Zaxxon
Now Playing: M.I.A.: Paper Planes
Catfish is one of my favorite people ever and this video confirms that he is much more than just a pretty face with a sharp tongue and rap skilz.

 

Good will krunking
Now Playing: Limbeck: People don't change

Dang.

         I was playing pool with Noah (like in the video-we don't use cues) and thinking about how I never knew how to do anything when I was a little kid.  I remember playing softball and with help from my dad, got a hit and took off for third base.  I had no idea what to do.  I didn't know any rules of any games (except maybe pool, ironically).    I remember being amazed in kindergarten, watching a first grader kick a ball super far.  No one showed me how to do any of that.  I'm not bitter or resentful, I figured things out myself, but I want my boys to understand how things work so they don't feel like idiots all the time like I did.  I taught myself to ride a bike.  It was my sister's bike and had a flat tire.  I mean totally flat, with the tire rolling off the rim.  I just posted up on this hill and kept taking roll-runs down it until I decided that I could pedal it.  No training wheels, no one holding on.  Sounds heroic, right?  I was six  years old!  

      As an adult, I realize that this "non-training" really helped me.  BMX was so new (and later, skateboarding), that you kind of had to figure it out yourself.  No one else around here knew much more about BMX than I did.  I suppose that it is why it is still so dear to me and such an important part of my life.  Sappy, I know.  Here are a couple pics from last night in the barn.  If anyone thinks we bought a house with a polebarn just so I could build ramps in it, this photo should confirm otherwise.

 

I got a shipment of next season's work samples last night.  That mountain of boxes is just part of it and it all came at once.  Thanks to Sean for helping me carry them in and then doing a feeble on the weird quarter, then taking this pic of me...

 

 

 

 

 

duhhhhhh
Now Playing: Limbeck: People Don't Change
I've been back and forth across the US twice in the past two weeks and I'm pretty burned out. 

I  turned on my phone (don't tell the FAA) to take this pic as we came over the shore of Lake Michigan.   Traveling wears a mother out.  You know you're flying too much when you get on the shuttle bus and the driver remembers what kind of car you drive.   In Utah last week, I won a runner-up "Rep of the Year" award, which is pretty awesome.

I made trophies like this for a Kzoo jam a couple years ago.  I didn't win one of those though...  I guess I'm better at selling shoes than riding bikes.  I hope not.   I did get to snowboard once, which was fun, but I would have liked to have gone more.  Here's the view from the chairlift.

Utah is kind of a weird place, but the mountains are beautiful.  Dan Closser sent me a link to some great photos from his recent travels.  Homeboy just returned from Europe.  There pics are of he and Beeler Van Orman...

Looks like an amazing time to me.  I spoke to Dan today.  He, Chris Hatchetfield and Fro Ardelean were on the way to Chenga 57.  I'm envious.

   I'm excited about the new Deliverance tees, which should be here this week.  I'm also stoked to ride the barn some more as soon as I shake this cold (third one in two months!).  I'll post pics of both as soon as I can produce them.

  Here's a shot of my old pal McGoo, having a good time on one of his latest creations (stolen from the Biltwell site)...

 

 

 

 

The King is Dead
Now Playing: Built To Spill: Traces

Long live the King...

 

 

   I was in Portland on Friday and got an e mail from my friend Ben that said "RIP Evel".  Oddly enough, Ben lives in Portland, but didn't know that I was there (typical of me, I suppose).  I called him right up and confirmed the bad news.   Ben and I hung out that night for a bit and toasted to the King.  Evel lived 40 years longer than he should have.  He was the toughest motherfucker ever.  To me, he was an inspiration and an idol.   The obsession of a young boy that led to the lifelong obsession with riding bikes and jumping them through the air.   I could go on and on but I won't.  I'm sad, but Evel Knievel will live forever in my heart.

        Dan's Comp has set up a fund for Jimmy Levan and are offering a super rare Shitluck frame, amongst other goodies.  Jimmy is facing huge medical and rehabilitation bills, so if you can donate, please do.

 

 

 

born in a barn
Now Playing: J Church: Where the Trains Go
Don't you hate those old dudes at the skatepark with their full-face helmets and chest protectors? 

Ramps are in effect.  One standard four foot quarter and one mini-TRP bank quarter/sub replica.

Luckily Sean Newton and Levi showed up just as I was about to start on the sub part, we collaborated on this design and it's really fun.  I can't tell you  how stoked I am to have stuff to ride at my disposal.  Time is at an all time premium and if I can get 45 minutes in at the end of the night (like tonight), I'm golden.  If I don't get to ride, I get very cranky.   Just ask my wife.

