Left my house and it was dry after work. Halfway to Dog Park and everything was wet. Argh. Got there and dog park was totally wet while Valmont was mostly drained well with some puddles in low areas. I had followed Kevin’s recommendation with a slight setup change. 8.5 deck, Ace lows. I liked it, but it was still pretty hefty. I did skate the transition better than normal, but flippers were hard. Anyway, I warmed up slowly and there were a bunch of annoying kids on bikes doing the famous dumb evergreen loop. I was getting pretty frustrated with the kids when all of a sudden they all left and this dude Fergs showed up and we went on to have a great session. I had a really fun and tic tacy long grind on the pond side going almost the length of it. Also got the euro, volcano manual, and finally back 50’d the high to low. Fergs did backside flip over the hip, then varial flip, then heelflip. He was shredding. I got close to 360 flip fakie on the bank and even closer to b/s flip over the hip when the darkness became too much. I left with a good feeling.

(setup null 8.5 plant life deck, jessup ultragrip, ace af1 low 55 hard bushings, 52mm bones stf v1 103a, 440 white/red size 12 half insole)
(pain level 4/10)

On a cool morning that warmed up very quickly I met up with Cass, Sean and Kevin at Broomfield park. I had nothing, tried very little and hated my setup. Got smoked in a game of SKATE with Cass. Sean and Kevin were ripping.

We checked out a couple spots, got a boot, filmed a bit then and impromptu session ensued on a little mini street hip which are basically my favorite things ever. I had done a backside flip pretty quickly so then setup the camera after and couldn’t do it again as well, but I still had a blast. Collin, JJ, Cass, Donnie, Garrett, we all skated it and had fun. I love sessions like this and would like to go back and huck some harder tricks.

Then we ended up at the downhill dragon ledge spot. I took a couple tries to roll into it, but that was fun and I thought a switch noseslide 270 shove would be easy. Nope. Never got into it and got so bummed. Collin ollied the bar and almost kickflipped it. Joe, Donnie, Garrett also skated the ledge. Donnie was skating it switch which was pretty amazing. I mean ha, I was too, but he was actually ollieing into switch 50s. Garrett came up short trying his trick which was a bummer. Then we were all so hungry and decided to get some food and good times were had.

(setup null 8.3 vhs deck, jessup ultragrip, ace af1 55, 52mm bones stf v1 103a, 440 white/red size 12 half insole)
(pain level 3/10)

After a cold Martin Acres pancake breakfast I went to the hill and watched the 303 King of the Hill contest for a while. The rain kept messing with it so Sean, Collin and I went to the library spot. We were not alone in this decision as it was very crowded. I had put Ace highs on. Felt okay. I didn’t skate well at all, but did manage some slow flippers in between people that made me happy including a treflip that was barely a make. Sean and Collin were shredding.

We went filming and met up with others. Got the boot from a church. Ended up at Casey where Sean and Collin easily ollied up the ledge and Garrett put down a rad tailslide bigspin. Collin and I messed with a cool wallie nollie in the back. He actually did it, but didn’t take the drop.

Next we went to the ride on grind that was nearby where I made a fool of myself. Garrett, Sean, Collin so easily did the ride on grind. I was trying to line out a kickflip up the curb then grind it, but was really struggling with the kickflip. I was kind of in the zone for a while, but then a couple cars of teenagers showed up. They were fine and all, but watching them progress right in front of me bummed me out. I got close again as it was getting dark, but ultimately didn’t really care so gave up. Garrett had gotten his banger anyway. Thanks for filming Jack!

(setup null 8.3 vhs deck, jessup ultragrip, ace af1 55, 52mm bones stf v1 103a, 440 white/red size 12 half insole)
(pain level 3/10)

The endless quest to like a bigger setup is ongoing. I tried the old 8.3 with venture 5.8 and wow the first ollie was so hard and I immediately disliked the venture high heft. But I stuck with it thinking I’d be able to deal with it. Jake and I started right in on a game of SKATE. It was not my finest game and flip tricks did not come easy. I took several tries to get a halfcab flip, never got a backside flip or heelflip, never got a treflip although did get my feet on a couple. Jake was close too. He ultimately won on a frontside flip that I couldn’t quite defensively pull off. Then we skated for a while. I continued to dislike the hefty setup and could not get good posted up crooks. Jake got a bluntslide on the curb, nollie back tail the metal bench. I had a funny nose jib on the picnic table. After a while I asked this guy if he could move his selfie tripod and it started a conversation that was rad, but went long enough my legs got sore. Then 3 older scooter dudes showed up and I was like hell no and left.

