With Paul learing about blogiig

Skateboarding without a skateboard ... so sick!

The few in my crew already knew how I cracked some ribs the eve before Christmas. Thirty days, moments of reflection and several vicodin later I'm feeling better now. Back to some simple yoga at least. What I've not done yet is simply skate up the street, visit Camille and skate back. It's been really strange to be inactive for an entire month. Plenty of time catch up on movies... and daydream about skating.

Skating without a skateboard? Hardly. Well maybe.

While recuperating, had a chance to soak in some of Donchian's underground rap. By far the runaway standout is "So Sick" by the elusive Floridian, Benefit. The hard to find song of a few years back is my favorite in this genre... "so nice that it's nasty, so dope it's disgusting." Witty, disturbing and piercingly poetic, coupled with Bert & Earnie samples. An anthem of anomaly easily repurposed as a theme for extremity. Starting the year with broken bones, and Camille with the flu, the title of this song seems perfect.

I searched on YouTube for a video of "So Sick". No original video from the rapper... but instead stumbled upon a video of an amazing gymnist, David Belle. Below are some of his acrobatics; now THIS is what I call skateboarding sans skateboard. What Rodney Mullen is to skateboarding, David Belle is to gymnastics.. this is so sick.

"So Sick" by Benefit

[Bert] I'm sick!
[Ernie] What's the matter Bert?
[Bert] I'm sick!
[Ernie] Oh yeah?
[Bert] I'm sick Ernie! Can't you tell that?
[Ernie] You're sick?
[Bert] I'm sick!
[Ernie] You're sick?
[Bert] I'm sick!
[Ernie] Then you caught it!
[Ernie] Boy you must know who it is whose sick!

[Benefit]
As my verse disperses the worst curses a person hurts worse
Than the first virgin's privacy purse burstin’
I walk around the underground as a powerful thunder sound
Wearing the low down profound lyrical wonder crown
Advanced listening wrestlin’ with pressure expressions
And steppin’ in as a special specimen fresher than freshman
Obvious over dosage coasted it over oceans
With explosive posts flyer than your promotional posters
Skillfully killing willfully drilling syllable spilling
Feeling really up settable biting is edible stealing
Walking around the planet, rocking the ground like granite
Cocking my sound cannon and stopping the sound famine
Deliberate inconsiderate etiquette, Benefit's belligerence
Spitting shit like laxative excrement
Dove in a frozen ocean fell low below boastin’
The one chosen who rose exposin’ the flow erosion

[Chorus - repeat 4X]
So nice that it's nasty, so bangin’ it's bustin’
So sweet that it's sick, so dope it's disgustin’

[Benefit]
I lead an expedition in vision and competition
In a prison when deliverin’ witherin’ rhyme litterin’
Givin’ and never endeavoring ever clever however
bringin’ it whether together or on solo feathers
Sicker than liquor and medicine burnin’ and blisterin’
Leave your lights flickering
Quicker than strobes you're trippin’ in
The high appointed, style anointed with ill delivery ointment
On point with this like jointed presidential appointments
Flashin’ full fashionable rational lyrical passion
Glow bashin’ skulls burnin trash flows and watch ash grow
Belittling with little men livin’ in oblivion
Try battling imaginin’ that they're hyper than Ritalin
Simply deranged brain exchanged pain for gain
Rearrange your frame to strange plain pattern with slain
Bigger badder and better than all of your gold and cheddar
When spreadin’ wing like medicine
Men with ancient tribal lettering

[Chorus]

[Ben] Sick, sick, so sick
[Bert] I'm sick, sick, sick!
[Ben] Sick, sick, so sick



Will someone please offer this artist a proper contract?

Skater Down

Day 7 of the flu. I have been able to ride to the store for oj and coffee. But for now that's about it. I have had time to fantasize about some new places I would like to skate to and check out when I am well again.

There is a rain storm in Los Angeles today. Not the usual on and off LA stuff but the real thing. So there isn't much to do today.

I rode down to santa monica a few weeks back and did find that I was more agile when it comes to avoiding the rough roads that were bringing me down earlier this skating season.

It won't be long before I am ready for another lesson with the pros in my life. I find that my skills are honing on there own and I am completing front and back jumps consistently and holding steady at higher speeds of 9 + mph.

Until then I will stick with blogging!!!

While I was skating

My first big rush after renewing my love of the sport did not come from jumping my first curb, grinding my first rail, or conquering my biggest hill to date. No my biggest rush came from random fans cheering me on as I rode down the street.

I was in middle Santa Monica. I am a chauffeur for a local limousine company and due to circumstances beyond my control was carless. I had to drop off the car at the office and my car was at home. This meant that I could skate back to Venice.

I love to skate so it was a welcomed inconvenience.

