You Never Know What Tomorrow Brings

Aug 10,2020 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

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You can make plans or you can live on a whim, you never really know what will happen tomorrow. Tomorrow could be the best day of your life, the worst day of your life, or just another day to remember or forget. You could win a lottery, or someone close to you could pass away; You could decide to head out on a dream vacation, or you could find out your not allowed to go outside because of a world pandemic lockdown; You really never know…
The other day was great because I went out to skate with just Kaelen and myself and didn’t make plans with anybody. We went to Queensborough where my friend Jamie Madill had some wheels for me and we skated there for a bit together which was super fun.

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We knew we were heading to Richmond to skate a special street spot but hadn’t told anyone we were going there. After we went to the spot I took Kaelen to the old River Road Skate Park because he had never been there and it was literally around the corner from where we were. We had a great time there and met a bunch of really cool teenage kids that had no idea who I was. I always love that because it usually means they are pretty new to skateboarding and weren’t part of all the things I’ve done over the years. We skated with them and had a great time, we even got asked to be filmed to be in a video they are making, I love that.

Train Video – Richmond Skate Park

While we were there I texted Andy Anderson to see where he was skating that day, usually if we are going to skate together we make plans much earlier in the week so I didn’t actually expect for us to hook up but nice to know where everyone is at. So just by fluke him, Shawn Beaupre, Travis Waller, and Ty Williamson were on there way to Brighouse, right around the corner from where we were. Just to paint a bigger picture for those who don’t know but I live in Sunshine Valley and it’s about a 2 hour drive to Richmond, so you can imagine I’m not there very often. The fact that these guys happened to be skating right where we were skating that day was obviously fate that we needed to hang out together.
So we met up about a half hour later and it was great. Andy was trying to make history with a couple NBD tricks for an upcoming Powell Peralta video part and since I was there I jumped in for the 2nd camera angle. History was definitely made, and so were the memories. Everyone in that group has been through some awesome times together over the years and it was great to all be in one spot at the same time again. If you had asked me the day before who I was going to be hanging out with the next day I would’ve just answered Kaelen. But instead I hung out with 5 generations of amazing people that all just had fun skateboarding together.
You never know what Tomorrow brings….

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

SkatePark Styles – Episode 3 – Bonsor Skate Park with Travis Emerson and Ryan Prasad

Jun 15,2020 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

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

Hippie Mike Road to Recovery – The Bowl Series

May 23,2020 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

After going through multiple surgeries on my left leg and knee in a short period of time, I needed something to inspire me to get better at skateboarding again, and Bowl Series was the key. Check out my recovery story and learn why this amazing series of skateboard contests held each summer at Canada’s oldest skate parks was the one push I needed to get my gears going again. Thanks to all my friends and family at these events for just being there and making them what they are
Produced in 2018

Hippie Mike Road to Recovery – The Bowl Series

May 23,2020 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

After going through multiple surgeries on my left leg and knee in a short period of time, I needed something to inspire me to get better at skateboarding again, and Bowl Series was the key. Check out my recovery story and learn why this amazing series of skateboard contests held each summer at Canada’s oldest skate parks was the one push I needed to get my gears going again. Thanks to all my friends and family at these events for just being there and making them what they are
Produced in 2019

Little Long-Hair LeTourneau – Ain’t so Little no More

Feb 22,2013 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

In the 8 1/2 years I worked at The Cloverdale Youth Centre, I got to know a lot of kids and William LeTourneau was always one of my favourites. I remember him when he first started skateboarding, super long hair, and just loved to flow. He looked up to Mitch Salter back then and they were two of the few that would actually venture into the nasty assed death bowl at the Cloverdale Skate Park with speed and air that peninsula. Back then William could cruise that park and was just hittin’ up early grabs and coping grinds all over the place, but as he got older, and trimmed that hair so it was only hangin’ down to ears, he fell into the traps of those ledge skating locals proving himself to be an all around shredder. I think that skaters who learn in tranny first and then pick up the street tricks seem to have a better sense of commitment on their boards. They’re used to stayin’ on, grindin’ long, and goin’ big. Look at Andy Anderson – perfect example.

