After packing for a fun filled family road trip and setting up a new board after yesterdays board focus I intended to drive to Douglas. But then I saw Wilville and went with it. I had a new 8.25 deck and new wheels. Also forged baseplates instead of regular. I had done some research throughout the day in my journal and I’ve had come good days on this setup. But as expected starting out was not easy. I dropped into the middle bank a couple times then worked my way towards the ledge. A few BMXers showed up too which was kind of annoying watching the ledge get destroyed. Although maybe their pegs were plastic. Either way they weren’t overly nice so I’m glad they left quickly. I slammed on some noseslide and boardslide attempts. You know, really tech tricks. But things would come together at times. I did a line of halfcab flip, crook jib on the ledge then ride down the narrow bank. It was scary because my heel scraped the wall. Had a few boardslide pop outs on the narrow side, switch noseslides. Tried noseslide shove for awhile and got a sketchy one. Then I tried front 50s forever. They were so scary for me. Not only was the ledge tall, but it was dark and there are cracks everywhere. I would try a slow 360 flip on the way back. Normally I would bail it, but I landed on a few sketchy ones. At first I tried to front 50 the first part which meant ollieing from the bricks which was wavy and weird. Then I started coming in with a big angle and 50 the second part. It only took like 50 tries, but I started getting into it. I landed a really slow and bad one, but it made me happy. That is a tall ledge I’ve never 50’d before.

(setup 8.25 null perception deck, venture 5.8 lights black icon trucks, bones medium bushings, bones 51mm v1 stf, new balance numeric 212 black/white size 11, custom orthotic insoles)

Had about 30 minutes to skate. As I left work it seemed pretty nice out, maybe some rain in the distance. I went to the dog park. I was getting through some warm ups. Had done a line of kickflip, no comply 180, fakie flip when some rain drops started. Then it fully dumped. I focused my board and left.

(setup 8.38 null perception deck, venture black icon 5.8 trucks, 52mm oj ez edge wheels, venom 91a bushings, NB# 212 black/white size 11, spenco 3/4 thinsole orthoric and 5mm Footprint insole)

After work and some Chipotle I made it to the Loveland skatepark to meet Riley and Hayden. I was getting shirts from MRKT and luckily Hayden was kind enough to grab them for me and save me some driving. Although as we later found out it wasn’t really worth it. As I pushed into the park I saw Riley slam on a switch nose manual fakie flip out. It looked painful, but was still funny. Hayden showed up right after that. The motivation was low as this park kinda blows. Those dudes warmed up in the street area. I went over to that little spine and did a few little transfers. The air over it is fun even if it took me a few tries. Then in the ‘street’ area things started getting more crowded and crowded. There was a bunch of bikers there and they would literally sit with their pegs on the coping instead of up on the deck. Tools. I tried some lines with a trick on the tiny qp then b/s flip over the A frame. I got close to the b/s flip. My favorite qp trick was a front lip where I slid. I mean I haven’t done a lipslide in forever, only disasters. So to just slide it like it was nothing, granted it was only a few inches, felt great. My highlight though was easily when I was filming Riley and Hayden. As I was standing on the deck on my board I did something weird and forgot that the ground wasn’t level so I dove into the quarterpipe. I wish someone was filming that because I’m sure it looked hilarious. Anyways, Riley and Hayden were over it pretty quickly. That park has the worst scene. Even half the skaters wore headphones and cluelessly skated around with no regard of anyone else.

(setup 8.38 null perception deck, venture black icon 5.8 trucks, 52mm oj ez edge wheels, venom 91a bushings, NB# 212 black/white size 11, spenco 3/4 thinsole orthoric and 5mm Footprint insole)