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
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.
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
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
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
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
Sometimes things happen so unexpectedly that you don’t even know how to handle it, then that situation just keeps playing over and over in your head trying to figure out how to never let the same thing happen again, this is called trauma and can be unavoidable at times. How many of you have ever broken a bone? One second you’re enjoying life doing whatever you’re doing and the next second you’re in excruciating pain and need to get to the nearest hospital. But it’s the mental side that lasts so long. It’s easy to overcome physical pain and heal from it, but your brain is always trying to figure out why it happened to you, and that part is the true pain that never leaves.
Most accidents are no one’s fault, they just happen. If you’re trying dangerous stuff or being stupid then sometimes you deserve to get hurt, but if you’re just doing normal stuff that day then maybe it was inevitable. The biggest thing to remember is you must move forward, you can’t dwell on the past. Learn from your mistakes and try to prevent a repetitive incident but otherwise push your fears aside and continue on the way it used to be.
Right now I am personally struggling mentally to overcome many emotions created by years of multiple surgeries as I work hard to get back to my usual self. I want to be normal and I encourage my brain to allow me to be that way, but when the time comes for reality that brain likes to argue. It’s important to be strong and just keep pushing forward, keep your friends and loved ones close by for encouragement and don’t associate with the negative people. Go outside and do whatever makes you happy.
In the world right now (with COVID-19) it’s hard for anyone to feel normal, people are being held down and told what they are allowed and not allowed to do. I just wanted to go to the local skate parks, see a bunch of great friends, and go fast! But none of that has been allowed for the past 2 months. For all those dealing with Mental Health issues this type of incident makes you feel like your freedom has been taken away from you and suddenly you are trapped. But it will change, it will get better again, we ALL will recover from this, and one day (hopefully sooner than later) we can feel normal again.
Remember, your life is what YOU make it;
Stay strong, Stay positive, Be careful out there,
And Love every day that you’re alive…
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 quick and simple, I used rasta colors because they are nice and bright and it will excite me when I’m out skating. I called this one the Rasta Rooster because of the tail feathers, don’t mess with the rooster haha…