Category : Skateboarding

Andy Anderson Hippie Mike Kaelen Faux Life and Death - And all the Emotions that come in between Motivational and Inspirational Blogs Motivational Mondays Protest Skateboards Skateboarding

You Never Know What Tomorrow Brings

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You can make plans or you can live on a whim, you never really know what will happen tomorrow. Tomorrow could be the best day of your life, the worst day of your life, or just another day to remember or forget. You could win a lottery, or someone close to you could pass away; You could decide to head out on a dream vacation, or you could find out your not allowed to go outside because of a world pandemic lockdown; You really never know…
The other day was great because I went out to skate with just Kaelen and myself and didn’t make plans with anybody. We went to Queensborough where my friend Jamie Madill had some wheels for me and we skated there for a bit together which was super fun.

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We knew we were heading to Richmond to skate a special street spot but hadn’t told anyone we were going there. After we went to the spot I took Kaelen to the old River Road Skate Park because he had never been there and it was literally around the corner from where we were. We had a great time there and met a bunch of really cool teenage kids that had no idea who I was. I always love that because it usually means they are pretty new to skateboarding and weren’t part of all the things I’ve done over the years. We skated with them and had a great time, we even got asked to be filmed to be in a video they are making, I love that.

Train Video – Richmond Skate Park

While we were there I texted Andy Anderson to see where he was skating that day, usually if we are going to skate together we make plans much earlier in the week so I didn’t actually expect for us to hook up but nice to know where everyone is at. So just by fluke him, Shawn Beaupre, Travis Waller, and Ty Williamson were on there way to Brighouse, right around the corner from where we were. Just to paint a bigger picture for those who don’t know but I live in Sunshine Valley and it’s about a 2 hour drive to Richmond, so you can imagine I’m not there very often. The fact that these guys happened to be skating right where we were skating that day was obviously fate that we needed to hang out together.
So we met up about a half hour later and it was great. Andy was trying to make history with a couple NBD tricks for an upcoming Powell Peralta video part and since I was there I jumped in for the 2nd camera angle. History was definitely made, and so were the memories. Everyone in that group has been through some awesome times together over the years and it was great to all be in one spot at the same time again. If you had asked me the day before who I was going to be hanging out with the next day I would’ve just answered Kaelen. But instead I hung out with 5 generations of amazing people that all just had fun skateboarding together.
You never know what Tomorrow brings….

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AJ Zabell Carrie Williams Hippie Mike Jay Mykyte Kaelen Faux Protest Skateboards Skateboarding SkatePark Styles Video Reviews

SkatePark Styles Episode 6 – Merritt Skate Park with Jay Mykyte

We met up at Merritt Skate Park for a quick session with Protest rider Jay Mykyte (the King of Style) to kick off his week long annual skate tour through the okanagan.
Featuring: Jay Mykyte, Carrie Williams, Big Rip Kaelen Faux, AJ Zabell and Hippie Mike

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Hippie Mike Life and Death - And all the Emotions that come in between Motivational and Inspirational Blogs Motivational Mondays Skateboarding

Mid-Summer Vibes

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It’s the middle of Summer and there’s definitely still a confused mentality in the air, some people still think everyone around should be in quarantined lockdown inside their houses while others are doing anything possible they can do to be out and about and not stuck in their condos. The main thing is that the kids are active and learning whether inside or out.
It’s been a different year for everyone, not fully understanding what’s happening in the world right now or even why it’s happening, and not knowing what the future will hold. But kids are just kids that need to out there having fun and learning through experience. We can still participate in group activities and hang out in public parks as long as it’s done properly. I love to teach kids things for the main reason of how awesome it is to watch people learn and expand their minds. And with young kids you know every reaction is real. When they’re scared or nervous you can see it all over their face, and when they’re super excited it’s obvious as they jump up and down and run around in circles while screaming at the top of their lungs. It always makes me wonder what it would take to actually get me that excited at this age haha.

