A wet morning meant we planned for yellow curbs even though it had dried up outside. It was still cold though. The crew was Dave, Simon, Carleigh, Fuzz, Mathew, Brillo, Lazer and Nolan. I was feeling pretty self conscious about my low level of skating these days. I was able to ollie up curbs, but it wasn’t easy. So it kind of made me want to hide at times. I did have some fun with slappy crooks and I was hyped to actually manual one of the manual pads, but other that that I mostly hid on the far side trying to line out basic tricks like kickflip and back 50. I got a couple slow lame lines. I hate the cold. Highlights from others I saw: Fuzz did noseslide to crooks to fakie, high speed fakie ollies up curbs. Carleigh did multiple front lips and might have done nollie lips too. Lazer had a sick back tail and some pretty gnarly slams. Nolan did a kick back tail while I was checking my phone. Doh. Also a nollie nose manual nollie flip out. Mathew was flying around the place. Brillo had some flippers that really surprised me like switch heel done so well. Dave did slappy crooks shove and a cool 360 plant over a ledge. Simon did such a sick long boardslide transfer.

(setup 8.38 null machine deck, venture 5.8 wides, 3 washers outside each axle, Venom 88a bushings, 52mm Spitfire F4 classic 99a green wheels, bronson bearings, New Balance Numeric 344 white superfeet 3/4 insoles with a thin adidas insole on top)

Went to Northglenn after a Crisis with a rad crew. Jake and Dave. We arrived to a crowded park with lots of Denver heads. Mike Marks was there absolutely destroying with some other Reed wheels rippers. Andrew and the No Love dudes were there. Stefan was there destroying the bowl. I thought I would be feeling better, but as soon as I set my board down I knew it was bad. Even after two days my knee pain was intense. I couldn’t squat, I had no confidence at all. Dave was ripping all over the park through the crowds on every obstacle. It made me so jealous. I wanted to be motivated, but my pain prevented me from trying. Jake was hanging with Stefan. Derek Yale showed up! It ruled to see him. He was doing his same fakie manuals for awhile and then just flowing so easily all over the park. After awhile I just sat down and gave up. I was so incredibly depressed. If I had drove I would have left and maybe even left my board at the park. Dave was killing the little bank. Back tail, back tail fakie, crooks to fakie, maybe switch front crook? Jake almost got noseblunt on it. Near the end of the night we skated the bowl. I just carved and bailed axle stall. Jake and Dave padded up and got gnar. They both did frontside airs in the deep. Jake had front smith. Dave almost did some pretty big backside airs. Every time I bailed the run out hurt beyond belief. I decided I’m not going to skate again until I get some things figured out. I supposed I deserve this after skating basically 700 days in a row. Ugh. But nothing is worse then skating this bad.

(setup 8.25 null future board, venture 5.8 wides, 3 washers outside each axle, Venom 88a bushings, 52mm stf v5 wheels, bronson bearings, Emerica Reynolds Vulcs b/w 10.5 NB+ insoles)

On a very windy night I decided a setup change was in order. I’ve been having a rough go with skateboarding lately and realized it all started around the time I changed to a big setup. I had read through several of my ‘favorite’ journal entries to try and come up with my favorite size. There were almost no entries for big boards (>8.25). The truck size didn’t seem to matter so much, but I definitely seemed happier with smaller wheels (<51mm). I wanted a Reynolds part and decided to go with high trucks at least. 8.25 board, 8" high trucks and the same wheels I had. I went to the Valmont garage. My board felt high off the ground on my first few pushes which doesn't make much sense considering I've been on high trucks. I forgot how much I dislike the low hanging sprinkler pipes, but I started trying tricks. Kickflips felt easier. I still felt out of it and not very motivated. I almost left. But ended up just dorking which is all I seem to do these days. I got into a few switch front crooks on the tiny curb that doesn't grind. Also some back 50s that reminded me how much I like how sharp 8" trucks turn compared to 8.5". If I rode parallel to the ledge it wouldn't be an issue, but I take a pretty weird sharp curve right before back 50s. I was hucking flip tricks without much intention of landing them. But it did feel good to huck them as I have been totally slacking on flatground lately. Switch crook took awhile. All in all, it was mostly another dreary day of skating. I felt a little better that I actually tried some flip tricks at least. I would not be surprised if I switch to low trucks and I think I really like the feeling of how close they are to the ground. They really do help with board feel. The major con is lots of wheelbite. So for now, I will try to stick with the 8" highs and see how long that lasts. (setup 8.25 null logo deck, venture v-hollow 5.2 high, 3 washers inside each axle, pink/purple spitfire 52mm 99a F4 conical wheels, venom 88a bushings no bottom washer, new balance numeric 598 black/white shoes)

