feebles
In upstate New York, Benny Baker just learned feeble grinds. He is six. His dad is stoked. I was 34 when I learned feebles and they still feel kind of awkward for me. That said, I did do a feeble to manual into the bowl at the Dowagiac park today. I sweated it out for about 45 minutes and it was brutal. Fun though. I also rode Charlotte yesterday in similar conditions. Being in Vegas last week made it easier to tolerate the high temps.
Props Rock and Roll Road Fools hits town tomorrow. It's gonna be awesome, I think.
Kris K sent me this sweet photo of Otto from Modern in Novi.

Otto holds it down. Funny choice of words since he is not holding on in this shot.
Dane sent over this photo, taken at the Glen Memorial jam in Kzoo by Kyle Kling back in January.

Dane lived five minutes from me in Detroit and now Kyle lives 8 minutes from me here. Small world.
Here's another photo I have no particular reason to run, other than that is a great photo of a great dude, taken on one of my greatest BMX days ever.

Jason Burton at Rays in Cleveland, during the Cobras Rivival, March 07.

shit motherfucker shit
It never fails, some component of this website "expires" when I'm out of town. Vegas sucks still, in case you were wondering, but we stayed kind of off the strip and the meetings were good. We got to skate a couple times, which is awesome, although it was, no exaggeration, 105 degrees. Like a blow-dryer full power to your face. You have to drink a lot of water when it's like that. I'd wager that I drank upwards of four or five gallons over the course of the week.
Props Rock and Roll Road Fools is coming this week to Modern in Grand Rapids, which is pretty close to here. There are some skeptics regarding the size of this park (it's a lot smaller than the Novi one was), but between Lucero and Thunderlip playing live and the cast of riders signed up for this thing, there's no way it ain't gonna be good. I understand the bowl will be rideable (maybe only for the pros?), so that will add a nice element. I hope some Detroit folks show up--I miss you guys.
I rode downtown Kalamazoo tonight and it was great. There is so much stuff to ride in a small space. The two places in Detroit that I lived didn't have anything to ride. Sure, there were a few spots, but they were really far away and you couldn't really cruise around on your bike and hit different shit. I'm not talking about downtown Detroit, there is a ton of stuff there, but in the suburbs it is slim pickins. Believe it or not, I've progressed (as has BMX) since I lived here 8 years ago and a lot of things I wouldn't have considered riding in the past are all right here, waiting to be shredded. There has been some new stuff built as well.
The Dew Action thing was on TV this weekend and I saw most of the BMX events, except vert, which Jamie Bestwick won. Jamie is awesome. Park was rad and as you probably know, dirt was not rad with a horrible accident. We can only hope for the best for Stephan Murray but I haven't heard or read anything good about his condition. Tragic.
On a positive note, I got to see the full version of the Etnies video, Grounded. It's still not out, officially (there were some music clearance hold ups), but the bonus material is unbelievable (and even longer than the already long video!). The regular video has a couple more parts in it as well (John Heaton has a part, which is great. I love that dude). When I first watched the premier copy last month, I sent Dane Wild an e mail, letting him know that even though his name was in the credits, he didn't appear in the main part of the video. I didn't want him to be dissapointed at the end when the credits started rolling and he hadn't shown up. Not to worry, he has a solid ten tricks/lines in the "Etnies Family" part that are splendid. He's in good company, too, dudes like Justin Inman and Dave Freimuth didn't make the main part of the vid, but have sections in the bonus. Dane is stoked!

I think he's wearing the same Deliverance shirt in the vid. Kris K. photo. I even saw Dane crashing on Fuel TV. I gotta say that it is really weird to see guys I know, like Crandall

and Catfish, on TV every day. They ran that FBM trip from last year a couple weeks ago and showed all the clips with Kelly BAker, sitting there with his whole family, talking about the trip. I'll bet his kids are superstars at school. This is my favorite pic from that trip...