(setup null 8.3 vhs deck, jessup ultragrip, venture 5.8 titanium hanger cast baseplate royal bushings flat top washer no big washer , 52mm bones stf v1 103a, 440 white/red size 12 half insole)
(pain level 3/10 so stoked)

On a surprisingly hot morning I went to Boulder park around sunrise. I had reached the point again where I had known that the Venture lows weren’t treating me well so I put some 5.6 highs on. I never liked the change except for on coping tricks. I could not get in a groove although I did do a backside bigspin over the hump which I’m not sure I’ve ever done. After a while I gave up and just tried switch flips on the tiny mellow bank under the triangle pad. A couple were close. I did also have my 8.3 with Aces and gave it a whirl, thought I really disliked it as well, but there was one little ollie that felt much lighter and planted a seed.

(setup null 8.1 all you need deck, jessup ultragrip, venture 5.6 hollow hanger cast baseplate royal bushings flat top washer, 52mm spitfire f4 99a classic shape, 440 white/red size 12 half insole)
(pain level 3/10 !!!!)

Sean and I met up with Bo, Hayden and Noè at Edora. I fell dropping in immediately on a bank and it hurt my knee. Great. I went on to do nothing and dislike my shoes and setup. Sean wasn’t feeling it either but did have some good manuals. Bo did his warm up run of kickflip into the bank then treflip up the euro first try. Noè did b/s flip and bigflip over the hip.

Then we went to a little plaza and met up with Chad L. Bo got a heelflip real quick. Hayden linked a a couple things together that was awesome. Noè put together another marathon line with all the hits. Then Sean worked out a banker as the rest of us kept the security guard engaged in discussion. Ha ha.

Off to crusty manny pad that Noè wanted to skate there was a nearby ledge and set of stairs that I posed an ollie down that was depressing just how much of a pose it actually was. Noè went on to get his trick and man it was so good. We celebrated with a dinner.

Then I dropped Sean off at his car and went to Rocky Mountain to try Dave’s latest challenge – fakie front crooks. It took me a while to get warmed up and I hated my setup the entire time. Ugh. I would get a few flippers and was starting to get into the fakie crooks when Dave and his girls showed up. We both basically tried it and would only get stalls with no grind. Doh. I really wanted to knock the trick out, but alas, I will have to keep trying.

(setup null 8.1 all you need deck, jessup ultragrip, venture 5.2 lows hollow hanger royal bushings flat top washer, 51mm spitfire f4 101a classic shape, 440 white/red size 12 half insole)
(pain level 4/10)

Feeling healthier and up for a bit of an adventure I went to NorthGLENn to meet Jack B, ODSC, Jake, Dave, Sean and Kevin. I was pretty determined to flip my board around a lot and was kind of successful even though it rarely came easy. My first real line after warming up was a no comply back shove on the mellow bank, back 50 the little steep bank, b/s flip the small hip. Dave was working on nollie shove hippy jumps. Jake did halfcab noseslide the little ledge first try and some gnar on the wannabe jersey barrier. I had a dookie run of switch 180, crook jib the ledge, kickflip to fakie the little bank. Then halfcab flip the little bank, backside flip the bank. Kevin and Sean had joined. Dave was doing some really long lines. Then I settled in on the ol’ treflip battle after watching Kevin do a really good nollie flip flyout. He would go on to do several flippers out, but got hung up at switch treflip. Sean was kind enough to take turns filming with me and he did a gnarly line. Sugarcane, nose manual up the hubba, back heel the hip. Dave put down some front 180 crooks then the halfcab crook which is so sick. I would eventually kind of get the treflip even though I didn’t really like it much. After that everyone was beat and it was incredibly hot out so we disbanded. Which is probably a good thing because I was definitely still fighting my cold a bit and very exhausted.

(setup null 8.1 all you need deck, jessup ultragrip, venture 5.2 lows hollow hanger royal bushings flat top washer, 51mm spitfire f4 101a classic shape, 440 white/red size 12 half insole)
(pain level 4/10)

After being sick for the better part of a week I went across the street to the school on a hot afternoon to reacquaint myself with my skateboard. Well, my new skateboard that is. Ha ha, had a new deck and hollow axles, but it skated basically the same. I had very little energy but it felt good to ride my skateboard. I would get a few kickflips and lined out a slappy crooks with a b/s flip. Then I sat in the heat and enjoyed being outside for a while before cruising home.

(setup null 8.1 all you need deck, jessup ultragrip, venture 5.2 lows hollow hanger royal bushings flat top washer, 51mm spitfire f4 101a classic shape, 440 white/red size 12 half insole)
(pain level 4/10)

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!)