Ripping Flesh

I have not woken up and headed out the door to ride this whole spring.

No I have been getting up and making coffee then

taking a nap.

But I needed to break the cycle and get out and pedal..

The single speed was just right and 

always goes where I tell it.. This morning was up,, then down.. It did not mind..

Felt good just an titch over an hour but it is what I needed,,

although that nap sounds pretty sweet now.

Yesterday was new wood Tuesday,, the boy and

I got some new Maple as we get ready for a 

trip to the 303

at the end of the month.

I went with a more traditional shape, which 

took a few laps to get used to again,, but once I got into it the 

board was really laying it down. 

This gem was put up to celebrate the Birthday of the 

mad scientist Mark Gonzales

  

He continues to inspire and keep the vibe buzzing. 

Here is the Vans Raw clips from Curren Caples this is the

young ripper that the Rocket Boy likes 

to watch,, this kid is smooth

Now time to get out and hump this day.

BB King

Three races in to my shortened racing season and I am happy that a break is in my future.

I was super excited for yesterday and a bit nervous for the young Rocket,,

having to race the onespeed around all the hills that Mount Kato 

has to offer..

He started strong and came through on the second lap and started to push up the hill..

After a while of watching from a far i pedaled up to him and asked if he was ok..

He was but said that he would like to "DNF" at which point he turned and continued,,

Super proud of the kid for sticking it out.

It turns out that he just had a day of it making it his ride and 

going through the motions.. He even found a turtle he said and stopped and hug out with it for a while.. But more than anything he finished. 

For me I was as ready as I was going to be,, with a bit of trepidation

I found a spot in the starting gate behind all the fast guys. 

At the sound of the word go we were off and once again I slipped a pedal..

On and chasing I worked up the hill dangling off the front group.

As the selection was made I found my self with a group behind me..

Head down and hammering trying to get some separation little was found..

I tried to use the tech downhills to gain some and may have for a bit done so..

Second lap went ok but I could start to feel the pain creep in.

Third lap became it became more evident that I was doing to much and needed to sit in for a 

bit and was thankful to have the Chucker come along. Together for the forth we rode strong, but the whole time I could fell my legs starting crap if I pushed too hard..

Race almost done,, middle end of the lap.... a comp racer says hey you want to pass,,,

Yep,, he pulls off to the right of the trail to let me by and as I go past he wobbles hooks my bars takes us down "slow speed" and proceeds to bounce his face off my barend.. rendering my handlebars almost useless and knocking out one or cracking a tooth,, Ugly..

At this point in time I am done,, chasing back on to my teammate with nothing but carbon on the right side of the bike to hold onto,, I shifted into just get this done mode. 

I would not say that the thrill is gone,, but I would say I need to figure out what it is that i want to do from now on.. I have lost some of the love and luster for going in circles. 

I am over lap traffic and the mixture of different classes out on course while the elites are racing. 

It is my deal that I need to figure out. 

I just hope the kid that used my bars as a toothpick is ok. 

As for the rest of the Team they did awesome.. Jeff won and the Ginnerhammer

came in second.  The Black and White was on fire and even in the 

women Fisk pulled out a fifth place.

As for this guy their is not a lot if any racing on the calendar  for   June,, we have 

a lot going on and racing just wont happen. 

For now it is just time for head down Monday Bull Plop.. 

Sophisticated Bword

It is not a midlife crisis,,, is what I keep telling my wife..

No I am just a middle age man enjoying riding around on a Sk8 toy..

Lance Mountain in an interview a few years ago was talking about the youth culture and how the 

you don't see a lot of skater kids who are cutters.. 

What he was getting at is not only is that practice of  cutting ones self stupid,,

but the life of a Skateboarder is spent in a constant state of Pain and Glory.

I had come home the other night after a good ride on the single machine and then headed out to the 

park to roll around with the boy.

It was a good session,, working on new lines and dialing in old ones.

I had dumped it once early in the session playing a game of skate with Freddy,,  

and then a second time working on a 50/50 tail slide down the Hubba. 

It was this one that I caught my shin on the hubba's coping and it 

caused one hell of bloody welt to grow on my leg. 

Falling is just part of the game,, 

Since we are talking about rollerboarding,,, new wood is on the way..

Both the boy and I are in need of sticks as we are heading to 

Colorado at the end of June,, and fresh wood is the best wood.

The Rocket has another Curren Caples coming I found the

Graphic on this perfect for him,, to go along with his 

1x1 Karate Monkey,,

Now a happy slapper Monkey..

Me I went with another Gonz,,,

can't go wrong a Krooked,,, and I know that i have posted this next video a few times but it is so good

and we'll be skating there soon.. 

In bike Related news,, this weekend will be the third 

installment of the Minnesota Mountain Bike Series over in Manko..

This is a favorite of mine as they use the small ski area to it's full extent..

Last year it was a wash out,, with derailleurs being ripped off bikes and mud packing every inch of 

racing bikes. 

Mine never left the car,, so I am looking forward to lining up for this one.

On the fence on which bike to ride,, the Single or the Shifter,, I will need

to spend some time in the garage and see which one is more ready for a bike party. 

Regardless I went out and flogged my self on the road machine,, yes I said that

I rode the road and not dirt yesterday.

I made my self hurt and it was good. 

Next stop,, Bike Racing Land. 

Be Good to one another and as the Boss says 

Party ON!

In Da Woods

Time away from work only makes the heart grow fonder,, fonder of not having 

to be at work..

