Felt like trying tighter trucks on my 8.25 setup so I put some stock venture bushings in with both washers.  I met Jake at the dark and dreary Steelyards garage.  There was an older dude drinking beers, smoking up and riding a bmx bike around the garage all fast.  It was awesome.  The darkness of the garage quickly got to Jake and I.  Also, I quickly remembered how much I hate tight trucks.  We struggled to do a few things we can normally do right away then decided to leave and check out something else.  We ended up at redder curbs which wasn’t much colder even though it’s open.  Jake had a little line ollieing the median then slappy the curb.  I flailed around hating tight trucks and did some front 50s, slappy crooks, 180s over the parking block.  I couldn’t get b/s flip over the micro hip.  Jake learned dump truck transfers over the parking block.  I would get one too that took way too long.  Then we played a really fun game of SKATE transfers over the parking block.  It started with me doing a terrible ollie over it.  Ha.  We went quite a long time before any letters were handed out.  I can’t remember all that we did.  Some fun ones I did were front axle to fakie, front feeble nollie shove, blunt shove, we both got first try dump trucks, nosepick transfer was a battle for both of us but I got it.  Jake did nollie shove rock transfer, f/s cab rock transfer which I somehow got too, a beanplant 360 hand shove which was incredibly fun, he almost got fakie shove rock transfer.  Somehow he accumulated SKAT while I had SK and I one it with a back 50 to fakie transfer.  Fun game, I needed a “dork” session.  I tried to kickflip it after the game, but didn’t have the commitment.  Oh well, fun night.  Tight trucks suck!

(setup 8.25 colfax deck, jessup ultragrip, venture 5.8 cast baseplate titanium hanger stock insoles, spitfire 52mm f4 99a classic shape, new balance numeric 212 black/pink size 11.5, footprint mid elite insoles)
(pain level 3/10)

On a cold and snowy night I went into the garage.  The goal was to rotate between 6 different types of tricks.  Kickflips, heelflips, nollie, switch, 360 flip, random trick.  It made for a lot of failing, but at the same time made for some good motivation.  I had a new pair of 212s and they felt a little slippery and stiff.  Good shoes take a minute to break in.  Also my trucks were making so much noise they were driving me nuts.  Maybe it’s time to order better pivot cups.  Basically I was not close to anything other than kickflip tricks and a couple terrible heelflips.  I was not close to treflip at all which was oh so frustrating.  I had gotten halfcab flip kinda quick which was maybe the only joy I had on the 8.5.  At some point I grabbed my 8.25 sitting there and said “8.5 never again”.  I didn’t land a treflip on it, but I actually committed finally.  I got a f/s flip that felt alright.  Some nollie and switch flips were close.  Was not close to casper flips.  I went in after about an hour and a half of flailing around feeling quite depressed.  I guess the one positive is I think I finally found some insoles I really like.

(setup 8.5 then 8.25 both with ventures and 52mm wheels, new balance numeric 212 black/pink size 11.5, footprint mid elite insoles)
(pain level 2/10!)

On a sunny, but cool day after a couple more inches of snow I chilled early in the day hoping something would melt. It wasn’t look good so I left with LGJ in case. I ended up at the newish ledges near red curbs hat I haven’t skated before. They were really tall and it’s apparently next to a police station so it was odd seeing a bunch of police driving by. We didn’t get hassled at all though. I was there for a good 30 minutes first. I didn’t think I would land much of anything as the ledges are really tall and the small part in the background was wet. I had a warm up noseslide of something like back axle a curb, kickflip, noseslide. Also front 180 off a curb, b/s halfcab flip, front nose jib to fakie. Eventually a line I was pretty hyped on. F/s halfcab flip, noseslide to fakie, fakie ollie up a curb. I was hyped on a first try fakie bigflip, slow backside flip. Jake showed around then. I got my best crooks of the day at that point. Jake was quick on the ledge with noseslide pretty much right away. We both tried noseslide shoves for awhile. He would get a super good one. I didn’t. I struggled with heelflips, couldn’t get treflip and close but no cigar on nollie tre. I got a couple front nose jibs after some tilted manuals on the curb at the start or kickflips off the curb. Jake did no comply 180 followed by halfcab nose. I came remotely close to fakie flip then halfcab nose. Jake tried to get front 50. He got up on it, but couldn’t reel it in. These ledges are very tall. Fun day, skating in the cold is hard, but we did it. I’m glad I wasn’t stuck in a garage again.

