Weekend.

This weekend was sad. The city of Whiting Indiana is closing their skatepark. It's rumored that it is because BP wants to expand their parking lot, and the city has a grant to renovate the lakefront area. Either way, there was no notice to us until it was far too late. This weekend was the grind and grill, a yearly event, my first (and last) time.



The "entrance." Although I rarely see people enter this way, you'll see why.




The smaller bowl, the shell shaped wall on the right curves beyond vertical.




This is the reason no one really comes through that door, it's part of the bowl. Sadly I never made the carve over it, it's hard to find a line over it backside and I was not comfortable doing it frontside, even though I'm probably capable of doing it.




The big bowl. The far coping is 12' tall I believe. The more parks I see the more I realize how photographs make them seem smaller. I'm a pretty tall guy if you've met me, that pool is twice as deep.




Shallow end of the big bowl, and some classy shoes.




Better shot of the entrance.




Several bands played. Including The Party Downers.

I realize now I should have shot some people actually skating, but I was more concerned about riding Whiting for the last time. Whiting is the only place above 10' within 4 hours of Chicago that I know of, and riding something big is a super effective way to get better at skating, just carving to the coping feels like an accomplishment to me, and when I go back to a 6' ramp it will feel tiny. Every time I ride it I feel humbled. Another nail in the coffin, I should move west and ride the good stuff all the time. Sad.


Oooo ooo! [UPDATE] More pictures at theboardmen
and Don't Explode including a few of yours truly.




On Sunday my intention was to go on a suburb mini ramp search. I like the mini's cuz I can try some more technical tricks, and they're good to ride on a day after riding big ramps, because my legs are worn out. However, Chicago traffic blows, and it took me half an hour to make it from UIC up to Milwaukee Ave., so I gave up, got some groceries, and made myself a nice lunch.

Retro-post.

A while ago we went to Springfield. There's a skatepark there, but it was wet, and I had a full belly from IHOP. We didn't stay very long.




I'll pretend I wrote this.




It's amazing that Springfield has more interesting graffiti than Chicago. Or they don't have the budget to paint over it.




Pretty sure that was a make.




Grindey grindey!




As I said puddles. Fail. There was also a dead rat I didn't notice, but thankfully did not run over. JOY!

Jess' Birthday

We had a little shindig for my lady. We grilled some burgers, Filipino bbq, and drank lots of tasty tasty beer.

She got some fancy plates.

I think the Blackhawks won or something.

Yesha can do witchcraft with her phone.

We hung out on the roof.

And engaged in philosophy.




Until I was forced to stop.

The cake was not a lie!




Some people posed for pictures.




Others did not.




The Lowell crew.




Straight outta the Paign.




Jess makes the boys take tequila shots.



And we left the mess for the morning.

Here we go again.

I am starting a blog again. Until I get bored with it, I will try to encourage myself to do more interesting things, so I can put them here. I'll post a plethora of things if I stick with it, but I skateboard most of the time, so there will be a lot of that.