It's Cameron Wood, KB and Mike Corts. Three way attack on a wet ledge. What a fucking blast.

sky blue
Now Playing: canned heat going down to the country

I like bicycles. THis is my quiver of "riders". I also have a bunch of BMX bikes from the '70s and a couple from the early 80s. I'm stoked, I finally have some place to keep them. At our old house, bikes were hanging from the ceilings and packed in the most random places. Left to right we have my Diamond Back Freeride (I think that's what it's called) mountain bike. Gears on the rear only, hard tail, suspension forks, sprocket guard, disc brakes, etc. THis bike sees the least amount of action. My FBM Stairmaster. I love this bike! The tires are dirty from riding trails and let me tell you, that is some exciting shit. I used to paint my bike all the time and it will be easier now with the barn and everything, but I really like the way this bike looks and rides. It's awesome! My flatland bike is behind it. A Fly Suelo it is. I rode flatland last night in the pole barn and it was really fun. The floor is perfect in there. I ate shit really hard, which I seem to do more riding flatland than anything lately. Next, my old PW Moto. I recently rebuilt this with front brakes and a freecoaster. A really fun bike to ride and I can't wait to work the hip set up at Kzoo with some fakie antics. The only problem is that I only have one freecoaster hub and it is seeing double duty right now. The big light blue bike is an SE OM Flyer from the early 90s. It's a kind of reproduction of the early 80s OM Flyer, but it's still really old and the geometry is pretty awful. It's impossible to wheelie. Jumps good though. This bike sees a lot of action pulling that red thing, which is a baby trailer. Noah digs it. The last bike on the right is an S&M RV 24 inch cruiser. THis bike is pretty dialed but it never gets ridden. It's really a race bike, but it would be fun at the trails. In fact, I think the last time I really did any riding with it was at the trails we had at Solan's parent's house a couple years ago. I'm sure I'll ride it more as my trails start to develop. Cruisers are perfect when the ground is still a little rough and the jumps are still soft. The bigger wheels float right over it.
That's a lot of bikes! I barely have time to ride any of them, but they all see a little action. I rode flat last night, then took Noah for a long ride in the trailer today while Gail pushed Chilly Dylly

in the stroller. It ain't chilly here! We live right by the "Kal-Haven" trail, which is the old railroad line, converted into a nice, smooth, bike/walking path. It stretches from Kalamazoo to South Haven, where it dumps off a cliff into Lake Michigan. Not really, but that would be awesome.
I leave tomorrow for Vegas, a.k.a. "Hell On Earth" for a sales meeting, so the bikes will be collecting dust while I'm gone, but we're going for it when I get back.
In other news, the sky is really clear out here in the country...

breaking ground
Now Playing: Embrace Dance of Days
We're finally starting to get settled in here. The dog's diarrhea stopped, we're all getting more sleep and we have less and less boxes in front of us now. This house has a big tub with those hot-tub jets in it that I didn't even think about. Couldn't have cared less, in fact, but my wife suggested I try it out and it was awesome. Of course, two days ago, before we signed up for almost Two grand worth of work on what we thought was a functioning water softner/treatment deal, the water was too rusty to even wash your hands with. But not now, the water is clear and that tub was awesome after a session at the trails...

Not my trails (yet), but Kyle Kling, Tyler Deshaine and Sean Newton have some sweet jumps up and running. It's been over two years since I've ridden trails of any kind and the last time I did, I hit my head and seperated my shoulder really badly, so I was more than a little scared. These jumps were perfect for me to ease back into though. Not too steep, not too far, just perfect. They are going to be even more awesome as they progress.
When I last lived here (in Kalamazoo, at least), there was literally one dude that rode bikes and I didn't like riding with him all that much. There is a solid little crew in place here now and it's really cool. Of course, I have a few years on them, but that's how it always is when you're my age (unless Otto's around). In fact, Chris Bevins, the tall dude on the right--his dad used to hang out at our bike shop and he is younger than me, which is really weird, but cool. So yeah, trails. So stoked to get through some jumps, even if it took a handful of wuss-runs to do it.

Noah and I broke ground on the trails here at the house last night. It'll be awhile before there is anything rideable, but the dirt is good and the land is there. Noah got pretty dirty in a hurry, which was kind of a landmark event. When you're kid starts playing in the dirt, you know he's on the right track.

This is my friend Brian Miller and this photo was taken right near where we live now in 1982. Roots.
It seems like we've been gone from Detroit for a while now, but it's only been a week. Last Wednesday night, a few dudes showed up at TRP for fun little session. Davey Coop, Joe Gall, Dane, Hatfield and a couple others. It was real chill and fun. I hadn't been riding too much and was super sore from moving, but it was a nice send off. I even pulled a weird little line that I've wanted to do for a long time, so that was a good note to leave on.
Money is tight now, but I've been brain-storming on some new Deliverance Project stuff. Dan's Comp just placed an order for more Bar Bags and belts too, so I'm psyched on that...

