After my first day of skating several hours in a long time I met up with Cass, Dave, Jake and eventually Joe and Garrett at Valmont/dog park. Well actually after some confusion I met Cass at Library, but we didn’t even skate as we were both too sore and wanted some transition. We intended to go to Valmont, but Dave and Jake were at dog park so we did it. Well, I don’t really remember much as Cass and I went over to Valmont after an attempt at warming up. Supposedly Cass slammed pretty good on a boardslide right away and messed up his side. He could still kickflip the hip at valmont though. I did a new trick on the bank there that was really fun. No comply back 270 shove. And I would follow it up with the frontside version on the way back.

Back at the dog park Jake was trying nollie back tail on the long bench so Dave and I joined in trying. Jake got the first one, I got his back! I had never thought of trying that trick on that ledge before and it was super rewarding. I would get a few of them, one of which was totally locked in and felt amazing. Actually they all felt amazing. We tried the fakie version too and I would get a few kickturn versions and maybe one that counted. I’m not sure if Dave got the nollie version. The three of us played a game of SKATE. I didn’t do well, had to do double or nothing on kickflip and missed the one chance I had to set a fakie flip. It was fun though. Then I met up with Jack right as he destroyed his foot and it was an ultra bummer. We ended up at another spot and was fun watching the Nullers get down on a tall ledge.

(setup null 8.25 vhs, pj ultragrip, venture 5.2 lows royal bushings flat top washer, 51mm spitfire f4 101a classic shape, 440 white/red size 12 half insole)
(pain level 5/10 not just knee pain though, soreness from skating a lot the day before which I can accept)

On a hot day I picked up Kevin, Cass, Nick and we rolled down to see Venture Dave’s stomping grounds. We arrived to a park crowded with scooters that didn’t look fun at all. Ha. But we managed to have a good time. We started in the flatground area. Cass and Kevin rattled off some good ones. Cass also learned back lips on the curb. Dave lined out with the crusty curb. I was struggling with flippers, but had a good feeling fakie bigflip. I’ve been challenged to fakie front crook so I started trying them on the little curb. Kevin joined and of course did it right away then learned shove out too. I never got one that grinded. I gave up and had fun lining out stuff. Halfcab flip, boardslide the flatbar, roll in, do a couple grind tricks. I went on to get a kickflip on the qp that felt pretty awesome.

Then I met up with Hayden, Bo, Joe, Chad and eventually Jack at this butter bench spot. I didn’t think we would last long, but we never had any problems and everyone was quite nice actually. Chad and I talked about aging and the fun it brings. I was really sore, but forced myself to skate and was glad I did so. I skated the lowest one uphill for a while. Took a bit to get some noseslides then crooks and I was doubting the low trucks, but I ended up getting some good pop and I liked it. Crooks on that were really fun. Bo got a cool line all quick. Hayden worked on a line, but never quite got it before he just did one for the gram. Joe did a lot of stuff too. I would eventually get a little downhill line of switch noseslide then switch noseslide shove and it felt really awesome. I tried to add a fakie flip in the middle, but was too sore and tired. Fun day.

(setup null 8.25 vhs, pj ultragrip, venture 5.2 lows royal bushings flat top washer, 51mm spitfire f4 101a classic shape, 440 white/red size 12 half insole)
(pain level 3/10 first time down to 3 in forever!)