On a hot morning Neil and I rolled to Scott Carpenter after his red eye flight and a breakfast.  There were only a few people there initially and it wouldn’t get crowded.  We skated for about an hour.  Neil had some skate trip energy and was charging.  We stuck only to the new stuff.  It wasn’t long before we filmed some lines of each other.  I was doing crooks then noseslides and trying to add in a 50 or more.  Got one with an accidental 5-0 and nearly a treflip after.  Neil couldn’t quite get kickflip over the hip, but had some sick grinds through the mini snake run.  Then he added crooks shove, one foot the hip and a nose manual on of the bump to ledge. Eric would appear, had some good wallie 180s up the slappy ledges, slammed hard on a crook.  Saul appeared briefly too on his bike around when I got a b/s flip over the hip that only took 4 tries.  Then we bounced, hit 303.

Then we ended up at the Niwot ledge manny pad spot and met Sean F.  Neil and I were there first.  Neil loved the spot and went in pretty hard quickly.  He was shredding.  Manuals, nose manuals, 50s, noseslides.  I would get out the good camera to film a line of his.  Halfcab noseslide, nose manual, front 50 shove.  So good.  Sean was of course shredding too.  Everything at max speed and smoothness.  Neil filmed him do a casual line of front tail to fakie, halfcab manual, back 5-0 shove.  It’s crazy how he could do a tailslide that fast and come out with enough speed to do the halfcab manual.  He would later almost get 180 nose manual too.  I didn’t have much at this spot, I did a few tricks, wasn’t charging and lacked energy.  Had some okay crooks, a back 50, heelflip, accidental front 5-0, posed front crooks and switch crooks and didn’t get close to either.  

Next up after a visit to Sk8 Ratz we met up with Donnie and Riley at a school in Loveland that has a lot of variety.  There’s a bank to curb, a little stairset and a long ledge/manny pad.  Upon arriving I thought the ollie up the curb to the bank to curb felt impossible.  Riley, Donnie and Sean were getting it though.  Riley front tail kickflip out, Sean back pivot front 180, Donnie manual to nose stall to almost fakie manual down.  Oh yeah, Skelly had joined us with Emi.  Skelly kind of kept to himself trying to get his sore back to work.  He did get a back 50 front 180 out on the bank to curb.  The rest of us ended up mostly skating the ledge and man it was fun although tough with how much we had already skated Neil and I definitely struggled.  Donnie had some solid back 50s, front 50, manuals and would eventually get the dirt board out and try some manuals off a little retainer wall.  Man it was good seeing Riley.  He was skating so well.  Switch nose manual the whole thing, almost fakie flip out, halfcab noseslides, halfcab crooks, front 5-0 shove, etc.  Sean had back nosegrind, manual, nose manual and much more.  Neil had gotten himself going for awhile.  Lipslide, manual or nose manual, 50s.  But when i filmed him he had shut down.  I had a couple great feeling crooks and one that grinded so far, but I didn’t land it.  Tried a line of front 50 shove then switch noseslide shove for awhile, but never got them together.  Seriously no idea how I wasn’t landing the front 50 shove I was so close most tries.  Super fun session, day, crew, spots, etc.

(setup 8.25 null spanbauer pro deck, jessup ultragrip, venture 5.6 cast baseplate with riptides v-hollow hanger, 3 washers inside each axle, venom 88a big bushing 91a small bushing, spitfire f4 99a 50mm classic shape, new balance numeric 212 cream size 12, nike sb zoom air/ sole tech insoles)
(pain level 3/10)

Feeling lazy after a tough week of work I went behind the school (they have construction going on the side) armed with a list of 10 tricks and a setup change (8.25 / 5.6 / 50mm).  After the briefest of warmups I went in.
kickflip – took a few tries but got a couple
fakie flip – couple tries
halfcab flip – few tries felt good
heelflip – barely got the 10th try
fakie heelflip – Actually got one pretty quickly and it felt cool
halfcab heelflip – was close, but could not get it
360 flip – got a really bad 270 flip one in a few tries, but could not get a better one
nollie bigflip – a couple flipped right, but I didn’t get my feet on any
switch flip – not really close
switch front heel – still feels doable, but not close
Then I ollied onto the rock back there a few times and did a couple stalls.  I was glad I didn’t let the laziness prevent me from skating.