Buried
Dig it! Kelly B. pointed out that the Deliverance bar bag is being featured on the Dig site. I knew nothing of this, but it is awesome. I really believe in that product.
We are moved. Kalamazoo. More specifically, a small town north of Kzoo called Otsego. It's right next to the town where I grew up, called Plainwell (I know that sounds made-up) and our house is literally right down the street from where I grew up. It's really weird and kind of crazy to be back here after so long. Every time I go into town I'm afraid I will see someone from high school or something. Not that HS was so bad, but I would just rather not deal with any goofy reunions, you know? The towns are the same, mostly, save for a Home Depot and Walmart and the usual, pasturized, off-ramp, big-box super stores. Joe's Pizza is still here and it is better than ever. K-Zoo Skate Zoo is ten minutes away and I finally got to ride it last night. I love riding the outdoor set up in the summer with the trees and everything around. It is awesome. I'll post more later....

Rust never sleeps
Now Playing: Johnny Cash I still miss someone
My bike is starting to rust. My bars are those custom, unpainted Solid bars, so I knew they would start to rust eventually, but my pegs are rusting, as are the pins in my pedals. Having two kids and moving and being on a work deadline is hard work. Riding bikes is at an all-time premium right now. I got a lot of saddle time in last week on the road, but BMX action has been minimal since. This pic looks like a traffic jam, but it was actually taken at full freeway speed in Cincinnati.

I did ride last night though, and it was awesome. "Wolverine" is like a skatepark almost. I will miss that place.
Pat Schreader and some cleveland dudes had a trail jam last weekend, featuring big jumps and rain.

Here's a shot of Pat doing a very Pat-like trick...

A double tree tap at the Hooligan trails in New Yawk. That was sneaky, one would think that last pic was from the trail jam in Cleveland, but it was really from a while ago in NY. Pat is a sneak.
I did a ton of work at our new house last weekend and it was pretty brutal. The very last thing I did before I left was to mow an outline for my new trails with my new ride, the Cub Cadet.

Trails are the new girls pants.
I was already aware of the "Moped Army" in Kalamazoo, but I witnessed it first hand, as literally hundreds of mopeds rode past our new house last weekend. It was insane. Sounded like the world's largest swarm of mosquitos.

Mopeds are the way to go with gas prices right now. Here's a shot of Noah getting rad on the swings...

Have a kick ass weekend and shit.

Fade to Black
Now Playing: Rolling Stones Paint it black
The last session at Modern is Sunday and I'm not going to make it. We are beginning our big move to Kalamazoo. I am super bummed that I won't be there but I feel good about the last session I did ride. It was at the premier a week ago and this photo means the world to me in terms of this skatepark and the role it has played in my riding life...

My favorite trick on my favorite hip, taken by a good friend, Matt "Buc-E" Newman and stoled directly from VeteranBMXdotcom. I'm sure the Sunday session will be crowded and fun, but I feel good knowing that I never took the place for granted. I rode there with 100 people and I rode there alone, with no other people in the park. I'd like to think that every time meant something substantial. It's a sad time, but it's also a new beginning for me (and the park). It's the "Best of times and the Worst of times". I cherish the memories and friends that I made at that park. Let's KIT in '07 and beyond.
Get well soon to my new neighbor, Sean Newton, who suffered a concussion and skull fracture when a 180 over a bucket when horribly wrong. Twp beans in a bucket...

porker
Now Playing: crazy kentucky evangelist on cable access

I got so excited to take this photo with my phone that I knocked my Coors over and spilled it on my laptop. Not cool. It seems to be working okay so far though. The dude looks like a hardcore singer but he was preaching the word. It was awesome. The super fat lady sitting in the corner was almost more disturbing. Almost. I've been on the road since Monday and it's pretty crazy being away from my family. I miss my boys! I've been running it hard with shop visits, but I have been able to ride a few good sessions. A short one in Coldwater, Michigan (fun little hip but useless otherwise), skated the rad cement no-bikes (that's not rad) park in Ft Wayne, Indiana, then rode the Indianapolis cement park in blinding mid-day sun and heat that was fun, sans the sun and heat. Last night, I met up with Frank and Ernesto from Dans at Ernestos house. Ernesto grilled up some delicious grub, we watched the Etnies video, then went to Louisville park for a really fun session. Sounds great, right? All that was, but we had work to do as well and finished that at 2:30AM, followed by a 7 o'clock wake up call (even earlier for those guys) and an 8:30AM meeting for me. Today was rough. I can't remember being as tired as I was today. I checked into the Super 8 early, took a nap, then rode the Florence cement park. I love that park and it was real fun. The riding has been great, but beyond that it has been sellin' shoes, driving, eating in the car, barely sleeping and missing my family. I get home tomorrow and I'm siked to do so.
I guess most of the mirrors in our house are packed away because I took a look at myself in the mirror tonight and am completely depressed at how fat I've become. I look like the preacher in the above pic almost. My goal is to shift gears and gun it a little more toward my hero, Bruce...