(setup null 8.5 plant life, jessup ultragrip, venture 5.8 cast baseplate titanium hanger, bones medium bushings, 52mm spitfire f4 99a classic shape, new balance numeric 212 blue/gum size 11.5 left shoe nb# b/w 212 size 12 for the right shoe to see if it reduced right toe pain it did not, footprints elite mid kingfoam insoles)
(pain level 3/10 just right toe pain the knees felt good)

On a cold and snowy day while on call for work I tried to rally with some type of motivation and skate LGJ (Ledgy Junior). I attempted to start at the bigger open garage near 28th & Glenwood, but there was a security truck parked at the entrance. So I went to the old small Google garage and it was way warmer anyway. I started warming up, did a couple rolls down the steep driveway and brought LGJ out. And then down comes the security guard. Argh. Little did she know when I packed up and left I knew exactly which garage she was just at. So I went back to the bigger colder one and skated for about an hour and a half. I skated extra slow and didn’t have much juice. Trick wise it might sound decent for me, but everything was slow and questionable. The trick that took me too long that really made me mad was halfcab noseslide. It’s also when I noticed that my bushings gave out pretty much every time I leaned in on them. Anyway, trick I landed were boardslide, front board, noseslide, noseslide fakie, front nose, front nose fakie, switch front nose, switch back nose, crook, halfcab noseslide, halfcab noseslide to fakie, front 50, first try fakie nosegrind for the only trick I was truly hyped on. I got close to halfcab noseslide shove, front 5-0, halfcab noseslide 270. I ended with a newish/rare one. F/s halfcab noseslide. Flip tricks didn’t go well. I mostly blame the cold and not wanting to fall as it was in the low 20s. Happy I skated though.

(setup null 8.5 plant life, jessup ultragrip, venture 5.8, venom 88a bushings, 52mm spitfire f4 99a classic shape, new balance numeric 212 blue/gum size 11.5, footprints elite mid kingfoam insoles)
(pain level 3/10)

Feeling a bit tired after some early morning callouts for work I went to campus on a slightly warmer night.  I had thought of some lines I wanted to try, but ended exploring more.  I started on the tiniest hip on campus and did a couple little tricks like front slash to fakie,  nollie 270 and front 270 followed by a switch ollie up a tiny curb.  Then I ended up in the parking lot by the rec center in what would be some really impressive sucking trying to back 180 or ollie up a weird curb from a rough brick section.  Whatever though.  I would get the ollie up onto the angled flagstone walkway then try to “gap” back 50 the base of a little fountain and gap back out.  It was surprisingly fun.  I tried to start by rolling off a little rock.  But then settled on a line.  Front shove on flat, back 50, kickflip on flat, ollie a little 4’ish flat gap.  I got the line.  It was fun even though the back 50 game to a halt and the gap out wasn’t very pretty.  The first try ollie the flat gap felt good.  Then I wandered around somehow finding new paths I’ve never seen before then ended up back at the rec center.  I got a line there that made me happy.  Ollie up the 2, ollie a little snow pile, turn around then heelflip, ollie the 3.  I was hyped on how easily I was getting up the 2 and happy with the larger setup for that.  The snow pile ollie right after the two stair was hard and felt almost like exercise trying to pop again so quickly.  I got two heelflips.  The first one was followed by a legit slam down the 3 stair.  It’s one of those sets with the crack in front which shouldn’t matter for a 3 stair, but it made it hard for me.  When I did get the ollie down the 3 my legs wanted to give out, I was so tired and squated low and held on for dear life. It was fun. I added a little nose stall shove jib on the step after. Last thing I made myself do 5 flip tricks at the art building.  Since I had already done kickflip, bs flip and heelflip they were out.  I would get fakie flip, varial flip, halfcab flip, fs halfcab flip and fakie bigflip.  I got denied on halfcab heels, treflip, front heel, switch flip.  I was also randomly close to a couple nollie bs flip.  But when I got the sketchy fakie bigflip I called it and left for the night.  Not quite as hyped on how I skated as the other night, but still happy to be motivated and trying to skate street more again.

(setup null 8.5 plant life, jessup ultragrip, venture 5.8, venom 88a bushings, 52mm spitfire f4 99a classic shape, new balance numeric 212 blue/gum size 11.5, footprints elite mid kingfoam insoles)
(pain level 4/10)

On a very nice day I went to meet Rob and Dave at dog park for a skate lunch.  It was colder than it seemed like it should be.  Although it did warm up quickly.  Some other older skaters were skating too and then some youngsters at the end of the session.  I skated well and with some motivation again.  We were all skating hard it seemed.  Dave was mostly trying lines to manual the picnic table.  5-0s, kickflips, etc to get the line going.  Rob had some halfcab boardslides to fakie some with a little shuffle after, front board the tall bench, halfcab nose, front 50 the new ledge first try, fakie bigspins.  I started with a poser line of ollie to fakie the steeper wedge, fakie flip, switch back nosegrind the little guy.  I never committed to the sbng.  I did back 5-0 and 50 the the little guy which I haven’t done in a bit.  I got on the cinder block ledges pretty easily for once.  Tried the Joe Hamilton, but didn’t get one although I had a ghost front board that was pretty funny.  I had one halfcab noseslide 270 out attempt that cool even though I know it didn’t count.  Couldn’t get noseslide 270 shove or nosegrind 180.  I ended trying to ollie the jersey barrier off the decked wedge.  I would eventually get it and came so close to a treflip after.  The treflip would have been such a great ender.  Still, had a blast skating with the dudes in the sun and being motivated again.  Dave’s manuals were gnar.

