After work I met Jake and Kevin at Broomfield park.  Jake had already been there and was already stacking tricks on the black ledge.  Kevin and I had done some warm ups when Jake missed a crook.  So I said to Kevin ‘lets do crooks and beam him’.  Kevin did such a good crooks and stared at Jake who responded with ‘you jerk’ then Kevin pointed to me right as I did one too.  Ha ha.  Jake is obviously a good sport or we wouldn’t be doing that and we all had a good laugh.  Other than an accidental 5-0 turned shove out I would go on to have an absolutely terrible session.  It’s been a few days as I’m writing this so I’ll just leave it at that for me.  Jake ripped.  Front tails, front tail fakies, fakie back tail, f/s halfcab noseslide, front tail the steep bank, 5-0 to fakie on it too.  Kevin struggled with the typical Kevin tricks, but seemed to land everything else.  He took a bit to get switch nosegrind 180, nollie nosegrind. But of course his switch and nollie flips were super on point.

(setup null 8.5 plant life deck, jessup ultragrip, venture 5.8 trucks (red cast baseplate titanium hanger), venom bushings (88a big, 91a small one flat washer), spitfire f4 classic shape 99a 50mm wheels, new balance numeric 212 mustard size 11.5, footprint mid elite insoles)
(pain level 5/10 knees)

The day after taking my first day off of skating in 2021 I went to campus right after work. It was kind of warm and I knew I could find some dry patches and something to skate. I ended up at the new little downhill curb. I had a fun nollie front tail to get things started, but then I couldn’t kickflip. I would eventually get some, but they felt so bad. I went for a warm up line noticing there was still a little daylight left! The line I ended up getting was ollie up the curb, ollie down the 3, bad kickflip, better kickflip, front 50 front 180 out, bailed the halfcab flip. Then I ended up at the little bump to hill I recently hit with Rob and Jake. I wasn’t feeling too good. Pop shove was 2nd try, kickflip took like 5 tries. Fakie bigspin 2nd try. Halfcab flip took a long time, but I partially blame the darkness. I ended on front shove. I went to the double curb area. Tried to do manual, ollie the first one, ollie from the kicker off the next one. I had a tough time getting over that first curb. There’s an optical illusion making it look big. Anyway, when I finally landed it some pain shot through my right knee. Ugh. I called it a night and walked to my car. Arthritis sucks.

(setup null 8.5 plant life deck, jessup ultragrip, venture 5.8 trucks (red cast baseplate titanium hanger), venom bushings (88a big, 91a small one flat washer), spitfire f4 classic shape 99a 50mm wheels, new balance numeric 212 mustard size 11.5, footprint mid elite insoles)
(pain level 6/10)

After some slacking then a fun snowball fight with Ollie I drove to Willville to skate flatground in the remaining sun. I had forgotten to tighten my trucks which made things kinda hard. Kickflips still felt great through. I got fakie flips, took a bit to get halfcab flips, got a bad f/s halfcab flip first try, took awhile to get heelflip then did a few in a row, got a bad fakie bigflip, b/s flip, couldn’t get rick flip or treflip. I did skate with some motivation until about the time the sun went behind the flatirons. Then I was over it.

(setup null 8.5 plant life deck, jessup ultragrip, venture 5.8 trucks (red cast baseplate titanium hanger), venom bushings (88a big one no washer, 91a small one flat washer), spitfire f4 classic shape 99a 50mm wheels, new balance numeric 212 mustard size 11.5, footprint mid elite insoles)
(pain level 3/10)

After hitting 303 Kevin and I met up with Rob and hit Redder curbs. Kevin and I hit 303 because we had recent struggles and it’s never our fault, but instead our setup’s fault. Ha. I went back to 8.5 with 8.5 Ventures, but traded in some large 51mm wheels for some narrow 50mm wheels. I’ve never really done the big setup with tiny wheels before. Well, not that I know of. Kevin was also switching back from Thunder to Venture. We woke. We had intended to meet Rob on campus, but the snow was starting to pick up so Redder curbs it was. Warming up didn’t seem too bad for anyone. Rob was on the back 50s and no complies right away. Kevin was figuring out his setup with switch flips. My trucks were way too loose, but I was having fun. Slappies worked well and kickflips felt great. Almost had some fun b/s flips out of the little kicker. Kevin and Rob had nice back 180s. Rob and I had some wallie nollies, Rob had front tails too. Jack showed and quickly did impossibles, treflips, popped kickflips. He is so freaking good. Then he went on to learn f/s halfcab back 50 in a few tries, did like 10 of them in a row and casually added the no comply flip over the mega gap in a few tries. He also learned slappy crooks (of course doing shove out second try), did the most popped no comply 180s and fakie tre’d over the little median. Rob learned slappy front crooks! I ended up doing my first slappy crooks shove (i’ve only shoved out of regular crooks before). I also did a b/s flip over the little hip. I got kind of close to kick back tail on the curb. Near the end I started trying nollie back tail shoves. Most of them weren’t close and were embarrassingly slow and awkward. But out of nowhere I did one and it felt quite amazing. I may have even slid it a little. Kevin joined the learn slappy crooks party. He also took top honors in the slam department. He tried a no comply 180 and went down soooo hard. It was brutal. He also ollied the parking block gap, back lipped the parking block, halfcab bonk the median like it was nothing. Dave showed near the end still riding his putter. He went into noseslides, tails, quickly. I had kind of tuned out at that point and was ready to go. Dave apparently skated for like 2 more hours ha. So awesome.