This year is about finding yourself and learning more about who You are and how You react to different situations. Are you responsible, are you rebellious, are you ignorant, are you respectful? Where do your priorities lie, and what are they?
Mine are raising happy, healthy children that respect themselves and the others around them wherever they go, and to help them learn all kinds of new things and find their true passions in life.
I coach physically and mentally, and adapt to each child differently.
I focus on the positives and help utilize those moments to make the next ones even better.
I talk about the negatives and suggest ways to prevent them from reoccurring.
And I take the time to listen to each child when they have something to share and then build on those conversations.
We need to remember that we were once in their shoes, and we were influenced by many different people as we grew up. Certain experiences that happen when you’re young can direct you on which paths you choose later in life to end up who you become. I still have tons of people come up to me in random places to let me know I taught them how to skateboard 15-20 years ago, or they participated in my skateboard contests every year, or I coached them in baseball or did a presentation at their elementary school, and that it’s one of their best memories that they still think about. It’s not just who you are to yourself, it’s who you are to others that matters, who will remember you if you disappeared tomorrow, and what will they remember you for.
I want to be remembered as someone who created opportunities for the next generation to learn positivity from, someone who fought for everyone’s freedom to just be themselves, someone who shared their knowledge to help others grow up safer and stronger, and someone who had a lots of friends that he could call family…

Now go have some fun.

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Hippie Mike Oli Ward Protest Skateboards Skateboarding Video Reviews

Oli Ward Joins the Protest Movement

Protest Skateboards would like to welcome their newest Team Rider. 12 year old Oli Ward is a natural on his board, not only does he showcase his awesomeness with little to no effort, he reminds me of a young Andy Anderson. The way he chooses a bigger board with rails on it, rocks the helmet and knee pads properly, and just skates everything with ease, this kid is definitely a “Skater for Life!” We’re stoked to have him grow with us… Check him out here in his natural habitat at Queens Park in New Westminster, BC, and welcome him to the team

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Carrie Williams Grip Tape Art Hippie Mike Protest Skateboards Skateboarding

Grip Tape Art 4 – The Landscape

Since lots of people like my Grip Tape Art videos I thought I’d make one that’s a bit more technical, and definitely more artsy. No pencils or sketches, just straight from my inner vision to the knife on the tape, This one was for my wife Carrie who loves to draw scenic mountain landscapes, hope she likes it

Music by Ryan “Tweak” Clark
Song: The Beauty of Ascension
Artist: Pur Pale
Composer: Ryan “Tweak” Clark
Album: From Shadows To Silhouettes (Volume 2 – Instrumentals)
Year of Release: 2017

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Allen Handley Carrie Williams Cisco Gooding Eve Feaver Hippie Mike Jay Mykyte Kaelen Faux Political Movements Protest Skateboards Skateboarding

Protest Skateboards Reissue Decks – Fight the System Series Part 1

Bob and Malcolm decks

Protest Skateboards have remade a limited number of Bob Marley and Malcolm X decks from our 2015 Protest “Fight the System” Series. With what is happening in the world today we thought these graphics had real meaning that needed to be shared once again. They’re selling fast so jump on it if you want one, Click the link below to purchase
http://protest-movement.org/product-category/skateboard-decks/

Part 2 of the series will are being remade as we speak and will be available in September

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Andy Anderson Hippie Mike Kaelen Faux Protest Skateboards Skateboarding SkatePark Styles

SkatePark Styles Episode 4 – White Rock with Andy Anderson

A quick reunion at the old Local White Rock Skate Park, Andy Anderson shows you how to properly rip the Bowl he grew up skating, and then airs the fence gap out of the park in tribute to the OG legend Major Dave Bowers. Don’t it Feel All Right?

