skate journal: evergreen park with a huge crew for kevin’s farewell session (sept 25, 2022)
On a beautiful day everyone drove separately up to Evergreen because of conflicting schedules and where we all live. Kevin and I were first, Rob and Jake next. Then a whole slew of skaters that I’d be surprised I remember everyone. Donnie, Sean, Hayden, Chad, Garrett, Ted, Nick, Dan. I’m always impressed with how quickly Kevin is jumping up on to ledges and popping big ollies over the hip. Jake and I had a couple of physical challenges to start that he won by a mile. Like a simple ollie up the curb, ollie the ledge, ollie the crack gap. I did like how it felt when I finally got it. Rob was killing the curb immediately with back 50 variations and would go on to get the trick of the day even if it wasn’t what he was trying – no comply backside 5-0. It was so sick. I was struggling with crooks and would finally get a little one and follow it up with a slow kickflip off the curb. Was stoked to see Chad show up and get some manuals and nose manuals, some 50s and maybe a 5-0. Jake was charging lining tricks out like nollie back tail on the ledge, front blunt the smaller qp, front 5-0 the vert one. Donnie started outside the park on the sidewalk and we were all disappointed he didn’t start down the hill with his dirt board. Ha. But really he was ripping and the ease at which he was doing grinds across the vert qp was amazing. Was so hyped to see Dan. He had some of his patented solid skating and came close to nose manual janoski flip out. Nick was struggling with backside flips and never quite got one even though he was popping them to the moon. Hayden casually did amazing things but kind of rolled his ankle so took it easy. Still though the first try magical treflip over the hip was something else. Sean’s front 3 over the hip was so good. Garrett did like every trick I’ve seen him do. The blizzard flip over the hip only took a try or two. Later on we were treated to a Rob bean plant over the hip which is mandatory for any Evergreen session. There was also a curb angled down the metal curb which peaked Rob’s interest and he got a back 50 to boardslide. Dan had a nice nose manual to front lip. Ted was trying slappy front crooks on the parking block. I had gotten a few, but had to resort to regular front slappys to try and line out a backside flip which took a long time, but man it felt good when I finally got it. I would also get a really bad halfcab flip which was kind of comically awesome. I was the last one skating and took way too long to get a sketchy fakie bigflip. I was pretty happy with how I felt skating, not necessarily the results, but it was fun. Kevin was having some ab issues that hurt when he’d jump so it took him down a few notches. But he still did 100 mph back smiths on the qp, nosegrinds down the hubba and the patented switch nosegrind 180 on the fence ledge. It was a really fun session, great people. We’re going to miss you Kevin.
(setup 8.5 null vhs deck, jessup ultragrip, ace af1 55, 52mm snot pink/yellow swirl 101a, new balance numeric 440 white/red size 12 half insoles)
(pain level 3/10)