I like to “just go out and skate”.

However, I also go out and practice. I mean practice. I may be in the minority on this. Part of it is that I’m going to this contest in Philly, and I want to go back to the Paderborn Germany contest next year, so I want to get better, and I want all my stuff locked down tight.

So I went out last night, and after a little warm up, I ran through all my “main tricks” 10 times in a row each. The idea is to increase consistency. I do 10 in a row. If I miss one, I continue, but add one to the necessary count. So if I miss number 7, I keep going and have to makes numbers 7-11. Yes, I know this is antithetical to the fly by the seat of your pants “Jay Adams” way of doing things. I don’t care. I know for a fact that Jeff Phillips PRACTICED. He practiced in the 100 degree Texas summer heat while everyone else was inside (this was when he was about 19 or 20).

I’ve been told to “skate for fun” and don’t be so serious. Well, it is a lot more fun to skate when you can do all your shit 98% of the time.

Anyway, I was stoked that I can actually get through my main tricks adding only 1 or 2 to the 10 now and then, and mostly after I’m getting tired. It’ still summer, after all, and still well above 90 when I’m skating from 6-8pm.

All the practice is definitely paying off. Not just in consistency of tricks, but just in overall flow and interconnectedness of lines and whatnot. In the last 2 weeks I’ve learned 2 new tricks that are now in the solid 95% range, and am within striking distance of several others that will be really nice to get. Would not be there if not for the practice.

I’d like to say I’m really going to kick ass in Philly. There are 8 people in Masters division so far, and really we’re all pretty evenly matched. I can only try to do my shit, skate the way I skate, and have a good time. I will at least be prepared. And I will take joy in the killer skating of everyone else — we are all friends, and when they have a ruling run, it is the best thing ever!

I never really entered freestyle contests in the old days. I wasn’t sponsored, and I didn’t travel. It is fun to do that kind of thing now.

Here’s some stuff from yesterday.

https://plus.google.com/111210050896952275753/posts/8jRfwr2VXcX