Tag Archives: skateboarding

Let the Board Roll

Just a few thoughts…

In Aikido we often find that we are “blocking ourselves”. We might be having trouble with a technique. Why does it not work? Why is my training partner giving me shit? More often than not, the problem is with one’s self. You are doing something that is actually preventing the technique from working. Perhaps you are standing in the spot you want to move your training partner into, and wondering why he/she is not there. Ughhhh…maybe because you are standing there?

Happens all the time.

In skateboarding, especially when skating vert, you might wonder why you are not hitting that frontside grind. Why do you not have the speed to get up there to the lip?

Guess what. It’s because you are turning to early. You are preventing your own success.

You have to just let the board roll. That’s it. Let the board roll, and stand on top of it.

Revisiting February 2011

I shot this back in Febuary 2011. This is such a great time of the year in North Texas. Beautiful day, nice and cool outside — cool enough for long sleeves. So refreshing. I believe that this day I was out with Marshall, Shawn, and Chris. There was a reasonable wind, and we were shooting with my Sony Bloggie HD. Man, what a gorgeous blue sky!

I won’t be reposting a ton of stuff from the old version of the site, but this was just really nice.

California Trip — episode 2.

Well, I got to Monterey the other day, rented a car, and drove up to Mill Valley (in Marin County) to visit my old skating buddy Dale. When I got there, Dale had grilled up some insanely good chicken, which was great as I was quite hungry. We ate, and then watched a documentary about 1980s vert skating ripper, Jason Jesse.

Saturday we both got up kind of late, had some breakfast at a local eatery, shopped for skate shoes for Dale, and then in the afternoon went for an excellent hike on one of the many trails around Dale’s neighborhood. Later in the evening we went to see the new film, “W”. The film was enjoyable, but strange. Too over the top to be serious, but not funny enough to be a comedy. But there were some really funny parts.

I know Dale would like to have gotten some skating in. I’m happy though that as old skate friends, our friendship isn’t just confined to skating. 

Got up this morning, had breakfast, and drove down to Mountain View for a freestyle session with Gary Holl and the guys from sk8kings.com. Lots of fun. I always enjoy skating with Gary, who is an amazing skater. He always gets some nice pics of me skating. Here is one below. 

Big thanks to Dale and Gary for their hospitality.

After the session I drove back down to Monterey and checked into my hotel, which is where I am right now. Looking forward to the Internet Librarian conference tomorrow.

Me, doing a 180 casper. Photo by Gary Holl.

Me, doing a 180 casper. Photo by Gary Holl.