Colorful new gear for the new year. Been holding onto the @idrawmazes griptape for something special. These are my first colored wheels in a long time. I'm hoping they lower people's expectations of what I can do on a skateboard. Haha. 8.5" null ollie graphic Venture 5.8s 52mm Spits F4 conical Bronson bearings Venom 88a bushings #christmascomplete

A photo posted by glen gillinghammer (@corpoglenny) on Jan 1, 2017 at 6:38pm PST

@jackspanbauer 😍

A video posted by Null Skateboards (@null_skateboards) on Jan 2, 2017 at 7:34pm PST

After my first day off in 366 days I met up with Jack at the Engineering building on campus. Nolan, Dave and Mike would follow shortly. I was on all new stuff and it felt insanely awkward. Even new shoes. I never once felt good on my board and quickly realized that the 366 day burnout was still in effect. Luckily I was with some fun people. Jack was ripping right out of the gates doing a line with a trick up the first 3 stair then noseslide pop out up the second one. Dave filmed it. I did a couple of terrible back 50s off the ledge, that was about it. Jack went on to get all kinds of stuff. Tricks that we initially were filming for Stubborns, but is so good it’ll probably go towards Null. Nolan Had some cool no comply combos and basic ledge tricks. Dave had some good slappy noseslides. We ended up getting the boot so we moved on to the bank to curb. My setup felt good for a bit ollieing up the curb easy. Jack had to go to work. Dave, Nolan and Mike all got tricks for The Stubborns. I had a couple of fun street plant drops off the nearby ledge/rail.

Some days crews young and old converge to skate a crusty curb in the freezing cold. With @maxgarson @fullertrron @gnarlycarleigh @cookiegrinder13 @wwwwiillllllllll @jackspanbauer @nolancormier #skateboardingisfun

A video posted by Null Skateboards (@null_skateboards) on Jan 5, 2017 at 5:51am PST

Then we went up to this curb. It had started getting really cold. I did nothing on it. Mike had no comply 5-0s and the boardslide 270. Dave and Nolan did a million tricks. I somehow only got a couple of Daves. We had heard some skate noises up on the bank to fence that was nearby. Shortly after that Max and Will rolled by and joined us. It was rad. Both of them ripped it. Shortly after that Jack and Carleigh joined. Such a rad crew. I was frozen solid and not really skating. Everyone else was ripping. We moved down to a new ledge spot that Max, Will and Jack destroyed. Dave got in on it too. I was so cold it was ridiculous. All in all a weird day. I skated terribly and didn’t like my new setup, but being around a rad crew is always fun.

(setup 8.5 null ollie deck, venture wides 5.8, pink/purple spitfire 52mm 99a F4 conical wheels, venom 88a bushings, new balance numeric 598 black/white shoes)

Went to the warm up bank at Valmont spot not feeling very good or motivated. I went through a few tricks and was feeling ok before trying nollie back heels for awhile. A few were remotely close, but I gave up after awhile. Then I tried treflips to fakie for a bit and broke my really cracked board. Doh.

After going home to set up a new board I went to the hardest spot in Boulder – Southern Hills. I went on to suck incredibly bad there. I had no energy. First line was noseslide to fakie, switch front 180 then crooks. Second line was supposed to be boardslide, ollie up the two stair, kickflip into the handicap ramp then front 50 another bench. I never got it. I gave up and started trying the line that I had thought of and the reason I went there. Crooks, backside flip, halfcab noseslide. Well, I never got that either. I did like 20 crooks in a row, but couldn’t get a backside flip. So I subbed it out for a back 180 and eventually got it. It was cool because right around then The Grind crew from Silverthorne rolled in. They were cool and hyped on the spot. I had to go though to celebrate my mom’s birthday. I had tried several front or back 50s too in between tries. Only got one bad front 50. Ugh, I wish I could ollie.

