12:34

Skatecation: Part 1

2012-01-26T15:23:00.000-08:00

So this is the first part of what will probably be a 4 part series of our trip to South America a couple months ago. I did a super horrible job of posting ANYTHING while I was down there, so its a good thing there is a video for a recap! Ahhhh, South America. What a good and a bad time all wrapped in one hella great package... I'm super stoked to look at all this footage as Guff goes through it to remember all the really genuinely cool things that went down and what my eyes got to see and experience. Mais Fiesta!

So I've been dating Landyachtz for a year now...

2012-01-24T15:11:00.000-08:00

Okay, so it may not be the greatest picture, and in either case this year or last I'm not actually at MY desk (kickin it at Nates for both...) but the truth is all the same; Today is my one year anniversary with Landyachtz. Im gonna keep talkin in relationship forms like I did last year when I made the announcement cause the truth is, that's what it was, is and always will be; a sponsorship with a company is a relationship with them, and in my case, its been a very successful one.

Hmmmm, i dont really even know what to write to give this year justice except to maybe just say how I am feeling TODAY. Today, I feel secure, confident, loved, accepted, encouraged and strong...Pretty damn good feelings for someone who's been told they are not allowed to skateboard for 6 months (yes, you saw that right). Anyways, the point is, I have found a family here that is confident enough in my abilities to know that a little set back is just that, and in the meantime, they are giving me plenty of important things to do where I can be involved and just do what I do best.... get creative, and throw my ideas out there. These days, I don't work in sales anymore, I came home from South America knowing that my injury from Oct.2010 was getting the best of me so I resigned and informed the team that I would be hitting the knife and within 3 fucking weeks it became a reality, proof to how bad the situation with my knee really was. Nobody in Canada gets a referral, MRI and surgery within 3 weeks, it's basically unheard of, and without the help of Landyachtz and Daddies it would have been impossible as the only way I was able to get it done was to name drop some serious credentials. Anyways, business is booming here and I am away from home so much, even now, that the position deserved to be with someone who could handle a full time schedule... something I just can't do. With all support on my side, we dug around for another project I could pour myself into, found it, and now I'm back, almost a month after hittin the knife getting started on the Factory Store's complete makeover.

Ok, so the point here? Not much really, except for a hindsight view of proving that sticking to your gut no matter how scared you are to begin with can work out for the better despite fear. It certainly did for me! As for the joke of the day, last years photo and this years photo clearly proves I'm 'invest'ed in this family ;) laaaaaaaaaaaame, i know. Loveeeyouall.

For those of you that missed the original post, you can find it here:
http://mylifedownhill.blogspot.com/2011/01/change-is-here.html

a love song for monday

2012-01-16T23:41:00.000-08:00

lana del ray - video games

Surgery. Day 5? i haven't slept yet, so sure....

2012-01-09T00:27:00.000-08:00

Well, as the last 3 days came and went its sure become apparent that I came home from the hospital with a hell of a line up of narcotics in me. This shit started hurtin like a bitch the morning I woke up after pressing send on that last post. I guess it makes sense, and even though im happy to report that this thing looks hella clean, and minimal and super high class... Im like a baby tonight, thankfully not as bad as the second night. The traumeel has lifted all the bruising so it looks extra delicious, especially around the spots where small holes are drilled in my bone on the top and bottom bones of my leg.

Ew. this whole thing still freaks me out...

Lots of homemade dinner though. yum.

Surgery.

2012-01-05T19:10:00.000-08:00

I walked into the final nurse checkpoint after already having my identity checked 3 previous times. "What are you here for, Katie?". "Im having a full reconstruction of my ACL, and possibly my medial in addition." The lady looks at me and then starts asking the same questions all the others asked before as well. "what have you had to eat or drink since midnight?" "nothing." I say, as she starts to roll her eyes. "well, actually, i had some water around 8:30am this morning but they said it was fine for me to have something to drink up until at least 9." She moves on. Next thing i know, Im naked in a gown with a house coat on and a resident small talking me about being from Switzerland and owning a battle axe. It is slowly starting to kick into gear that i am in the hands of absolute dedicated sport doctors, as im hearing him talk to my mother about doing a residency with different specialists of the knee, shoulder, etc. The nurse starts an IV, and before long, im standing in my gown, housecoat, a big sock over my left leg, 2 booties, and a mark on my right knee that reads "SH." for what im assuming could mean, "start here."

I get into the operating room and see my surgeon, who introduces a large team that i quickly look at and think, 'wow, for me?'. The two female nurses are coming up to me, making an attempt at untying my robe, but not succeeding so i help her as she struggles and realize this doctor whom ive been small talking with and knows all about my skateboarding is in the room as im getting undressed and lying down. Awkward, but hey, thanks for helping. Whatever. I thank them all in advance and my Doc puts his head directly over mine, and says 'Katie, we're gonna fix your right knee, its all going to be fine." and then Dr. Mom, the anesthesiologist ask me if its about time to start running the happy drugs. I nod, and then start doing a count of my own.
1.feet. I am safe and i am grounded
2.regions. I am passionate about this and i feel my pain and insecurity
3. I am confident, i am fine
4. I love, and others love me. I deserve this.
5. I do what i want and speak my own truth. I made this happen.
6. I listened to my intuition and i am here fixing you
7. Thank you dr. Horlick
...i am out.

Whatever i was dreaming about was good up until the point i woke up to the bright lights of the OR and saw all the doctors and nursing staff in the room, i started crying. I thought i was waking up somewhere else and i was absolutely shocked that i was where i was. It scared me. I did not expect to be woken up there. I was asked if i was alright and i said yes and wove at the staff around me, asked if it all went well. The doctor told me he only had to do the ACL so i was to leave the hospital weight bearing. He said a slur of things to me that i remember, but forget at the same time. Quite frankly, im suprised that time was chosen to tell me, even though i remember the most important points. I was wheeled into the recovery room and after throwing up 2 or 3 times and finally calming down after some gravol medication i was sent out the door with my mom for the hour and a half ride home from the hospital.

Today, i feel fine. Ive definately been in more pain from conciously falling off my skateboard and hitting the pavement. At least this time, after looking in the mirror and seeing the marks that my taped shut eyes left, I know that this pain was brought on because it had to be, and that its for my better good, not worse.

Im gonna heal this right. The challenge is just staying still

2012-01-04T07:26:00.000-08:00

I probably deleted the backlog of post that hinted at severe injury, but if you've been around for a while you'll know that I severely blew my knee in oct.2010. Anyways, I skated past it despite it blowing twice more, one in new Mexico (again! Must be the dry, dehydrating weather) and then once again In the Czech republic. Since newtons 2010 I've had a double sided metal brace on my front leg under my racing leathers and I just made sure that I got down the hill as fast as I could without coming close to falling (slow down before your going too fast!). Well, my fast enough was certainly fast enough in the women's field but if I ever have a chance of being confident in myself in the men's... Then I gotta do what I'm doing today. Kiss the 2012 season pretty much goodbye, and hit the knife at 1:30pm this afternoon for a full reconstruction of my ACL and MCL. If your feeling adventurous and you don't have a week stomach, type both those reconstructions into google images, needless to say, there is a reason I am up at this here 7:30am hour, unable to sleep longer, already starting to feel the hunger pains I can't do anything about since I'm not allowed eating and just genuinely missing the best part of my support team. I'll be trying to stay off my board for at least six months. No weight bearing for 6 weeks, then Rehab like a motherfucker. I'm hoping I can use music and writing to pass the time....
Peace out rabbit

'Tis the season to be jolly

2011-12-14T00:37:00.000-08:00

This used to be the place where I could go to to write but I'm just pretty sure that the stuff I really want to say is best off elsewhere. 103 followers, Bless you all but my words are better suited to one. in the meantime, here's what I got up to tonight... Not actually skateboarding but its landyachtz related and somewhere out of the 1200+ photos we took tonight, there is gonna be a little something for everyone in the mix. I may or may not be back before January, not much skating going on and not much to come but I'll earn my keep elsewhere ;)

The Plan

2011-09-07T15:37:00.001-07:00

I wish all of this was ledgable. We went to calgary over the weekend...