(setup null 8.5 plant life, jessup ultragrip, venture 5.8, venom 88a bushings, 52mm spitfire f4 99a classic shape, new balance numeric 212 blue/gum size 11.5, nb# abzorb insoles)
(pain level 5/10)

Rather than feel sorry for myself for being in pain and not skating well I went to campus in search of new/old/different spots I haven’t skated before or in years.  I would start behind the student center.  Initially with some straight dorking to get warmed up.  Then slightly less dorking for a warm up line that would stoke me out.  A kickflip fakie on the mellowest slope ever solely as a way to warm up and setup switch for switch 180 over a little grate into a little slope, ollie off a two stair (that had a crack a couple feet after so it felt like a little gap) then pose a back 180 down a 3 stair. Ollieing the little gap felt incredibly fun and reminded me how street skating soothes my soul.  I never got close to the back 180, but I didn’t really care and moved to the front where I took some time to ollie up the two stair, ride off (it was dark) and then noseslide a tall rounded bench.  I looked around for a while and ended up at the Baker ledge.  I feel like I was somewhere else before this, but can’t remember.  I tried a line of manual, noseslide to fakie, fakie flip.  Never got the fakie flip, but started not caring and trying switch flips instead and got very close to one.  Also got a little crook jib and ended with a front 50 that I didn’t think I’d be able to get because it was dark and due to ice I had to get on a somewhat taller section.  It was an incredibly fun feeling front 50.  I went home happy after that.  

(setup null 8.5 plant life, jessup ultragrip, venture 5.8, venom 88a bushings, 52mm spitfire f4 99a classic shape, new balance numeric 212 blue/gum size 11.5, footprints 5mm insoles)
(pain level 4/10)

Was so incredibly sore.  Rob and Kevin were there when I arrived.  We chatted then went to it.  I have waited too long to write this so remember very little.   Eric and Sean would show too.  Cass eventually.  I did not skate well for a couple of hours because I was so sore.  I only remember the end of the session when Sean and I were trying lines.  He would get his.  Something like kickflip the wallie world, front nosegrind the metal bench, nollie back nosegrind 180 the cinder block bench.  Also close to front 180 the hydrant, fakie flip, fakie crooks.  I was trying various tricks and just trying to ollie onto the double wide cinder blocks.  I could not do it to save my life, I was so scared.  I had wallies, halfcab flips, the worst little switch crook jib and more, but still only managed the worst slow ollie up to manual stall. Sorry for not remembering everyone else.  I know Rob, Kevin and Eric were ripping.  Rob halfcab boardlides to fakie.  Kevin almost got fakie 5-0 halfcab out.  Eric casually heelfipped a parking block, 5-0s.  Then we met Jack, Dan and Joe downtown and I filmed.  Jack ripped it.  Others had fun.  

(setup null 8.5 plant life, jessup ultragrip, venture 5.8, venom 88a bushings, 52mm spitfire f4 99a classic shape, new balance numeric 212 blue/gum size 11.5, nb# abzorb insoles)
(pain level 6/10 everything)

Was hyped to skate when I woke up. Especially because an early old guy Broomfield session was already organized so I didn’t spend any time texting. But then I went to leave and my car wouldn’t start. Literally all my motivation left me when the car made the failing whirring noise. Ugh. I spent all last weekend with plumbing. So I ended up spending a couple hours trying to figure it out and it would eventually start. After some basketball I went to campus hoping I’d be hyped. I wore my 288s in hopes of less knee pain. Initially it helped. I started at the flagstone ledge and it went decent actually. Boardslide, noseslide, noseslide fakie were all first try. I did a couple flippers under the covered area. Switch noseslides both ways. A front board pop out that felt really cool. Front nose to fakie. And a front axle stall as I went too slow to grind. I started to feel pretty disoriented and weird on my board as I checked out some crazy new tall wooden benches with banks on them. Looks like it could be a dream spot. I rolled in on one then went to ollie off the lower level and bailed for no reason and it hurt. After that I posed some ollies over a little ledge then walked around aimlessly before going home.

(setup null 8.5 plant life, jessup ultragrip, venture 5.8, venom 88a bushings, 52mm spitfire f4 99a classic shape, new balance numeric 288s maroon size 11.5, xero insoles)
(pain level 5/10 knees don’t like me)

On a pretty nice day I had enough of work and went for a lunch break. After 3 days off I felt like going with the 8.5 setup. Maybe my goal will be to skate less and have the energy and pop to skate the bigger board. Or just not skate much at all because it’s so darn painful during the winter. Even when it’s warm up. Anyway, I felt rusty and less motivated than I had hoped after a few days off. I blame work mostly, it’s been way too stressful. I had an alright time though. Did some slappies, slappy crooks. A few slow flippers. Kickflip, fakie flip, b/s flip, heelflip, a f/s flip that was maybe legit and an incredibly slow 360 flip that made me happy. I also did a switch front 50 on the curb.

(setup null 8.5 plant life, jessup ultragrip, venture 5.8, venom 88a bushings, 52mm spitfire f4 99a classic shape, new balance numeric 212 blue/gum size 11.5, nb# abzorb insoles)
(pain level 5/10 knees don’t like me)