2×4, By 36

May 18,2012 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

It was about 2004 when I built the 2×4 skateboard.

I built it to prove to the kids I was teaching that you can balance on anything. But I made the mistake of taking it down to Bear Creek Skate Park the evening I put it together and realized that I could actually skate it. I even did a kickflip off the bank launch on it that first day. It was gonna be trouble…

I started skating this thing all the time. I kept it in my trunk and pulled it out whenever I thought of something to try. I let the kids ride it every Friday at the Skateboard Camps I was running and they all thought it was awesome. All it was, was just a straight up 2×4 – 36” long, gripped on top and sitting on original Gullwing Pros and Powell Peralta Mini Rats. It’s in my laundry room right now, just waiting for another ride. I think the last trick I ever did on it was a switch blunt – indy out on my ramp, or maybe it was the jitterbug. Either way it’s been a year or two.

We had some good times, me and that 2×4 – kickflipped a roof gap on some portables, pop-shovits, manuals and boardslides, all kinds of craziness. I still remember early grabbing the 10 stair at Brookswood Skate Park on it and everyone going wild. One time I showed up at Brookswood for a contest in 2005 and I only brought my 2×4. 75% of the people there didn’t even know it existed, but they’ll never forget it after that day:

First run, I threw down a solid line to start, Kickflip on flat, then a big pop shovit, and then boardslide down the 4 stair kink rail; turned around and blunt transferred over the spine in the bowl to a 50-50 and then a rock fakie; jumped out of the bowl, cleared the path and early grabbed the 10 stair… Killed it!

Second run, started off with the same line, then went back and forth in the flat banks with a kickflip fakie, a fakie kickflip and then pop-shovit body varial; and of course, one more early grab off the 10 stair.

The crowd loved it, and somehow I got 4^th place. Nice! I didn’t do it to win, I just did it for the fun, and I was stoked that I had 2 flawless runs.

I was filming way out in Aldergrove Skate Park about a month ago for my “Show UP Mike” contest and this kid showed up and the first thing he said to me was, “Hey, did you used to ride a 2×4? I remember you from a contest at Brookswood.” I just laughed. Good times.

Another great one was this Volcom – Wild in the Parks thing at Tsawwassen Skate Park in 2006. I had ridden my 2×4 at Tsawwassen so many times it was basic. I kickflipped up the step up no problem, early grabbed both sets with different grabs, and some other stuff, but this was a day for historic moments so I decided I was going to boardslide the Blue Rail down the 6 stair. Anyone that knows me knows that I don’t ride rails any more, but here I was hopping on to this handrail on my 2×4 and making it. So I stuck it down, Blam!! I had never even attempted to boardslide this rail on my normal board, so I have to admit I was pretty stoked that I just did it on a 2×4, maybe a little toooooo stoked. I stuck it down again for my video camera so I could watch it myself, and then I talked shit: “Joyce Rail, tomorrow. It’s goin’ down.” Any locals to the Lower Mainland should know the Joyce Rail – long green 6 stair rails, fairly high, out of a tennis court and you need plywood to land on. About 12 of us went out the next day for me to do this boardslide.

First try, got on it and jumped off;

Second try, slid the whole rail and jumped off;

Third try, came up strong, full commitment, knowing I was going to land it…

Nope.

I clipped my front wheels on the bottom of the rail, leaped over the rail trying to clear it and caught my inner thigh on the end. Smash! Faceplant.

It took me 3-4 weeks to massage out this blood clot trying to form in my leg, but it was worth it. I was getting way to cocky with that 2×4 board and needed a good dose of reality as to why I should not be riding it.

The 2×4 skateboard was built to prove a point to kids, but instead it ended up proving a lot about skateboarding to myself. I learned that I can ride anything and still rip it. It helped me express my inner self and I realized that this board would push my limits to another level, and I thank every day I got on it, and every trick I did. I’m sure someday it will rise again, but can’t say when.

Until then, enjoy what might just be the strangest skateboard video part you ever see:

From the video “Never Give Up”, 2005

To the song “This Was My Life” by Megadeath

Hippie Mike – The 2×4

Extreme Sports Skateboarding

MONKE Skateboard Camps – Tiiiiiiiiigght!!