I won the race and all of the EH team won the party.

little update.

2011-08-30T16:06:00.000-07:00

Ok, Nate and I are friends again...on to better things.

I made a sweet new topmount on friday. Its cut out of a wolfshark, but its hacked off on the nose and tail so its all short and stout like. I think im at the second smallest wheelbase that the board has to offer, and i love this thing! I have the nose and tail chopped right to where the trucks mount so even though it turns like a topmount, it slides like a cymetrical board...

in other news, its the Winsport Canada Cup this weekend so we're headed to Calgary tomorrow afternoon! The van is Me, Dillon, Kyle, Mohawk Max, Travis, Mike Mc and Andrew Chapman..

ME: "Hey Blake, is Chapman in the van?"
BLAKE: "He's in the van on the way home..."
ME: "So its 6 on the way there and 7 on the way back?"
BLAKE: "No its more, I'll talk to you about it in a bit..."

hahahahahaha...suuuuper

(side update on the knee; I got my MRI results yesterday... looks like i was right about having a blown ACL, what i didn't know though is that i am also facing a torn MCL. I'll be consulting with a surgeon over the next month and depending on what they say, i'll be taking the december-march months off my skateboard for rehab)

2011-08-23T11:20:00.000-07:00

I could kill Nate right now, I swear. The deskmate from Hell and I are still on this 'battle' to 100 followers, which is not easy to get cause google accounts suck and now here I am at work, yet again in another malicious battle and cover-up of his tactics. Screw Nate, Seriously.

Home Sweet Home

2011-08-18T11:21:00.001-07:00

Honestly, I don’t even know what I should write. I’ve been home for over a week now, and obviously didn’t put to much effort into posting while I was still overseas. Who could put effort into that when they were being exposed to as many things as I was though…especially with a busted camera battery. Uploading a little photo here and there would have been easy, but without that to rely on, I just lived my life day by day and experienced everything with open eyes and arms.
The whole trip I was like a 6 year old learning everything new and asking ‘why’. Below is a photo of me and a young Italian girl who spoke no English, but through gibberish and body language, we managed to get along quite fine. That’s my trip in a nutshell.

Ps. This photo is totally taken somewhere between 10-11pm on the final race night. I rode from the finish line to the resturant and didn't leave until i was to drunk to go anywhere else but bed. Das boot!

hella Southwest Series Video

2011-08-11T14:43:00.000-07:00

PS im home. I was having too much fun to care about the internet!

My mind loves it here but my Lungs HATE it

2011-07-27T23:09:00.000-07:00

And the Thunder Begins, both in the sky and my body. It is loud and pouring outside, and I have been Waking to both a sty and lung infection. Both directly related to sleep deprivation and smoke... sounds nothing like Europe to me ;). I am constatly confused about what day and time it is. I've been talking to my family back home many hours behind me still...1 day feels like 2 have passed, easy. its confusing. but its all gravy! Our internet stick doesn't really work everywhere like its supposed to so i have just been trying to get the contact in while i can; but morning is night, night is morning, tuesday is wednesday and now all of a sudden its thursday! its been like this for a while...

Right now I am at a homeboy named Alex's apartment somewhere in Mainz Germany, there are like 20 skaters here and at some point today we will all pack our bags and head to insul cup. The riders from home have described it as a 'fun cypress' so im pretty stoked, cause I haul ass on that road at home... I guess the difference between here and there is a hairpin section on the road. suuuwwweeet.

Also, its a good thing that Champan knows call of duty German...its actually coming quite in handy...

Yep, pretty much.

2011-07-26T02:55:00.000-07:00

I can’t believe the experience that I am having here… I am so stoked on so many things right now that I absolutely could not manage to be able to place them all together in something that makes sense as one so basically, you’re gonna get it in stages.

1. I fucking love that I can’t understand a person here, nor do they understand me. Obviously a lot of people speak English, but at the same time, a lot of people do not. I have very naturally picked up a lot of small words, my R’s are rolling with no conscious and all the time I am asking questions, using body language and trying to learn things. Its not very often I get so comfortably challenged like this.

2. To an extent, Everyone at home is a descendant from somewhere around here and I can see it. The people look the same as they do in Vancouver, only difference being that its just absolutely radical to trace it back to its origin. Its like you can tell what reigon someone is from simply by looking if you really know your shit around here. Makes me want to go to a lot more places and people watch locals.

3. KOZAKOV!!! Sick as fuck race track. Ran kinda bunk and I only got 2 runs in on the dry road but holy shit!!! I wish I got to skate more. I won my class in true party form, as I was a contender for the late night podium as well. I have probably drank the equivalency of my last six months of booze consumption in my 5 days here in the Czech republic. Party atmosphere in combination with jet lag, etc. has placed me on a schedule of watching the sun come up before going to sleep here…

4. I DO NOT like how everyone smokes in all the buildings here…I think im getting a bronchial infection, for real. This fucking sucks.

5. Castles, um. Sickasfuck.

Here, you know what…look at these pictures.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150247337582599.337649.517532598&l=9456a4f03a&type=

2011-07-22T13:11:00.000-07:00

Europe is Rad.

hands down stoked to be here right now!!!

They weren't gonna let us race Kozakov in the rain cause its Hella tech, but enough bitching and whining will get you anything. Super fun track in the day, but hopefully tomorrow it dries ;)

HOLY CRAP WE"RE IN GERMANY!!!!

2011-07-20T02:28:00.002-07:00

Andrew and I have made it safe and sound to Munich! It's raining, but im hella stoked to be here. We're about to go pick up the rental car then make the 4 hour drive to czech Republic for Kozakov. Its 2:30 am at home and 11:30am here...luckily for both andrew and I, Im not really jet lagged and Im the driver for now till we meet up with Scoot and James.

Packing

2011-07-19T00:18:00.000-07:00

Its 12:20am. I just got home. Sully was an amazing road trip. Super long drive, lots of scenery, a campsite in the middle of nowhere and just generally a good trip before taking off to Europe. I have my laundry in the machine, camera's charging, cards dumping and skate gear stacked. Im ready.

The photo above is in Lost Lake, BC. Probably one of the most beautiful lakes i have ever seen in my life...

I have a fantastic team of riders

2011-07-13T10:33:00.001-07:00

Welcome to Whistler.

Screw You Nate

2011-07-12T11:31:00.000-07:00

Dear Diary, :)

Nate is a Jerk. Here he is with 17,000!!! people at his disposal compared to my 3 and wants me to win the race to 100 followers. We are both failing miserably because to be honest, i dont subscribe to blogs, I just remember to check back in on the ones I actually like. Also, there is a whole other factor of 'do I really want alot of internet stalkers that don't have the best of intentions?' No. I do not.
Today is an interesting day at the office. Its 11:30 am and I have been working on my sales accounts all morning without too much luck of staying interested. I have however compiled a list of people i want to talk to today, so I'm about to do just that...talk on the phone for hours. Alot of the accounts I talk to are really cool people on the other line so I thuroughly enjoy spending my days listening about whats going on over on the East Coast and other areas. (My sales territory is the North Eastern States). Either way, its wednesday, no, fuck! its Tuesday! okay, its Tuesday and I have 2 more days of work left and Im starting to feel my brain go into vacation mode. This weekend is the Sullivan challenge in Kimberly which happens to be one of my most favorite events, ever! look back to my posts from July 2010 and you'll see a couple things on the sully. Last year it pissed rain, hopefully this year it doesn't. On monday I will drive the 14 hours back to vancouver, grab my last sleep in my bed and then jump on board a plane to Germany. Andrew chapman and myself will be flying into Munich, grabbing a car and driving to Kozakov in the Czech Republic. From Czech we will head back to Germany, then we will head on over to Italy to wrap up our 3 World Cup European Races at Padova.
Landyachtz has provided us with an internet rocket stick so we will be online all the time updating the facebooks and crap as we are on the road. Wish us luck! those europeans are faaaast!!!!!
Okay, time to hit the phones and get some fuckin boards out to some shops yo!!!

