After my first full day of working from home thanks to Coronavirus I met Dave at Louisville park. It had been snowing lightly off and on all day, but it was dry when we started. And boy was it a rough start for me. I should probably warm up at skatepark more though, because pumping around and stuff felt good. Dave was doing cool pole jam bonks off the side of the rainbow rail and front noseslides. I started hucking the trick Dave challenged me to, nollie front bigs over the hip. Dave was ollieing onto the pad to get into the bank so I started trying too. It was embarrassing how many tries it took me to get onto it. And when I started to commit they were sketchy. Oh well, it felt good to ollie again. Dave had some cool feebles, nose stalls, axle stalls on the bank to curb. I had settled in on a line of switch nose jib, ollie onto the pad then nollie front big over the hip. I was super hyped to get it. Thanks for filming Dave! He got a really cool line too of pole jam, nollie into the weird bank, then back 180 fakie 50. Tech Dave. I took a long time to get super slow front 50s on the lowest part of the ledge, but managed to get a fun line of front 50, boardslide the flat bar, then go around and noseslide to fakie the bank to curb. Dave did another line which I am spacing on right now. Then the snow kicked in again, but it didn’t stop Dave from doing a sick tailslide then pop shove fakie. Fun day in that I felt like I got a little confidence back finally.

(setup 8.38 null curby deck, venture 5.8 cast baseplate with titanium hanger, 51mm bones stf v1 with all speed washers on the outside of the axle, bones medium bushings, jessup ultra grip, new balance numeric 913 westgates black/yellow size 12, footprint gamechanger low profile orthotic insoles, incrediwear knee sleeve)
(pain level 5/10)

Carleigh talked me into going to the dog park on a nice and breezy day. After a short power nap in my car I rolled into a very crowded park excited to be there for the first time in quite a while. I took it very easy for awhile, just doing some boardslides, but they felt good. Up/down the escalator curb, on the butter bench, the flat bar, the cinder block ledges. I was happy to get a couple slow front 50s on the low step, noseslides on the top part, a couple crook on the cinder block benches. Took awhile to get a line of front 180 the manhole then halfcab noseslide the bench. Carleigh had shown. She may have manualled the little pad, some boardslide, noseslide, landed on halfcab flip! Veronica charges. Street Saul was in effect. He had a better ollie onto the little pad than me and a bunch of excellent slappies. Josh was there with some nice front boards and I saw a close 360 flip attempt. I was happy to go back there and hope my knees continue to improve enough to really try again.

(setup 8.38 null curby deck, venture 5.8 cast baseplate with titanium hanger, 51mm bones stf v1 with all speed washers on the outside of the axle, bones medium bushings, jessup ultra grip, new balance numeric 913 westgates black/yellow size 12, footprint gamechanger low profile orthotic insoles, incrediwear knee sleeve)
(pain level 5/10)

After work I chilled for a bit then met the Dave’s and Saul across the street for some much needed curb therapy. I felt no confidence at the start and was scared bashing into/out of slappies, but it would come. Saul was quick on the great slappies. He had some good ollies up curbs too. He said he had knee pain too. That’s my excuse Saul. Ha. I really like how Fuller warms up and feels out hard tricks on the escalator parts of he curbs. Tricks like switch crooks, switch 50s to tail, etc. He would get some really good slappy crooks, slappy crooks shove, noseslides. He tried slappy crooks to switch 5-0, seemed doable. Also got into front blunts, had nollie front 180s off the curb cut. Luzius had broken his board earlier so was on a cruiser. He still had some nice manuals, back 5-0’s, front tails, back bigspins. He can do anything. I had fun with slappies both ways, slappy crooks both ways. Didn’t ollie much until the end which is a good sign since I was able to skate for a couple hours. I’m not sure if it’s the cupsoles with orthotics or the new Incrediwear knee sleeve I’m wearing, but my knees felt better at the session went on. There is hope for my knees! I got really mad that I couldn’t ollie into a front 50 at one point, then did back 50 and front 50. It felt great to ollie in even if it’s just a curb. Dave did a line of slappy crooks then nollie front 180 off the curb cut. I took a few tries to get his back with slappy front crook then nollie back 180 off the curb cut. I could only do the nollie back 180 going slow, not over the crack. Oh well. It was a fun session and I feel optimistic about skating again. Grinding concrete is such a great feeling.

