Thought I was feeling much better so I went out to the garage armed with a list of tricks that are mostly impossible for me. I figured once I got the first kickflip I would try each trick 5 times, rest a little and move on. The list:

Fakie flip
Bs flip
Halfcab flip
Heelflip
Fakie heelflip
Switch flip
Nollie flip
Halfcab backfoot flip
Halfcab heel
Treflip
Nollie varial flip
Nollie tre
Nollie varial heel
Fakie hardflip
Sw fs flip

As expected the results were terrible, but only trying 5 times was fun in that it would make me quickly. The first kickflip took like 10 tries. Fakie flip was quick, bs flip and halfcab flip were both first try. Then i didn’t land anything after that. Wasn’t close to any of the heelflip tricks, well kinda close to halfcab heel. Nollie flip, nollie tre and treflip were the only other close tricks. I enjoyed hucking and felt pretty good after that. But a day later as I write this boy did I pay dearly. Covid kicked back in fierce. I had only skated about 40 minutes in my warm garage. Ugh.

(setup 8.3 null mc hesher, jessup ultragrip, venture 5.8 red cast plate titanium hanger, royal bushings no big washer flat little washer, 49.99mm boardycakes roundups washers outside, new balance numeric 440H b/w size 12)
(pain level 0/10)

Feeling the funk from covid still I went out for a ultra quick flatground session. I had debated what setup to go into 2022 with the goal of not switching and decided on 8.3. We’ll see how long it lasts. It felt big at first since I’ve been on 8 and 8.25 recently. I also felt super out of it and weird. Did a few 180s, shoves. Would rest between. Then tried a kickflip which took awhile. Took 3 of them before I had a remotely clean one. Then I called it because I could feel myself wanting to ignore the sickness and keep skating.

(setup 8.3 null mc hesher, jessup ultragrip, venture 5.8 red cast plate titanium hanger, royal bushings no big washer flat little washer, 49.99mm boardycakes roundups washers outside, new balance numeric 288S grey size 11.5 thin STI insoles)
(pain level 0/10 because I haven’t done anything in days)

Cold night, feeling run down, possibly covid so I went to my newly cleaned out garage. It was nice having more room. Did a few warmups, a few kickflips, fakie flips. Then tried nollie varial heels for a bit. Got close to a few early on then they disappeared. Then mostly stationary treflips. I tried them stationary because I feel like it’s helping learn a better form rather than using momentum. But I never landed one. I would be close to several. Got one heelflip, but couldn’t get another. Close but no cigar on nollie varial flips. I skated hard, but once again did not land anything. Argh. I had changed back to Ventures and wore some 288S to reduce some of that high heel pain from the 440s. It helped, but that shoe also does not flick as well.

(setup .25 null vhs , jessup pj ultragrip, venture 5.6 v-hollow, spitfire f4 99a 52mm classic, new balance numeric 288S grey size 11.5 thin sti insoles)
(pain level 2/10)

After waking up screaming in pain due to upper back spasms Joe and I went to 20th st.  Somehow my back didn’t hurt while skating. It was in the 30s, but it felt quite cold.  We warmed up with some bank tricks and then a hyped teen joined the session. The kid was seriously cool.  Unjaded, motivated and super kind.   It was inspiring but I still had trouble making my body work.  Joe was quick with it though popping on the ledges.  We started filming each other a little.  Our first lines came pretty quick. I tried noseslide 270 shoves for a while but couldn’t get one.  I also couldn’t crook or 50 to save my life.  The tail stall then slappy crook line came quickly and was the most fun.  Joe finished with a front smith on the tall ledge and we headed out for warmth and a celebratory margarita.  Yum. Good times Joe!

(setup 8.25 null vhs , jessup pj ultragrip, royal 144, spitfire f4 99a 52mm classic, new balance numeric 440H b/w size 12)
(pain level 4/10 knees/achilles)

On a nice day I rolled over to the nearby school. I started in the front with some slappies and a fun line. Noseslide to fakie, sw front 180 off a curb then slappy on the weird rounded curb.  Then I went behind the school because there is a new basketball court that is smooth. I started to work through my normal flip tricks. I had gotten halfcab flip and backside flip before a family came and started playing basketball. I was pretty bummed because I thought I would probably get quite a few tricks. Instead I went back to the front and noticed that the entrance had a kind of hill I could use as a mini bank. It was pretty fun I did some basics like shove it and kick flips then Variel flip‘s and fakie varial flips. Then I took a little bit to get a front heel.  Well I suppose it’s questionable if I actually got it but I had watched part of the tired video so I’m pretty sure that counts.  Then I hit the weird bank to bricks for a little bit.   No comply to tail came easy as did axle stall, but I could not get a front smith stall. Last thing I did was a couple of  bench tricks.  I couldn’t get a treflip. I like these Royals trucks for pretty much everything except for ledges so far. 

