After Cass did me a solid and picked up some boards from 303 we bolted to dog park on the last Friday of daylight savings time. When we arrived the park was dead. Within minutes it started to fill up. Turns out the CU skate club was having a party. We had started out on the jersey barrier/bank to curb area. I thought things would go for me when I did a front slash on the barrier, boardslide the cement chunks then no comply to tail. Cass slammed really hard on a back 50 down the barrier. He went straight to shins. Doh. He skated some after that, but was pretty much toast. I would go on to get super frustrated and angry at times. I had a new board so I think the steeper new tail was tough to get used to after skating such an old board. I took too long to do a crook stall to fakie on the bank to curb. The main ledge area was popping so I kind of randomly just skated the metal bench and flatground. I would get some crooks, one really bad treflip and one less bad nollie treflip.

(setup 3/10 null flaherty 8.25, jessup ultragrip, venture redrilled v8 5.6 v-hollows with royal bushings, 51mm spitfire f4 99a classic shape, new balance numeric 440v2 wide black size 11.5 half 574 vulc insoles and currex runpro insoles)
(pain level 4/10)

On a bright and somewhat cooler morning met up with quite a few people at Broomfield. Salty, Bratcher, Rob, Sean, Eric, Paul, Will. On top of that quite a few others showed and it was quite busy at times. I had a new setup based on some new trucks I’ve been waiting on a long time – Slappy Lows. I would like them and they skated pretty well out of the gates. Rob bounced first so I’ll start there. He wasn’t feeling too good, but tried to get it going with some manuals and I saw a really long g turn that was pretty amazing. Sean was the next to bounce. He had a good amount of excuses lined up, but still ripped. High speed grinds on the black ledge including a line of crooks followed by fakie back 50 180 out. Sean, Paul and I played a game of SKATE. I was the first out, but it was fun. Salty learned boardslides to fakie on the mini bank to curb and almost got blunts on the “bigger” bank to curb. Bratcher took his multitude of boardslides to various obstacles. Switch front board up to back 50 on the bank to ledge was cool as was nollie back lip on the blue ledge. Eric good tailslides, heelflips over the parking block, crooks, charging. Paul did back 50 to front 180 on the bank to ledge, back 5-0 180s on the black ledge, landed a lot of flippers in the game of SKATE. Pretty early on I had a line I liked of halfcab noseslide, noseslide to fakie the bank to ledge then fakie bigfilp. My board was popping really well, I got several front 50s on the ledge into the bank that felt great. Close to noseslide 270 shove, close to kickflip 50 on the bank to ledge. Was happy to get a crooks on the bank to ledge finally. Will showed around the time we were winding down. He had some really good nollie noseslides on the black ledge.

After chilling and talking to India I picked up Cass and met up with the 98% dudes at York St Skatepark. There are even more little qps now and they are fun. Jack filmed a couple of amazing clips for Scotty with a trefip and a noseblunt. Cass and I messed around with an easy roll in to small qp. I got my first front pivot to fakie in a long time. I might have even grinded a little. Joe came along and made it not so easy by ollieing onto the ledge before the roll in. I struggled a bit and kind of hurt my shoulder trying to ollie up as well. Donnie and Cass had no problem with it.

Then we went to the nearby bank to ledge. My accidental training at Broomfield payed off and I would get noseslide to fakie and crooks. The crooks felt really cool, but I’m sure it only grinded an inch or so. Jack rattled off some tricks that were so fun to watch. It’s been a while since I’ve seen him just skating and it was great. I didn’t know Jason and John very well but they skated a long time and Jason’s front tail kickflip out was so good. Donnie came close to a banger, but had to give up and it started raining. It was really fun being in the streets with a crew.

(setup 7/10 null 20 year 8.5/14.25 deck, null grip, slappy low profile 8.5 trucks, 53mm bones stf pj 103a wheels, new balance numeric 440v2 white size 11.5 half 574 insole and currex runpro insole)
(pain level 4/10)

On a really nice night I had thought of slacking, but decided to take advantage of students still being gone and went to campus. I had no intention of ending up at the flagstone ledge to warm up, but the way traffic and bikes were I just stuck on the fun downhill bike path and it spit me out at the ledge. I had a new board/ setup change that I hope to stick to. 8.5 with the bigger 14.5 wheelbase and aces. Anyone reading this knows the chances of me sticking with a setup are zero. But I did have a fun first session at least. I mostly skated the ledge and didn’t try a lot of flippers. I couldn’t get crooks. Front axle took a while to get. I was happy to get a front 50 and an accidental 5-0. Seemed like I gained a little confidence and could maybe do them moving next time. Then I went nearby and did a line of ollie up a 2 stair, kickflip, front 180 down the two stair. Then over to the business building as it was getting dark. Got a couple lines I liked. Boardslide the tall ledge, kickflip, noseslide to fakie the wood bench, fakie flip. Then noseslide the tall ledge followed by a crooks on the wood ledge, then a bailed backside flip. Lastly I tried to ollie up the 3 stair. I got myself to commit mentally, but my back leg wasn’t having it and I hung up. Then I walked back to the car. Fun session, tried hard.