(setup 8.125 null message deck, venture 5.2 low custom hollow trucks with 3 washers inside each axle, stock thunder bushings, 50mm bones stf v1 wheels, swiss bearings, new balance numeric pj stratford 533 navy shoes 12)

All of a sudden I’m all about his ledge again. I wasn’t feeling too good earlier in the day and only had about an hour to skate before watching Jason. I thought I would skate terribly, but I ended up feeling alright. Perhaps it was the ibuprofen I took for my headache. I had an ok first run down the hill that had some 180s , up the curb and a noseslide. Also got a crooks first try and a terrible back 50 second try, a terrible front noseslide. Didn’t do too many flippers. Nollie heels seem so possible, but it just doesn’t happen. I got a back 180 of the manhole that felt really easy which I’ve never done before. Skateboarding is weird sometimes. I got another somewhat better back 50, got into a bunch of front 50s, but never grinded enough to land it. It felt good to at least get into it rather then like yesterday at Southern Hills. The research ledge has never been good grinding up it. I was trying a line of front 180 up the curb, fakie flip then halfcab noseslide when a cop came and parked nearby. Doh. I had thrown a couple of flippers before the line too and thought I’d get it, but I got weirded out and used it as an excuse to leave on time.

(setup 8.125 null message deck, venture 5.2 low custom hollow trucks with 3 washers inside each axle, 1/16″ riser, stock thunder bushings, 52mm spitfire f4 classic 101a wheels, bronson bearings, new balance numeric pj stratford 533 navy shoes 12)

#SimonLoveless is crazy good

A video posted by glen gillinghammer (@corpoglenny) on Oct 1, 2016 at 9:12am PDT

Went to Lafayette somewhat early in the day. It had been sprinkling off and on and when I arrived it got bad enough to sit in the car for a bit. There was a dude visiting from Ohio named Luke that was one of the nicest dudes I’ve ever met. He came up right away and introduced himself. He was having a blast cruising around on a big board slashing grinds and popping airs. It cheered me up and made my slow start not feel so bad. I did a couple of ok things for me. Had a line of back 180 into the first mellow bank then switch front 180 into the next and kickflip to fakie on the bigger bank. I didn’t have a lot of charge on other stuff. Front 50s on the little ledge are fun. Granite is the best. Then Dave showed. We tried slappy crooks on the shark fin for awhile. Dave did some good ones. Then we kind of did our own thing for awhile. I was pretty sore for some reason. Simon showed up. He said he was sore too, then went on to rip Lafayette a new one. Lines for days, so many tricks first try. I was trying kickflip to bank ride on the snakerun to steep bank. Simon did a back blunt on it, took a bit, but he did it so good. He also front tailed it. Dave was doing boardslides to fakie down the scary round rail. After awhile I just filmed Simon then headed home to hang out with Liz.

(setup null message 8.125 deck, venture 5.2 v-hollow lows, 1/16″ riser, thunder bushings, 3 washers inside each wheel, 50mm STF V1, new balance numeric pj 533 steel/gum)

After work I went to Crisis and met up with Rob. We rolled over to Safeway. I was not feeling good at all. I had a new board. I setup 8.25 this time for no good reason and I ended up not liking it. I skated it though. I started super slow with “slappy” noseslide variations. Rob jumped on grinds quickly. His back 50s rule. He did some front 5-0s which I haven’t seen him do much. Close to halfcab noseslide shove out. I took awhile to get a back 50 without tic tac’in in it. It felt good. Then we both hucked a lot. Rob was going for kick front noseslide. He got a couple kind of with the back wheels hitting the ground, and close to several proper ones. That would be so sick. I tried kickflip crooks and didn’t get very close then kickflip noseslide and then just kind of got tired. We did some powerslides down the hill and Rob did some wallie nollies while I failed at getting a cool artsy birds eye photo.