(setup 8.25 null spanbauer pro deck, jessup ultragrip, venture 5.6 cast baseplate with riptides v-hollow hanger, 3 washers inside each axle, venom 88a big bushing 91a small bushing, spitfire f4 99a 50mm classic shape, new balance numeric 212 cream size 12, nike sb zoom air insoles)
(pain level 3/10)

After work I went to dog park around the time Skelly finished up at the skatepark and we skated. Tim and Ben from Evergreen also skated. Those two charged hard out of the gates with manuals and nose manuals on the wedge to picnic table. Skelly and I started slower and lower. I wanted to feel better than I did. I know that’s always the story, but I didn’t really get to what I wanted to try. Partly because the cinder block ledge was a total mess then later on I had some knee pain that made ollies hard. I had done a few flippers, but nothing good. Had some fun slappy crooks both ways. Skelly had some good halfcab boardslides, lipslides the curbs, manuals, etc. After awhile a tweaker came into the park and was really wanting to skate. Sean was kind enough to let him ride his board. Dude definitely had skated before and did some boardslides and ollies and managed to survive. He wouldn’t shut up though, so loud not making any sense. He finally left. I ended it kind of doing a nosegrind on the slow low but with a little bonk on the way out.

(setup 8.3 null spanbauer night deck, jessup ultragrip, thunder hollow 148, bones stf v1 52mm 103a, new balance numeric 212 cream size 12, nike sb zoom air insoles)
(pain level 4/10 some knee pain)

Before dinner on a cool day I went over to the school to finally do the silly trick I’ve been trying to do for Dave.  Nollie back tail shove.  I had a fun time hucking and it was a good warm up even if I did it so terribly.  I also randomly started hucking nollie big back heel and some felt close, also switch flips.  I had done a few other basic stalls which were fun like front tail, back 180 nosepick.  Neighbor kid Ben showed up and was fun to skate with.  After doing the nbts we skated the curbs up top.  I had some fun slappies and flippers.  Got both halfcab flips, f/s halfcab heel, fakie flip.  Came close to a slappy crook followed by kick back tail.  Did a front tail followed by front shove from the curb but to parking lot.  Ended it on a front slappy then kickflip from the curb cut to parking lot.  Ben had done some good slappies, took some good slams trying front slappies, back 180s into the curb cut.  It’s pretty rad watching someone learn skateboarding.

(setup 8.3 null spanbauer night deck, jessup ultragrip, thunder hollow 148, bones stf v1 52mm 103a, new balance numeric 212 cream size 12, nike sb zoom air insoles)
(pain level 3/10)

On a nice cool day with rain threatening I met Kevin at dog park.  There were several puddles around, but mostly things were skateable.  I had setup a new 8.3 deck since I didn’t like the old 8.25 I had temporarily setup the day before.  I liked it.  We armed up on a bank to curb we built out of the two wedges and it was fun.  I should have gotten a clip for understanding but it was the steeper grey wedge to parking block that was about 2″ taller than the bank.  We both did some pivots/axle stalls/front tails.  Kevin added in back tail, switch pivot and switch front tail.  We had a few boardslides on Wally World and flippers too.  We skated around for a bit before settling in on the little guy.  The smaller wedge was right behind it and it was fun to do a trick, turn around on the wedge then do another trick.  Kevin totally destroyed it.  Switch flip 50?  Yeah.  He almost did fakie front 50 f/s halfcab out too.  I had some fun mirror line attempts like nollie 50 then fakie 50, front 50 back 180 out then back 180 front 180 out.  Then I spent way too long working on the little kid trick  – front 50 kickflip out.  Never got a clean landing, but it was fun trying.   Garrett showed right at the end and we did some halfcab heel noseslide hucking before the rain came in.  We ended up at a spot later and I filmed Garrett get a solid little line.  

