Skaters on the Beach

I hate the beach. Simple statement, just a fact, I pretty much can not stand being out on the beach. It is hot, I burn easily, I don't have a six pack or at least not exactly. Just look at us, does it really look like any of us belong on the beach? Do we look like we are having a good time? Does it actually seem as though we are comfortable? The beach tracks sand all into your car and you head home begging for a shower as soon as you can. The only thing good about the beach is just going to go. You know that feeling you have after you are done doing something just to say you did something "more" with your day. Just look at Dakota, after these photos were taken, his forehead was oozing for a week and then began to peel. The guy in the green hat, Cory Wilder, looks right at home doesn't he? Covered head to toe working on his buzz in an attempt to make things a little more fun. Anthony Morris used to be a surfer, a really good one too but he quit and decided skateboarding was a lot more fun. Might of had something to do with the fact that there really isn't a whole lot of surf in Texas. When I get asked about the surfers down in Galveston I always say the same thing,"Well, they've got a lot heart, don't they?" Look at me, you commentator, do I look comfortable with my jean short black high top combo? NO!

Bruised Like a Banana

David, Dakota and I are currently running our first summer camp for the kids up at the park and one of the gnarlier kids had some bruised legs that I thought were interesting. This picture really doesn't do it justice. If I didn't know this kid or his parents I would think that maybe he is being abused at home. His legs are so blackened that it reminded me of how haggard my legs used to be as a kid. Trying numerous tricks over and over again, slamming them into my shins over and over again. It is a time in a skateboarder's life where you are too young to understand the technique behind what you are trying to do, or even how to do it for that matter. I will have to admit that this kid has really improved a lot over the last year, as he was in our camps last summer and I was teaching him how to ollie. Since then I would have to say that he must have taken a liking to smashing his board into his shins. Hopefully during this week's camp some more technique works it's way into his train of thought on how to approach new tricks. He does have the ability to learn anything, but at what price?

Down on the Island

So, a couple friends of mine headed down to Galveston Island for a session at the Johnny Romano Skatepark, couple of street clips and an after sesh warm down on the beach with a few brews. To my dismay the porta-john that I chose to relieve myself in had a gut churning sighting that I felt would need to be brought to your attention. Not sure why someone would want to make sure to not only leave their feminine napkin in the toilet paper holder for some unknowing patron to touch, but also to drip dry the blood down the front face of the seat itself. Now luckily I was just in for a quick vertical urination, but had I not noticed either the feminine napkin or the blood I might have sat down and proceeded to loose my lunch in more ways than one. With that said, if you are ever down on Galveston Island, beware of the porta-johns, not everything is on the up and up once inside. Of course, Dakota used it before me and completely missed it, I wish I had and you probably are wishing you had as well, sorry!

Notes from the Road

Minneapolis St. Paul, Minnesota is pretty underrated in regards to it's street skateboarding. Even before we met up with a tour guide we were able to find our way around downtown and skate various famous spots like the rainbow banks. We also kept find numerous brick plazas that were uncapped but did have roving police in full effect. We ended up coming back with a grip of footage from three days worth of "trying hard" to have a good time. Dakota and I were snapping away with our iPhones as well as Dakota's 35mm. One funny story is about Dakota and his love for ice cold beer. So, after we get done skateboarding and are heading back to the hotel, Dakota asks me to take him to get some beer. Now Dakota is 21 and if he wants a beer at this point it is his birthright. Stopping by the liquor store, which is the only place in Minnesota that has 5pt beer, Dakota is denied because there are minors in the car. So, off we go to the next store and I park in the back. Dakota goes inside and is denied because although his ID says he is 21 years old, via the D.O.B. it is still a vertically shot "Minor ID" which is not valid in the state of Minnesota. Off to the third liquor store we go where I park the car across the entire parking lot and head in personally to buy Dakota his beer, of which I was successful, but just barely. This little experience prompted Dakota and the rest of the crew to bang out the T-Shirt you see below and on the back it had a top ten reasons why, which I fail to remember now. Doubt it if it helped his score during the contest at 3rd Lair, but it was worth it as he was the first skater, taking his lines on the first day at exactly 10am. Maybe his shirt was actually right on point.

Images of a Professional

Newsflash,"Ben Raybourn is PRO for 1031," just in case you missed it. Speaking of pro, just what exactly is it that makes a professional skateboarder these days anyway? I suppose, you have to be able to skate anything and with Ben you can go ahead and put a massive CHECK in that box. When at a contest a handy trait might be the ability to completely disregard the competitive nature of the contest and just make sure that you and everyone around you are having a good time, so that's another CHECK off the list. You absolutely have to possess the ability to take a good head shot, for your non skate later-years ads and endorsements, so I guess Ben get a CHECK there as well. It is also good if you know how to never forget who your real friends are. The genuine ones that don't expect anything from you and are just happy being around you. As it seems that this skateboarder gets it, so we are going to have to award him a big fat CHECK here as well. Then you are going to have to log some serious miles on that personal odometer and as far as traveling is concerned Ben Raybourn is quickly approaching a possible flipping of his, so CHECK. Australia, to California then Minneapolis St. Paul and now on the 1031 Skateboards Summer Tour all during 2009 and it is only May. Congratulations on your new professional status, it could not have happened to a nicer, more genuine person. It's going to be a long run and everyone at Southside Skatepark is looking forward to it, so without further adue I present to you professional skateboarder Ben Raybourn!!!

Sometimes it Just Rains

A couple weeks ago David, Dakota and I went out to one of our favorite weekday spots only to get rained on. It takes a solid 45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic to get out to the spot. Dakota had a line he was trying to get and David had some things that he wanted to try a film as well. It certainly looked threatening on the drive out, but we thought that we might get lucky. As we usually go to Galveston if it is raining in Houston and it works like a charm. This time the rain finally caught up with us and no sooner than we had gotten out of the car and started rolling around the spot went from "good to go" to "soaking wet" within minutes. I just thought I would shoot a photo of it for you just to share the disappointment of the day. We have since returned to the spot and taken care of a couple things that we had been wanting to do. In fact last time Jeff Gilmer and John Danielson came along and it was a literal footage party all day. Sequences, medium format, digital, variable frames rates, double angle HVX clips, you name it, we shot it, and we'll do it again too, because Dakota happened to be out of town and will need to go back for that line.

Backtrack to Paris, France

Quick little catch up regarding our trip to Paris in late March early April. Here are a couple images that you will most likely see while visiting the most romantic city in the world. You will definitely have a cappuccino that will most likely look just like this one. It will definitely be more expensive than any other cappuccino you had ever purchased in the United States too. If you wander the streets at night, which we found to be surprisingly safe, you might catch the Eiffel Tower lighting up periodically. The local custom seems to be to sustain a kiss with your partner for the duration of the lighting of the tower. As I saw numerous couples stopping to engage in this custom that I was unaware of when I shot this photo. On your way from your hotel to the Louvre, the largest and most well known museum in Paris, you will most likely find yourself walking through some of the cities gardens which will help wake you up. There will be an abundance of original Minis tucked in on the streets here and there as well. The first Sunday of the month is free museum day in Paris, and if you go to the Louvre this is what it looks like. Kind of crazy to think about that many people crammed into a massive, and I mean massive space like the Louvre. We had a great time in Paris, the city just makes you feel good, I highly recommend it.