Lifestyle Brah

2011-07-11T15:55:00.000-07:00

Untitled from Fern Street, Brah on Vimeo.

Ohhhh Skatehouses. Everyone loves them as they are a place where you undoubtedly Live, laugh and LEARN. Fern street is a house in North Vancouver that currently has more people living and crashing there than I can count. Okay, thats a lie, most of the international supplimented roomates have left for the month, but over the last couple months its been quite ridiculous with house guests between the whole danger bay through Kelowna DH Month of BC awesomeness. Now, I don't actually live at Fern Street...but I did live there at one point about 4 years ago before I ever got into longboarding...back in the days i was just skating the Seylynn bowl (a hella cool snake run bowl litterally accross the street) non stop for hours, each day, every day.
Gabe is a housemate right now, hailing from Aussie Land and the other day we took a quick treck up to the stables slide road and I filmed a few clips of him and Dillon, who is FINALLY starting to get back on his board after a nearly 5 month sick leave. Look at him turning down the road like he never stepped off his board for a minute, and watch me fall off mine to prove i should have stayed filming in the first place. Lifestyle Brah.

Katie and Cameron shred Maryhill

2011-07-06T11:35:00.000-07:00

I ended up at being the last person to go down the hill on the final practise run before the race began at maryhill this weekend, and caught up with a stoked Cameron Cotter along the way... enjoy!

Katie & Cameron shred Maryhill from Cameron Cotter on Vimeo.

PS...I won that shit yo! I pushed off the start line in my final against Rebekka like all hell and made fucking certain i did not make a mistake on my way to the finish line. BAM!

Maryhill Race Day (am)

2011-07-03T08:02:00.000-07:00

So we've done two days practise, two days of qualifying and now we're headed into the big one...Race Day! I swear, I have never been so excited to line up on the start line against someone. Rebekka, whom I spoke of in the previous post is rad to skate with. The tall, strong girl from Switzerland showed up with the mens top qualifier and some others and has proceeded to give me runs for my money the whole way down the hill all weekend. The first day i was 0.5 seconds ahead of her, and now after the second day of qualifying, she came out on top 0.5 seconds ahead of me. We have skated countless practise runs together, know eachothers tendancies towards lines are are both equally as hungry for the win.

I went and had a word with Chris Chaput yesterday cause as it stands right now, Rebekka and I would only meet up for 4 or the 5 needed world cup races for a title...and I'll be in South America. Hopefully, she will be too.

World Cup race just became a real race yo!!!

with love from goldendale.

Maryhill Festival of Speed, Day 2 (am)

2011-06-30T09:07:00.000-07:00

Well, Im back in Goldendale sitting at Sodbusters about to order a BLT and Tater tots. Best thing about this town...the taters. Right now, its me, Justen, Nick, Wolfgang, Chapman, Kyle, Carly and Quinn. In true form, fireworks are blasting everywhere at the campsite, and the tailwinds on the road are making us HELLA FAST. After a 1 day hiatus, My tent finally showed up around 11 last night, and it didn't take long for me to set it up and pass the fuck out. 4 days of skating this road left, stoked, but every single one of us is pacing our selves and not rushing in an attempt to not burn our legs out on the large amount of practise runs available to us. Practise all day again today, practise and qualifying tomorrow, same for Saturday and Sundays all for the race. On the Womens' side, there are definatley enough girls here to be skating through a couple rounds, with Rebekka Gemperle being my main competition as she crossed the atlantic to come compete this year. I had some great runs with her yesterday, filming and having fun. She's fast and super cool, so it feels good to find another girl that I can actually skate down hills with, and then chill at the bottom as well.

Oh yeah. I bought my Europe tickets! Van to Munich, Munich to Van (July 19-Aug 9) Czech Republic, Germany and Italy. bam.

Meet Jessica

2011-06-25T12:43:00.000-07:00

Meet Jessica. It's kinda a bad photo of her, but you can still see how freakishly tall she is for a flower...

I planted one single seed in her little pot a few months back a day after watching the movie 'showgirls', and proceeded to name the little seed Jessica after Jesse Sparrow; the saved by the bell character turned stripper. As you can see in the photo above, my little jesse grew into the name that her long legged inspiration came from. Isn't she beautiful? I love this flower.

Vancouver Riots

2011-06-16T13:31:00.001-07:00

Welcome to Vancouver...
thats our infamous spiral of death behind me in flames due to multiple car fires. whoa.

Vernon DH Results

2011-06-14T09:21:00.000-07:00

Back at my desk after 2 days of the Vernon DH this past weekend up in the interior of British Columbia. Vernon is a race thats been going on for quite some time now, with me in attendance for the past 5 years.
The track is not too challenging, but in the same respect, it offers two very high speed corners that you have to figure out how to be consistant on and thatis not really an easy task. The first left hander comes in after pushing off into a serious downhill start, hundreds of meters up the road on this twisted residential area. You push in, some people as hard as they can; others intimidated and completely can't, into this downhill section where you very quickly wind your way into the sight of a very blind, sharp 90 degree left hand turn. Toe side for me, I was breaking early in the middle section in an effort to be done with slowing down and entering the corner at perfect speed before i got there, it worked well for me all weekend. After your done with the left, you approach the bottom right as fast as your exit speed from the left allows, which is often the feeling of too much. I was having trouble on and off all weekend making it through the corner without putting a hand down. As soon as your damn puck touches the ground you start drifting in that corner so its just a task of approaching it with a strong line, and surfing through with a heavy foot on your board. make it through that alright and you got yourself a nice, long tuck ahead of you down a straight away to the finish line.

Press HERE for qualifying results

Press HERE for the IGSA race report...

VERNON

2011-06-10T12:20:00.000-07:00

Vernon DH is this weekend...it will be my 5th time racing this event! The sun is supposed to be shining all weekend so today after work, 7 of us are going to jump into the EH Team Van and GET'R DONE!

A few things...

2011-06-01T11:24:00.000-07:00

A) super retarded, yet fun new Precision Grizzly Video

B) A good shot from Britannia

C)Ps. Im 24 on sunday.

2011-05-29T21:24:00.000-07:00

I forgot how cool Britannia is. I hauled ass every single run the last two days, and only saw the hay at the hands of another rider loosing his grip in the middle of a very tight situation going over the bridge in the top section of the track; surrounded by too many riders with nowhere to go, my back end was taken out in the process of him going down, and I got my fall done early in the day. On the women's side, I am the champion with a $500 smile on my face, and pleased with how I skated amongst the boys all weekend.

Stoked to return to work at Landyachtz tomorrow... I haven't clocked in since May 3rd...what a month!

Britannia Classic

2011-05-27T12:59:00.000-07:00

It's Britannia Beach Classic this weekend, and today being friday, means its the freeride. Obviously I'm not there if I'm writing this, but for real, i sat in bed this morning hearing all the boys get their shit ready and knew today wasn't my day to skateboard. Not cause its raining or anything, but im STILL having problems with this knee from all the way back in November. The little hit that took me out at ditch slap the other week still has me floored picking and choosing my battles. Regardless, I'm laying low today excited to rest up for another win this weekend and return back to my lovely work desk at Landyachtz after the weekend. Cheeeeeeeeers.

Danger Bay Champion!

2011-05-23T17:28:00.000-07:00

I win! Next year I'll be the only girl allowed to race the opens' class at Danger Bay, super stoked!

The Real Deal

2011-05-12T12:41:00.000-07:00

Serious Business here

Parking lot party

2011-05-12T06:41:00.000-07:00

we're bringin home some good shit...

Well, as usual, its way too early in the morning to be up for how late we were out last night. This clip was shot at the end of the ditch skating yesterday and the party rolled all through the late hours of the night. We're gonna tour some more ditches today, do a timed banked slalom run and then hit the parking lot...again. Downhill skateboarding is basically one big parking lot party now.