(setup 8.38 null curby deck, venture 5.8 cast baseplate with titanium hanger, 51mm bones stf v1 with all speed washers on the outside of the axle, bones medium bushings, jessup ultra grip, new balance numeric 913 westgates black/yellow size 12, footprint gamechanger low profile orthotic insoles, incrediwear knee sleeve)
(pain level 6/10 my knees kind of allowed me to skate now I just have to get some confidence back)

On a nice day Ollie and I went to campus to skate whatever. We started in on the meet up curb. I had a fun few slappy crooks. Ollie had that nice manual. We hit the narrow downhill path for a bit. The rock isn’t there anymore. Ollie did his trick from The Stubborns (manual). I came close to nose manual. We did some grass rises then ended up at the mellow flagstone bank. Ollie came close to ollieing into it which mostly resembled a manual which would have been even sicker. He also got up to rock ‘n roll a couple times. I was able to ollie onto it without too much knee pain and did boneless, bean plant, ollie to fakie, almost nollie shove to fakie. We moved on and ended up on the main road through campus messing around with a little gap and 2 stair area. I had zero confidence in my ollies and took longer than Ollie to get the two foot flat gap. Ollie almost got it to manual. He had some front 180s down the two. I tried a line of ollie the flat gap, front 50 a stair, nollie back 180 off the two. Never got the nollie back 180, but it felt doable if I had some confidence. Then I watched Ollie battle kickflips. It took him ~90 tries to get it. It was cool to see him so motivated to do one and even cooler to see him land it so good. That was pretty much the end of the skating.

(setup 8.38 null curby deck, venture 5.8 cast baseplate with titanium hanger, 51mm bones stf v1 with all speed washers on the outside of the axle, bones medium bushings, jessup ultra grip, new balance numeric 913 westgates black/yellow size 12, footprint gamechanger low profile orthotic insoles)
(pain level 6/10 my knees kind of allowed me to skate now I just have to get some confidence back)

Out to punish myself I went to a basketball court with Dave after work. It was quite nice out. He had his girls with him and since the hockey rink had people in it we started on a smooth, but small basketball court. I was kind of more interested in playing basketball with his daughters than trying to skate. I guess I was afraid of how bad my knees would hurt. We kinda skated awhile. Some other dads had started playing basketball too so we had very limited space. We were both hurting and it showed, not much went down. I was wearing Westgates with orthotic insoles and it seemed to reduce the pain somewhat. After awhile the hockey rink cleared out and we went over there. I had hucked a few tricks. I think I only landed kickflip, halfcab flip and fakie flip as far as flippers. I was going to leave, but Dave challenged me to SK8. It ended up being a fun game. He got me with switch back 180 and something else. I got him with fakie flip, something else and won it on halfcab flip.

(setup 8.38 null curby deck, venture 5.8 cast baseplate with titanium hanger, 51mm bones stf v1 with all speed washers on the outside of the axle, bones medium bushings, jessup ultra grip, new balance numeric 913 westgates black/yellow size 12, footprint gamechanger low profile orthotic insoles)
(pain level 7/10 my knees suck)

My last day in Hawaii :(.  I was quite sad as I packed my things.  After another nice swim we ended up at the ledge spot from yesterday because I really wanted to skate it.  I started feeling okay again.  Managed some ollies up the curb and boardslides, but the knee went twang again and I was done.  Argh.  I filmed Neil with my camera get the same line and it was good.  Fakie ollie up the curb all steezy, halfcab noseslide, crooks shove.  Nate took a bit longer, but also got a good line of back 180, switch boardslide pop out, front board pop out.  We didn’t skate anymore that day.  It was super nice out, we went snorkeling and saw some lovely sights on the beach.  I miss Hawaii a ton already, but looking forward to getting my legs working again.  

(setup 8.38 null curby deck, venture 5.8 cast baseplate with titanium hanger, 51mm bones stf v1 with all speed washers on the outside of the axle, bones medium bushings, jessup ultra grip, new balance numeric 306 foy blue/white size 12, sole orthotic insoles)
(pain level 9/10 knee pain argh)

On a rainy morning we were up early and did our swim.  We were up because we wanted to enjoy our last day with Josh as he had an afternoon flight.  We struck out at the 3 pipes spot because it was wet, then killed some time as it rained buying tourist things for out families.  Then we ended up at some target manny pads.  I had gone searching for other stuff while those guys skated the pads.  My legs were seemingly kind of working.  They got kicked out of the manny pads and I described a nearby hip/curb spot I found and we cruised it for a bit.  Nate had some ollies up to ride on grinds.  Josh some 180s and switch noseslide down the curb.  My legs worked enough for me to do a line of shove it, slappy crook, powerslide.  I was stoked though.  

