First Session of '08

It's still February, but the weather was so Spring-like here in Utah county today that I had to take advantage of it and break my old self in for the upcoming season.

Over the winter I'd been pretty good at exercising each week (at least compared to what I've done in the past, which was basically nothing): basic light weight lifting 2 or 3 times per, and some casual practice on the balance board. I thought this would help me at least maintain the level of ability I ended last Fall with. Not that I was in any great shape as the season ended, but I had progressed in endurance and strength over the summer, and for having just picked up skating again after 15 years I thought I was doing alright.

Looks like once you're over 30 staying in shape over the winter is as Sisyphean challenge. U skated for about 20 minutes, and though my bsic balance was alright, my coordination was weak: doing anything beyond pushing was like I was learning the whole game over again. And dizzy like I was drunk.

But I did feel like I was starting to pick up a bit toward the end, just as, luck would have it, my endurance began to wane.

But for being the end of February and technically still Winter in Utah, I can't say I was disappointed with the session. It was fun, and as I was driving home I looked at nearly every parking lot and wanted to stop for more.

Decks Decks Decks

I don't think I blogged about how my Almost Mullen Uber deck cracked at the nose about 30 days into use. I'd been skating about 5x a week and not for more than an hour at a time. Plus I myself am uberlight, and I don't skate uberhard (OK, enough "uber"s).

Anyway, after a couple of weeks I noticed the deck lost a significant amount of pop. I'm not being whiny, but my ollies were terrible unless I aimed and precisely snapped the tail at just the right position and angle.

After practicing (switch-stance) ollie to manual off a little platform (no more than 12 inches) the nose just cracked and was suddenly useless. So I sent the deck back to Almost, and voila! They sent me a brand new one about 7 days later. I was concerned they wouldn't because I hadn't sent in the little warranty card, but I did send a check to cover shipping to make their decision less painful.

Well, because I hadn't really expected them to replace it on that technicality, I had immediately ordered a deck from Black Hole Boards as a replacement. But the shipment was delayed, and as the summer days sped past I found myself itching to skate. Our local shop was having a sale on decks that week, so on an impulse I picked up a Vallely Element deck for under 30 bucks with grippy. I mounted it up, thinking I would skate it for a couple months and have the extra BHB Element in case I needed it.

Surprise, surpise, the Vallely deck lasted all through the autumn, and though the BHB Element came, and the replacement Mullen came I saw no reason to change out.

So, yeah, I have 2 brand spankin' new decks to dig into when the snow thaws. If it ever does. It feels really weird to have more decks than I need; in fact, it feels a bit constrictive, as I don't have the anticipation or excitement of choosing a new one when the current wears out.

Oh well, at least I'll be well-stocked and free from deck expenditures for 2008.