(setup null 8.5 plant life deck, jessup ultragrip, venture 5.8 trucks (red cast baseplate titanium hanger), venom bushings (88a big one no washer, 91a small one flat washer), spitfire f4 classic shape 99a 50mm wheels, new balance numeric 212 mustard size 11.5, footprint mid elite insoles)
(pain level 4/10 mostly the cold causing the problems)

It was a warmish day, but as soon as that sun set it was crisp and a slight breeze felt cold. I met Rob, Darin, Sean, Jake and Kevin at Broomfield after work. Right out of the gate I struggled and would struggle super bad the whole time with the exception of some okay crooks on the black box. Rob, Sean and Darin were there before me. Sean and Darin were playing flippers. Sean rattled off a lot of them with so much style. The park was pretty crowded, but we were still treated with some Rob ripping. I don’t remember a lot of specifics from anyone. This seems to happen more when I’m in a funk. But this one was extra bad, I couldn’t even hardly land kickflip and didn’t get past fakie flip. I guess I had a front 180 into the little bank then halfcab noseslide first try. Rob was doing his laps around, back 50s, front noses, crooks, halfcab noseslides, boardslides, no comply back 360, etc. Darin took awhile to get a fakie flip, then him and Jake killed the quartapotty. Jake also did some front tails and 5-0s on the black ledge rather casually. Darin did back blunt on the qp, Jake did front noseblunt. I saw Darin trying back tail and fakie back tail on the black ledge. Good to see him getting past the qp. Jake and I tried f/s halfcab noseslides for awhile, he got closer. Kevin showed and did some of his tricks real quick like nosegrinds, switch manual, nollie nosegrinds. I did a fakie pivot fakie on the qp to make Jake happy. Then Kevin, Jake and I played hardflip for a bit. Kevin was mad at his foot for not flicking the way it used to. Jake made us laugh by wondering how f/s flip and hardflips were similar, because the board does the exact same thing silly. He’s into trying that trick more. I had a few commits, but never got both feet on. Keving ended on switch flip and I tried to as well, but didn’t have it. I’m over Thunders. I had no pop and my flip tricks disappeared so screw it.

(setup 8.25 303 deck, jessup ultragrip, thunder 148 HL, venom 88a big bushing, 91a small bushing, spitfire 52mm 99a f4 classic shape, 3 washers inside each axle, new balance numeric 212 mustard 11.5, footprint mid elite insoles)
(pain level 4/10 cold/knees/feet)

One of those nights where it’s still in the 30s, but felt colder.  I mean initially I felt alright.  I pushed for a bit and hit the sidewalk hill and ended up at the parking lot where Dave did the feeble transfer nose man. I started with some shoves and slappy stalls trying to line out to the dry yellow curb. Eventually getting a warm up line that made me happy of halfcab flip, smith stall transfer then ride down the median to front 180 off. Then I tried to manual off the 3 stair, but couldn’t do it. I settled for a little line of switch 180 off a curb then manual the downhill section, but not all of the way. It took way too long and for the record was the start of any doubts I have in Thunders. Then I went to the poorly lit Baker ledge. I couldn’t manual or nose manual that either. Argh. Got kinda close to back 50. Got a first try crooks and noseslides came easy. Front 50 was hard. My knees weren’t feeling very good. Some young kids showed up and kept going non-stop. I got my front 50 and bounced. Went to the nearby downhill curb. Tried to line out f/s halfcab flip then front 50 180 out. But I was struggling so bad with f/s halfcab flip that I just left and went home. It had gotten pretty cold.

(setup 8.25 303 deck, jessup ultragrip, thunder 148 HL, venom 88a big bushing, 91a small bushing, spitfire 52mm 99a f4 classic shape, 3 washers inside each axle, new balance numeric 212 mustard 11.5, footprint mid elite insoles)
(pain level 4/10 knees)

After being glued to PBS all day I went out into the garage for a quick one. I saw the old SWAB piece of plastic in the garage and figured I should skate it since the new Mike Katz album is so good. Did some 50s. Then tried a few fakie back 50s and got one with a b/s halfcab out. It was incredibly fun. Then I did a kickflip and a few back 50s and called it a night.

