Bye Bye Guildford Bowl

Oct 11,2012 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

It was the first closed in bowl with coping in Surrey, and when it was in the planning stage for the Guildford Park I was very adamant that we got a Bowl. There was too much of the same street stuff popping up everywhere and those parks get boring after a while. So Guildford Bowl was built, along with a tiny, somewhat pointless Street Section. Of course now you have to be thankful for the street section because that’s all that will be skateable for the next year and a half until the construction is complete. Once this Lap Pool is built then New Line will come back and build something fresh for us to ride in the remaining footage between the building and street section.

This Park helped to teach a lot of the young kids in Surrey how to hit coping. I remember when it was new and at my Hippie Mike’s Tour de Surrey Contests there the young kids would all avoid the Bowl and just ride the street stuff, and now almost everyone focuses completely on the Bowl at those events. It also created a group of friends that localized that place, Allen Handley, Myke Johnson and Randy. These guys all know how to shred this spot. It’s a shame that we’re losing it, but life goes on.

Here’s the Video by Protest Skateboards of our Final Film Session at Guildford Bowl. Lots of people showed up including Andy Anderson, Brad “Fighter” Muscat, Jordan Strong, Dale Kind, “Giver” Michael James, Riley Allen Clerihue, Adam Lewis, Josh Lewis, “Hasbrown” Mike Shulze, Dustin Locke, Derek Mayer, Stephan Burke, Matt Cook, Ryan Brynelson, Bachouch Michael, Myke Johnson, Randy, myself and Allen Handley who absolutely destroyed it all day. No one will miss that Bowl as much as this guy.

I’m not completely sure when the fence will go up and the Bowl will come down but it could happen at any given moment, so take your chances and get there for one last session

R.I.P.

Thanks to the Filmers

Oct 11,2012 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

Ohhhhh, the Skateboard Industry… so huge now.

When I was young and started skateboarding in the mid-80’s, skateboarding was crazy – pools, vert and launchers, hair in your eyes and rails on your boards. It was huge at that time and all the skaters wanted to be at the top of their game. There was only a select few number of Pro Skaters that everybody knew and they were always competing to be better than the others. I watched as skateboarding suddenly fell off the Popularity Meter and all of a sudden there was no publicity for it any more. It was tough times for the Pro’s, and even tougher for the Skate Shops. But skateboarding made a major comeback in the mid-90’s and it looks like it’s here for good.

There are soooooooooooo many amazing skateboarders in the world that we will never know 25% of their names. You only get your chance if you get your name out there in the first place and now a days the only way to do that is to have a solid filmer behind you.

It’s crazy how huge skateboarding is world wide and I would have to say that the abundance of people filming is the reason for it. Some people just have video camera and enjoy getting footage of them and their friends, where others save up for a year and buy the sickest camera on the market and start getting in with the crew’s of sick skaters and always filming. Trust me, people love it when someone wants to film, I know I do. Filming and watching yourself later is also the best way to improve and another serious reason as to how sick the talent is out there. The more they film the better they get, and the more they film us, the better we get. So together, we make an amazing team that showcases talents, and creates entertainment for everyone to enjoy. So big thanks and props to all you Die Hard Skateboard Filmers out there – thanks for helping to create so many memories…

Ty Williamson has been sending me video links to lots of his edits, most of it being park footage but it really lets us get to know some local skaters. The filming is perfect, the editing is good and the skating is always impressive. Here’s another quick edit from “Tyler the Creator” called On Top.

