Didn’t sleep all that great, but still woke up early. I got ready to skate slowly. I wasn’t really feeling like going to LES it just seemed like the best option so I did it. Got there around 8am. It was hot already and there were quite a few dudes there already. I started off pretty good at least. Manual and nose manual the pad. Wallie manual the mellower banked ledge. Kickflips over the b/s hip, front smiths on the qp. Went into one of my slow skate no energy modes for a bit. Crooks a metal ledge, front slash the qp, try to kick back tail the curb. Couldn’t get into the kick back tail. Tried it in a different line with wallieing the bank on the back the tall ledge, but still didn’t get it. Started trying back 50s on the metal ledge and it felt really tall. Took awhile, before I got a couple slow ones. Tried to line it out with a halfcab flip over the hip, back 5-0 on the bank, but never got the back 50 too (but I did get into it at least). Also got fakie bigflip over the hip and once again took too long to b/s flip the hip. Added front 50 and hurricane to my qp tricks. Ended while trying noseslide 270 shoves one way and front 50 shove the other. But the front 50 wasn’t working and I just gave up and left to meet Liz and Ollie.

(setup 8.1 null venture lights thunder bushings 52mm stf v3 nb# pj stratford 533 cream)

#skatetourist #theseledgesaretall

A photo posted by glen gillinghammer (@corpoglenny) on Jul 28, 2015 at 9:02am PDT

Around noon I got out to skate for a bit. Thanks to Quartersnacks I knew this spot was close. I went by a couple other playgrounds that showed up on google maps first, but they were overrun with kids. I just wanted a shady spot to do flatground without tons of people around. But this is NYC so that isn’t a possibility. I ended up at the Fort Greene spot. There were so many no skateboarding signs. People were working out on the structure or chilling in the shade next to it. I was a bit weirded out, but I still skated it. Poorly. The ledges are quite tall. As you can see in the photo they are technically 4 stairs high, but it’s more like a 3 stair height. I did a few crooks that felt cool on the lower ledge. Then tried to ollie on, front and front 50, but couldn’t get the juice. Flatground was going bad on about everything except treflips where I landed almost every one of them. I managed to ollie up, crook and back 180 off very badly. I was a little bummed how tall the ledge felt to ollie off of. Still felt like I did something though. Then I got sick of the people doing martial arts staring at me all weird and skated off. Thought I might find something else to skate, but I didn’t and ended up back at the apt.

(setup 8.1 null venture lights thunder bushings 52mm stf v3 nb# pj stratford 533 cream)

Yes!

A photo posted by glen gillinghammer (@corpoglenny) on Jul 27, 2015 at 4:58am PDT

Woke up early, went to Manhattan to finally skate LES. I arrived to an almost empty park with two people skating. Both left shortly after I arrived (not because of me ha), but others showed. For about 3 hours the park was just 2 or 3 people. The last hour there was maybe 10 people there, but for that park 10 people isn’t much at all. I skated for four hours non-stop and was a sweaty mess. There is a drinking fountain at the park thankfully. I started on the transition stuff, it was funner then I thought it would be, maybe because it’s all small. I had actually taken a day off skating so my legs felt good. You have to push a lot at that park, things are spaced out, it’s kind of awesome. I got front 5-0 and front 50 shove on one of the ledges. Very low wallride on the bank to fence. Took awhile to crooks the ledge. I thought east coast ledges were supposed to be slicker? I also did a few back lips (kind of) on the little manny pad. Got manual, nose manual and a first try kickflip manual. This was when I began realizing that I was skating exceptional for me. I was doing a lot of tricks first try and cruising the park surprising myself. It ruled. I did spend some time trying to get a b/s flip over the hip. It took a bit, but when I landed it it felt incredible. This would mark the first time I’ve ever done the same trick on the same spot as PJ. Yes, I am a nerd, but man I was hyped. I went on to do halfcab flip and fakie bigflip over the hip pretty quick. Tried varial heels coming the other way, but couldn’t get the flip. I tried a front tail on the bank to curb above one of the ledges for awhile. It was really hard, but the approach was so fun. Roll in, go over the pump bump and a big push. I would eventually land one. Tried to do nosestall or boardslide on the bank to ledge for awhile, but couldn’t get that. Did some more cruising around. Ollies over the hip, kickflips over the b/s hip, front smiths on the qp. Had a fun line where I rode up the bank of a tall ledge, dropped onto another, then down again, then cali grind off the kicker, front tail the bank, kickflip the hip. Manualled the long manny pad. Tried to kickflip pivot the bank to pool coping, but never got close. I was getting pretty tired and wanted to cross f/s halfcab flip off my list too. But rather then just do it I kept lining out further and further. But oh was it worth it when I finally got my line. Front smith on the quarterpipe, front 50 the metal ledge, slash to fakie the qp (or whatever you want to call the weak thing I do), then f/s halfcab flip over the hip (it wasn’t popped, but I was so beat). One of the funnest times I’ve had at a skatepark.