I got to spend four blissfull days off from my grind,,

while celebrating the start of summer,,, my eighteenth wedding anniversary,, and the boys 

eleventh birthday.

It was the first time that we would pop up the camper since the disaster in Hayward..

And with that being said it was a bit of a chore learning what was and was not 

in the camper. 

Friday night once the fire was going I did find my racer packet from the Shithole race,,

and this made the fire fell so much better.

What better than spending a weekend full of sun and fun with the ones that you care about most??

Bikes were ridden and beers were drank and the whole famdam got to 

spend some quality together.

It all was topped off with a nice chill day at home and letting the tweener in the house run wild

and enjoy himself. 

I never agreed to this getting older thing but I guess

that I can dig it as long as I get to have fun 

while I get there. 

Back to humpday items..

Friday morning as I drank coffee and got the mind right for riding I 

got to finally watch the Vans Propeller movie.

very well done.

Raw footage continue to come out from the editing room..

And some more Krooked just because,,

Get it Straight Ride Krooked!

Thyme

Growing up as a kid in the suburbs of the 612 my family and I 

lived at the end of a sleepy dead end street.. 

By the time I was in forth grade the city had come and turned it into a cul de sac..

This was also about the time in my life that I got my first skateboard.

At first I did not realize the potential of pavement and all the surrounding developments in the area.

As the years went by me and neighborhood attempted to  build a few half pipes in the back yard of

one of their houses,, but the empty void of a circle just sat there with nothing in it. 

The backyard wooden giants came and went and a new movement was being seen in the 

movies that once a year we got to see in our VHS players.

Street Skating..

Launch ramps and fun Boxes,, rail Slides and quarter Pipes were all the rage.

At this time in the world their were no skate parks especially in  the burbs.

We were motivated to build and create what we were seeing going on in California.

This building and skating went on for years,,, no one ever asked where all the wood came from and so we continued to build and build and since no one lived around the circle of pavement it was all ours..

That was until one day in 89 riding the bus home with some kids from other hoods that were coming over to shred my little skatetopia.

As we got to the end of the street we found every single bit of wood was gone not even a splinter was left. 

The city had come and removed all of the ramps and rail slides... not because all the wood was bowed from all the homes being built in the area,,, No

they came and threw my playground away because of liability..

We were told that if someone fell and got hurt that the city could be sued and that 

would not be a good thing for them..

These days there are parks everywhere.. Every Town has at least one..

And the silly little burb that took all my fun away

has built a sk8 plaza

and encourages kids to ride and slide.

 Being a old man and coming out of a twenty some year retirement of  

 has been a ton of fun.

I am taking my lumps but that is part of the game..

The time that I get to spend with 

my son is priceless and the experiences that he is getting to have 

even better.

So bring on the fun 

Skate Or Die

Dirty Soul

When life slows down it is much easier to find the time to do what is

really important in life. 

Work for what ever reason has slowed down to a crawl and instead of hanging out 

with a bunch of busy work just to fill in the day I am 

exercising the right to get out and get rad.

I have put a lot of blood sweat and tears into this thing that I call work and at times

worry that the company as a whole may be taking a nose dive.

What does not make me nervous is the fact that I am good at what I do and shit is always going to 

break down...... so I have that going for me. 

So when their is nothing left to do it is 

time to go flog ones self in the back yard while riding on a 22 lb rocket ship. 

It is safe to say that things are getting a touch over grown as they will this time of year,,

but it is really green in the woods and the dirt could not be more perfect. 

With Time On my side I just continued to up and then up again,, working

on the ability to suffer then suffer some more. 

And then to top it off 

I got to go to the park with the boy and work on some new lines and just get to spend some quality time with one of the raddest people I know in this here world.

A video posted by Devin Curran (@curranski) on May 19, 2015 at 5:48pm PDT

I am not sure if it is hanging out with him,,, riding the rollerboard or what but it makes

me feel young and very happy to be alive. 

Now to some more quality video,, and ones with maybe some better socks..

I down loaded finally the Vans Propeller Movie and 

look forward to watching it here soon with the boy..

Here is a great new clip of the Neff

crew sk8ing in my happy place and my someday home of 

Sedona.

Now time to hold on and get over the Humpty Hump.

Radar

Well it is safe to say that I made the right call but it could still be debated that 

I should have gone..

I punted on going racing yesterday... I had all the gear ready to throw in the car,,

but when I woke at 5AM and checked the weather the forecast was not

good.. Chances for severe weather and really windy. 

These things together are one thing but when you throw the distance to be driven into the mix

I felt it was a no-brainier. 

For the stories I have heard it did rain and for a while it was pretty sloppy,, but for the elite race the trail got tacky and fast and a good fight was had up front between two legends of the sport.

In the end at the line Mr Creepy Friendly nipped Jeff Hall with 

the GingerHammer coming in third place. 

And as soon as the awards were over the skies opened up and the rain really began to fall.

I kept it local and rode the bike in the woods here,,

I did get to dodge some rain drops latter in the day 

and even found some time in the late afternoon sun

to go and rip around on sk8 toys with the boy.. 

While I 

missed out on seeing the team and hanging out with the crew talking about

bikes and bike related objects,

I found some peace in staying close and getting some much need 

rest.

Keeping the battery charged and my eyes locked in on prize.

I'll be ready for the next one,, and have a weekend of 

camping and playing in the woods coming at the end of this work week.

Ride Rest Repeat..