(setup 8.3 null spanbauer night deck, jessup ultragrip, thunder hollow 148, bones stf v1 52mm 103a, new balance numeric 212 cream size 12, nike sb zoom air insoles)
(pain level 4/10 probably sore because of too many ciders lately)

Shortly before 11 I met Rob and Kevin at Broomfield park. As I walked in I said “what’s up with all these damn kids on bikes?” and the mom totally heard me. She took it so well though, laughed and said they were leaving. I apologized, but she was so cool about it that it made the mood good. And then I stepped on my skateboard. Apparently skating a bunch the night before is hard on the legs because I quickly noticed I had nothing. I had put an old 8.25 deck on after Jack put an end to my cracked 8.3 the night before. I very much disliked it. Kevin was dialing a new version of his old setup and it worked as he was shredding everything. First try nollie front nosegrind, switch manual, etc. Rob would beat Kevin and I to crooks. He also had some manuals, front tail, halfcab boardslides, really good kickflip. Kevin and I played a game of SKATE. I struggled although getting heelflip and halfcab flip first try felt good. After that I think I only tried switch front nose shoves and got only remotely close. Kevin was doing switch front 5-0s. The rain moved in and we called it a day.

(setup 8.25 null smoke valley, jessup ultragrip, venture 5.6 cast plate v-hollow hanger, venom 88a big 91a small bushings, 52mm bones stf v1 103a, new balance numeric 212 cream size 12 with nike sb zoom air insoles)
(pain level 4/10)

On a rainy night we had a friend gathering at Square House. After some good veggies and drinks Gordo said “lets go take a run in the park.” With no idea it would turn into a full session we did some runs. At first it was just Gordon, Rob and I, but after awhile Brian joined in and Jack did a little too. Initially we cruised around, but all settled into some stuff. Gordo wrecked the tight window sill qp. Back rock, front rock, front pivot and close to some more. Rob had some lofty beanplants over the hip, front board pop outs on the bank to ledge, one foots on the banks and more steez. I had some axle stalls, noseslides, crooks and posed some flippers. Brian mostly went at the window sill too. He got some frontside tough guys and grind. After awhile Brian went in on the nollie tres which turned into all of us skating flat. Jack was the first one to land one and would also get a switch tre on a zip zinger. I got close to a first try treflip on a mini board but went on to not land a nollie treflip on my regular board in like 100 tries. I was so close to several at least. Gordon landed his first one ever and of course it was so good. Brian got close, pretty sure he will get one by his 50th. Rob had some kickflips, some other tricks and some wallride nollies the bank to wall. Heck of a good time with good people. And thanks Jack for putting an end to my cracked deck

(setup 8.38 null jack night skate, jessup ultragrip, venture 5.6 cast plate v-hollow hanger, venom 88a big 91a small bushings, 52mm bones stf v1 103a, new balance numeric 212 cream size 12 with nike sb zoom air insoles)
(pain level 4/10)

After a night of not sleeping well I forced myself up and to the skatepark. On the way there I biked quite fast so I thought it might translate to a good session. Nope. As soon as I set my board down it felt wrong. I’m not sure how much of it is to blame on the new setup, but I’d say the Aces are 80% responsible. That stupid clicking noise! Also I could not skate the transition very well at all. Add in more ghost pop over the hip and I was ready to walk away. I did have some fun noseslides across the bump to ledge at least. I tried several noseslide 270 shoves on the ledge and got remotely close, but never both feet on it. The whole session made me want my old favorite setup. 8.25 with venture lows. But don’t worry, I know better. I guess the good news is my ankle felt pretty decent.