(setup 8.1 null venture lights thunder bushings 52mm stf v3 nb# stratford 533 pj cream)

#skatetourist

A photo posted by glen gillinghammer (@corpoglenny) on Jul 25, 2015 at 1:32pm PDT

Had a couple hours where I could go skate. We were at our new apt we’re staying at in Brooklyn. I used Quartersnacks to find directions to this manny pad as I knew it was a Brooklyn spot. It looked pretty close on the map, but didn’t feel close at all. I kept skating, walking, skating, walking for what seemed like forever before showing up to this spot. It was quite hot out. Spots are always different in real life as there is a slight slant to this spot that makes skating it from the left side harder then it looks. Oh well. I started with some grinds on the low curb. Grinding granite is the best. Then I went for manual and got it in a couple tries which kind of surprised me. Next was nose manual which took quite awhile, but felt good to do it. I got my first feelings of regret for setting up a smaller board. But then I went for kickflip manual and loved how good it popped and felt good about it. I got a couple with tiny tilts. I felt cool. Not as tech as PJ in Brick Harbor, but still hyped. If I landed the kickflip without the manual I would do 180s off. I tried to front 50 or 5-0 it, but the crack in the middle really messes with that. Had some slappy crooks on the first step on the way up. Or some back 50s, almost back 50 on the 2nd stair. Then I got a text that I needed to head home. On the way I saw this weird little volcano thing, skated it for a second before realizing I was at the Thomas Greene skatespot. Took a spin around it and headed back.

(setup 8.1 null venture lights thunder bushings 52mm stf v3 nb# pj statford 533 cream)

I’m in NYC! Everyone was resting so I went out for a quick skate. Turns out these were around the corner. The traffic was heavier then the photo shows so transfer tricks were scary. I only got some manhole ollies and wallrides. Then I met with Julian (Liz’s sisters boyfriend). He showed me the ledge spot. So amazing. But he talks a lot so I never got in the groove. I got crooks, front board pop out, front 50. Julian had some noseslide and front 50s. Such a sick spot that I wish I could have skated more. The smaller board felt good in the city.

(Setup 8.1 null venture lights thunder bushings 52mm stf v3 nb# pj Stratford 533 cream)

Went out to Rampy a little before midnight after having one of the busiest evenings ever unloading boards and getting ready for NYC. I chose to setup an 8.1. It seemed really small and that’s cool. I skated for about 10 minutes and didn’t get too far into the list of basics.

(setup 8.1 null venture lights thunder bushings 52mm stf v3 nb+ pj stratford 533 cream)

After enjoying my smaller setup yesterday I decided to go even smaller. So I subbed in my 8″ hangers instead of the 8.5s. After a fun dinner visiting with my old friend Tricia, Ollie and I drove the two blocks to Westminster park. Ollie didn’t skate at all. I mostly just rolled around mostly, did a front feeble on the little qp, tried switch noseslides down the hubba and did a few kickflips that felt good.

(setup 8.25 null venture lights thunder bushings 52mm stf v3 nb+ stratford 533 pj cream)

Other people ripping. @matthouse @_f_u_z_z @fullertrron

A video posted by glen gillinghammer (@corpoglenny) on Jul 21, 2015 at 10:06pm PDT

Had some time to kill before Ollie went to his friends. He didn’t feel like doing much so I skated. I started on Rampy and it was pretty fun. I didn’t skate flat at all. Skated for almost an hour. Did quite a few basics initially. Then started trying a line with a back smith in it and then a blunt to pivot. Never got the blunt pivot. Ended up heading outside to skate flat. I wasn’t feeling the big board anymore and decided to check out what shape the old spare 8.25 deck was in my car. It seemed good so I set it up. It felt awesome. I felt decent on my board. I did a lot of tricks, some of which were absolutely horrible, but I didn’t seem to really care. Nollie tre, tre, varial heel, fs halfcab heel and a rick flip! Totally landed not even moving. Other tricks were landed ok.

Then Ollie left and I went to Red Curbs to meet Matt and Dave. Fuzz would show a little later. It was a long session so I don’t really remember how it went. I felt good on my skateboard for awhile though which seems rare these days. I had some flippers like nollie tre and tre, nose manuals, got some front lipslides (they weren’t clean) and got closer to back lips, but even closer to kick back lip (so much easier). Dave was hauling ass. Long boardslides to fakie, or 270 out, front lips, a back lip, front 5-0 shove and lasted the longest of everyone (well except he hadn’t already skated for two hours like me! ha ha). Matt had super fast 5-0s, fakie nosegrinds, the back lip, front 5-0 shove, treflips easy, struggled with switch stuff which makes sense because it’s impossible. Fuzz lived up to his reputation as the 180 guy and did 180s before every trick. He took awhile for some of his basics, but then put down tricks like back 180 fakie 50 halfcab out first try (note there are 2 180s in that trick). Almost got back lip. I sat for awhile and filmed as I was tired. We ended with Dave and I doing slappy crooks on the red curb.