Some old and unused footage from Pitt Meadows and Thomas Haney Parks featuring Blair Higginson, Lanny DeBoer, Keenan Hargrove, Calum Wood, James Benson, Dylan Ackimenko, Tom Korop, Adrian Wnorowski, Braiden Huish, and Dave Jonsson

Hippie Mike's Messed Up Mind

Thanks for the Curse

Oct 8,2012 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

I lived a tough life growing up, tough and rough. My parents took good care of me for what it was worth, but when I was out doin’ my thing, I was always getting into trouble. I was wild and hardcore, and loved every minute of it. I actually made a $20 bet with someone that I wouldn’t live to see 20 years old, which I lost. There were a lot of amazing, crazy and chaotic moments that are major memories etched into my brain, some that i regret but most that I’m glad happened. The way I always look back at it, the bad things that happen to you are what really influence your mentality the most. Without the bad things you don’t know what life is really about. I’m glad I grew up with freedom to learn on my own, and wasn’t babied or sheltered to believe that we control life and only good things ever happen. A big part of what makes me the man I became in life was the Curse I lived with for many, many years – The Thanksgiving Curse. Don’t ask me why it happened, or why I deserved it – I’m sure there were many people I was mean to in my younger years and one of them must have been a gypsy or a witch or something, but either way, I had the curse…

Every year around Thankgiving, up to 2 weeks before or after, I would get hurt, usually good enough to be rushed to the hospital. It started on Thanksgiving Monday in 1995. We were skating this drop gap at the CIBC that you could only skate on a Holiday and I was killing it all day. I was with Clayton Holmes and Malcolm O’Connor and Malcolm wanted to film a line so I was just fuckin’ around in the back of the Bank parking lot and completely dislocated my elbow riding off the 4 stair. Like what? Of all the big gaps and crazy tricks we would do all the time, how the hell did I do this? The worst part was when it happened, I jumped up and shook my arm in pain, locking the bones back together in reversed position – so my forearm was stuck turned completely over facing up when it should be facing down. I grabbed Clay and we hopped in the car and went to the Emergency Room. They left me there, I got it fixed and walked home.

The next year I was working for Manpower Temporary Services and they would send me out to these Factories. I got hooked up with this super easy job sanding the pitts out of these Car Rims for Volkswagen and it was going to last for 3 weeks at $23 an hour. I was stoked. The first day was right before the long weekend of Thanksgiving and that night we went out skating. I was getting tons of footage when once again I got burned on this tiny 5 stair rail at the Zellers. I landed and twisted my foot right around 180 degrees and it sounded disgusting. I thought for sure that my ankle had broke but somehow according to the X-rays the bones were all good, just everything else was completely destroyed. I was on crutches and a cane for almost 2 1/2 months, and obviously didn’t get to make all that money that I was stoked for.

Year 3, you’d figure I might be scared but hadn’t really realized yet that this was going to be an annual ritual. The snowboarding season started early and Thanksgiving was late in the year. We were riding some serious sized Tombstones in the halfpipe area at Snow Valley and of course I was annihilating it. I hit this gap into the halfpipe that was super weird and backside 720’d it. I was telling Carrie’s brother Doug Williams about it and he didn’t believe me, so I did it again. As I was riding away I was pointing back at him laughing about it and caught my edge on the runway groove for the tombstone flipping me over hard and landed with my hand in the snow and my elbow jabbed into my side right between my ribs and hip. I was down for a long time and people helped me out of the pipe. I sat around for a while, had a smoke or two, and then strapped back in. It was a weird pain that I had never felt before but i just shook it off. I hopped up, called “Snake” and dropped in busting a big McTwist off one of the Tombstones. I rode for a bit but wasn’t that into it anymore so we left. About 4 hours later I was lying on the couch and had a strange urge to piss. I tried getting up and couldn’t. Luckily I lived at me parents still and called them downstairs to help me. I got to the bathroom and pissed a lot of blood out. Carrie came over right away and rushed me down to the Hospital. I barely made it to the front counter in Emergency and they asked me what was wrong. I answered in a tiny voice, “I think I’m dying”, and I fell on the floor. They rushed me in fast. Some X-rays, a little Ultrasound, and a whole lot of questions and they finally had some answers, I had a bleeding kidney and a bruised spleen. If my spleen decided to burst, it would have to come out right away, I was told. So they hooked me up with some drugs and sent me home telling me to be very cautious and not to engage in any physical activity for 2-3 weeks. Luckily, my spleen didn’t burst, and I survived. I was now realizing that i had this Cursed Curse…