May 18,2012 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

Now this sounds like an amazing opportunity for the skateboarders of the Lower Mainland to experience a whole bunch of skate parks that they might not usually be able to get to. An awesome way to spend a week out of your summer. Plus I think you get to hang out with Ben Chibber, owner of Monke Skateboards, The Dry Spot, and one of Vancouver’s skateboard legends…

Check the flyer or go to the site for more details: www.skatethedryspot.com

Extreme Sports Ryan Brynelson Skateboarding Team Riders World Round Up

World Freestyle Skateboard Round Up

May 18,2012 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

[youtube id=”OuYU20hfZUs” width=”620″ height=”360″]

Here’s a write up from the Cloverdale Rodeo webpage about the amazing World Freestyle Skateboarding Competition being held over the weekend. Monty Little is from the Cloverdale area and is one of the main promoters of the event along with the legendary Kevin Harris and up and comer Kai Dunkel. I had Kai, Kevin and Ryan Brynelson here at Chuck Bailey Skate Park almost 1 year ago for the Grand Opening and they were all ripping it, I hope all 3 will be competing at this event. Freestyle skateboarders are a dying breed, but the ones that are still out there in the world practice every day and all seem to able to blow your mind at any time. Check out the video link below to see some of the competition they will be facing from around the world. I’m definitely going to try to get out for the final day of this event. It’s gonna be crazy…

From www.theworldroundup.com

We are Rounding-Up the top pro and amateur freestyle skateboarders from around the world to compete at THE WORLD FREESTYLE ROUND-UP for a chance to win part of the $10,000 in Prize Money. The four day event will be held at the CLOVERDALE RODEO & COUNTRY FAIR, just 25 miles east of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, from May, 18 to 21, 2012. Over 77,000 people attended the annual Rodeo and Fair last year making this an ideal high profile location for this contest.

The World Freestyle Round-Up will take place inside a venue on the Cloverdale Fair Grounds, that has an arena setting featuring a 80 foot by 140 foot flawless concrete floor that is ideal for flatland freestyle skateboarding. Several freestylers say it’s the best surface they have ever skated on. Each day there will be several shows featuring freestyle demos and contests in three categories, Best Routine, Best Trick and a 360 Spin Off all using a Battle Format making it more interesting for the riders and audience as well. Several skaters will compete as a group each going one by one performing a routine. If a skater misses a trick, they are out until everyone has skated and it is their turn again. There will be two heats, (20 minutes each) for each show, with an announcer and DJ spinning tunes to keep the crowd and skaters pumped.

The contest also has a new judging system that has never been used before combining the scores from the five judges with the scores from the riders and audience. Note: The contestants cannot vote for themselves.

Contest promoters Kevin Harris, Kai Dunkel and Monty Little have one goal in mind. To create a fun energy packed annual event that will help put Freestyle Skating back where it belongs and move the level of competition up a notch or two. We envision something new and unique to give freestyle a chance to be back in TV, back in major magazines, and back in the forefront of the sports world.

Schedule

Friday, May 18

4 pm to 6 pm Open Ceremonies and Practice Session (6 to 7 Dinner Break)
7 pm to 9:30 pm WORLD ROUND-UP Contest
9:30 pm to 10 pm Contestants meeting

Saturday, May 19

9:30 am to 11:30 am RODEO PARADE
11:30 am to 12:30 pm Practice Session
12:30 pm to 2 pm WORLD ROUND-UP Contest (2 to 4 Late Lunch Break)
2 pm to 4 pm Women’s Rollerderby
4 pm to 5:30 pm WORLD ROUND-UP Contest
6 pm to 10 pm Women’s Rollerderby

Sunday, May 20

10 am to 11 am Practice Session
11 am to 12:30 pm WORLD ROUND-UP Contest (12:30 to 1:30 Lunch Break)
1:30 pm to 3 pm WORLD ROUND-UP Contest
3 pm to 5 pm Women’s Rollerderby
5 pm to 6:30 pm WORLD ROUND-UP Contest
7 pm to 10 pm Women’s Rollerderby

Monday, May 21

10 am to 11 am Practice Session
11 am to 12:30 pm WORLD ROUND-UP Contest (12:30 to 1:30 Lunch Break)
1:30 pm to 3 pm WORLD ROUND-UP Contest
3 pm to 4 pm Practice Session
4 pm to 6 pm WORLD ROUND-UP Finals and Awards Ceremony

Click this link to see Kevin Harris, Kai Dunkel and Ryan Brynelson last May 28^th at the Chuck Bailey Skate Park Grand Opening in Surrey, BC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzLx_lDFcZo

Extreme Sports Skateboarding

God Damn Broken Arms

May 15,2012 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

It’s ironic because I’m the one that feels like I’m having a rough go right now, but it’s the people around me that are in pain. 26 years I’ve skateboarded, and I’ve been out here in British Columbia since 1998. When you’re at skate parks a lot, you’re gonna see lots of people get hurt, and unfortunately, I always seem to be the one who helps them.