(setup 8.25 303 deck, jessup ultragrip, thunder 148 HL, venom 88a big bushing, 91a small bushing, spitfire 52mm 99a f4 classic shape, 3 washers inside each axle, new balance numeric 212 mustard 11.5, footprint mid elite insoles)
(pain level 3/10)

Right after work I went out to the garage for some flippers. Warming up was whatever, got kickflip and fakie flips then took awhile to get a sketchy halfcab flip. Moved on to b/s flip and heelflip then treflip. I got a couple bad ones, but was close to some fully rotated ones that felt good. Still breaking in the new shoes so there’s that too. I went for nollie varial flips for awhile and got the sketchy one in about 15 tries. I was hyped as I haven’t been able to land this on in a long time. Last thing was to try some switch flips. The first few were quite close, but then they disappeared so I went in for dinner.

(setup 8.25 303 deck, jessup ultragrip, thunder 148 HL, venom 88a big bushing, 91a small bushing, spitfire 52mm 99a f4 classic shape, 3 washers inside each axle, new balance numeric 212 mustard 11.5, footprint mid elite insoles)
(pain level 3/10)

Was not gonna skate, but still floating around the idea of going for 365 in 2021 so I went to the curb on a nice afternoon. And it was super fun. Just did a few slappies, kickflips. I’m liking the Thunders. I had a new pair of the 212s. This time in an ugly bright mustard color.

(setup 8.25 303 deck, jessup ultragrip, thunder 148 HL, venom 88a big bushing, 91a small bushing, spitfire 52mm 99a f4 classic shape, 3 washers inside each axle, new balance numeric 212 mustard size 11.5, footprint mid elite insoles)
(pain level 3/10)

On a really nice morning I met up with Rob, Kevin, Mike, Eric, Dave F and eventually Sean at dog park.  I was on my 3rd setup change of 2021 already.  Well, just a truck swap out, but that’s pretty huge.  I want flips to be easier so I’m going with some Thunder 148s.   And boy did they flip good at first for me.   After some rolling around to warm up I would have several first try flippers.  Kickflip, heelflip, halfcab flip, b/s flip and some others that came in a few tries.  Front 50s felt good on low stuff, but I struggled with the taller ledge for a reason I don’t know.  Crooks felt extra good.  I had a fun line of front 180 the parking block, halfcab flip on flat, front 50 back 180 the little guy.  Everyone seemed to be skating well.  I saw Rob get some halfcab noseslides on the taller ledges.  He also had two really bad slams in a row.  One on a back 50 body varial out that was looking so good until the last second when he hung and slammed so hard.  I haven’t seen him bounce off the ground like that in a long time.  Then on the next attempt he hit a stop rock and went down hard again.  Argh!  He kept skating though, front 50s, first try kickflip, much more.  Dave was in demo mode.  Everytime I’d see him he was landing something crazy.  Front crooks to fakie, switch crooks to forward, front 50 back 180 transfer the beam, halfcab back 50 back 180 out, halfcab boardslide several parking blocks to fakie and much more I’m forgetting right now.  Kevin and Mike were ripping the ledges.  Nosegrinds, nollie nosegrinds, back tails, back smiths.  Kevin did back smith the tall bench then back 180 nosegrind the cinder block I think.  Wowsers.  Kevin and Mike did back to back back smiths on the tall bench at one point and I got their back with a tiny crook jib.  I couldn’t get a fakie nosegrind to save my life.  I’m not sure why.  I tried some switch front crooks and failed, was close to rick flips and nollie varial flips.  My last trick was a front 50 kickflip out on the little guy.  It was fun as I haven’t done that trick in forever.  Dave got my back, but I forget what the trick was.  I think switch crook.  Eric had been ripping.  Got a few back 180 heels, 5-0s, tails, lipslides, ollies over stuff easily, back 50s on taller ledges now.  Sean ollied over one of the angled crossbeams all crazy and of course had nosegrinds, 5-0s like they were nothing.  

Some people stopped skating, Dave, Sean and I went to Basemar.  Sean wanted to ollie the bump to parking lot, but there was a truck parked half into the landing.  So we ended up dorking around.  We hit the little flat gap to manny.  Well, those guys did.  I was tired and sore.  I was stoked Dave ollied it.  Sean did manual, 180s to halfcab and fakie bigspin out, 180 nose manual.  Then we skated the bump as a bank doing lots of side rock variations.  Dave was going hammer though and going for sex change.  He ended up focusing his very old board, going to his car and getting out his 7.75 putter then doing it first try.  Ha.  He would also go on to get a really cool trick that I filmed for Stubborns 2.  I don’t know what to call it so I’ll just say it’s a nollie shove into a fingerflip.  Sounds awesome right?  Then Matt showed up to sell a calendar and we chatted for a while as the sun finally came out again.  

(setup 8.25 303 deck, jessup ultragrip, thunder 148 HL, venom 88a big bushing, 91a small bushing, spitfire 52mm 99a f4 classic shape, 3 washers inside each axle, new balance numeric 212 black/pink size 11.5, footprint mid elite insoles)
(pain level 4/10 probably from feeling a slight cold or something)