William LeTourneau has been ripping for many years now and has won his share of prizes in the past as well. I was there when he started, I was there when he quit and started again, I was there when he had long hair, I was there when he chopped it, and I’m still there – lovin’ to see another natural skateboarder grow up strong.

Keep it up buddy!! Can’t wait to see what’s next…

A Cold Summer Day at Chuck Bailey

Jan 14,2013 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

Last Friday Dave Stevens came out to Chuck Bailey Skate Park to do a little of what he does best – film and edit a montage with some of the locals. Francois LeBlanc, Calvin Dignard, Jordan Zazula, Magnus Hansen, Hippie Mike and Kory Laan all represent in style utilizing the majority of the skate park. The day was gorgeous and you would actually believe it was the middle of summer if everyone wasn’t decked out in toques and winter jackets. It was actually -2 degrees out there, which in this neighbourhood is extremely cold and definitely takes away your desire to really go for stuff. But shit went down, like always. Kory Laan even shut the session down with a couple banger bigspins over the big gap.

Check it out

Andy Anderson in Cloverdale

Jan 3,2013 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

Andy Anderson, one of the most talented on the Protest Skateboards Team spends a day at the infamous Cloverdale Skate Park located on the Country Side of Surrey. This park is rough and tough, and is actually going to be removed next year once the New Cloverdale Skate Park is fully constructed and opened. The old park has been around since about the year 2000 and has always been a bit of a hit and miss spot. Some of the obstacles are really awesome and taught lots of today’s top amateurs, and even some of the local pros quite a few tricks, and then there’s the other obstacles that you look at, shake your head a bit and say, “What the F were they doing??”

Of course Andy Anderson picks all of those obstacles to skate so it’s pretty sick to see how he rips them up.

Andy Anderson – Old Cloverdale

A Day to Remember

Nov 12,2012 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

With today being a day to reminisce I would like to pay tribute to some of the local skaters who were my friends who we have lost over the years and we all miss every day:

Major Dave, Rachel Hunter, both just uncalled for tragic losses to the skateboard community.

Lee Matasi, chased down by an ignorant kid with a gun in 2005 and shot in the head on the streets.

Chris Whitmee, hit by a random bullet in a public washroom. The guy it was meant for took 5 shots and is still alive.

Josh Evin, tragic motorcycle accident.

And Don Hartley, The Mad Carver, a solid face to face collision with one of his best friends during a Bowl Series Contest at Seylynn Park.

These are just to name a few, and unfortunately I’m sure I missed some people.

All these people were great influences on us in many ways, when they were living, and even after we lost them. And they all shared a passion for skateboarding, a passion for friendship, and a passion for Freedom.

We pay our tributes on this Day of Remembrance

Major Dave Rest In Peace

Carver Don Hartley Rest In Peace

Josh Evin – Video by Premium Skateboards

Leeside – Tunnel Visions

Extreme Sports Skateboarding

Bonsor Loc’s – Doin’ Their Thing

Oct 25,2012 / By Hippie Mike / No Comment

In Spring of this year Sebastien “Fez” Tellez took over the old Push Skate Shop in Metrotown and renamed it “Have 2 Skate” Shop. Being right across the street from Bonsor Skate Park this shop always has a posse hangin’ out and Fez loves to film with his budds. Here’s a video from the summertime featuring Bonsor Loc’s such as Kodi Amohgraphix, Travis Emerson, Ryan Prasad and Protest Team Rider Brad “Fighter” Muscat, plus some more. There’s a bunch of stuff in this video that doesn’t need to be, and some that probably shouldn’t be, if you know what I’m saying. The good skating starts around 7 1/2 minutes in, and you should definitely give it a watch just to see a cop in full uniform bust a heelflip on someone’s board outside the shop.

Tag Archives: Skate Park