Next we went to the DIY spot called Zones.  We did some sweeping and it was in good shape.  I almost died on the weird drop in.  Neil and Josh did double rock ‘n rolls.  Nate felt some things out.  I was feeling pretty sore already, but started going in on a weird/slippery part of the bank trying kickflip to fakie.  We were running late and luckily we were right by the airport because I took a long time to get one.  But man it felt cool to finally try a trick I was happy with on this trip.  

After dropping off Josh we ended up at a cool little ledge spot.  It was kind of a dream spot for me.  Good asphalt, low curb to do tricks up and two lowish ledges that looked good for crooks.  But my body did not get beyond the warm up phase.  I managed a couple boardslides and a very slow line of noseslide to fakie then switch front noseslide.  I filmed Neil and Nate get some lines but unfortunately I wasn’t used to Neil’s lens and I cut both of their feet off.  Argh.  Sorry guys.  

(setup 8.38 null curby deck, venture 5.8 cast baseplate with titanium hanger, 51mm bones stf v1 with all speed washers on the outside of the axle, bones medium bushings, jessup ultra grip, new balance numeric 306 foy blue/white size 12, sole orthotic insoles)
(pain level 8/10 knee pain argh)

With rain threatening again we went to the school with the fun ledge and two stair.  There was a puddle in front of the two stair and someone sitting on the bench so we found some new ledges to skate in the hallway.  They were kinda tall but slid and grinded well.  I had done noseslide and crooks and was feeling better about the day.  I tried a couple wallride nollies down a 3 stair as Paul tried wallrides.  My knee went twang.  Did a line of crooks then front 180 the 3 stair. Then a few minutes later when landing a noseslide the pain in my right knee went through the roof.  I knew I was done for the day.  Ugh, such a bummer.  Josh had some nice front boards.  Neil was doing front shoves easy, noseslides.  Paul had nice noseslides too.  Nate got a line of boardslide pop out, nollie 180, halfcab, front board off the 2 stair.  Neil got a line too that involved a noseslide and front 180 down the 3.  I filmed at the bench for awhile.  Josh got a cool line of noseslide to fakie then switch noseslide to fakie off the two.  Paul got a front halfcab noseslide.  Nate switch crook, nollie front tail.  

We found an insole store nearby and I got some orthotics to hopefully help, but the pain didn’t subside so it didn’t really matter this day.  We went to the downhill school.  I basically only bombed the hill.  Neil got a rad line with halfcab noseslide, tailslide, nosebonk, kickflip and nosegrind.  Dang!!!  Nate did front board pop outs everytime the camera was not pointed at him.  Paul was casually killing it and had a funny fall trying to manual a ledge with low branches.  In the end Josh and Nate tried flip ins for awhile.  Josh got super close to kickflip noseslide, Nate to nollie flip front nose.  

Then we stopped by Wallows not expecting much of anything.  To our surprise the upper part of the ditch was dry and we battled kickturns on the steep rough walls.  That place is crazy and it was amazing to finally see after some 30+ years of wanting to go there.  Josh and Neil killed it by carving over a pipe.  I had some fun kickturns and even tried to kickflip going uphill off the waterfall onto the bank.  But the roughness and the wind made that impossible.  Nate had some rad turns too.  I was happy my body let me skate for a few minutes even though it was incredibly painful.  

(setup 8.38 null curby deck, venture 5.8 cast baseplate with titanium hanger, 51mm bones stf v1 with all speed washers on the outside of the axle, bones medium bushings, jessup ultra grip, new balance numeric 306 foy blue/white size 12, nike sb zoom air insoles)
(pain level 9/10 knee pain argh)

With rain threatening we went to a school since it was a Saturday.  It was a rad spot, a bunch of tallish benches in a row, a round ledge, a mini kicker and some other random stuff.  It was a hard warm up spot.  Paul and Jeff had joined and shortly so would Dave.  Neil was ripping it, flowing lines, getting front 50s, noseslides, wallies.  Josh had some really good front tails on the round ledge.  Nate had front 50 on it, but was scared of the back 50.  I had really only done switch front noseslides, a couple noseslides and a crook when knee pain became too much.  I went off to stretch and the rain struck. 

Off to a weird bank spot where we barely started to get warmed up when the rain started again.  This time it was like a wall of rain and we got a little soaked.  