Breaking the curse

2011-05-10T00:01:00.000-07:00

When starting something new or buying something new, there is always a period where you try to keep everything as clean and in good form as possible knowing that inevitably, some form of a crash is going to happen. Breaking the curse of a new suit is something I tried not to pay attention to, because yes, it was going to happen and I really just don't like thinking about falling but every downhiller i know noticing me in a new suit kept asking if i had handled the curse yet. I would tell them to shut up and walk away. Well, it finally happend. Didn't take long i guess, only two events, but none the less I caught my fall on film at Buffalo Bill in Colorado this last week and so is life; just when you think your in the clear... you hit a rough patch and eat the pave...

Currently posted up at Dave Angeles' house in Albuquerque, New Mexico waiting to crawl into my hammock. 5 days down, and a long but amazing season to go.

I think i just skipped two days.

2011-05-06T18:42:00.000-07:00

Needless to say really, I've covered alot of ground. I jumped on a plane Wednesday morning, and now it's friday night and I have finally made it to Golden, Colorado. In the past 48hours I have travelled to LA and then drove through California, Nevada, Utah and a whole lot of Colorado to make it here. I have seen deserts, I have seen plains; I have seen Canyons and I have driven through valley's that separate land like I could never imagine before. I can not even begin to describe how beautiful the landscape has been, but its the end of the day and I am lying in bed overwhelmed to be completely honest. After an unfortunate highway split at the very, very beginning of our 14 hour drive to Colorado from Las Vegas I ended up in a car with Hugh and only Hugh for the entire way. Great drive it was, yes, but I should plug in that Hugh is much higher energy that most people I deal with, and he also doesn't posses a drivers licence. The original plan was to do some driver swapping between Nick, Justen and I, but the HHR was not near powerful enough to make the surprise lane change that the piloting vehicle ahead made to a different highway, so we ended up a ways back on our own with no real means of communicating through the absolute middle of nowhere deserts. Facebook worked for a while, but eventually the batteries died and so did my soul. ...it wasn't long before I ended up passed out face down in a church parking lot in Utah thinking about jumping off shit and flying, thats right, flying.

Despite my departure being a measly two days ago, I have seen so many drastic changes that it actually feels like this so called wednesday departure was wednesday more than a week ago, hence why I feel the way I do right now; anti-social, eating alone andtired as all hell hoping that I dream of an accompanied diner booth and a flight to die for once we're leaving.

Soooo fucking stoked its the first day of Buffalo Bill Downhill tomorrow. This weekend also marks 2 years tobacco free but the elevation here is making my lungs feel so heavy i might as well be smoking.

Corporate Cuts

2011-05-02T21:34:00.000-07:00

Chillin in my kitchen with Carly gettin a haircut before I go to dry ass america...

2 more sleeps till I arrive in LA, drive to Las Vegas for the Night and then head on out to Buffalo bill in Colorado and The Atomic Bomb in New Mexico. Its gonna be sweet...

Maryhill Landyachtz Edit

2011-04-30T10:25:00.000-07:00

We hit the road to maryhill for the Freeride over Easter Weekend and this is what we came back with....

Maryhill Teaser Photo

2011-04-29T09:31:00.001-07:00

Guff is working on a new Eh Team Episode right now....
This is billy on rollerblades, and thats me filming in the back...

Reboot

2011-04-28T09:46:00.000-07:00

Do you know how easy it is to forget about this thing? I wasn't kidding when I told you I could kill a cactus, its truth! Infact I have a baby flower in real life named Jessica that I'm pretty much just a myth too...for real! Now, I know it's definately been a while since I've put a good, decent post up and today's may turn into one of those, but it may not. Depends on what comes out of my mouth via fingertips over the next couple minutes as it's 9:47am and im sittin at my desk posting purley cause my evil deskmate at work, Nate, is mocking me about not posting and of course it resulting in a little healthy competition.

Click around the archive at the bottom, and subscribe to follow my riding around the world in 2011. I leave for LA wednesday morning next week to hit up the Buffalo Bill/Ditch Tour for 2.5 weeks then head on home for The Attack of Danger Bay and all the following races...

Enjoy.

Season's Beginnings

2011-04-23T21:25:00.000-07:00

Well, it appears to be that time again.

It's 9:25 pm and I am here in Goldendale Washington for the Maryhill Freeride. This is a way better event than the Festival of Speed by a looooong shot, it would be nice if the race event could adopt some of these freeride qualities and improve the flow and energy. Whatever, enough of that...back to the topic. Maryhill. There are packs of like 100 skaters ripping down this road at a time, its pretty out of hand. A helicopter showed up today and filmed some super gnar runs that we'll see up on Skate House Media in no time and we filmed dope runs with the EH team that will probably make it to an episode sooner or later. The girls are all starting to get faster, Marisa especially is showing a massive improvement since September Festival of Speed and I've been hunting down and draft baiting packs of boys all day... im definitely faster on this road today than i was back then as well.

This is gonna be a sick season, me and my board are like best friends right now.

And according to Max, i was gettin a little 'Bike Curious' so we fixed that problem and i learned how to ride a ducati in the parking lot. I'm not half bad, it's just gonna take some time to remember that a street rocket doesn't turn the same as a bicycle. Up and down Maryhill tomorrow...

Resting the wing

2011-04-05T21:09:00.000-07:00

As a small child, I would run around throwing things as much as any other...but I can say, and others will testify, that I kinda had a knack for it. I think my youngest 'throwing shit' memory was when I was at this backyard barbecue or something and we were playing with these tennis balls with velcro strapped to our hands and we were throwing the ball back and forth amongst all the kids, and adults. Before long I had all the attention as they started noticing 'how far that kid can throw the damn ball'. In addition, I always had a very good reflex for catching things too, demonstrated in many ways...notably kindergarden christmas. There I am standing in Starbucks with my dad, wearing my little suede dress and shiny dress shoes with their little bow and I've got an ice cream cone in my hand as a way to celebrate a job well done at the nights pageant. Doing my 5 year old thing, I was probably at the point of practically vibrating from a sugar high and all around enthusiasm for life when all of a sudden, I caught the sight of my ice cream dropping from my cone out of the corner of my eye. Without a moment of hesitation, i transfered my failed cone to the opposite hand and reached below that ice cream just in time to catch it before it hit the ground, popped it back on the cone and started at it again as if nothing wrong even happend in the first place. When I finally looked up, I saw a look on my dads face that obviously I haven't forgotten...

It wasn't long before I was enrolled in softball. I naturally fell into place as a catcher because when your a young girl playing amongst other young girls...well, the pitches tend to go in every single direction and the catcher has to be able to retrieve the ball and throw it far enough to the base that the other bitch is trying to steal. That worked well for many years, and as I grew up and out of playing on teams, my throwing skills just stayed sharp in the form of rock throws, where i would violently whip baseball sized rocks across valleys at skateboard races.

Cathlemet #1

Mini Ramp #2

Tonight #3

maybe one day I'll be able to lob a penny past a parking stall or something...

April 3rd

2011-04-04T14:59:00.000-07:00

I'll slowly be trickling back into this...

Salt Spring Slip n Slide

2011-03-01T16:25:00.000-08:00

Yes, we slipped and slid everywhere all weekend but it was a blast. The first run of the first day was completely dry, but other than that...not so much. Who cares though, look at that smile on my face! Overall, great weekend. Big shoutout to Max and his mom Treen, who let 20 something kids avoid the rain in their house the second night (but the Eh team both nights), Adrian for husstlin us around the island, everyone that drove us up the hill, and Les Robertson for takin these shots . I love Saltspring!

And so it begins

2011-02-22T15:42:00.000-08:00

Some have been on the road each weekend already, others are just starting. I am off to Saltspring this weekend, and just found a list of submissions for expenses.... nice.

Ditched.

