curb, little cali grind then crook. Got a couple crook bonks before getting a decent crook and went home. The Thunders felt really good ollieing up the curb so I’ll keep them for another day at least.

(setup 8.25 null jack spanbauer deck, thunder 148 raw trucks, stock bushings, spitfire 101a 51mm F4 wheels, nbnumeric PJ 533v2 black/white/gold 11.5, spenco 3/4 thinsoles with stock insoles)

It was raining hard and I was feeling kind of lazy, but not so lazy to avoid skating. I went into the garage. Did a few manual warm ups then went into flip trick mode. The goal in the garage is to try tricks I can’t normally do because I have to go so slow. But instead I tried basic ones and got stuck on them. Kickflip and fakie flip were quick. Heelflip took forever. B/s flip and f/s flip weren’t too bad, but the ones I “landed” were terrible. Varial flip took too long, Tried fakie tre for awhile and got remotely close. Hucked nollie back heel for awhile, not close at all. Went in sore and wondering why I made flip tricks so much harder with the wide trucks (hint hint you know a change is coming).

(setup 8.25 null jack spanbauer deck, venture 5.8 trucks, venom 90a bushings, spitfire 101a 51mm F4 wheels, 3 washers on the outside of each axle, nbnumeric PJ 533v2 black/white/gold 11.5, spenco 3/4 thinsoles with stock insoles)

Met Rob and then Dave at Steelyards. I had played football with Ollie and was pretty sore doing that for some reason. But I still went skating. Or at least tried to go skating. The parking lot was pretty happening. I had put the tall/wide Venture axles on because I was hoping it would help my lack of pop. But as it would turn out I wouldn’t really get to the point of popping. I did manage to manual the pad the long way and a couple of kickflips, but the pain got the best of me and I would end up giving up on skating. Oh yeah Rob and I each did wallie/nollies into the parking garage. It was really fun and a little scary going into the dark. I watched Rob and Dave for awhile. Donnie randomly showed up for the furniture store and skated with us for awhile. Everyone was skating in their own unique way. Rob was doing nose manuals easy, manuals, nose manual 180, some type of caveman manual thing, kickflips, back 180s, ripping. Dave was trying front 180 nose manual, got fakie shove up the curb, was doing bigspins on flat. Donnie rips, tried manuals to wallride, was popping up to axle stall on the light post, trying halfcab flip manuals.

We got the boot after awhile. Rob and I tried to coordinate a quick double wallie/nollie for a photo. It didn’t work so well. My knee had totally locked up. We did get a “make” which I’ll post on the nullogram, but this grab is actually my favorite.

Then we looked at google and went to this bank to curb. I did a few scary rock ‘n rolls and decided to sit and watch Rob and Dave. Rob was going for back tail, but kept going Suski. The angles at this spot are weirder than it looks. Dave did a couple nosepick to fakie tricks, maybe a front crunt before realizing he was late for a radio program and ran off. Ha, good ol’ Dave.

setup 8.25 null jack spanbauer deck, venture 5.8 trucks, venom 90a bushings, spitfire 101a 51mm F4 wheels, 3 washers on the outside of each axle, nbnumeric PJ 533v2 black/white/gold 11.5, spenco 3/4 thinsoles with stock insoles)