Off to another school with a mini bench, some normal benches and a kicker.  I had taken a couple Alleve and felt less pain, but kinda numb.  The four of us skated the mini bench for awhile.  Josh took a bit to get back 50.  Neil had some front tails and 50s.  Nate front 50, front tail fakie, nollie tail, probably more.  I got to the point where I could kind of flip my board and managed a couple front 50s.  Got two lines.  Halfcab flip then 50 and fakie flip then switch nose.  We went over to the kicker area where Paul, Dave and Jeff were skating.  Dave was almost getting monster tres off the kicker.  Paul did a super sick front shove, 180s, ollies.  Neil did a sick line of shove then 50.  Josh got some good back 180s.  Also a rad line of front 180 then halfcab noseslide.  I had posed a few kickflips, but had to give up because of knee pain.  Nate went all in on a line.  Ollie over the kicker then front board 270 shove.  He got so close.  He cracked his board and still battled.  But ultimately he had to give up and put that cracked board out of it’s misery.  
It was a tough day.  Skate trips are hard when you’re older.  But man warmer weather, the crew and swimming in the ocean sure are awesome.

(setup 8.38 null curby deck, venture 5.8 cast baseplate with titanium hanger, 51mm bones stf v1 with all speed washers on the outside of the axle, bones medium bushings, jessup ultra grip, new balance numeric 306 foy blue/white size 12, nike sb zoom air insoles)
(pain level 9/10 ugh)

After some cool sight seeing we ended up at the gnarliest transition spot I’ve probably ever skated. Sheepside. We did a little sweeping, and started with the smallest kickturns every. What seemed impossible initially became obtainable. We had the place to ourselves which really helped. Paul joined us. Josh was the first to get the rock in roll in the window. He was doing some good lines and would get front rock too (video coming at some point). Neil was cruising fast. He had some really high carves on the big mellow wall and came close to front slash on one of the gnar walls. Nate was cruising too, it was rad. He was getting pretty high up the walls too. Paul had a nice ollie to fakie on his first run on the big mellow wall, he would later do a switch ollie to fakie too. I was in quite a bit of pain, but managed to have fun and get a rock ‘n roll that I had to push into. Nate and I started playing with the weird roll in and both did it. Then I took like 20 tries to drop into the roll in and lined it out with the rock ‘n roll. That was a highlight for me for sure. Nate and Paul would get the drop in too, in way less tries than me.

Then we went to Chuck’s (owner of 808). He had a backyard setup that rules. A bigger 5 foot quarterpipe without much deck then a 3-4 foot quarterpipe with a hip. The setup is on a hill so it makes for some crazy lines. Unfortunately Paul had to leave. Chuck wanted no photos/video taken and it kinda made it more fun anyway. It took awhile for us to get some lines. Well, not neil as he had been there before. He was somehow generating speed out of nothing. He had front lips over the hip, front tail, slashes on the 5′, nollie back Neil’s. It’s hard to remember as I’m writing this over a week later. Josh was quick on the proper 50s on the 5′. All the qps were noping and they felt rad to grind. Josh did back lip over the hip, back tail, back 50. A lot more I’m forgetting. He shredded that place. Chuck rules. He’s a super fun dude to skate with and the vibe was super rad the whole time. He had some sick moves like front truck grinds to fakie, crooks, amazing front 5-0s over the hip, halfcab boardslides the 5′, learned layback 5-0s. Awhile into the session he called out ‘someone has to do a non flatground flip trick before you leave’. Nate was the first to take him up on it after getting to close to front 5-0 over the hip. Nate would get a kickflip over the frontside hip. He actually got two of them. I had a ton of fun. I would get a little front feeble then front disaster over the hip in a line. The carve into the hip was so fun. I also got a front 50 over the hip. Josh and I battled the flip tricks for a long time and Chuck was in with us for awhile. Chuck was trying f/s over the hip like Nate, Josh was trying b/s over the hip, I was trying kickflip fakie over the hip. Josh was doing them like a vert skater. Popped up over the lip and sucked up all stylee. I was doing them way under the lip, but as Chuck said “they are in the grey so they count” (the flat was tan, the qps were grey). Josh and I battled for quite awhile, both getting incredibly close, but ultimately we gave up. My knees had both started acting up fierce. What a super fun session though. Actually the whole day was amazing. Thanks for setting it up Neil. Dream crews.

(setup 8.38 null curby deck, venture 5.8 cast baseplate with titanium hanger, 51mm bones stf v1 with all speed washers on the outside of the axle, bones medium bushings, jessup ultra grip, adidas city cup burgundy/gum size 12, nike sb zoom air insoles)
(pain level 6/10 knee pain then 8/10 by the end)