In the past 2 weeks I’ve had to deal with 3 arm injuries with kids, one was just a really bad sprained wrist, last Friday was a dislocated elbow on a 7 year old, and today this mountain biker decided to break both bones halfway up his forearm in Maple Ridge. All 3 of these kids were crying, half out of pain and half out of fear of not really knowing what was wrong with them. I’d have to say that the 7 year old kid, Isaac, was the toughest out of all 3 of these guys. The other 2 were 11 & 14. This little dude had his elbow completely dislocated and when I told him that, he asked me what the word “dislocated” meant. That’s how young he is. When I explained to him what was wrong with his arm and what the doctors were going to do to fix it, he got very nervous. Understandable. But the part I’ll remember forever was how no matter what, he was going to tough it out. He was one tough kid. We had to call the ambulance for him and when the paramedic asked Isaac if he could cut off his shirt to see his arm, he got no for an answer. This shirt was awesome, I wouldn’t have wanted to cut it either. And original E.T. shirt with the slogan “It’s All Good in the Hood.” So Isaac toughed it out and the ambulance attendant took off his shirt the hard way. Awesome!!

It’s always really painful for me to be the one providing people with the first aid they need and helping them to get to the next stage of getting assistance because I think of my own kid when I’m looking at them, and I think of all the times I’ve been in that much pain myself. I remember when I was 17 years old we were skating these gaps behind the CIBC in Barrie and my board shot out on me when I landed. I flipped over upside down and put out my hand to try to stop my face from hitting the ground. Of course, my arm bent straight backwards, dislocating my elbow, and then I hit my face anyway. I jumped up, screamed and shook my arm in pain – bad idea. The bones ended up locking back together with my upper arm and lower arm completely reversed. I just looked at Clayton and Malcolm that I was with and said Hospital…

It took 5 doctors and a lot of medication to put my arm back together the way it should be. They had to knock me out completely, pull my arm apart and then twist it back to normal. Damn I’d hate to be a doctor in the hospital. But they did get it together, and it works fine. And all these kids in the past 2 weeks are gonna be alright too. We have an amazing medical system in Canada, and I am very thankful for it. I’ve had a lot of bad injuries over my lifetime, and I’ve helped out so many people when they go down – broken bones, dislocations, concussions, all kinds of stuff. The biggest thing I think about whenever I see someone in need is what would I hope the other people around me would be doing if that was me lying there? Or my kid lying there? I would want them to help me, even if all they did was call someone else to help.

So when you’re at these skate parks all over the place, that we are soooooo lucky to have, be prepared for people to get hurt, it’s going to happen. But remember, when it does happen, please assist immediately, especially for head injuries, even if all you do is call 911.

You may end up someone’s hero; you might even save a life…

Extreme Sports Skateboarding

New Vancouver Skate Park Its Locals – “Dissed”

May 13,2012 / By Jeff Cole / No Comment

The Vancouver Courier and the writer of this article, Sandra Thomas, need to be told how offensive and hurtful articles like this are. Not to mention how shameful it is for a paper to give someone, not a expert, a whole article to RANT about something and have it come off like the truth.

Her email is ” sthomas@vancourier.com”

Click the link below to read this insulting article:

http://www.vancourier.com/news/Central+Park+Skate+destroy/6590260/story.html

Please write her and let her know this is unacceptable.

Please no threats or bad words.