(setup 5/10 8.5 nullosaur, jessup ultragrip, ace af1 hollow 55, 52mm spitfire f4 99a classic, 440v2 wide white size 11.5 with half 574 vulc insole and currex runpro insoles)
(pain level 5/10)

Went to campus after dinner feeling like I weighed 500 pounds. Did a couple nollie tail combos on the metal lurb for a bit then ended up at the downhill ledge hallway spot. Took a while to get a slow noseslide. Then basically struggled so bad with fakie flips trying to line it out. Like to the point I almost left. Luckily I am very stubborn. I would eventually get a line of fakie flip, halfcab flip into the bank, noeslide the ledge. It was really bad though. I tried a few treflips and came up empty. I was also messing around with nollie front tails on the rail above the round ledge. I made myself ollie up to axle stall which took forever, then got the slowest tiniest nollie tail ever on the bar then managed to ride off the ledge too. It was really bad, but challenging, so it felt cool and I went home after that feeling remotely satisfied.

(setup 3/10 8.25 null all you need, jessup ultragrip, thunder hollow light 148 with royal bushings, spitfire f4 99a yellow classic shape 52mm, new balance numeric 440v2 white size 11.5 half insoles and currex runpro insoles)
(pain level 4/10)

Nice day, pretty warm.  Picked up Neil, Rob and Dave and we rolled to the plaza park in Greeley.  We would meet Sean, Joe, Garrett, hardflip Joe, Donnie and Richard!  With this line up it is obviously impossible to remember everything.  I’ll say Rob quickly did manual followed by back 50 180 and did a really cool drop down 50 to bank ride.  Joe boardslide the long downhill rail, did all his tricks on the ledges.  Garrett 270 flip the hip, treflips up the euro.  Hardflip Joe did barefoot hardflips and fakie barefoot skiers.  Donnie some cool wallrides on the sculptures.  Neil was doing his thing quickly, manuals, nose manuals, no comply up the 2, wallie the barrier.  Dave back 180’d up the euro so easily and would go on to switch front shove it up it too, as well as destroy the park in general, kickflips to fakie, fakie ollie the bank to ride on grind the bench.  I got overly frustrated and I don’t even remember why.  I think taking too long to kickflip up the euro.  Had some noseslides on the upper part of the ledge, 180 up switch front nose off going ultra slow, one accidental front 5-0 on the main ledge, couldn’t do a slow treflip.  Sean shut the park down with some fast 5-0 combos and kickflip up to nollie back nosegrind 180 that was nuts.  

Then we ended up at Peak View which was unexpectedly chill and we almost had it to ourselves.  We were beat, lost most of the crew.  It was Joe, Donnie, Neil, Rob, Dave and I.  Dave skated some of his best I’ve ever seen.  Feeble transfers the spine, sweepers the qp, 5-0s the diamond cut hip, b/s flip the hip, nollies into the bank, stalefish boneless.  Donnie did more crazy high speed lines to metal sculpture rides.  After a second try bigflip on the bank I thought I was in for a good session.  Instead I spent an hour trying kickflips to fakie on the bank and almost lost my shit trying.  I stuck with it and somehow my board handled all the cry baby throwing and ended on a good note getting noseslide 270 shove, a slow front 50 on the bench and a flatground treflip. Rob had frontside grinds the diamond cut, no complies on the bank, some ledge moves.  Neil ollied onto the bench and back 180 off, I’m blanking.  Joe admitted he was tired, but still did a lot of his tricks on the bench, kickflip to fakie the bank, halfcab flip on the bank. 

(setup 8.5 w/thunders first park then switched to 8.25/slaces at 2nd park new 440v2 black/gum shoes)
(pain level 6/10)

On an incredibly nice afternoon I ran a couple errands and then went in search of dry spots. I ended up at the double micro hip. The f/s hip is steeper than it looks on video, but still a glorified crack hip. I had put together a new setup with ventures and loved it at this spot. I think I did my first 5 kickflips so easily. Also had some solid feeling stalls on the curb. Again, it doesn’t look like a slant but I came somewhat close to a front tail to back 270 shove to fakie out. Then I went in on the wallride nollie which took way longer than it should. Then I took a while to fakie bigspin the hip before a few b/s flips that didn’t take too long or look too good. Then the halfcab flip which took like 30 minutes. I couldn’t believe it. The setup was a little weird having to curve around, but still, ridiculous and yet somewhat rewarding. I guess it just feels good to try hard again even if it’s tricks I used to have on lock.

Then I went to Platte middle school. The good flatground on the side of the school was still snowed in, but the manny pads were dry. I forgot how much I hate those pads, the cracks kill me. Initially I could barely ollie onto the pads and I was so angry and hating my setup. Eventually I would get a nose manual and then much later a regular manual or two which may have had some tilts. Pathetic. I went over to the 3 stair which luckily had some runoff preventing me from trying to ollie up it. I really wanted to ollie down it first try, but instead it took like 8 tries and I once again was annoyed with my lack of confidence and how massive my setup felt. I was happy that I skated as hard as I did though.