      I've been talking about it for awhile, but two new Deliverance tees are officially in production.  I'm pretty excited to be doing some new goods.  

     Props 67 is out and it's awesome.  Best issue in awhile, I think.  If you haven't donated to the Stephen Murray fund or helped out Jimmy Levan via the Empire fund, try to do so.  Both of these guys are up against some huge expenses (beyond incredible physical challenges).  I'm not going to lie, I just donated to both today, but it's never too late to help out.   I forgot to mention that FOD Jason Burton ponied up big bucks to buy one of the FBM custom frames for the Stephen fund.  That was a cool project and awesome of Jason to step up.  The frame is a work of art, too....   I stole this pic from the Veteran site.  You can really see the frame, but this is Jason.

 

 

  

 

 

tRansistions Ramp Park

I stole this photo from the Veteran site.  They have complete coverage of some recent TRP happenings.  Michigan legend Jason Suchen recently purchased the park and is breathing new life into it. Hatfield tells me the new stuff is fun.  Support the only BMX park around!   I posted a new video yesterday too, if you missed it, scroll down a lil' bit.

 

 

Self Contained
I did a new web video.   Uh, yeah.  It was all filmed within the perimeters of the property of Deliverance HQ.

 

Three dudes, two tents?
Now Playing: Stooges: 1970

One year ago this week, Dan Closser, Chris Hatfield and I took a trip through the midwest, riding parks and camping out every night.  The Fresh Air Cure video (link on the opening page of the site) is the moving picture documentation of the trip, but here is a slideshow link.   There are captions for the photos if you click on them.

      Having just been outside a little awhile ago tonight, where it is absolutely freezing, it's hard to imagine camping out for four nights at this time of year, but we did.  We were real lucky and dodged some rain bullets for sure.  The second day of the trip it rained most of the day, ruling out the Kokomo park.  We kept driving  all the way to Kentucky, then rode at Ollies.  By that time, things had dried up a bit and we found a nice campground even further south.  We had a pretty sketchy encounter there.  Imagine this, Dan goes off to look for wood near the entrance of the place, while Chris and I go down into the woods and find some fallen branches and stuff that we proceed to drag out for our fire.  Just as we're coming out of the woods, this cop car rolls up with Dan in the back seat.  Keep in mind that it is like midnight on a Wednesday.  We thought we were busted, but we just got a minor scolding and some friendly directions to where we could get some free wood.  It was awesome.  The canyon and cave area is in Ohio and it's crazy to think how many times I have driven through that area, not knowing anything about its existence.  It's really amazing.   The trip was such a good time and one I'll never forget. 

 

 

good websites
Now Playing: Descendents: Wendy (on vinyl)

There is an awesome video of the contest at the Flow on The Come Up site.   Along with The Come Up, one of my favorite websites to check out of late is DefGrip.  There are tons of good videos, bike checks and links to tons of hot shit on both of these interwebbers.  The new Flow is so good and don't forget Rays.  Here's a shot of Davey Coop from last March....

 

 

 

DIY
Now Playing: Devo: Gates of steel
I've always been a fan of the DIY approach to life.  Do It Yourself.  For one, it sometimes hard to get help and two, it usually complicates matters.  I'd rather spend longer doing it myself.   My father-in-law built a little ramp for my bro-in-law a few years ago, but he's into heavy metal and girls now, so the ramp wasn't seeing much action.  A sunday afternoon breakdown and monday night build up resulted in this for me:

It's small, but it's fun.  I plan to add more ramps and set them up in more of a half-pipe position, sort of like this...

   Noah and I built the cardboard park for his little motorcycles.   He's into it.  

      I'm always stoked to see Deliverance product on someone I don't know.  One of the new FBM guys, Joel Barnet, is rocking a Del. hat on the site on Monday.  Thanks dude!  If you're like me, you check the FBM site every day (at least once) and already saw it.  

     I've been attempting to get high tech over here, trying to edit web videos and archive old stuff.  I got this analog to digital converter thing that caused an error I've never seen before, which was scary.  This was the scene last night.

I must have done something right, because I'm typing on this same computer right now.   Is it ironic that the nine ball is at the forefront ?

      The weather has been  hit and miss here lately, but yesterday was super nice and I got some time in on my trails.  they are the best they've been yet and it was great to be outside and hitting some jumps.

       The five year anniversary of Deliverance is coming up and there are not one, but two new shirts in the works.   Stay posted....