Skate Cruisin'

Skateboarding and Randonauting VLog

[skaterdee]

Getting some shit together for the NEPA Horror Film Festival and Scranton Punk Flea Market and Zinefest. These are potential skateboard graphics but I don’t have any blank decks left, so I’m doing prints on paper for now.

[luminarai]

when the whole squad‘s love language is roasting each other

[everydayhybridity-deactivated20]

Skateboarding and Religion (and Music) with Paul O’Connor

Listen to this episode from A Tranquil Passage - Paul is a UK based sociologist (and skater) who has written a highly intriguing book. It’s all about skateboarding and religion. Paul takes an academic approach and his findings are quite extraordinary. As a skateboarder since 1975, I found the book deeply satisfying. Even if you don’t skate, you’ll enjoy this conversation along with Paul’s eclectic musical choices. Make sure you visit https://www.pauljamesoconnor.com/

I was invited to talk about my book Skateboarding and Religion, reflect on death, and choose some favourite songs for the podcast A Tranquil Passage. The podcast is created and hosted by Michael Brooke who is the mastermind behind the book Concrete Wave, and magazine of the same title.  Michael has been skateboarding since 1975 and remains a passionate advocate for all things skateboarding. Amidst listening to some favourite tracks we talk about how skateboarding comes to be signified and ritualised in death and funerary rites, and a whole host of skateboarding rituals.

[un-gif-dans-ta-gueule]

[skaterdee]

*stares in gay*

[skaterdee]

[skaterdee]

Skating the Penn State parking lot in Dunmore

[skaterdee]

Sk8b0rd

[fuzzyghost]

[skaterdee]

Skate the vote!

No matter how you vote, make your voice heard in the 2020 election! This week, I surf skate my cruiser board to an official ballot drop-off box in Dickson City.

Due to COVID-19, Pennsylvania introduced mail-in voting so that we can avoid large crowds. It's the first time we've been able to take advantage of this, and I was pretty excited to do so!

Of course, you can still vote in person at your official polling place, or you can drop-off your ballot at any of the official drop-off boxes throughout the state. In my area, we have several drop boxes we can use, including downtown Scranton. However, I opted for one closer to home, in Dickson City. At 2.2 miles, it's still a wee stretch of the legs, but there's plenty of opportunity to get some surf skating in and cruise the streets along the way.

Come along on the journey!

[skaterdee]

Nothing makes me feel as good as this.

Getting outside, soaking up some sun, enjoying the vibe and just coasting and carving downhill.

I feel like I'm done apologizing that I don't do anything "extreme." I don't have the inclination (or the body) for jumping off stairs, ollying obstacles, grinding rails, and what not. Even when I was young and in my prime, the best I could ever muster was a sloppy olly and a curb slappy. These days, I just cruise and carve and chill because that's what makes me feel good.

I do wish we had some ramps and quarter pipes around here, though. I like to fool myself into believing I could skate vert if I practiced my kick turns and weren't so afraid. Not enough to get air or do tricks off the coping, but just enough to go sideways and feel weightless for a moment. Even then, I wonder if that would be enough to keep building an audience?

As the season winds down, and we head into Winter, it's going to be tougher to keep up. I somehow managed to put out one video a week, last year, and I'd like to think I can keep that up. But it's going to be when the mood moves me. Until next time, sidewalk surfers!

[skaterdee]

Update: I incorrectly referred to these as Vans Eras in the video. They are, in fact, Vans Authentics. Thanks for understanding!

Last week, I went cruising around the neighborhood in ratty, old Vans Old Skools. They're quite broken in and flat from more than a year of skating, but I needed new shoes. So, a few months ago, I ordered a pair of Vans "Packing Tape" Authentic shoes. I WANTED Eras, but they don't make these in the Era style, so I took a chance on the Authentic style.

As far as walking around, I love these shoes! They look great, and they feel great. But for whatever reason, every time I skate in them, they kinda hurt my feet. And this time was no different. I have yet to try a pair of Eras, but I hope they feel better than Authentics to skate in. Until then, I'm going to stick with either Airwalk "The Ones" or "Old Skool" Vans.

[skaterdee]

Made a new title screen animation for the vlog. Happy October!

[skaterdee]

Latest deck... Featuring airbrush over woodburned design. Super stoked with how this turned out.

The pictures don't really do it justice because that gradient POPS, and the red is blazing.

Again, if I may toot my own horn... TOOOT TOOOOOOT. This deck is bitchin'!

[skaterdee]

Autumn, The Fall... Whatever you call it, this is the best time to skate.

Not too hot, not too cold. 72 degrees Fahrenheit, 76% humidity, a slight drizzle. Just warm enough to get away with shorts, t-shirt, and a ratty, old pair of Vans.

This week, I cruised through my neighborhood, snapping some shots of the fallen leaves and last vestiges of green before Old Man Winter swings into full effect and ruins everything. I also grabbed some pine cones off the ground to plant them and see if I can have a couple of saplings ready to transplant next Spring. We shall soon see... 

Also, new decks now available on my Etsy shop! I've been experimenting with different styles and techniques, and even moved into using airbrushing on top of burning for a cool look full of detail and color. Check it out!

[skaterdee]

Dreary, grey, overcast, drizzly. 72F, 76% humidity. A perfect day to throw on a ratty, old pair of Vans and cruise the neighborhood. Get out there and enjoy it while you can.

[skaterdee]

Gah! This one took multiple sessions to finish because each of those verkakte squares requires patience and a slow hand to fill in. Next time I do this design I'm using airbrush and paint markers... #woodburningart #skateboardgraphics #skateboarddeck #skateboardart #skateboardartist #pyrography #pyrographyart #woodburningart #woodburning https://www.instagram.com/p/CFhp_PynR-r/?igshid=mj7kxxe3jn41

[skaterdee]

Latest deck, hot off the work bench. I put at least 10 hours into this over the last 3 days, burning thousands of dots for the shaded areas. (Check out the close up of the fine details!) #pyrography #pyrographyart #pyrographicart #woodburningart #skateboardgraphics #skateboardartist #skateboardart #artistsoninstagram #art #skatedeck #skateboarding https://www.instagram.com/p/CFdVHp4nEtA/?igshid=1xo89rj4r0zrf