(setup 4/10 null 20 year 8.5/14.25, null grip, venture 5.8 v-cast/titanium with bones medium bushings, 52mm bones stf v1, es swift b/s size 12 with spenco 3/4 thinsoles)
(pain level 3/10)

Went to Broomfield on a Sunday around noon after a morning filled with chores. It was quite warm and sunny. Rob and I would get there way before Garrett and way way there before Jack. The scene was a weird mixture of people and mostly annoying. But we skated. Oh yeah David was there, he is rad and was ripping doing switch back 180 nosegrind. I saw Rob manual around, shove lipslide, crooks, steezy front noseslides, halfcab noseslides, front tails the bank to curb. I had a new board that I was super excited about. 8.5 with shorter than normal wheelbase for Null – 14.25. It felt good. I would skate okay. I would get like 5 noseslide 270 shoves, 2 of which were pretty good, the others were garbage. Still felt cool. Couldn’t get a fakie bigflip out of the bank, got pretty sore and didn’t ollie much. Had a fun switch noseslide line of backside on the black ledge then frontside on the bump to ledge. Garrett had some great back tails into the bank, treflips into the bank, back 180 nosegrinds, switch crooks, struggled with nollie heels. Jack showed as I was pretty beat and did his wallie noseslide after some funny brick qp bails then broke his board on the hurricane.

(setup 6/10 null sample 8.5/14.25, jessup ultragrip, venture 5.8 v-cast/ti royal bushings no big washer flat top washer, spitfire f4 52mm classic shape, es swift 1.5 black/blue/white size 12)
(pain level 6/10)

Somehow slept really well and after a banging breakfast at our hotel we went out to see some sights. Swiss Air had lost my luggage so one of the first things on the agenda was to get me a new board and shoes because I didn’t want to delay and then not have a board. So we went to the big mall store Titus and I walked out with a an 8.25 of some Flower brand, some hollow ventures and the smallest wheels they had. The family and I were walking nearby at a city park that has a fountain dedicated to the Grimm fairy tales. I did a quick search in maps and it turned out there was a skatepark like 500 feet away so I of course had to go check it out. I had it all to myself so after a couple of laps around and trying to figure out my new setup I kind of just filmed everything. It was quite a fun session surprisingly except how I couldn’t lock into crooks. I thought I’d only have like 5 minutes, but the family ended up being gone for like 40 minutes so I got a decent little session in. Especially considering my complete and shoes were like 1 hour old. The kickflip flyouts were pretty fun as were the back 50s down the steep little escalator qp.

(setup 8.25 flower, mob grip, venture 5.6 shake junt v-hollows, spitfire 51mm f4 99a classic, new balance numeric 288 b/w no insoles size 11.5 (they didn’t have 12s))
(pain level 3/10)

On a warm afternoon I met Cass and Rob at dog park. We had the spot all to ourselves for the first half hour and it was pretty awesome. I had some knee pain at times, but for the most part felt pretty good. Cass had some good back 50s and 5-0s, manuals, . Rob was trying nollie back smith, had good nollie front lip, halfcab 50, crook, manuals, boardslide the tall bench. I got a line that sounds okay on paper. Halfcab flip, noseslide to fakie, fakie 50 b/s halfcab out. The halfcab flip took forever. Also backside flip (to stop), halfcab noseslide, slappy crook. I finally committed to frontside 50 on the bench (even if I did 5-0s). Next step, to do it moving. had a fun crook on the back of the two tier. Was pretty hyped to see Phil randomly show up with his sons. It was fun he did the front 50 in about 5 tries and even had a decent slam. His kids rip, one had a really nice front 50 back 180 out. Paul showed up and shredded for a bit. Pretty fun session. Felt great to really skate again.

(setup 6/10 8.25 null abstract33, jessup ultragrip, royal 144 hollow kingpin, spitfire 51mm classic f4 101a, new balance numeric 288 sport white size12)
(pain 5/10 kinda funny that I felt “good” but compared to how it had felt it did feel good)

Had a couple glasses of wine the night before and stayed up late. Woke up extra early and was feeling good somehow so I went to the park for about an hour. I had it all to myself until the last few minutes. I had a new deck, a Spanbauer Dead Spots and man it’s pretty! I did not skate well, but also, not terrible. I tried kind of hard and for 7-8am skated decently I suppose. It’s amazing how difficult front 50’s on even the lowest ledges have become for me. I would get a couple. Also a first try ollie onto the little bench. A few noseslides. Not much for flippers. Oh well, it was nice out and I got to skate before the wind kicked in.

(setup 6/10 8.25 null spanbauer dead spots, jessup ultragrip, venture 5.6 v-hollow royal bushings flat top washer, bones 51mm pj, es swift maroon size 12)
(pain 4/10)