HMI SKATE PARK DESIGN CONTEST WINNER

Nov 16,2020 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

Congratulations to Serena Savoie for winning the Logo Design contest for HMI Skate Park and Shop. Serena’s design was simple and relevant and leaves lots of options to play with in the future. There were about 50 entries in the contest and it was a tough job to narrow them all down to 1 winner, so we printed off each logo and laid them all out on the ramp during my birthday party for a group vote. The decision was made and here we celebrate the new brand logo for HMI Skate Park. Serena has won a $50 gift certificate to use at the park or store once it opens and will also be signed into a Lifetime Royalty Agreement which will pay her $1 canadian every time this logo is produced on any decks, Tshirts, Hoodies and Hats, or anything else that we create in the future – way to go Serena!
Right away we will be producing 50 decks with this logo and a couple variations of Tshirts and Hoodies, stay tuned for how to get yours…

Thanks to everyone that entered the contest, a few of you will be contacted soon about using your graphics in other ways. Great job everybody!

Hippie Mike pulls out the 2×4 Skateboard

Sep 4,2020 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

Inspired by a funny 2×4 tech deck/fingerboard that Braille Skateboarding made recently I decided to pull out my actual 2×4 skateboard that I used to ride all the time in the early 2000’s and give it a go on this little quarterpipe at my house. Some things were easy and most things were not, either way my ankles hurt for a couple days after this session, haha

Music by: Sarah Morano
Song: The 4 Wheel Reel
Released: 2020

Grip Tape Art 4 – The Landscape

Jul 17,2020 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

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

Grip Tape Art 3 – The King’s Diamond

Jul 8,2020 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

Grip Tape Art #3 with Hippie Mike, “The King’s Diamond”. This one was designed by 10 year old Kaelen Faux, aka Big Rip Kaelen, and was put onto my last collab Protest Movement/Coastal Riders Join the Movement deck for him to ride. Go Rip it Up Kaelen!!

True Friends are Forever Friends

Jun 29,2020 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

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…

Andy Anderson 2015 Video – Previously Unreleased

Jun 26,2020 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

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

You Can Get It if You Really Want

Jun 22,2020 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

Mike's Wood pile

Don’t ever let anyone tell you what You are capable of, only You can determine what you Can and Can’t do in life. And one thing to also remember is that if your body was used to doing something before it got injured, then it will still be used to doing it afterwards, you just might have to adjust how you do it or do it at a different level.
I have heated my homes with nothing but Firewood for 15 years and it takes a lot of effort, all year long. As soon as winter ends it’s time to go out and start collecting new wood, bucking it down to size, and splitting it so it can dry over summer. The goal is always to have lots of extra wood, and to have it all split and piled by the end of June, but that hardly ever happens. Last year I was about 1/3 done by the end of June and then broke my ankle July 3rd. That didn’t stop me either. After resting for a few weeks I was out there standing on 1 foot chainsawing and splitting in order to get it all ready in time for winter. It’s not just what you want that creates motivation, but also what you don’t want, and I never want to pay to heat my house. Especially when you get used to wood fire heat, furnaces and electric heaters cannot produce that same type of heat and the heat they do produce doesn’t last as long. I built the house we live in so that the woodstove heats the entire house from the centre of the main floor and it works great. This year with school being closed during this Covid-19 issue I had a special helper available, my 10 year old son Kaelen. Kaelen is a very determined and self motivated person, he knew the goal and pushed hard to help me accomplish it. We’ve been out collecting firewood 2 days a week since the beginning of May and tomorrow will be our last day. The pile you are looking at behind me is only about 1/3 of the wood we got so far this year, and it’s more than enough for next winter, therefore we actually have enough wood for 3 years, that’s amazing.
I’ve been told by lots of people over my lifetime to quit doing a lot of things because of injuries I’ve been through, but what those people don’t get is that Not doing the physical things my body is used to is what actually hurts the most. Sitting in a chair not being physical is what hurts the most. I like to skateboard, snowboard, swim, play basketball and baseball, and go on walks and bike rides with my kids. No one is going to stop me from doing that stuff, and it’s what will keep me the healthiest even if it hurts. Get out there and do what makes You feel good inside, if it hurts a bit that’s life, you’ll get over it. But if you really want it, you Can get it.

Never Give Up

Kids Make the World Go Round

Jun 15,2020 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

Caileigh and Kaelen Skitchin

If you have Kids you will quickly relate to this, and even if you don’t have kids of your own but hang out with other people’s children you will also know what I’m talking about.
Kids can drive you crazy at times, they are needy and stubborn, but it’s not their fault. It is our job to feed them, bath them, clothe them, and love them, and in return they show you a love that no one else can. When a young child looks into your eyes or holds you by the hand and expresses themself they are giving you the full Truth of how they feel, they don’t know anything else. When they are really young everything they do is a new experience and is either fun, scary, or super cool. Then as they grow older a confidence builds inside them that allows them to become more independent and start to take care of themselves, and find their own true passions. It’s hard to remember that we were all once little babies, infants, toddlers, children, teenagers, young adults, etc… We all went through the same things to grow up, and each of us have different stories to tell.
The one thing that motivates me to always be a caring father is when I see my kids enjoying themselves with a smile that cannot be faked. The excitement that comes to life is so real at times that just being there with them pumps you up and makes you happy. I’m very lucky to have a child that loves to skateboard, and not just wanting to be good at it, but actually just enjoys skateboarding for what it is – a time to challenge your mind and body to learn and remember new things, a way to feel free from everything as you roll and flow across the concrete, and a connection to so many people you can call your friends for life. When we go out together it’s a special time between us, one that both of us will remember differently, but the same.
I try to do as much as possible with both my kids, and so does their Mom. Every minute of every day only happens once, we must make the most of it. One day you will look down at your kids and realize they are taller than you, they own their own cars and homes, and have kids of their own. Today is a day like any other day, hug your children and let them know that you love them, it’s important for both of you

SkatePark Styles Episode 2 – Winfield Skate Park with Nathan Lintunen

Jun 9,2020 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

We headed up to Lake Country BC on the weekend to go visit our good friends and see their new baby. There happens to be a Skate Park not far from their house so we headed down for a rip. Nathan Lintunen (one of the 2nd generation of Protest Skateboards Team Riders) doesn’t skate very often anymore, but he’s still got the skills, the tricks and of course the styles, and he proves it here in Episode 2 of SkatePark Styles at the Winfield Skate Park. This is probably the first time Nathan has been filmed on his skateboard in over 10 years, a true skateboarder not out there for the fame, but just loves to skate and have fun…

Starring: Nathan Lintunen and Big Rip Kaelen Faux
Song: Acoustic jam played by Nathan Lintunen

Grip Tape Art 1 – Jamaica

May 23,2020 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

I like to make custom painted Grip Tape Art on my skateboards, I like having bright colors to make it better to see my board and easier to find it in large crowds. Plus it’s fun! This was a replica of the Jamaican Flag that I did for Kaelen (aka Big Rip Kaelen Faux), but I used Red on the sides instead of black so it popped more visually, plus the Rasta Colors fit with anything Jamaican. It turned out great!

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