(setup 8.25 null vhs , jessup pj ultragrip, royal 144, spitfire f4 99a 52mm classic, new balance numeric 440H b/w size 12)
(pain level 4/10 upper back pain)

Up early to skate with the good life homies it was all foggy and wet. Argh.  We drove by a new park in hopes it would randomly be dry, but it wasn’t.  Then a parking garage where we got the boot immediately.  After some breakfast a small patch of flatground had dried up.  3 dudes skating a small 10×20’ section with puddles.  We all started slow but would get into our bags. Joe kickflip, fakie flip, cab, halfcab flip, bs flip, fakie varial flip, fakie bigflip.  I got some tricks that I haven’t done in months and had a blast. Kickflip, fakie flip, heelflip, halfcab flips both ways, fakie bigflip, bs flip, halfcab heels both ways, treflip, and so close to nollie tre.  Matt did a million tricks.  All the basic flippers, nollie varial flip, nollie big heel, nollie varial heel, switch varial heel, halfcab late flip.  

We skated the park briefly as some of it was dry.  I slammed on a puddle kicking a qp really hard.  Got a front 5-0 the little ledge. Joe killed the front 50 shoves and front smith.  Matt rattled off so many tricks. 5/0s, nosegrinds, bluntslide, crooks, so much.  Heck of a fun day.  

(setup 8.25 null vhs , jessup pj ultragrip, royal 144, spitfire f4 99a 52mm classic, new balance numeric 440H b/w size 12)
(pain level 2/10)

Caught a bit of sunlight right after work.  Saul and I did a couple slappies then laps in the park. Then Will joined and we hit the actual pump track.  We all did a few laps. It’s quite fun, but oh so exhausting.   Then back to the park   I bailed noseslides, will popped Ollie’s and Saul conquered the rainbow.  Will and I hit the dog park but mostly chatted.   I really struggled.  Couldn’t quite get nose manual.  Failed to Ollie a lot actually.  Got one back 50.  Other than that it was bad.  I’ll blame the vulcs, not the new trucks (yet).  I will say my Achilles hurt the least it has in months. So that’s good at least

(setup 8.25 null vhs , jessup pj ultragrip, royal 144, spitfire f4 99a 52mm classic, new balance numeric 440H b/w size 12)
(Pain level 2/10)

Another cold feeling night.  I went to the school armed with a different setup and something quite different.  Royal trucks!   I had a good first day on them.  Slappies worked.  Had a great slam from a tree twig to the curb. Then I went to the ledge area.   Had a couple basics, but the shadows and crack make it really hard.  Couldn’t lock into crooks.   The few flip tricks I did went alright.  

(setup 8.25 null vhs , jessup pj ultragrip, royal 144, boardycakes roundups, new balance numeric 440H b/w size 12)(Pain level 4/10)

Trying desperately to get some flatground tricks back I went to the school.  It had been warm during the day but it was quite cold.  I had a different setup. At no point did I like it. Slappies did not work.  Kickflips and fakie flips were not consistent.   Would get halfcab flip and varial flip.  No fakie big, treflip or even heelflip (I tried so many).  Also couldn’t Ollie into the rock.   Went home sore.  

(setup 8.3 null Escher, jessup ultragrip, thunder 149 hollows, spitfire f4 99a 52mm classic, new balance numeric 440H b/w size 12)
(Pain level 3/10)

After a late night partying at Brian’s I attempted to ready myself for skating to meet Will and Jake at dog park. I wasn’t expecting much, but I got less than that. I was quickly reminded how much I dislike 8.25 with venture highs. i don’t know man, it just doesn’t work. Even with little 51mm wheels. I never once even tried to ollie onto a ledge and couldn’t even commit to a front slappy. Jake and I did nollie back tails on the taller pad. Somehow I won the game of SKATE even after getting letters on kickflip and front shove. I had already gone like 1-10 on kickflips before that. Yikes. I would get a halfcab flip and a fakie bigflip in a row for the win. Then Jake and I went on to treflip battle. Neither getting one. I had one incredibly bad one that I didn’t even attempt to pass off as a set. That was it for me. Jake and Will were ripping otherwise. I saw Will trying to back nosegrind the top tier. Whoa! Joe, Hayden, Bo, Noe had shown and were shredding. The ease at which they did manuals was so impressive to me. Also Noe’s million flip tricks, Hayden smoothly doing hard tricks, Joe popping over the hydrant so casually and Bo with the pop and energy. Then we went filming. I didn’t even really get my board out I was so tired and not wanting to skate. Those dudes shredded. Great seeing everyone.

(setup null 8.25 glenosaur, jessup ultragrip, venture 5.6 cast plate hollow hanger, 51mm spitfire f4 101a classic shape, new balance numeric 440H b/w size 12)
(pain level 3/10 achilles wasn’t great)