Dancing To The Tune of a Hot Day in May

I finally got round to putting this thing together. 

Since last Saturday's skate at the Fox Spot I've been battling on my bike against gail-force winds, thunder storms, torrential rain, what I'm sure was a mini-tornado going round Hammersmith roundabout and generally being too busy to skate even if the weather wasn't like a cautionary tale from the bible.

So have a look at the video below and take solace in the fact that there will be more days this year as hot as last Saturday, there are great places to skate in London both public and secret and the weather-men says it's dry on Sunday, let's hope it stays that way.

[LIALC]

Quiet Times Can Be The Raddest Times.

Got out to have a skate down at the now officially named "Fox Spot" today.

I manged to forget to take either of my digital cameras but did.have two film cameras, so shots will follow in the near future along with a throw-away edit.

I still can't believe that on Saturday like today Johners, Martyn and I had the place to ourselves for quite a while.  A guy by the name of Jamie arrived and was a good edition to the session.

Later on Fos and Pullman and a couple of friendsarrived and Chris got a nice sliding front rock on the jersey, then had a rest. Hopefully see a bit more of those guys down there.

[LILAC]

Time Out from Fatherhood for a Test Skate at K-Town.

The last couple of weeks have been taken up with all that is associated with becoming a Dad.  I don't need to go into it all here other than to say, if it happens to you, make sure you watch the baby's head come out. Nothing will ever top that moment, ever.

Obviously getting out for a skate has been tuff, and not the highest priority but after 10 days it was perfect timing. Whip was up in London staying with Johners and the Kingston park was officially open as of Sunday.  So off we went.

Being a Sunday it was always going to be packed and so it was.  Plenty of skaters, BMXicans and too many scooterists (one is too many), way to many.  The number of people meant one thing.  No fast lines at all.  I had a coming together with a BMX and a verity of kids within the first 5 minutes. So we ended up sticking to the bowl area.

The first impressions of this park are that it would be sick if you and 6 of your mates are there alone, but at the weekend it's just going to be impossible to use the whole park.

Dan and Max were already at the park when we arrived but before too long the Brighton sunshine bus arrived with Sam, Jamie Aaarrgh and Stevie who wasted no time getting involved.  

It wasn't long before I had been caught out by the astro-turf patch at the side of the mini-ramp section that fired me onto the green painted unfinished-concrete, which eats skin at an alarming rate, my palms and knees still remind me of this fact nearly a week later. Stigmata can make changing a nappy even more of a challenge.

Martyn also put in an appearance and started getting over excited from the word go.  A little session  on the spine and extension was just hotting up as the 2 hours of sleep the night before started to catch up with me so I pulled out the Lumix and grabbed a few shots just to prove it all really happened.  At least I've finally weened myself off that bloody phone-cam obsession.

So fingers crossed there'll be another session over the weekend worth sharing.

Johners en-route to the Park

Whip taking evasive action

Mixing astro-turf and raw concrete can take it's toll

Sam over the gap

Stevie poppin' and droppin' onto the non-riding surface

Martyn, Jamie and Johners, only one of them is scratching his arse.

Up Close And Personal With Kingston Crete.

Today I decided to take an hour off to go see how the work on the Kingston Skatepark was coming on.

The short answer is.. DONE (but not yet skateable - I'll come back to this)

They are putting the finishing touches to one section of flat at the open end of the bowled section and the long ledge. After a bit more tidying up and painting it will be finished.

I had a chat with Duncan, the project manager, who explained that they were handing over the site to the council later this afternoon.  There are tiny bits to be done, all the rough looking bits you can see are to be painted green and everything needs to dry properly too (so don't skate it yet... you will fuck it up!)

I'm not going to comment on the design of the park just yet. I might have a few issues but I'm going to wait until I've skated it before doing that. There are a few things that I suspect might bother me but then, I could say that of almost anywhere I've skated.

Take a look at the pictures below and see what you think.

[LIALC]

The Use of a Skateboard for Classic Subterfuge.

Spotted in West London about 2:30pm today, one of the worst cases of flagrant use of a skateboard as a fashion accessory.

That's a Zoo York board he's carrying. The only reason I could tell is because I could see the top graphic thanks to the absence of any grip tape.

So now I'm starting to wonder how far this charade actually goes. Is there any beer in the Red Stripe cans? Are they even Red Stripe cans at all, they look suspiciously small, re-stickered iron brew maybe?
The fact is, it's all a sham a shameless terrible sham.

[LILAC]

Making Up For Smart Phone Misdemeanors

Last night's/this morning's post was, I have decided, a bit lack luster.

Even using some poncey vintage camera App, they are still just camera phone shots, that I new I could whack up on the blog right there and then.

Mobile blogging, hell yeah... I love the idea of it, but need to figure out a technical solution that means the quality of the images isn't dictated my my HTC Desire and it's terrible camera.

So, you lucky, lucky people, I've decided to do a double post day and upgrade the images to those from a digital compact.  I swear to god I'll get back into the habit of taking my SLR out on night missions again soon.

But for now, here are some snaps from the last couple of night skates at The Spot.

Get out in that sun!

[LIALC]

Martin boardsliding off to the top

Johners fronsite pivot inside a dust bubble

Will front disastering in the undergrowth

Johners thanking his lucky stars after narrowly missing a coxics smashing

Toby's foot and board, the floor... and a bit of the BBQ/Flatbank/Quarter

April 20th night session crew

The Hippy and the Hippy

Alex and Stevie don't look too sure about those sausages

Jamie and the sausages

BBQ

Johners' amazing BBQ an skateboard transportation system

Waiting For The Lights to Give Us the Go!

There is about an hour each night at the spot when it's dark but the lights nearby don't come on until they decide they feel like it.

At this point you skate in the dark and roll around on the floor a fair bit.
We are currently slap bang in the middle of that hour.

Tick follows tock.....

[LILAC]