First Blood Battle Recap

Jun 6,2022 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

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Thank You to the Fraser Valley Regional District Area B for their donation towards the First Blood Battle skateboard contest held on May 28th at HMI Skate Park in Hope BC. When Dennis Adamson walked in the door of the skate park at the beginning of April he had one thing in mind, finding a way to help create something awesome for the entire community to enjoy together. When he offered a $5000 donation towards an event, we knew we needed to make something special.

Dennis Adamson donation photo

Now that the Covid restrictions have finally been lifted as to how we can run events indoors it was time to set up the first Real contest at HMI, with Full length qualifier Runs, Finals for each category, and Plaques for the winners. The date was set for May 28th, and the title was made “The First Blood Battle”…

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People came from all over the Lower Mainland to enjoy the day together, there were over 60 competitors spread out through 6 different categories, and approximately 120 people in the park. With Hippie Mike organizing and running the event it was guaranteed to be successful, and busy. A very special Judges Panel was created right away consisting of Skateboard Event MC and Music Superstar Renee Renee, Richmond Skate Ranch local and Owner of 5.0 Skateboards Britain Higginbotham, DC Nationals 2004 Female Champion Carrie Williams, and the very first Canadian Professional Skateboarder and owner of Ultimate Skateboard Distribution Kevin Harris.

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The contest lasted almost 9 hours in total, filled with good times and tons of smiles. Starting off with the Mini category (kids 10 years & under) the vibe was set for the day. The crowd cheered on these little guys and girls as they showcased anything and everything they knew how to do. The Beginners were just as awesome really showing true love for this new activity that most of them have only been doing since HMI Skate Park has existed, they put some great lines together and had the crowd going wild.

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All the girls skated together encouraging each other to do their best and mainly sticking to the halfpipes, while the Intermediates utilized the entire park and gave everyone a taste of what was coming in Advanced. Everyone in these 2 categories did amazing and really showed why HMI is such an important place for community development.

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When Advanced finally started we knew the real Battle was about to go down. Some of the most talented skaters from all over the lower mainland and fraser valley came out to prove who’s on top. Aging from 8 years old up to 39, there was some serious skill in the room. After the Runs the judges narrowed it down to the Top 6 and those 6 skated for 18 minutes straight in a 6 man Finals Jam all at once until we finally had to call time. Dakota Flamand ruled the entire park climbing all the walls to the ceiling and took 1st place, Street master Dave Jonnson used his tech skills to place 2nd, and 12 year old park local Kaelen Faux showed every line he knew to squeeze his way into 3rd place. All scores in the Advanced finals were within a half a point from each other according to the judges.

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As people started disbursing we finished the night with a “Best Tricks for Cash” event and let these guys get the last of their energy out. It was an amazing show and we can’t wait for Round 2 next year.
Ryan Clark from Ripper Sk8 Mag has it all on video and we will release the recap as soon as it’s finished. Until then enjoy these photos

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Thanks to all the sponsors:
HMI Skate Park
FVRD Area B
Ripper Sk8 Mag
Powell Peralta
Maple Road Skateboards
Protest Skateboards
Pylon Skateboards
5.0 Skateboards
Totally Rad Skateboards
Tuxedo Skateboards
Abnormal Skateboards
Chance Skateboards
Bentwood Skateboards
Sean Sue Tattoo
Stance Socks
Blue Triton
Flames Pizzas
Cutts and Bows
Mind Control
Well Kept Sustainables
Super Scary Corp.
Santa Cruz
Fury Trucks
Bones Wheels
Mike’s Rizers and Railz
Fast Track Tire
PTT Hope BC
Wild Rabbit Flowers
ASD Excavation
Shay Fusionz Salon

HMI Skate Park tries to run at least 1 fun event every month, follow them on Instagram @hmiskatepark to stay in the loop.
And be ready for the Backyard Bash coming late September

First Blood Battle Poster with sponsors

HMI SKATE PARK SKATELITE FUNDRAISER

Apr 27,2022 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

HMI SkateLite Fundraiser Poster24x36

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WxjlmUss9E
HMI Skate Park is an indoor skateboard park in Hope BC, owned and operated by myself, Hippie Mike. The lease on the building was signed at the beginning of October 2020. Through amazing community support, donations, and fundraising, we were able to get the doors open by middle of December 2020. In the first 18 months we have served over 1000 different people just in the skate park, proving how necessary a place like this is. We specialize in Public Drop-Ins, Lessons for All Ages and Skill Levels, Inclusive and Fun Competitions and Demos, and have approximately a 75%/25% male/female Ratio.
To rush the opening of the Park we used Masonite (1/4″ hardboard) as the top surface sheeting on all the ramps and decking as it was way more affordable and quick to install but unfortunately the wear and tear is showing fast on the masonite and it is time to make the big changeover to SkateLite. This will help protect the ramps for years to come and lower the dust levels being stirred up daily throughout the park.