2011-02-18T07:45:00.000-08:00

Well, I guess I didn't really get ditched... I just can't cross the boarder right now. :(

New Eh Team Episdode

2011-02-07T12:07:00.000-08:00

waaaaaayyyy back some time in October I made a post about driving Dillon and Hugh to Tacoma so they could start their epic 2 month journey to South America... Well, they've been home for a little bit now, and here is the result of the trip! Its a wonderful video!

I've made it to the landyachtz site...

2011-02-03T16:17:00.000-08:00

Check out the TEAM PAGE here and click through my profile, and the rest of the EH Team as well...

Also, if you've got some more time to kill...check out the CREW here as well...

TGIF cause we're gettin wasted!

2011-01-28T15:25:00.000-08:00

Well, its Beer Friday! One week down and its been fantastic!!! Thank you so much for all the kind words and support I have been receiving after word of this switch... so far, so great! Until next time, meet Liam. Liam used to work across from me earlier this week and now he works behind me...I have been using headphones to distract me from his awesome all day :)

Change is here

2011-01-21T15:05:00.000-08:00

I don't really have a reason why I haven't been posting, but I do have some big news that will at least provide a bit of an alibi for all my creative energy being placed elsewhere the last while. There's no real easy way to say it, other that to just say it... so here it goes~ I have made the decision to leave Sector 9 and continue forth this 2011 season and beyond with Vancouver based Landyachtz Longboards. It has been a really crazy time for me over the last while, but as I sit here thinking about the decision and what not I still feel like I have done the right thing, which I always have, actually. I took my time, and although negotiations and the actual switch happened rather fast within a period of a month or so, it was not an overnight decision, as it was always a place in the back of my head through the ups and downs of my last 4 seasons on board. Monday morning marks the first morning I will be due in office working, where I have attained a wonderful position holding a combination of marketing, sales and skateboarding. What more could one ask for than an opportunity to develop all the skills I want to develop, and be able to contribute in the flesh to a team I am very fond of? Not much else, if you ask me... It is from the office that I will go much more public with this.

Why? Is always the next question, and a good one. The reason is simple. As a girl I'm just gonna go ahead and pull out the metaphorical boyfriend card, for real...its a perfect way to explain it. Having a sponsor and being sponsored is a relationship, a serious one, and in my case with Sector 9 it was a long distance one. One is the boyfriend, and one is the girlfriend, both contribute and both have different needs. Over the past few months when going through all the motions with friends, consultants, loved ones and myself I couldn't help but break it down to one simple statement when asked what was wrong. I'd say, "I feel like I'm trying to decide if I should break up with this boyfriend or not. On one side, there are all these great pro's and theories of how it could work, and on the other side there are all these cons, and insecurities and doubts that can't be fixed with a band-aid." Every day I would come to a conclusion and without fail, I'd go to sleep and wake up feeling the exact opposite. I was scared and I didn't want to shoot myself in the foot after making a decision, because although I knew that the new path I was exploring was the right one, its not easy to leave the 'biggest' one behind.

Sector 9 is an amazing family, and I am truly sorry that the 2500 miles of distance between us wasn't ideal for my development and security within. I had been with them since I was 19 years old, first bombing hills and now at 23, I'm bombing down hills more than ever but more importantly, I am growing and I am becoming aware of what I want and what I can offer.

I was born in Vancouver, I'm not leaving Vancouver, and it is with that and an extreme amount of excitement that I say FUCKIN EH!!!! IM HOME!!!!

Stay tuned for 2011, and a year of adventures with the EH Team. I'll be all over the damn place and its gonna be a great time!!!!

Thank you for continuing to check in

Change is in the air...

2011-01-18T14:13:00.001-08:00

I know I've been bad, but its over soon, I promise.

Yay Girls!!!

2011-01-06T10:34:00.001-08:00

New Video from S9 Aussie

2010-12-29T14:55:00.001-08:00

Sometimes, real life actually happens to me and I stop posting... sorry. Anyways, here's a video that sector put together as a little teaser of our Australia trip....enjoy!!!

Tuesday Morning.

2010-12-21T10:12:00.000-08:00

mmmmmm.classical piano. I really do love it alot, especially this song...if it didn't just come on my computer I wouldn't be writing you right now because this is what reminded me to get something on here. I feel good today, I really do. What a wonderful life I have for so many different reasons. I have no clue what the day will hold...but it will hold something...

Cough

2010-12-14T13:21:00.000-08:00

K, I lied...I went skateboarding... thanks for the shot Kyle...

Ginger on Indy's is fantastic. I was getting so acquainted with Natasha that I forgot she was a pretty good girl too!

Moving to East Van

2010-12-08T17:57:00.000-08:00

Mmmmmm....waiting ona mister to come help me move to East Van... FINALLY! This house includes laundry, piano, my guitars plus a bunch of others and a whole lot of love...Its gonna be a good place for me. Until next time, get lost in some Dr. Dre with me...

now go listen to the rest of the 2001 album.

Home sweet Home

2010-12-05T12:30:00.001-08:00

Im back in Vancouver! Oh what a wonderful sight flying into the clear, blue night skies when I was arriving. It really is a gorgeous city...especially from a plane. Ahhhh, I love it here! We just chilling around right now...Im watching don't be a menace whiledrinkinjuiceindahoood and its distracting. Bitchass mawfuucka. Should I wear this tech nine with my hightops?

Yeah. Glad to be home.

stay tuned for more epicness to come.

Home.

2010-12-02T12:58:00.000-08:00

Ugh. My bed is ridiculously comfortable...i am 2 days, away from it. I leave Sydney this afternoon...fuck yeah!!!! Australia has been amazing, a really, really amazing trip. Thank you so much to Sector 9 and Billabong, for real!!!! Without you guys, I wouldn't have this gold medal around my neck. (still) yeah, I just said that...

I got all wasted on Sunday night and was like..."I'm not taking this thing off till I get home!!!" well...obviously Im still not home yet and its actually still around my neck. HA!

siiiick.

PLUS mega exciting...

When I get home I'll FINALLY be an official East Van Resident! Carly had an opening at her

house and I snatched it!!!! Sick as Fuck!!! <3

So Close...So far...

2010-12-01T02:27:00.000-08:00

Looking around me, I have G-Mack, Evren and James Kelly in the hotel room, the other room of boys is already sleeping. We are somewhat packed, drunk, tired, ready for bed, and ready to go home. Very ready to go home.

It's 2 and we need to be out of the hotel by 8am.
All of a sudden, 8:30 appears and we are crawling out of bed, packing the rest of our belongings, waiting for checkout process to complete and stealing continental breakfast as we rush out the door. An hour and a half later we arrive to the airport as a nice, big pack checking in bag after bag, passports out, customs forms filled, everything ready like traveling champions. In true downhill skateboard fashion we each have one big bag to check at maximum weight and are trying to not let on to the ticket booth girls that each of our carry on's full of wheels weigh about 80 pounds in the process. I have a gold medal around my neck, I'm wearing pajama pants, with skins, a blanket wrapped around my neck like a cape and a neck pillow. Both James and I have novelty checks and I am seconds away from passing in my bag and officially starting my journey home when I hear the dreaded words.

"Im sorry Ms. Neilson. I am rejecting your boarding to the plane. Your passport has been reported Stolen 2 years ago"

"Your fucking kidding me right?"

"No, US customs may reject your passport upon arrival so I am not letting you board this flight"

The young lady looks at me from her desk with firm eyes, but eyes that are not nearly as fierce as mine.

again, "Your kidding me, right? I just flew here with this passport and have been traveling in and out of the states...for the past two years...with this exact passport. It is not stolen"

"Ms. Neilson, please. You are going to have to take the nessesary steps to get a new passport before I can let you board a plane"

So here I am, still in Australia.

the end.

newtons in the rain

2010-11-29T13:19:00.001-08:00

I WON NEWTONS IN AUSTRALIA!!!!!!!