Central Park: Skate and destroy

www.vancourier.com

Contests Extreme Sports Jaden Easton-Ellett Skateboarding Team Riders

Chuck Bailey Youth Week Contest Results

May 6,2012 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

It was looking promising as I pulled up to the Chuck Bailey skatepark on May 4th, 2012 to start setting up for the skateboard contests planned to take place later that day. You could see the sun starting to peak through the clouds and the bright blue sky was making its way over the park. There were already a decent amount of people warming up and there was a good vibe in the park, with lots of familiar faces from those who competed in Hippie Mike’s Tour De Surrey last year. The only difference with this contest was that it was only going to be open to people 18 or under because of Youth Week and Jaden Easton-Ellett and Andy Anderson were going to be MCing it.

When the contest was about to start we had a total of 3 Minis, 7 Beginners, 7 Intermediates and 5 Advanced riders — which was not bad. The Mini category went by quickly with J.R. Barron destroying numerous obstacles in the park, definitely showing improvements from last year. When we got to the beginner category I think a lot of people were blown away by a lot of these guys skills. With a roster full of names such as Adam Lewis, Mathew Major, and Riku Mochizuki (to only name a few) it is no wonder why.

Just as we finished the Beginner category it started POURING rain, and I am not just talking about a little bit of rain. It literally soaked the entire park with massive puddles in minutes and then turned into hail later on. As everyone ducked for shelter in the bowl, we had to rush and make sure the DJ equipment would stay dry so we could continue the contest.

This meant the Intermediates and Advanced categories would have to be confined to the bowl, but this didn’t stop some crazy tricks from going down. In the Intermediate category Malek Salem threw down a rad nollie bigspin on barricade wall, and we saw some other tiiiight tricks from people rippin’ the bowl. When the advanced category came around things heated up even more.Dominic Devries pulled out a 3-flip on the barricade wall, a bunch of other tricks were landed over the quarter pipe gap. Sure enough, when it came to Andy Anderson’s run he hit up the entire bowl missing only a couple tricks in his first run.

The Youth Week Chuck Bailey 2012 contest was a great success, and we look forward to seeing you Sunday at the South Surrey Skatepark for a skate Jam starting at around noon.

Contest Results

Mini: 1st – J.R. Barron, 2nd – Bachuoch Michael, 3rd – Blaine

Beginner 1^st – Morgan Skinner, 2^nd – Adam Lewis, 3^rd – Matthew Major

Intermediate: 1st – Jacob Drescher, 2nd – Jackson Hawthorne, 3rd – Malek Salem

Advanced: 1st – Andy Anderson, 2nd – Dominic Devries, 3rd – Gabe DiNorscio

Extreme Sports Jordan Strong Protest Skateboards Skateboarding

Jordan Strong is welcomed to the Team

May 6,2012 / By Hippie Mike / 1 Comment

It’s the final Member added to our revised Protest Skateboards Team – Jordan Strong. Protest has been around for a long time, almost a decade if you can believe it, and there are still most of the original Team Riders. In the past 2 months we’ve been revising the company, and the team, adding Stu Benoit, Andy Anderson, Jaden Easton-Ellett and now Jordan Strong. I’ve known Jordan for about 7 years and he brings even more creativity to the team. Another skateboarder who doesn’t follow what everyone else is doing, but just goes out and visualizes his own tricks and then brings them to life. He doesn’t follow the norm, and that’s one of my favorite things about him. It’s hard to find people like that anymore and that’s what Protest is all about.

He’s definitely got a wicked sense of balance and shows that off with some intricate manual tricks and funky powerslides. But at the same time, the dude can kickflip grind a ledge any time he wants. I’ve always enjoyed skating with Jordan, and I love his “Big Ollie Skills”. He’s also taking on the role of Team Filmer. Now it’s time to see what he has to offer to the world of PROTEST.

Contests Extreme Sports Protest Skateboards Skateboarding

SHOW UP MIKE!! Online Skateboard Contest With $500 Grand Prize

May 4,2012 / By Hippie Mike / 2 Comments

SHOW UP MIKE!!

An Original Online Skateboard Competition presented by Hippie Mike

“$500 Grand Prize”

Well, you better be ready… Ready to skate. Hippie Mike has skateboarded for over 26 years and has learned a lot of different tricks over his time. He may not be a good as he once was, but time has been taking its toll on him. Nevertheless, he is still one of the most creative skaters the world has ever seen, and loves to remind you of that.

In the past few months, Mike has been making his rounds to all the skate parks in the Lower Mainland and filming 5 tricks at each park.