I was in my chauffeur uniform at the time. This uniform consisted of black slacks, dress shirt, and tie. Yes a suit!

Half way home a car load of fellow skaters saw me and yelled from the car window. I didn't really catch on at first. Then further down the street I saw them again and this time there were more of them honking and yelling out of the window. These were the howls of peer approval.

It was awesome. I understood why they were doing that when I saw myself from their point of view. Here was this woman wearing a suit and tie skating from Santa Monica to Venice. It was quite a sight though not my plan.

After they passed a second time the attention grew as I rode down Lincoln Blvd. on my "Girl" board.

Everyone I passed was looking and smiling/nodding signs of approval at this event.

This was by far the best moment I have had skating to date.

Where's Rob?

Skating in 2008 means more traffic, everyone is doing it in Venice. I found a website that means more affordable parts in all brands warehouse skateboards. Skateboards can be more expensive in Venice retail. S.O.S on Lincoln blvd. is still the best deal offering in the area.

I want a dogtown board for 2008.

Skateboarding tips from Donchian

Three second rule: when on the board with both feet for three seconds or more, pivot foot at top of the board and be prepared to turn.
Two block rule: when traveling two blocks or less; skate rather than walk or drive.
Proper body alignment: maintain shoulder position inline with foot position; keep knees bent.
Do the 'swoop': for tighter banking on turns, bend knees more and lead with front shoulder; good speed required.

When it Rains

I cruised down to the beach yesterday soaking up the last of the sun before the storm. After I called it a night the rain came. I learned not to skate the streets in the rain or just after because of debris. Yes, I ate it pretty bad.

Today was about being a skater when its raining. So what did it do? Hitting up record surplus in Santa Monica, CA on Pico blvd. Record surplus is the alternative record store because they offer a huge (gi-normous) selection of LP's ranging from .92 cents to $10.72. I chose to invest in the 'Pretty in Pink' soundtrack, the 'Ramones' greatest hits, and some early U2. I considered riding it out during the weather break but opted instead to chill out to the Ramones and drink my last chang beer.

So what's next? More tatooing and anarchist antics by us Venice locals.

I skate LA because I am one of the thousands that realize the waves of the pacific don't stop at the shore line. -camille

Robert & Camille skating toward you

Having fun on a Saturday skating the hills east of Venice off Rose Ave.

Skating Venice at Night

Amazing night time shot of Venice, by photographer Naveen Jamal.

Venice - No Skateboarding?

Really now??? A couple of weeks ago I went looking for any signs that prohibited skateboarding on the Venice boardwalk. A funny moment of me "looking for the signs"... I didn't find any. This photo was originally posted online in December 2005. My guess is that the local skateboarding community lobbied to remove these signs... or they simply took 'um down themselves. Come to think of it, I did lock my bike to a signless signpost that day someone special got a tattoo.

Originally uploaded by jesusskateboarding.com

Rodney Mullen in Venice

Donchian turns me and Camille on to Rodney Mullen and his skateboarding wizardry. Have never seen this level of prodigious precision combined with absolute grace.

Yonibang Skates Los Angeles

Master Yonibang from Israel takes to the pavement on a recent trip to Los Angeles, the birthplace of skateboarding. Hip hop in Hebrew; I can dig it.

Skating as transport - Maiden voyage

So Kristin and I went to dinner the other night; that chicken place on Lincoln. I skated the sidewalk, she rolled the street and couldn't keep up with me. We must have been an interesting couple when we got to the restaurant; me sweaty in cargo shorts, Kris looking oh so cute, my board inverted on a table as we ordered.

Afterward, we went to Smart & Final where I discovered the grace of newly paved asphalt. Beginning skater on virgin pavement with a 2% grade. Nicely accomplished many loops in that parking lot.

We needed cigarettes, so skated and rolled toward Rose Avenue. Passed a corner storefront (on Flower I believe) called Supplemental Organic Solutions (SOS). Vitamin store I'm thinking. Well I was wrong. This hybrid business carved out of someone's deep pocket was a combination skate shop, museum, music studio, custom high end sneaker store and future cannabis club. Kris and I studied all the warnings on the front door and started to move along. "No cameras allowed; turn off your cell phone, etc." Two guys appeared at the entrance and invited us in. We met Alfred and his business partner and heard their pitch. Interesting place to say the least.

Have a feeling I will skate there in the future.

Robert

3 Skateboard Designs

I found this image by illustrator Sean Tubridy at Flickr. These are design renderings for a series of skateboards. Looks to me like the band-aids I will be needing as a beginning skater. Nice work Sean.

Thanksgiving skate with my nephew

My nephew David showing me a few basic maneuvers on Thanksgiving. We had about an hour of daylight so drove to his elementary school and skated the ramps and playground. Hardly any stairs at that school; all the elevations are ramped. Wow, I love accessibility design.

Robert