(setup 8.5 null smoke valley, jessup pj ultragrip, ace af1 55, spitfire f4 53mm classic shape 99a, new balance numeric 212 cream size 12, nike sb zoom air insoles)
(pain level 3/10)

After work I had changed my 8.3 setup to have some Thunder 148s. It had rained but there was still a decent patch of dry. I had Nate give me a 10×10 list and got to it after some warming up.

kickflip – did a few, the lower Thunders felt good.
fakie flip – struggled, got a couple bad ones.
heelflip – took 20 tries to get a terrible one.
fakie heelflip – got one hands down in a few tries.
fakie bigflip – got a bad one first try then couldn’t get another.
halfcabflip – Had a couple
treflip – really wanted one and was so close so often, but ended up giving up after about 30 tries and went home. I was happy I managed not to focus my board.
bigflip –
fakie varial flip
backside bigspin

(setup 8.3 jack night deck, jessup ultragrip, thunder 148 hollow light, spitfire f4 53mm classic shape 99a, new balance numeric 212 cream size 12, nike sb zoom air insoles)
(pain level 3/10)

After work I met Rob and then Gordon and Brian. I haven’t seen Gordo in years and it was immediately awesome. But before that Rob and I had done some warming up. There was a cool crew of somewhat older dudes doing flippers and some good ledge tricks. My ankle wasn’t really holding me back anymore. I was still cautious, but it ended up being fine except later on when I tried a nollie tre. The Aces felt alright for crooks, noseslides, halfcab noseslides but I didn’t try more than that. Gordo started by taking some photos of the obstacles for his trivia game then went on to shred the place. It was cool how much he liked it. He was doing a lot of the standard ledge tricks first or second try. But what’s really funny is he cannot slappy crook! Ha ha. We both did some front slappies though which were fun. He tried to hype up the treflips too, but I wasn’t ready to commit to one of those with my ankle. I did get a few kickflips. The first one felt great, then each subsequent one felt much worst. Strike one against the Aces. Gordon was doing these casual front and back boardslides up the edge of the steeper kicker which peaked the interest of the rest of us. Rob and I were eventually able to get some regular boardslides. Gordon fs grinded up it too. I did some weird no comply grind up it like a pole jam which was fun. Brian started the double boardslide routine with Gordon then somehow it turned into Rob and I doubling up and Gordon going after. And somehow it happened first try. And it was crazy how Rob and my board bonk and we still landed our tricks. Gordo’s powerslide lipslide was amazing. Brian battled the boardslide, but couldn’t get it. He did get the incredible rock fakie and feeble fakie though. Skelly was kind of on his own program, but I saw him almost get a nollie lip shove on the flat bar.

(setup 8.5 null smoke valley, jessup pj ultragrip, ace af1 55, spitfire f4 53mm classic shape 99a, new balance numeric 212 cream size 12, nike sb zoom air insoles)
(pain level 4/10)

With my ankle still not feeling great I went across the street in the heat hoping to beat the sprinklers.  I did, but that didn’t stop the Tesla driving Lacrosse moms from parking along the red curb after awhile.  My ankle did feel better though, I actually did some ollies, no flippers though.  The little dorky pivots from the bump to curb are actually quite fun.  I had done a few of the stalls 270 out that felt better, but of course could no longer do it when I set my camera up.  Had some really fun slappy crooks, okay front slappies.  Took awhile to get regular slappies and slappy front crooks.  It’s weird the Aces seem harder to slappy than Ventures.  Maybe it just takes some getting used to.  I had one one pop shove, ollied up the curb a few times.  It’s still way too early to say if I like the setup since I haven’t skated how I normally skate yet.  But it is definitely fun to cruise around on.

(setup 8.5 null smoke valley, jessup pj ultragrip, ace af1 55, spitfire f4 53mm classic shape 99a, new balance numeric 212 cream size 12, nike sb zoom air insoles)
(pain level 5/10)