Skatepunk

The ramp in the backyard is going away... Lyle, the new owner, is here right now, making the first of many trips to tear her down and cart her off to the new home... I'll shoot some photos this weekend, hopefully, since I've never shot one.
Don't know if it'll be possible, but I want to build a concrete bowl in the backyard. Anyone know how?

The ramp in my backyard has been seeing good regular sessions again, and thanks to Dr. G, I've been able to skate again. I've had hip, leg, and back pain for most of the last three years, and have been to three doctors who did everything they could shy of telling me to get over it, or that it wasn't anything. Well, I'd heard about this mysterious Dr. G. for a long time, as old friends like Neil Hendrix, Mike Frazier, Bob Burnquist, Lincoln Ueda, and more have always talked about him and his effectiveness at managing their ailments.

On Saturday, April 20th, we hosted a contest and barbeque in Joe Lopes' honor. About 280 people came to skate, eat, drink, and enjoy. There were a lot of people who had bought Joe's board when they were young, and we all traded Joe stories if we had 'em. Paul Schmitt told me that one time Joe was interviewed and was asked "What's your favorite part of all of this, the skateboarding, the barbequing, the traveling?" and Joe simply responded "Life." Pretty poignant, now.

Having a ramp in the backyard is the best thing I've ever done. It's pretty much on lockdown from random jerks coming and ruining it since there's always someone at the house, so it's no hassle, and it's brought out a bunch of old friends who I haven't skating with in a long, long time. Here are a couple of photos of the ramp in various stages, and the two guys standing there are Jay and Josh of Vertical Skateparks, who built it. It's amazing.