We are looking to raise $50,000 to finalize the park properly by resheeting the entire place in SkateLite, adding metal edge protection to any corners and joins between ramps, and making a few necessary adjustments and repairs. The skate park is split into 3 sections and we will plan to change it up one section at a time, in the order of how we originally built it.
Section 1 will happen when we reach the first $20,000
Section 2 will happen after we reach another $15,000
and Section 3 will happen when we reach the final $15,000

Our goal is to complete the entire renovation by the end of this year. If you would like to donate please visit our GoFund Me Page
HMI SkateLite Fundraiser GoFund Me
Or come into the Park at 840 5th Ave, Hope BC

We all appreciate your Support

I Helped Build HM Industries Collector Deck – Limited Edition 50 Board Run

Oct 10,2020 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

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Awesome news! To add to the “I Helped Build HM Industries” Sales Campaign Protest Skateboards is creating a limited edition 50 board run where all the profits will be donated straight to the renovations and building of the skate park. These decks will be manufactured by Gnarlywood LLC and are now available for Prebook for $100 a piece and will be ready to ship in November. Each deck will be numbered in order out of 50 by the order they are purchased, and all will be signed by me, Hippie Mike. What an awesome momento for the wall

Only 50 will be made so order quick before they’re gone

http://protest-movement.org/product/i-helped-build-hm-industries-collector-deck-limited-edition-50-board-run/

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

SkatePark Styles Episode 6 – Merritt Skate Park with Jay Mykyte

Aug 7,2020 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

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

Mid-Summer Vibes

Aug 3,2020 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

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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.

Allen Handley Joins the Protest Movement

Jul 31,2020 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

After years of anticipation we are finally putting Allen Handley on the Protest Skateboards Team. This guy rips it up everywhere he goes, his way or the highway, with a unique array of tricks that only Allen would try. Welcome him to the team and expect to see lots more

Song: On My Knees
Artist: Named BY Robots
Live Recording / 2020

More at www.protest-movement.org

SkatePark Styles Episode 5 – Squamish Skate Park

Jul 31,2020 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

Squamish Skate Park with a Fresh paint job in the Bowl
Featuring: Adam Hopkins, Andy Anderson, Mike LeBlanc, Oli Ward, Big Rip Kaelen Faux, Byron Essert, Madix McReynolds, Presley Huska, Ryder Riekert and Jacob LeBlanc

Music Credits:
Pur Pale vs. BIOHACKER
Song: Retrograde (Pur Pale Remix)
Original Composition: Tufty Hacka (Biohacker)
Remix Composition: Ryan “Tweak” Clark (Pur Pale)
Mixing & Mastering: Ryan “Tweak” Clark
Released: 2020

Escape the Norm

Jul 27,2020 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

Kaelen pushing the trail - Hwy3

When the “Normal” isn’t satisfying you, what do you do? I always live by a saying from Bob Marley – “If you’re not living good, travel wide”. Traveling wide doesn’t necessarily mean relocating where you live, it can simply relate to traveling far from your own comfort zone and trying new things. Diving into the forest away from the social world and just being one with nature for a change. We all have dreams and aspirations, and a lot of people just keep those thoughts as dreams, but what if you want to make them come to life?
What if you said today that it’s time to make a change?
What are you really afraid of?
Time by yourself is when you get things done, use that time wisely to plan out your future. Then actually act on your plans.
And if your plan is loose and you don’t really know how it’s going to work, try it anyway and let it figure itself out. Usually a plan has to be adjusted in the middle anyway so maybe being a little loose is a good thing. This leaves it open for other opportunities to come together and create something amazing as one.
Hang out in new crowds, work in different industries, try new activities.
If the Norm is to sit back and take what life you’re given, then escaping that norm would give you the Freedom to find your true self.
Only then can you know which life is better

Oli Ward Joins the Protest Movement

Jul 22,2020 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

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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