(setup 8.5/8.25 null venture wide lights thunder bushings 52mm stf v3 nb+ pj stratford 533 cream)

Went out in front of the house on another nice cool evening. I had some new wheels. Yes, new. I always have new stuff. Well basically the 54s were just way too big for me and I measured the old wheels and they were down to like 48 or 49. Too small to start with. I had scored some of the narrow Bones 52s and plan on sticking with them. Flatground went ok actually. My newish shoes grip really well and it added a bit of comfort. I didn’t get too far into the list. Got close to nollie 3 flips. Got a good feeling heelflip which I’ve struggled with lately.

Then I grabbed Ollie and we went to Red Curbs. I was supposed to learn back lipslides and figured it was a good spot for them. It didn’t go so great for me. I got kind of close, this clip is the closest, but yeah, not so close. Ollie was ripping. He did several manuals across the little manual pad. I’ve never seen him ollie into a manual before. He also did his first real boardslides. He was hauling ass and staying on the ledge. He did land one perfect that was like 6 feet long, but here’s the best we captured. He also did a boardslide to fakie, like 20 nollie shoves which he claimed are new, fakie shoves going fast, 180s everywhere, halfcab, etc. He’s one trick away from being better then me (kickflips). At the end I gave up on the back lip and had fun doing some 50s, slappy crooks, almost kickflip manual, almost 3 flips.

(setup 8.5 null venture wide lights thunder bushings 52mm bones v3 nb+ stratford 533 pj cream)

Slightly before Ollie got really sick of me dragging him out skating once again. #over40switch @fullertrron

A video posted by glen gillinghammer (@corpoglenny) on Jul 19, 2015 at 2:07pm PDT

Met Dave on campus on a day where Ollie didn’t want to skate much. We parked and Dave was skating this hammer spot. Ha. Trick, manual trick, wallie the curb trick. I started off really really slow and missed my first 5 kickflips. Yikes. Ollie did the wallie manual above and was pretty much over skating at that point. Dave and I tried some lines. I had two that I was really hyped on although everything else I did seemed like crap. One was ollie an orange cone, front 180 nose manual across the median, turn around, wallie the parking block, then a really fun powerslide down the hill (brand new asphalt). The other line was f/s haflcab flip, 180 nose manual, switch 180 wallie, then another fun powerslide. Dave had back 180 nose manual I think. Fast ollies up the curb with back 180 off, nollies off the curb, way better ollies over the cone then me and ended with the switch no comply. Gnar!

Then we went across the street and ended up being there awhile too. Dave was no complying from the parking block up onto the sidewalk. I was riding off the sidewalk then wallieing the parking block. They are really close together so it was kind of hard. We both tried to manual off the 3 stair, but failed. I ended up getting a line of the wallie thing, kickflip up the curb, front 180 down the 3, switch 180 off the curb. Felt cool. Ollie sat and played games on my phone.

We skated this area for awhile. Dave and I got the gap to manny (the other way from the photo) pretty quick. Dave got gap to nose manny first try which he normally works on for awhile. Sick! Ollie tried a few gap to mannies then started throwing his board around in protest that we were still skating. Dave worked on front 180 nose manuals for awhile. I got a line of kickflip off a curb, ollie up the curb (to where Dave is in the photo) then back 180 the little gap. It felt neat.

I hucked front shoves down the monstrous 3 stair for awhile and would eventually get a bad one. But I lined it out with a kickflip off the curb then a gap to manual. Dave got my back by landing the front 180 nose manual perfectly. We were both hyped. Ollie wanted to leave. Ted and a friend were skating the ledge so we went over there. Ollie was really bumming on the spot and just sat in the grass or tossed his board around bummed. Ha. I skated the ledge spot pretty bad anyway. Didn’t really do anything other then a front 5-0 when I was trying 50. Dave had some nice ride on front tails, front 50s and back noseslides. Ted got pop and flippers. Dan showed up and has so much pop it’s crazy. Good to see those dudes. I figured I better stop before I completely bummed out Ollie.

After some lunch and a run to 303 we got home. I told Ollie I was gonna try back lips at the school across the street and he actually wanted to go and skate. Whoa. I failed at back lips for awhile. For the record the asphalt there is horrible and made judging speed almost impossible. Ollie tried more front shoves, back shoves. Then did the raddest line. He did his patented board drop hop down the 2 stair, front 180’d the first stair, halfcab’d off the second, then a little gap to manual over the corner of the sidewalk. I gave up on back lips, but ollied the 5 stair which took awhile and I didn’t even land it very well. Ollie said “over 40 make”. That hyped me up. Then we went home. Oh yeah, I started skating a new pair of PJ’s that I bought forever ago. They felt great. They are the weird cream ones. It really makes me happy to buy his pro shoe. Like little kid giddy when I get a new pair. I can’t believe I questioned them. Never doubt PJ.

(setup 8.5 null, venture wide lights, thunder bushings, some old bones wheels that really small, NB+ PJ stratfords 533 cream)