2010-11-28T05:43:00.001-08:00

It was a rain race and I won all 3 of my womens heats, 3 times in a row. AND, I qualified first in the dry the day before so its not like i didn't have the chance to win if it was dry anyways. I'll be the FIRST to admit that if it was a dry race today, my job would have been ALOT harder, but it pissed rain and I was fucking on it. Worth even more than the biggest stack of cash I have seen in my life is the gold COAST medal around my neck.

I'm FUCKING LIQUORED and winning the party as well...

<3>

Main Event, AM, Day 3

2010-11-27T12:24:00.000-08:00

I just woke up and looked out my hotel window to rain. Im very bummed right now. Im almost convinced that this track can be run at a relative full speed due to its 60/40 asphault/rubber content... I am going to be MEGA bummed if the race win goes to qualifying results, but as of now it looks like we're gonna go up for our practice heats and take a vote. With that being said, if we do get to go down the road today...VANCOUVER FTW is gonna kill it on this course. We were dominating anyways. Wishing luck, safety, fun and smiles to all my fellow competitors today, its gonna be a big one. Greetings From Mt. Panorama.

Fantasy Picks on Podium today

Womens: Im going to win. (who am I to not believe in myself)

Mens: K-Rimes, Dalua, Batt, Switzer, Kelly.

Juniors: Evren, Merrick, Connor

Women of Longboarding

2010-11-27T12:23:00.001-08:00

Check out this article that Skate Slate wrote for the ladies!!!

The Women of Longboarding

Qualifying, Day 2

2010-11-26T19:53:00.000-08:00

Its 3:15 pm here and Im back at the hotel after a long day. I've made it into the mens finals tomorrow and have an undoubtedly big race on the ladies side as well. After a rider in front of me blew his shit and ended up completely sideways infront of me at 80km/h today, the tangle in the 2nd round left me with a road rash on my Ankle that is deep enough to not be comfortable at all. Another thing to put on the doctors list upon my arrival back into Canada on Wednesday.

Super shitty news, womens 2nd Qualifyer Dominique was taken out RUTHLESSLY by a grom today in the men's heats and got absolutley smoked in the hay bails, so unless some over night miracle happens she won't be joining Brianne and I on the start line tomorrow. When I saw her last she was sitting in an ambulance with a sprained ankle, a blown knee (to an unknown extent), and was on her way to get an X-ray on her wrist. Mega bummed about that, but it looks like I'm still going to have the show down that I came here for...

we're probably gonna get wasted tonight and keep her smiling.

as absolutely rad as this track is, I fly home on Wednesday and I can't wait. Im ready to be home.

Qualifying, Day 1

2010-11-25T23:42:00.000-08:00

Hell yeah, this track is sick! I qualified first in Women's today and 26th overall in mens.

tomorrow we race to qualify and eliminate to top 32 (which, hey! apparently I have a shot at getting in the main event) and basically just 'practice' all day for Women's finals on Sunday. Maaaybe main event too, who knows, don't really care. Ummmm. yeah. this track is sick as fuck.

Me 66.0

Dom 66.6

Brianne 66.7

all top 30 mens.

I don't think the girls have ever qualified this close

i fucking love my life right now. com

2010-11-25T01:48:00.000-08:00

Bathurst. Wow.

I'm finally at mount Panorama and got to see the track today. Steep, tight and technical just as expected...I feel wonderful!!! The homie we got with us from Billabong was extra generous and here I am in my own room over looking the race course at the 5 star at the bottom of the hill. Yes, I actually just said that...

We went to the Blue Mountains Lookout spot today on the way to the track... here's one of Me, Bri and Dom at the 3 sisters!!!! Its gonna be the chick race of the fucking century this weekend!!!

Manly Beach. day 4

2010-11-22T05:45:00.000-08:00

Wow. The roads here are tiiiiiiiight! The first spot was an amazing road that was extremely technical and had a little too many steel machines navigating the streets...in the opposite direction than we are used to, none the least. Second spot was a rad hairpin style session spot... more to come...

The schedule goes as follows. Hopshop tomorrow. Mount Chiara. haha...mount Chiara, really girl, its for you ;) anyways... Wednesday. Bathurst Thursday. siiiickasfuck

Sydney, Day 3

2010-11-20T20:31:00.000-08:00

So we've busted a move and switched from our ultra posh apartment suite in Bondi, and moved over to this region called Manly. Also a super nice hotel, but this time around its just your standard 2 bed and a bathroom thing. We are quite literally right on the beach and after a quick breakfast with the remainding members of the surf team I made sure to take advantage of that and hit the beach for some sun.
Evren and I are gonna take off and do some tourist filming today, get some photos and just generally lurk the beach...its easy to do here. Man, everyone and their fucking mother is cruising around the beach on a Sector 9 board here, and its funny getting the wierd looks from a few that notice all of us walking in our downhill division clothing, etc.
We haven't really bombed any hills yet but we're here for another week...its coming...

Greeeeeetings from the sickest vacation I've ever been on

Sydney. Day 1.

2010-11-18T21:46:00.000-08:00

Its Friday Nov. 19th at 3:48 pm here in Sydney, Australia. I will never know what happened on Nov. 18th because it never happened to me...unless you want to count last night on the plane as the 18th. Might as well...I didn't sleep more than an hour! fuck. that sucked. Im so tired right now, but at the same time... Im a borderline insomniac sooooo jet lag aint know thing, im just tired as usual.

Tonight we are headed to some industry party at a night club on bondi beach. I haven't been to a night club in a long time, but it sounds like a damn good time to me! a damn good time! The hotel, sorry, serviced apartment I am in is PIMP. 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, full kitchen, 2 balcony's and we got 2 of em. One for the surf team, one for the downhill. Its seriously ridiculous here! Currently, we have Myself, Dudebro, Louis, Evren and Jacko for the DH team. George will be arriving next week.

Okay. off for a cruise. Keep an eye out, I'll post some pics soon! serrrrrrrious! <3>

AUSTRALIA!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've Arrived in Sydney!!!

2010-11-18T21:36:00.000-08:00

Yes. Evren is in his leathers, don't ask. You should have seen him tucking through the airport....

8am Nov. 17th to 6am Nov. 19th.

2010-11-18T21:33:00.000-08:00

I think im in Nevada right now. Im not sure. Today I have been in Albequerque, Denver, and I’m within half an hour of landing in Los Angeles….my favorite airport to people watch, but today it may be the most dreaded place on the planet for me as I am horribly underslept and have a 5 hour lay over there. I may be able to sleep, I may not, who knows at this point, all I know is that my puffy eyes are starting to match the red flannel I am wearing. It’s a charming look if your into tired people. It’s a good thing that tonight, when I jump on my International flight to Sydney I’ll be able to just get completely liquored and pass the fuck out, well, that’s the plan at least. Thank god for free booze…I’ll be taking as much as I can handle

I had some really good times this past month in New Mexico, but in true form, the day is new and I’m over it. All that’s sticking in my head is a horoscope I read for myself in the last few days that just said something along the lines of somewhere, someone out there wants me to start looking at the small achievements I have in life instead of focusing so much on only the big ones. Its with that in mind that I’ve truly been trying my best to just stop and smell the roses here and there, and not put too much effort into worrying about whats coming up for me. Yes, Newtons is a big race for me. All I can do is race and run my fastest laps and if they are good enough to come out on top, well, then I’ll be on top…and if they’re not? Well. I won’t be. But Im not gonna psyche myself out, and Im going to do nothing but think positively about this absolutely insane track I am about to face.

It’s a good thing that my reaction time runs the best in Survival mode, cause this track definitely possesses that feature. All I can see are my white lines, I’m confident that I don’t even know if the rest of the pavement exists.

Greetings from 30, 000ft.

Thank you for continuing to check in.

IM GOIN TO AUSTRALIA!!!

2010-11-15T11:26:00.000-08:00

MASSIVE THANKS TO SECTOR 9!!!! Wednesday morning, I jump on a plane and head to Australia for Newtons Nation. A Festival type event everything considered an extreme sport present! and Concerts Galore!!!! whoooooaaaaahhhh!!!!!!!

Meet Adam.