From Abbotsford to Horseshoe Bay; Maple Ridge to Tsawwassen – over 45 different parks!!

Come mid-June, Mike will release the footage on the Protest Skateboards Website

and the contest will begin. This is your chance to

SHOW UP MIKE!!

The rules are simple:

Choose any of the parks that Mike has already filmed his 5 tricks at.
Film 5 tricks of yourself in One Session at that park
Edit your 5 tricks into a video and upload it to Youtube (name it : Your Name – and whatever park it is)
Submit your Youtube link to www.protestskateboards.com along with your contact information (kept confidential)
See how many votes you get
Repeat steps 1-5 at another park

The contest winner will be the video who receives the most overall votes. Viewers will be able to vote on as many videos as they want, but only once per day per video. Each park listed will have its own winner as well, and this person will win a Protest Skateboards T-Shirt.

Keep checking in to the site for more information of when the contest will begin.

Approximate date – June 16, 2012

Better start filming!

Skate Parks included in Show Up Mike contest

Abbotsford

McMillan Youth Park

Mouat Skate Park

Burnaby

Confederation Skate Park

Bonsor/Metro Skate Park

Coquitlam

LaFarge Skate Park

Delta

North Delta Skate Park

Ladner Skate Park

Tsawwassen Skate Park

Tsawwassen First Nations Youth Park

Langley

Brookswood Skate Park

Walnut Grove Skate Park

Aldergrove Skate Park

Murrayville Outdoor Activity Park

Langley City Skate Park

Maple Ridge

Schoolyard Action Youth Park/Thomas Haney Plaza

New Westminster

New West Skate Park

Queensboro All Wheel Park

North Vancouver

Seylynn Bowl

Kirkstone Skate Park

Parkgate Skate Park

Pitt Meadows

Pitt Meadows Skate Park

Port Coquitlam

Settler’s Skate Spot

Railside Youth Park

Port Moody

Port Moody Skate Park

Richmond

River Road Skate Park

Surrey

Bear Creek Youth Park

South Surrey Youth Park

Cloverdale Youth Park

Kwantlen Youth Park

Fleetwood Youth Park

Fraser Heights Youth Park

Guildford Bowl

Chuck Bailey Youth Park

Vancouver

China Creek Skate Park

Cooper’s Park

Hastings Skate Park

Leeside Memorial Park

Strathcona Park

Quilchena Skate Park

Skate Plaza

Kensington Skate Park

The Dry Spot

Mt. Pleasant Park

West Vancouver

Ambleside Skate Park

Lonsdale/City Skate Park

Griffin Bowl

Gleneagles Skate Park/Horseshoe Bay

Extreme Sports Hippie Mike Political Movements Protest Skateboards Skateboarding

Hippie Mike – Back in Action

May 3,2012 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

I’ve been skateboarding now for 26 years, and I would say I have learned quite a lot of tricks, but the best thing about skateboarding is just running as fast as you can on to your board and surfing the concrete. Today’s generation doesn’t always understand that concept. They get dropped off at the skate park, practise their tricks all day, get mad when they can’t land them, and call their Mommies to come pick them up. That’s not what skateboarding is supposed to be about.

Skateboarding is about Freedom – Freedom to express yourself in any way you feel. I can skate for hours without doing any tricks and without ever leaving the ground. Just cruisin’ and carvin’. Some days my favorite thing to do is just grab a couple buddies and hit up the Surrey Downhill 3 or 4 times. You should try it some day. Quit worrying about who you’re impressing and just go skate.

Since the “What the F” video came out in 2010, I haven’t really been filming too much. I’ve kind of just been keeping to myself, riding my ramp at home, slashing around at Chuck Bailey, and just going back to the roots of why I love this sport. But it’s time to giv’er once again. Through all the injuries that have plagued me over the past 26 years, and the changes in my body structure due to some of these injuries, it is still my greatest passion to be out there on my board.

Here’s a little taste of the footage you’re about to get from the old Hippie Mike. Enjoy it, and get ready for a whole lot more….

Contests Extreme Sports Skateboarding

Surrey Youth Week 2012 Skateboarding Events

May 3,2012 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

To celebrate Youth Week there will be two skateboarding contests and one BMX best trick contest taking place on May 4th and May 6th. Turn your attention to the flyer below for more details…

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Category : Skateboarding