Almost all my biggest injuries have come around Thansgiving: these 3 of course, fractured each foot separately, tore everything in my wrist, torn MCL, Herniated Disc and Sciatic Nerve damage, cracked ribs, a huge hole in my leg, and many other life changing experiences. Some just call this the Life of a Skateboarder, but isn’t it strange that all the big ones happen at the same time of year?

So for this I always avoid skateboarding around Thansgiving, especially on the long weekend itself, but I proudly say Thank You for all this pain that I have been given, for these injuries are what helped me find myself, they are what made me so strong in life, and they are what built the man you see today.

I might not be able to walk properly, or stand up straight, or breathe easily all the time, but I’m still alive, standing strong in front of you.

Now tell me who I should thank for that…

Every Little Thing Gonna be Alright

Oct 6,2012 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

[youtube id=”zaGUr6wzyT8″ width=”620″ height=”360″]

Don’t worry…. a saying that we all use every day. Life is always going sideways out of nowhere and you just got to stay thinking positive that it will all work out later, and not get trapped in the worry.

I’ve been having a rough time these past 5 or 6 months and everything has been going wrong. Usually when you see me out there at the parks or in the streets you wouldn’t be able to tell though. I hate to worry about life, and survival, and the dangers that are always waiting for us, so I try my best not to. Lost my dad in April, I shut down one of my businesses in June, my camera was stolen in September and I haven’t seen my cat for 2 weeks… You see me happy and you see me smiling and having a good time, but inside I haven’t been happy for months. But I look at the positive things that have been happening lately and they keep me smiling, and make me believe that things will turn around and get better. I’ve been really getting back into skating and been out there filming and being filmed all summer and it feels good. I might be frustrated with how hard I work on setting up so many events for skateboarders in the Lower Mainland, but as soon as I show up the day of and see all those smiling faces, I let it go and just have a good time. You guys all make me happy to be who I am and to know so many amazing people, young and old. You’re positive energy and the respect you give me have helped me to make it through these hard times, and life has been starting to work out again. I have more money coming in, I won a couple contests lately, and I’ve actually been smiling for no reason again.

Life can be tough, and our emotions change constantly. Some days are good days and other are not, but I take it with a grain of salt as they say, and live on. It’ll all be okay soon.

I quote Bob Marley from the song Three Little Birds:

“Don’t worry about a thing, ’cause every little thing gonna be alright”

Believe it – Love it – Live it

Extreme Sports Skateboarding

Jordan Zazula – Gettin’ Published

Oct 5,2012 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

I remember Jordan when he first started coming out to my Hippie Mike’s Tour de Surrey Contests years ago and I would always be impressed, especially with his ledge skills. Jordan is a solid skater who is definitely in tune with his board, and he hangs out constantly with the crew of annihilators from Coastal Riders (Magnus Hansen, Mike Shulze, Dustin Locke, Paul Machnau, etc) localizing at parks like Fleetwood Skate Park, North Delta Park, Chuck Bailey and the Skate Plaza. To me Jordan’s one of those dudes that’s always super focused on what he’s trying and doesn’t give up till it’s landed… and done right.

Jordan’s been getting a lot of publicity lately, with coverage in Concrete Magazine, featured on Color Magazine’s Last Try Tuesday with Dustin Locke, and now this, it’s almost time for a GLORY DAZE with Hippie Mike.

Check out this awesome profile interview by Frank Daniello on Push.ca

Sick job Jordan

http://www.push.ca/blogs/franksk/archive/2012/10/05/rise-up-jordan-zazula.aspx

Contests Extreme Sports Skateboarding

Workin’ The Angles Contest

Oct 5,2012 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

A Video Contest put on by Concrete Skateboarding Magazine, Ultimate Distribution and GoPro which focuses on the Filmer and their creativity in filming and editing. Of course you know that these guys were still gonna portray some of the best skaters around to help make their angles that much better to watch.