2010-11-14T09:05:00.000-08:00

Your about to watch one of the best skateboarders I am friends with absolutely Slay the Skate School ramp here in New Mexico the other night. I know Adam from back home in Vancouver, we both ride for the shop UNDERWORLD, and we met after we both ended up working on the retail floor there together. A month or so ago, Adam packed his bags and got on a Greyhound bus with the ultimate goal of Destroying America via solo Road Trip. As soon as I got word he was in New Mexico, we set up a little after hours party to get some runs in. This is just a Contour and Go Pro tease of the footage he's been gathering this whole time...so enjoy, but don't put too much expectations on the camera! Search him and hunt him if you wanna see the video parts that result from this trip. Good luck on the rest of your adventures Adam!

Doman come back!

2010-11-07T10:00:00.001-08:00

the wind is music, right?!

Yeah, we know longboardings gay

2010-11-06T10:43:00.000-07:00

Background noise

2010-11-04T17:06:00.000-07:00

Bust this out if you need some background noise today

Speaking of goals...

2010-11-04T03:28:00.000-07:00

So I made a twitter account and made my one and only post aimed directly at Britney Spears telling her that one day, on any Malibu Canyon of her choice (or we can fly to an exotic location, don't matter to me) I will chase her down a hill for a music video. Aiming ridiculously high, I know... But if your not aiming for the stars, you're aiming nowhere! I've been saying I would do it one day for like, a year or two so I did. Lets remake toxic, I love that song.

I think you'd have to put all my Black Label Society discs together, collectively, to come even close to the play count on my blackout album. I'm pretty sure I know exactly what that disc was recorded for...

Hell, she lives in LA. Maybe if her boys like skateboards and she's heard of the 9 ball she won't be so hesitant to call ;)

Britney, I'm from Vancouver, but I won't smoke pot at your show.

Halloween

2010-11-01T09:05:00.000-07:00

So I'm sittin in bed at Will Brunson's house after an Epic Party Last night. I put a photo album up on facebook as well as this video... normally I wouldn't use the word Epic twice in a description, but I don't know what other word to use to describe this little clip of awesome... enjoy! Happy Halloween!!!

2010-10-30T15:39:00.001-07:00

The Survey

2010-10-29T13:17:00.001-07:00

God bless American Families

2010-10-24T16:40:00.000-07:00

mmm....this is a delicious java slush thing from sonic.

I have a new bedroom...

2010-10-20T18:42:00.000-07:00

Except for a couple more hours during the day on the weekend, this place is open to the public from 3pm-7pm, and the rest of the time its mine, mine, mine! I need some friends to share it with though...

Albuquerque New Mexicooooo

2010-10-19T20:09:00.000-07:00

This is Sandia. yeaaaaahhhh. I'm now in new mexico!

wait till you see the ditches...

First thought...amazing...

2010-10-18T18:00:00.001-07:00

SKATEISTAN: TO LIVE AND SKATE KABUL from Diesel New Voices on Vimeo.

BP's Caufield day

2010-10-16T21:40:00.000-07:00

I just went and had a great session up at the famed BP's and Caufield and let me tell you...it was definately one of those 'check yo'self before you wreck yo'self kind of days for everyone involved. I was in the company of K-Rimes, Andrew Chapman, Scoot, Kyle Holland and Chiara and not one of us walked away from the day without catching our breath at least once in disbelief. The least expected, the most. One of the boys was talkin about how its just one of those things where every time you approach whatever corner, there is no car there...well today it seemed like there was a car there, or a bus, or a baby or a phat new hole. God...anything! It was just absolutely hectic!!! Don't get me wrong, there was alot of positive involved in the day and some very, very close riding that was fun as hell, but I think each and every one of us walked away with a much needed reminder that no matter how many times you've slown down for a corner and there has been no car there...you still have to slow down or stop every time. whew.

Next stop, Duffy lake road tomorrow morning with the exact same crew. Gonna be a freaking blast!!! I've never skated the road, but I watched when I was injured. Sweepers, Hairpins, Drafting and a 100 + km/h (60mph) section to boot on butter pavement. I haven't put leathers on for a while and Im excited!!!

T-minus 3 more sleeps till New Mexico.

*cough

2010-10-16T03:02:00.000-07:00

you know, I can't guarantee its gonna become a habit...but maybe posting some songs will help me get over my suffocating stage freight. I don't know whats come over me tonight...but I did learn this Hell Yeah song called alcohaulinass and umm yeah...here it is...nowhere near as technical as the original, and I don't even care that I came 'this close' to blowing it. apparently you can't headbang in photo booth.

Whoa its Friday again

2010-10-15T11:32:00.000-07:00

Man! I've been doing nothing this week! well, thats a complete lie. I've been doing alot, just nothing that amounts to any sort of interesting blog posts so I'm sorry(carly) WAIT. You've been in Cali, fuck off! whatever... The push for the cure pictures never got uploaded, but they were just still frames from my go pro anyways and not all that exciting to begin with. Do you know who Adam Yates is? If you don't go search him on google and find out, cause the last 3 days I spent some mega time with him filming an interview for stoop media and I ended coming out of it with 4 hours of fantastic footage and I want to use all of it, I spent all day yesterday uploading it into the editing program and watching all the footage, separating and catagorizing it and seriously, i just may have to make a small film. How dope would that be for house profiles though...not a 5 minute 'oh hey there' but an actual small film that will get people even more attatched to the characters that are these fine young boys. hmmm. Yeah I've been doing alot of work on stoop media. PS. Adam is now gone back to Australia, which sucks. Another one bites the dust.

Im off to Santa Fe on tuesday morning, I fly out of YVR at 630 in the morning, and I'll be there for minimum a month teaching skate school. My fingers are crossed that Australia is gonna happen for me still at the end of November, so at least I'll be down south skating in the dry until that day comes if it happens. I need to be there, but Im not working much up here (hence why i took the free relocation for some other work down there) but i need to go. I can't not be at that event so I really hope I get there. Im skating well right now, I know Im ready to race a track like that.

On life, I think Chiara worded it best today...just a smitten kitten. Although I don't suffer in silence, I whine and whimper and complain.

Kush for the Cure

2010-10-12T12:58:00.001-07:00

Yeah...sickness prevailed this weekend, and I only showed up for the last day of Push for the cure. I pushed some, I sat for most...but all in all it was a great day. yeahhhhhhhhhh.

why wont blogger upload my pictures?!?

more to come

Fridayyyy

2010-10-08T18:04:00.000-07:00

So yesterday (I guess realistically, Wednesday night) I took off to America to drop Dillon and Hugh off at the 5 mile house so they could start their trip with a ride down to LA in Cody Shea's Van. They are starting with the boardercross race in Northern California and then continuing on towards LA then Peru, Brazil and Columbia. We didn't cruise into town until 4:30 in the morning and an over excited pit bull puppy was a small factor in me not sleeping during the rest of the morning hours either. A full day driving back to Vancouver after no sleep has left me here...well over 24 hours later, in bed still and wondering what the hell I'm gonna do for the morning cause its PUSH FOR THE CURE this weekend.

According to the front page of Coast we've raised like 900 something thousand dollars for the canadian breast cancer foundation, so go longboarders! Im not convinced at the current moment Im going to be able to do the whole thing actually on my board, but im sure as hell gonna try...I may be sittin passenger seat for some of the sections though! Last year I was the pace rider that rode at the front of the car and set the pace for the pack for the entire 3 days. It was alot of work, and I dont know if my body is going to be up for that challenge again this year...but it will be up for something in the least!

ok. back to movie. Im watching 'he's just not that into you' Adam OJ left it on my desktop...nice to see the kind of movies he's into watching ;) haha

Weekend in Summerland

2010-10-05T17:57:00.001-07:00

So the last day or so I have been basically hidden in a cave editing the video you are about to watch... we got so much footage that you shouldn't be shocked to see another version of the same video using different clips pops up sooner or later if I get bored. I know I have a prototype wheel run for sure too. Annywayyyyys, I wish I could ride that hill every day of my life, seriously! You get so much better, so much faster skating it because its 3 solid minutes of hauling ass, gaining confidence at each section and consistently pushing your limits down this road. mmm.yaaaaabuddy.