Song: Don’t it Feel All Right
Artist: Hagen Mitchell (with Craig Williams and George Faulkner)
Album: Craig Williams – In Good Company
Released: 2017

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AJ Zabell Andy Anderson Hippie Mike Kaelen Faux Life and Death - And all the Emotions that come in between Motivational and Inspirational Blogs Motivational Mondays Skateboarding

True Friends are Forever Friends

KAM crew and Andy

You ever run into someone or get a phone call from someone that you haven’t talked to for years but automatically it feels like you were just hanging out the day before. These are your True Friends.
Sometimes in life you get separated from family and friends as you travel down different paths, but you always keep certain people in your heart and thoughts each day. You think, Hey I should call so and so and get caught up, but the days get busy quickly and you just never get to it. But when it does happen it’s always awesome.
I took a few years to be by myself recently, with my family of course, but just to mentally regenerate after going through some tough times. And certain friends would come visit or call, and others wouldn’t. Or maybe they did reach out and I just didn’t answer. But either way I always knew they were there for me, and I hope they knew the same about me.
Lately I’ve been getting back into skateboarding and filming again now that I’m not as injured anymore and it’s interesting to see how people react when they see me. I love the surprised look on someone’s face who didn’t expect me to be there that day, and it’s always an exciting moment as the good times flash through your brain. My goal was to get back to my own roots of what I’ve loved to do my whole life and remind myself of why I loved it, drop all my sponsors and just skate again. It was never about fame to me, it was always about having fun with my friends and sharing that joy with others, That’s why I was always so specific about the people that rode for Protest.
I have Friends all over, some of them I haven’t talked to for 20 years or more but know that we are Forever Friends just by the way we grew up together. And I think about all the True Friends who have passed away over the years and regret the ones I didn’t get one last visit with. Time only happens once and it’s important to spend as much time as possible sharing happiness with your Friends.
I think social media plays a bit of a part in confusing people as to who their True Friends are, and who are just people that want to say they’re your Friends, but do you recognize each other out in public? Or have each other’s phone numbers? Everyone gets wrapped up in this Web of Non-Reality where anyone can be a celebrity if they have the right audience, but have you ever shut all your social media off and see who actually calls you?
It’s a weird world we live in, I sure am glad we didn’t have cell phones, facebook, Instagram, etc. when I was growing up. Back then if you had Friends, you knew them personally, and those Friends last Forever.
I think it’s a great day for everyone to think back to who their True Friends are and recognize them for that. Give them a call, or a visit, and catch up on real life…

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Andy Anderson Archived Videos Hippie Mike Skateboarding Video Reviews

Andy Anderson 2015 Video – Previously Unreleased

Previously Unreleased video of Andy Anderson in Vancouver Canada showcasing his All-Around Skateboarding Talent – Street, Tranny, and Freestyle, accompanied by some awesome piano playing skills.
Back in 2015 we made this video as a send off for Andy leaving the Protest Skateboards team and starting off his sponsorship with Powell Peralta but we never actually released the video. Some of the clips were used in a “Skateboard Stories” video that Stacy Peralta made in 2018 but most of it has still never been seen, especially not the way it was originally created. I filmed the video over 5 consecutive Saturdays with Andy while I was transitioning from a full leg brace to walking again after a knee surgery.

Enjoy

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Cisco Gooding Hippie Mike Kaelen Faux Protest Skateboards Skateboarding SkatePark Styles Video Reviews

SkatePark Styles – Episode 3 – Bonsor Skate Park with Travis Emerson and Ryan Prasad

In Memory of a good friend Ryan McKellar we spent a Saturday afternoon at Bonsor Skate Park in Metrotown (Burnaby BC) with a couple local legends Travis Emerson and Ryan Prasad. Watch as the remind the street section of Bonsor who’s boss… Also starring: Cisco Gooding, Big Rip Kaelen Faux, Allen Handley, Justin Parenteau, AJ Zabell, Oli Ward, and myself Hippie Mike

Music Credit:
Song: Bright Eyez’Em
Artist: L.S. (Featuring Bin Nyce)
Album: In This Life
Released: 2008

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