or my other hero, Kelly Baker. Check out his latest blog entry and photo of him blasting air on his circa 1976 Yamaha Motobike on the FBM site. In the mean time, live life like you mean it.

Last Dance
Now Playing: Lucero Just that Kind of Girl

The premier, from my perspective, was almost perfect. Tons of people (and that lil' dog!) came to watch and lots of people were riding the park before and after. Linda, who is the owner of Modern (along with her husband George), was cool enough to keep the park open until 1 am. It was awesome. The Etnies video is insane. I had already watched it a couple times at home but it was so cool to see in jumbo projector-vision. The Deliverance movie was well-received too. The only negative thing that I encountered was one dude being a complete asshole after sneaking in, getting kick out, trying to sneak back in and worst of all, being a total dick to Linda and Dave (a super cool kid that works at Modern). I wrote a really long rant about this, but this shorter version is sufficient.
I realized today that I probably won't get to ride Modern again. Next Sunday is the last session and I'm probably not going to get to ride any of the the sessions before then, including the last one. I have a lot of good memories of that place and have made a lot of good friends there. It would have been five years this July since the park opened (as Vans). I got to ride the very first session, with tons of skaters and chaos. It was awesome. I always felt a little weird about the whole corporate Vans aspect but the park is probably my favorite ever. I know there are a lot of things that could be better and that it's missing some elements (a real wall ride, for example), but the hips and wide-open high-speed lines are my favorite. The quarters, too. I've gone my highest (not that high!) on those six foot quarters and learned lots of things in that park. It's weird and sad that I am moving right as it closes. I'll really miss riding there. I'm sure the new Modern park will be awesome when it opens later this summer, but it's hard to imagine re-creating the hips and lines. It's hard to imagine not seeing the same faces at the park, either.

baby man hands
Now Playing: howard on sirius

I thought I would be a funny guy and post this photo of the Etnies DVD casually tossed into Noah's toy box. The joke was almost on me (and everyone attending the premier tomorrow) when, a few minutes after I'd put my camera away and sat down, my toddler son came walking up to me with a shiney object in his hands to give me. My dumb ass left the DVD in the toybox after I took the pic. Good thing Noah is responsible. I can't wait to watch this video....
Two years ago, I went to New York for the Subdivision tradeshow and into NYC while I was there for the premier of Joe Kid on a Stingray. Kelly Baker and a few other dudes made the trip, including Ralph and Shane from Animal and Catfish. It was a crazy trip into the city, finding a place to park and then literally running through the streets to get to the theatre with minutes to spare. I was still out of breath when Joe Kid started playing. It was awesome. Afterward, we went to eat at this Hare Krishna restaurant. Our small group was sitting at a table, chowing down on blessed food. Out of nowhere, Catfish started laughing. "Kelly's fingers are like little people!". He couldn't stop laughing. Kelly has man hands in every way. That dinner and that day were just amazing. Unforgettable. That was two years ago this week and I still crack up thinking about Kelly's man hands and his brutally honest response to the waiter's inquiry about why none of us had eaten our soup "It pretty much sucked". Kelly is the best.
The point of all this is that when Dylan was born a week ago (today!), one of the first things we noticed were how long his fingers were.

Dylan has little man hands! I hope they stay that way because I have little stubby fingers and I think it has made things like playing basketball and/or guitar more difficult for me. Or, I just suck at both activities. Baby man-hands.
Otto is a true inspiration in my life. He is a unique and genuine individual. THis clip of him riding the big pool at Modern the other day is testimony to how much of a bad ass he is...
Modern is closing on May 27 and tomorrow's video premier is one of the last events at the park. I'm going to miss that place.