Can't Bust My Bubble

Sepia toned fisheye view of an Ollie to fakie as photographed by Emily Hope.

Coonskin Is Open!

This is old news to those of you who have been to the skatepark since Saturday but Coonskin is open with some notable improvements to the parking lot (new gravel, treated lumber border, mulch) and the swampy ditch has been filled in with rocks. The swamp has claimed many boards so hopefully the rocks will cut down on the amount of water that collects in that area. Thanks to the Kanawha County Parks and Recreation Board for keeping the only FREE skatepark in the Valley up and running.
Backside Smith Grind and Ollie to fakie as photographed by my Wife Emily Hope.

Kentucky Cone Fest

It all went downhill yesterday in Ashland, KY. I only wish I could have been there. Photo from the Herald Dispatch. That's Marc's Board Shop Team Rider Ben Barkey!

Autumnal Equinox

Sunday, September 21, 2008. Shot DIY early this morning on a 10 second timer.

Fakie to Tail Slide (Switch Nose Slide)

1. Push Mongo switchstance toward the object you wish to slide.
2. Slam the nose of your board into said object.
3. Shift your weight (I've got weight!) and lean back.
4. Allow your wheels to slide along the front of the curb, hubba, whatever...
5. Ride away clean and find your way home early Sunday morning.

Marc's Board Shop Grand Opening

Marc sent me this pic of Pawnshop Team rider Shawn Potvin simply killing this ollie over six boards. Now if I only had some pics from the Area 51 skateboard contest today... For pics of the shop check out Marc's page.

What Happened Here?

Marc sent me this pic of Coonskin. I can only assume that this was taken yesterday. I'm not gonna bitch but...

Krooshal Force Reggae Friday Night

Nothing cures a 14 hour day at work better than a bunch of Red Stripe and some good Reggae. Shayar and Krooshal Force brought their Roots Reggae show to The Empty Glass last night and here are a few pics that were shot by my wife Emily.

How My Wife Saved My Life With Skateboarding

I owe Emily my life. She is my wife, partner, best friend, and provider of support that keeps me on 4 wheels. Up until my 34th birthday I wasn't spending much time if any on board. I was using my body for a storage tank and loading it up daily with beer and junk food. Fatty Liver Disease had set in. I was moderately obese. Then in the spring of 2006 Emily bought me a Powell Skull and Sword reissue with Independent Trucks and Rat Bones. I started skating again stopped drinking so much beer and I rediscovered water. It is a wonderful drink that flushes your vital organs so I started drinking it in large quantities. I attempted to modify my diet (Good Luck with that one). That summer we made the trip to Oregon and I saw first hand just how alive skateboarding is. I returned from the West with a renewed vigor.
Now here we are 2 years later and my liver enzymes are normal which means the Fatty Liver Disease is a thing of the past. I'm also happy to say that I tip the scales with 40 less pounds on my body. Yes, 40 pounds. I'm not "sick" all the time.
I skate every chance I get these days despite working more than full time. My wife and son often accompany me on my excursions. I am grateful to have my son on board and skating by my side. Some dads take their sons hunting, some throw a ball. We SKATEBOARD, therefore We LIVE.
This is my testimonial. Skateboarding saved my life. More importantly my wife saved my life with skateboardig. Thank You Emily Hope!

More Shapes of Things to Come

I've been riding the same shape for quite a while. 10x33 punk point nose with a square tail. I like that board a lot but have decided to switch it up a little. I'm opting for the 9x32 "Knox" shape while the Grom is eyeballing the coffin shape.
Get them while you can at Eastbilt.com.

Some Portland Clips Featuring Glenhaven Park

Professor Slappe is truly a teacher of the highest rank. Here he is teaching me why his hometown of Portland, Oregon is so RAD!

Sunday Skate Pics By Grom

The Old Dirty as photographed by my son the Grom.

Fisheyed detail of the same pic.