(setup null abstract 11 8.25 deck, venture 5.2 v-hollow lows, 1/16″ riser, thunder bushings, 3 washers inside each wheel, 50mm STF V1, new balance numeric pj 533 steel/gum)

Old guy fun. @43shifty @_f_u_z_z @iamnotacreepyjake

A video posted by glen gillinghammer (@corpoglenny) on Sep 16, 2016 at 6:55am PDT

Met up with the dudes at Broomfield park around 7. Well, Rob and Jake were there, but Fuzz was still closing up shop. Both dudes were killing it already and the park wasn’t very crowded. I was a little sore after several days without a ‘day off’. Jake was skating the Pier 7 ledge when I got there. First 50, then 5-0. I told him I’d get his back with 50 on his 5-0 and he went and did it. I got into the 50, but not out of it. Luckily he moved on so I didn’t have to keep skating it. Rob was all over the park doing manuals, back 50s, tailblocks, halfcab noseslides, he had some fire going. I struggled with front 50s on the black ledge. Not sure why. Oh yeah, I had a new board, it felt good. It’s the longest 8.1 that Generator makes and it’s my favorite pointy shape. We played a game of SKATE. I had to double or nothing a kickflip. Yikes. Jake got first try treflip and I got a crappy double or nothing defensive make. I was happy to do it though. Jake would go on to win with 3 shove and fakie 3 shove and nollie bigspin (can’t believe I got a letter on that). Then we skated around. I was trying a flatground trick then pivot to fakie on the quartapotty. I got really close, probably close enough to call it a defensive make. I was still pivoting to fakie on the tranny rather then just going in. I had some fun flippers as setups like nollie tre and heelflips. Fuzz showed and played a game of SKATE with drunk kids. Ha. I got another treflip, felt good. Rob did halfcab boardslide on the sad ledge. Jake did the noseblunt. I tried front smith to front rock for awhile and didn’t get it. Rob and Fuzz did their doubles, I did my boardslide and we called it a session. We went over to Fuzz’s and nerded out on youtube clips. It was awesome. I need to hang with my friends more.

(setup null message 8.125 deck, venture 5.2 v-hollow lows, thunder bushings, 3 washers inside each wheel, 51mm STF V1, new balance numeric pj 533 steel/gum)

@boredzinejp challenged me to a 'poor man's switch 360'. Well this is as poor as it gets. I learned it right away then totally lost it. This is all I documented before the deadline. Next trick Josh is halfcab heel. This is an ode to @patsnacks #theglenandjosholdfartlongdistanceinstagramtricksuperchallenge #twotricksnospeed #mymostembarrassingpostyet

A video posted by glen gillinghammer (@corpoglenny) on Sep 1, 2016 at 8:27pm PDT

Got out of work early, took a nap, then added a new setup to my collection. This one was a Null 8.25 with 8″ Venture highs and 52mm Spits. I felt better then the day before. Perhaps because I sat down more at work so my legs weren’t so tired. I started at the dog park as it was about to get dark. It felt good to roll around and flip tricks were starting, but it got dark right away and started to rain. So I went to the Valmont garages and started at Redder Curbs. It was fun to cruise around it even though I didn’t seem to land anything. I wanted to do halfcab heel and that garage isn’t too great for flatground. Well, the lighting at least. So I went into Blank Curbs and went to work. It took me about 20 minutes to get the one above. It felt so good I wish I didn’t have to see the footage. Ha. In between tries I mostly posed flippers like nollie flip (kind of close), nollie heel (not close at all, but there was some hope in there) and switch tre (no chance at all). I was not in a terrible mood for once and had fun. As much as I want to skate parks, I really hate the scenes at them sometimes. I don’t like spending my skate time with kids I don’t know playing with scooters. It kills me.

(setup 8.25 null riley persing deck, venture 5.2 hi, thunder bushings, 3 washers inside each wheel, 52mm spitfire f4 101a, new balance numeric pj 533 steel/gum)