#scootering

[mandana-the-service-pup]

First time scootering with both dogs. I was just going to take Taravali but it was cool out & Mandana really wanted to go. I only did half the route because I didn’t want Mandana to be too sore but she was actually really helpful. We had three big surprises. A man jogging backwards. A cicada that spooked Taravali and a coyote that was particularly interested in us (probably bc Taravali is in heat)

Mandana’s confidence and reliable response to cues really helped keep Taravali in check. When Taravali was staying on track Mandana would heel next to me out of the way. When she veered off to leave love notes to potential boyfriends Mandana would go on the other side and sandwich her between us to keep her moving. She showed Taravali how to go off the path and sit patiently while others passed, helped her recover from being startled by the cicada and showed her the strange man was nothing to worry about. I don’t think Mandana noticed the coyote was actually following us but I know they could both smell it had been hanging around. I’m grateful Mandana was there. Urban coyotes are so bold but I think her size and demeanor was enough to keep it from getting any closer.

[taravali-the-service-pup]

First time scootering in her boots!

[gemfatale7513]

found ur blog while trying to see if there was anyone else on here who scooters... pretty awesome blog, sad you dont blog much about it anymore but still happy it was there in the first place. fellow trans person here btw :)) i hope youre doing alright now with everything happening and managing to stay afloat-- you're gonna survive! (hoping this blog is still active haha)

thanks for posting when u did bonesinew OUT

I'M ALIVE I PROMISE I kinda uhhh... got busy with stuff. Sorry to say, I don't really ride scooter anymore.

After my concussion (I dropped into a bowl, and failed to carve it, and because I was going fast, I bounced my head off the concrete. I was wearing a helmet) I kinda decided that I should re-evaluate how much I was enjoying this scooter thing. Because, I enjoyed it, sure, but my heart wasn't really in it, you know? I just wasn't feeling any drive from within my own heart to learn any tricks, all the pressure I felt to do so was external. Maybe, one day, I'll come back to it.

For the time being, I've completely switched over to quad skates. Helluva jump, I know! Just like how I started scooter riding kind of on a whim, I did the same with Roller Derby. I decided to try it while still recovering from my concussion. I did wait until I was feeling good again to go to my first practice! I'm not a complete idiot, I promise.

I've been playing Roller Derby since early August.

I was fresh meat for abouttttt likeeee... I think 7 months? My fresh meat class was just me, and it wasn't really during an intake session. I literally just like. Showed up one day. And they let me skate.

Then just this past Saturday, I played in my first actual game. I was rostered as a blocker, but in the second-to-last Jam, I got to play the jammer. Got my first penalty, a track cut, after getting lead jammer. Then, when I came outta the penalty box, I got lead jammer a second time, and scored 8 points before calling the final jam off because holy shit I was so fucking tired.

You ever try to fight through a group of nine-to-ten sweaty women, four of whom are trying to keep you from getting through? That shit winds you when you do it a few times in a row. I really gotta work on my cardio...

So yeah, that's where I've been.

Oh! I've also been park skating too! I leaned how to drop in on roller skates pretty recently, and am trying to overcome my fear of dropping into the half pipe.

Honestly, roller skating just feels so natural to me, like idk how to explain it. The way you move your feet to push and stride just clicks for me. I love skating fast, I love playing roller derby, I love park skating...

I might pick up scooter riding again, though. I haven't gotten rid of my Aztek Architect Ruby, one, Aztek doesn't make Architects in that colorway anymore, and two, it's sentimental.

[clemsblog]

[fayeandknight]

Tried scootering with both dogs (individually) and it was a ton of fun! @darkwood-sleddog post awhile back about line out was super helpful and we've been quietly practicing that along with directional cues. So today was the day to put things in motion (pun intended).

Forte wanted to stop and pee on everything for the first few minutes. But once he got past that he really enjoyed himself even though I kept the pace slow to where there was only slight tension and not true pulling. (I used a bungee waist leash attached to me, not the scooter.)

Faye did awesome and only needed a little extra encouragement to stay ahead and not default to dropping back next to me.

I kept it short, maybe ten minutes tops with each dog. But they clearly enjoyed themselves and I'm definitely going to add it into things we do together.

No photos cause I was busy managing the scooter and paying attention to the dogs.

[heftigshop]

Scooter boy jumping on a ramp! iPhone cases for most iPhone models! https://www.etsy.com/listing/1422521940/scooter-boy-tough-phone-cases-iphone

[raysberry]