Saturday Throw Back

This archival pic appears on my profile. It was snapped back in 1989. I know that because of the board (Natas) and the shoes. The Thrasher sweatshirt was stolen from Jesse Martinez at a skate contest in Ohio by my high school friends. Sorry Mess.

Marc's Board Shop Grand Opening September 20th

Okay, if you can't make it to Ashland for the Kentucky Cone Fest you can try to make it to Nitro for the opening of Marc's Board Shop in its new location. Marc's Board Shop will be open this Saturday in Nitro at the Brandywine Market right across from Crown Pontiac. New store, tons of inventory, great prices. Also the Grand opening will be Sept 20 with a kickflip contest and free hot dogs.

Kentuck Fried Cone Fest Flyer

It's totally fully officially official. Thanks Lenny!

Coonskin Debacle Continues...

Marc and I have both contacted the mayor of our fair city and his advice was for us to not "go off half cocked as that may alienate some people". He also stated that the decision to "donate" the city's only FREE skatepark for the World's Strongest Man competition was made by the Kanawha County Parks Board.
Now, I'm definitely one for going off half cocked and alienating people. It's what I do. In the words of Michael Franti "But if I don't have enemies I'm not doin' my job, I might throw out a curve ball but I never be throwin' a lob, people criticize me but I know it's not the end, I try to kick the truth not just to make friends".
As a skater who is Down For Life I can tell you that I have experienced my fair share of alienation and taken my fair share of ass kickings over the years. I've paid my dues. You see, there was a time when skateboarding was not accepted by the public like it is today. If you so much as looked like you might skate back in the day then there were some assholes who would want to stomp your ass. Most skaters today are too young to remember this time period and many of them think Guns N' Roses and Motley Crue are cool. Oh shit, did I just alienate some of you?
Sorry for the digression but that is just the way things are and have been for years. If you were punk rock and rode a skateboard in the mid to late 1980's then you had to defend yourself. And here I am 20 plus years later still skating and staying true to my roots and feeling the HATE that straight society has for skateboarding.
So, are Marc and I a couple of Don Quixote types "tilting at windmills"? Only time will tell. What I can tell you is that we have both submitted intelligent and well written letters to the editor of the local paper on behalf of the skaters of Coonskin Skatepark because in this Age of Quarrel my local skatepark and my soul are all that are worth saving.

Fight The Power!

And fight the power lifters. Charleston is home to one FREE skatepark and that park will be closed as of Monday, September 8 and is scheduled to reopen on Friday, September 19. During the closure the park will become home to the World's Strongest Man Competition. The events planned for Coonskin are the "overhead lift" and the "car lift" competitions.
If you have ever witnessed the "car lift" then you know that these STRONG men lift the cars and then drop them to the concrete. The smooth concrete of the park will be destroyed despite the fact that I was personally advised last week that the crete will be "resealed" after the competition. Resealing and restoration are two different things.
There are skaters who travel from bordering counties to ride the park because either their hometown has no park or as Marc says "Coonskin has the smoothest concrete in the world". Granted that the park consists of pre fabricated Skate Wave quarter pipes and ramps it is our HOME park and the smooth crete is perfect for flatland and freestyle.
Coonskin park has several tennis courts that could have been used for these events so why did city and county officials decide on the skatepark? In my opinion the skatepark should be preserved for skateboarding. I know that there are other places to skate in Charleston and Area 51 is an awesome indoor park but I refuse to pay money to do what I can do otherwise for FREE unless there is a foot of snow on the ground.
We will do our best to make our voices heard over the next few days. There are plenty of better locations that could have been chosen for this event and perhaps the county and city officials who made this poor decision will change their minds if enough skaters speak out.

WTF?

In a bid to put "Trollston" on the map the city and county have decided that the Coonskin Skatepark will be closed to skaters from Monday, September 8, through Friday, September 19th. ESPN will be there on September 13 for the World's Strongest Man Competion. You may recall that Charleston native Phil Pfister won this back in 2006. All I recall is that Phil had a half pipe when we were 15 years old.