Went across the street on a hot evening in shorts for the first time this season. Was so lazy, did some slappies, bailed a lot of slappies. I wore some new Foy cups without any insoles to break them in. They felt better than 440s.

Got another stye going in my eye so I can’t wear contacts. Rather than drive somewhere I just skated to Willville on a very warm evening. For whatever reason I started at the big dry blocks. Nose stalls were good. Couldn’t get a crook or even try front 50. Went to the little ledge and did about 12 non pop tricks. Nothing felt good. I did the worst front 50 ever then left.

(setup 2/10 8.25 null kaleidoscape, pepper grip, venture 5.6 v8 bones medium bushings hollow hanger, 52mm bones stf v1 103a, new balance numeric 440 high wide black size 12 half insole and currex runpro insoles)
(pain level 5/10)

Another cold indecisive morning we finally decided on Bennett. Ben, Joe and I rolled out and met Garrett. The park new section was mostly dry, the old section had a lot of water running through. I went through 2 setups before going back to the 8.25 with v8s. None of which I liked. Joe was super hyped on the park and put together lines right away as did Garrett. Although it did at least take garrett a few tries to get a kf nose manual as he adjusted to new shoes. Ben was close to hardlflips on the bank. Garrett had the most perfect b/s flip first try on the hip. I was struggling so I kind of just tuned out and skated by myself. Did a bunch of crooks, a bunch of front 50s on the curved curb high ledge. Couldn’t do flippers. I would get a line that sounds okay on paper. Nollie front tail then front 50 the two main ledges, turn around sw front nose then halfcab nose. Had some fakie 50s. Garrett and Joe ripped it. It was a fun session. We had the park to ourselves until school got out and it got mobbed with youth laying down on their boards or riding scooters.

(setups some 8.5/8.3s then the 8.25 with v8s, new balance numeric 440 high wide black size 12 with half insole and currex runpro insole)
(pain level 6/10)

After some slow moving and breakfast at Southside Walnut we went to campus. It was Joe and Ben at first. We parked on the hill and went under the tunnel. We played a loose game of SKATE on the ultra mini bank to curb. I’m not sure if there was a winner, but it was a decent warm up. I did the little 3 stair ollie then terrible wallie nollie. Joe and I were trying tricks up the little euro/grate thing. Hardflip Joe and Garrett showed up. Security rolled by and said “keep the wheels on the ground” so we moved on. I had seen some footage of the low to high curb and we checked it out. And it delivered! Although the slight downhill approach made it hard for me to commit to front 50s. I would get a few slow little ones. Hardflip Joe did a hardflip then huge hippy jump. He had some cool front noses too. Garrett long back tails and the hilarious slam on the nollie heel. Nebraska Joe had some good 50s and his normal combos.

Then we went to the Baker area, but there were cars. So to the nearby ledge. Nebraska Joe struggled with front 50s which was unusual. Hardflip Joe did some front crooks, front tails. I did some switch noseslides. Garrett had the great halfcab noseslides, halfcab crooks (until I started filming) and some fun impromptu lines. Then the wind picked up and a big cloud moved in so we called it a day.

(setup 2/10 8.25 null kaleidoscape, pepper grip, venture 5.6 v8 bones medium bushings hollow hanger, 52mm bones stf v1 103a, new balance numeric 440 high wide black size 12 half insole and currex runpro insoles)
(pain level 5/10)

After a bad night of sleep I got out later than I wanted to. Met up with Gordon, Paul, Cass, Kyle, Ryan. Seemed like everyone skated alright. Cass with treflip and hardflip flyouts, crooks shove, ripping. Paul front 5-0 front 180 was so sick. Gordon manuals so easy, 50s, 5-0s. Kyle was kind of messing around with flippers and did a nollie double heel first try. Ha. Ryan had some good flippers too the switch heel. I skated pretty mid, but all things considered with how sore I was to start it went okay. I didn’t land anything really noteworth, but it was okay.

(setup 7/10 8.25 null kaleidoscape, pepper grip, venture 5.6 v8 bones medium bushings hollow hanger, 52mm bones stf v1 103a, new balance numeric 440 high wide black size 12 half insole and currex runpro insoles)
(pain level 7/10)

Met Will at dog park after work. It was breezy, but nice out. I was very sore and seemed like the knee pain got worse as I went on. I’m reminded of how much the 600s hurt my knees. Nick was there, but couldn’t get it going because of the wind so he left. Kind of a weird session. Will did switch manual and was trying to go right into switch front 50 on the bench. I don’t think he got both together. He had some nice nosegrinds and all that. I was okay on the lower stuff. Had a couple flippers. Tried the line above for a while starting with fakie flip, but as soon as Will started filming I couldn’t land one. Argh. So I just did the halfcab noseslide then kickflip and when I landed the kickflip over the curb I decided why not try no comply flip. And it worked out! Left on a good note after that.

(setup 7/10 8.25 null kaleidoscape, pepper grip, venture 5.6 v8 bones medium bushings hollow hanger, 52mm bones stf v1 103a, new balance numeric 600 black/gum size 12 currex runpro insoles)
(pain level 6/10)

In the midst of a long work day I managed a quick lunch break session at Blue Skies. It was colder than it’s been in a while. I mostly skated my 8.3 with thunders because the 8.25 slace board was so squeeky. I did not feel good, cruising around I did not feel good even. I had some okay things during the warm up period. But could not commit to anything requiring skills. Near the end I really wanted to ollie the lowest part of the snake rail which is nothing. But I could not do it, I committed and just ran into it. It was a very depressing note to leave on.

(setup 2/10 8.3 thunder team 600 currex)
(pain level 5/10)

Stopped by Boulder park on the way into work. Took my board out and out of nowhere the trucks were incredibly squeaky. What the heck. It was so annoying. Not as annoying as my skating though. I went on to completely suck. Changed to my 8.3/thunder setup and hated it slightly less. I had a lot of bails. Bail, bail bail. Pretty much all I did. Failed a front 50 on the bench and put an end to my old 8.3

(setup 0/10s 8.25 slace and 8.3 thunder team, 600s currex)
(pain level 5/10)

Off to enjoy the time change I went to dog park on a warm breezy afternoon. Ted and Nick were there. Somewhat quickly Ted gave me some tips on inward heels so I tried a few. Some were remotely close. Ted got one. Nick did a pop shove tail grab off the grate. I tried some on flat and was really close. There were a couple rippers charging the ledge over pad. Nosegrind pop out was so sick. As was the front 50 back big out. I couldn’t get a nose manual. I did however front 50 the bench for the first time in months. I would get a few slow ones. On the lurb got front 50 shove which I also haven’t done in a while. Sheesh. Got a first try slow fakie 50 on the bench. Ted did some fakie nosegrinds and fakie 270 noses (I think). It was a decent session. I wore some 600s and liked them better than other recent shoes I’ve had.

(setup 4/10 null kaleidoscape 8.25, pepper grip, slace 8.25, 52mm bones stf v1 103a, new balance numeric 600 size 12 black/gum with currex runpro insole)
(pain level 4/10)

Went to dog park on a beautiful day after helping a little at the square state rebuild. I was very sore. I did a few basics. Only thing that stood out to me that I liked was a few kickflips over a parking block. Garrett shredded and got two first try lines that were insane. Cass continues his flip trick domination. Dan with the endless lines. There are too many people to list. After we went to Southern Sun which was a nice time hanging with friends.

(setup 2/10 null kaleidoscape 8.25, pepper grip, slace 8.25, 52mm bones stf v1 103a, splay/xero mixture not liking either and the pain they cause although it seems worse than what the converse did to me)
(pain level 7/10)