These are your 2 Finalists, check out both Vids and cast your vote. The winner will take home this amazing package

GoPro HERO2 Professional Outdoor Edition
Toy Machine “Sect Cruiser” (7.25 x 24.5)
Destructo Trucks (5.0 Mids)
Bones Chris Ray filmer wheels (54mm ATF)
Shorty’s Black Panthers bearings

Your Finalists are:

Antosh Cimoszko (From Tsawwassen) with “Grey Angles”

featuring the skating likes of Aleka Lang, Michael Ray and Andrew Classon

and Jeff Pineau (From Moncton, NB) with “Bunkton”

featuring the skating likes of James Leger, Justin Allain, Marty Arsenault, Brooks Wirsz, Sebastien Bertin, Steven Steeves and Alex Marr

[vimeo id=”50402788″ width=”620″ height=”360″]

[vimeo id=”50400026″ width=”620″ height=”360″]

I voted for Grey Angles, not because it’s from the Local Guy, but because to me, it showed the most creative angles around filming, and he focused more on the filming than the skating itself which is what the contest was about. A true videographer on the rise.

Way to go Anton and Jeff, can’t wait to see who wins

http://www.concreteskateboarding.com/?p=21357

That’s Life – The Final Teaser

Oct 4,2012 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

This is the last Protest Teaser I had in my collection to share. Right in the heart of the filming time frame for the What the “F” Video a lot of these tricks didn’t make it in. Cisco Gooding, Jeff Cole, Jon Irvine, Nathan Lintunen and my self Hippie Mike all laying it down. If anything you need to watch for 3 reasons

The Christmas Morning Cannonball off my roof
Jon Irvine’s Fandangle Fingerflip
Cisco Gooding attempting to need a Proctologist Appointment – Ouch!

But Hey, That’s Life!!

Tom Korop – The Pitts

Oct 4,2012 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

Every Skate Park has a Local that kills it, I think this is the one for Pitt Meadows. I don’t know Tom Korop, but I was told that I should, and after watching this video, I think I will most likely remember his name. From Nollie Lazer Flips to Double 360 flips, and a whole lotta tough manual tricks, this kids definitely got some skills. What I want to know is how did he pull off 2 sessions at Pitt Meadows Skate Park without 1 scooter kid getting in the way??

Filmed by Ty Williamson, check it

Don’t forget to send in your video links to Hippie Mike for review, and if he likes it we’ll post it on the site

reviews@protestskateboards.com

Loosey Goosey

Oct 3,2012 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

Well, the title says it all. We were definitely gettin’ loose back in these days. The video starts at one of my birthday parties back when they were like 150-200 people getting wasted in the yard while we put on a ramp demo. Then it moves into Leeside Tunnel where it was time to get tech, and of course there’s some rocks and dirt spots in there too. You can figure out the Time Period by what stage Leeside was at, if you’re hardcore enough to be a part of that scene.

Some crazy tricks in this video, especially thrown down be myself and Jon Irvine, the master of Ridiculousness – blunt kickflip rock on the volcano in Leeside?? I think it’s safe to say no one else wants to do that one…

Extreme Sports Skateboarding

Coastal Riders Yard Sale

Oct 3,2012 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

As a skateboarder or snowboarder, when you hear someone yell “Yard Sale!!”, you’re usually looking for someone about to crash really hard. But this time it actually means what it’s supposed to:

Coastal Riders is their biggest sale of the year this weekend October 5^th-8^th. Everything in the store is on sale, including Hard Goods, Clothing and Outerwear, and tons of fresh snowboard gear.

Head out to the Langley Shop and support the guys that have been keeping you equipped for the past 10 years.