Dual Duro Test Weekend

2010-10-01T14:21:00.000-07:00

Oooooohhhhhhhhhh sitting at home for longer than I want to be sitting at home. You know why? Cause I went ahead and put my massive load of soaking wet laundry into the dryer and an hour and a half later I got to grab it positive its going to be done and guess the fuck what? I forgot to empty the lint trap and its all still damp as hell. 45mins to go. shiiiiitttt.....

enough of that. Im packing my bags full of more wheels than clothes and heading out of town this weekend to the land of summer for some wheel slaying with Unkle, Dillon, New stoop resident Eric (should be interesting *update...Im here to spell his name right, and he ended up getting stitches) and most likely a few other people. Dillon's van will be put to the test as we haul everyone there after dinner tonight in anticipation of the beautiful weather and filming tomorrow.

2010-09-30T20:49:00.001-07:00

2010-09-27T17:29:00.001-07:00

oh my god its pouring rain. soo lame. Oh well, my body needs a break anyways after a serious break in pavement made me hit the brakes on board in Caufield the other day. 3 words 3 meanings. arent I smrt.

East Van Grom Squad's Video Contest Entry

2010-09-24T18:58:00.000-07:00

Now...its not like Im endorsing their language or anything...its filthy (but really, what can I say...I talk aand write like a sailor lots of days) But I am endorsing the East Van Grom Squad. These kids are dope...watch their video for the game of s.k.a.t.e contest cause apparently its on hits and they need some :)

First Day of Fall

2010-09-23T12:54:00.000-07:00

and its fucking piiiiiiissssssiiiiinnnnggggg rain here in Vancouver. Vegas Mike popped up on my facecrack today asking whats shaking...maybe a trip to Vegas is.

I don't think today is going to be an entirely overproductive day. I already slept till past noon...nevermind...im putting away laundry...thats productive.

peace bitches!!! haha ;)

Daily Screen Grab of awesome... Itssa Mario Kart

East Van Grom Squad vs Dillon Stephens

2010-09-22T12:51:00.000-07:00

here's a video I made of the East Van Grom Squad tearing shit up with Dillon Stephens yesterday. Yeah I like to over edit... i would disappear for YEARS if I had a program cooler than imovie...

What on Earth Did I get up to today?

2010-09-21T01:21:00.001-07:00

King of the Forest

2010-09-19T22:15:00.000-07:00

The wet ground outside didn't matter as we all started to wake up and grab our things.

It wasn't long ago that Gleanna passed and today, instead of the race held in previous years...we had a memorial cruise in her name at the Seymour Demonstration forest. Followed by a barbeque and silent auction, many riders gathered despite the rain and headed off for the bazillion kilometer push up and down the wide path of the Demo forest endurance run and what ultimately ended up as a slide jam at the stables. Uhhh...my video pretty much says it all for what I got up to... Minus the slide jam footy, you gotta wait for that ;)

Here's a couple screen shots from my go pro for you to check out though...

Get on Board

2010-09-16T22:37:00.000-07:00

I wake up.

I usually lay in bed for quite some time. I hit the alarm clock again and again asking myself, 'what am I going to wear, what exactly do I have to do to get ready and what can I scrap for an extra couple moments in this bed that I absolutely love?' The dog is half awake, half asleep and as a result, I am half awake, and half asleep. If I am lucky, there is no alarm clock. Sometimes I just lay still awake in my mind, and others Im out cold until I naturally get my overworked body out of bed...whether its halfway through the day or all the way through, let it be. I play my guitar, I eat out. I figure out if I am going east or west and gather what I need for a day or two and leave. Im here for days, Im gone four days.

I wake up.

Im comfortable. I know exactly where I am and I know all of my surroundings. I go for a walk to the coffee shop, I say hi to some friends, visit other friends, and talk about life with the ones who have been around me the longest. I lounge, I take care of myself, I laugh and learn. I don't really do much. I eat in. I can't motivate myself for the commute either there or back or whichever way in between and its most likely that Im in need of a time out or a quiet place to get things done anyways. To or from the city, its a long way in between. Im here four days, Im gone four days.

I wake up.

I don't really want to, but it's fine and eventually Im smiling. Its bright in the big window and many people I adore are surrounding me either getting ready for their days against will or in anticipation to try and motivate some skateboarding to happen, it all just depends on who's around and what day it is. I undoubtedly want to be a part of the adventures...but not for a couple more hours in the least. Its a good place for me. Bon's for breakfast. Im here for days, Im gone for days.

Don't even get me started on the damn bus.

Little Jerks

2010-09-15T12:09:00.001-07:00

All these little brats throwin different grabs in their slides and hunting for air... making me work my ass off to keep up to them. I love 15 year olds for not gross reasons you assholes...I can't wait for Saturday Sessions, Im gonna skate them rain or shine all winter

LAME story of the morning. I've been meaning to film a skytrain run from beginning to end and this morning I did it with intentions of turning the camera off when i got into the tunnel at granville. Well. The card filled up within 30 seconds before i could accomplish that. Lame! double lame! Triple lame!

I showed up for work 3 hours early today too... Sooooo quadruple Lame, but kinda so rad at the same time ;)

Coast Evolutions

2010-09-13T13:08:00.000-07:00

So this is the 2010 Coast Longboarding Evolutions Video. Its preeeettty freaking hardcore if you ask me. Somehow, it actually made it into the DVD collection despite the fact that it is highly innappropriate, but what else could you expect I guess? The beginning part with Grizz is painful to watch and the rest is just a shit mix of absolute mayhem. The whole video screams Mayhem, which I guess is what we were going for anyways. I love the gangster rap with Kevin and Zak.

The video is a really easy way to say fuck you we are fast as fuck, and crazier the rest of the longboarding world.

god.

12:34

Skatecation: Part 1

So I've been dating Landyachtz for a year now...

a love song for monday

Surgery. Day 5? i haven't slept yet, so sure....

Surgery.

'Tis the season to be jolly

The Plan

little update.

Home Sweet Home

hella Southwest Series Video

My mind loves it here but my Lungs HATE it

Yep, pretty much.

HOLY CRAP WE"RE IN GERMANY!!!!

Packing

I have a fantastic team of riders

Screw You Nate

Lifestyle Brah

Katie and Cameron shred Maryhill

Maryhill Race Day (am)

Maryhill Festival of Speed, Day 2 (am)

Meet Jessica

Vancouver Riots

Vernon DH Results

VERNON

A few things...

Britannia Classic

Danger Bay Champion!

The Real Deal

Parking lot party

Breaking the curse

I think i just skipped two days.

Corporate Cuts

Maryhill Landyachtz Edit

Maryhill Teaser Photo

Reboot

Season's Beginnings

Resting the wing

April 3rd

Salt Spring Slip n Slide

And so it begins

Ditched.

New Eh Team Episdode

I've made it to the landyachtz site...

TGIF cause we're gettin wasted!

Change is here

Change is in the air...

Yay Girls!!!

New Video from S9 Aussie

Tuesday Morning.

*Cough*

Moving to East Van

Home sweet Home

Home.

So Close...So far...

newtons in the rain

I WON NEWTONS IN AUSTRALIA!!!!!!!

Main Event, AM, Day 3

Women of Longboarding

Qualifying, Day 2

Qualifying, Day 1

i fucking love my life right now. com

Manly Beach. day 4

Sydney, Day 3

Sydney. Day 1.

I've Arrived in Sydney!!!

8am Nov. 17th to 6am Nov. 19th.

IM GOIN TO AUSTRALIA!!!

Meet Adam.

Doman come back!

Yeah, we know longboardings gay

Background noise

Speaking of goals...

Halloween

The Survey

God bless American Families

I have a new bedroom...

Albuquerque New Mexicooooo

First thought...amazing...

BP's Caufield day

Cough