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My First Skateboard

5/21/2021

So I recently went out and did the damn thing. That's right, I finally bought a version of my first-ever skateboard.

Nostalgia finally got the best of me.

Now, keep in mind this isn't the exact board, but very close. Well, sort of. My original one was green and I can't for the life of me remember the wheels I had on it. I think they were green too. I do remember them being really soft and stuck out a little bit on the sides when I stood on the board.

Needless to say, I am stoked. I have been on the lookout for this board for a while now. However, I think I could have probably purchased this sooner, but for some reason I kept thinking mine never had a tail; common for roller derby boards?

What about you? Do you have your first board? If not, are you going to get one?

Next up I need to pick up a Jeff Grosso Toybox board as it was my first official "real" skateboard.

In the meantime, what kind of wheels do you think I should throw on this one?

Shout Out To All The Fence Hoppers

3/27/2021

So, today I did something that I haven't done in a long, long time.

I hopped a fence.

Not some tiny little 4' high fence either. I'm talking a legit fence! (see pic above)

I wish I could say I did it gracefully though, but I just wanted to give a quick shout out to all the skaters out there still hopping fences for the cause. Only because I think I have officially retired, again, from hopping fences.

Before today, if you asked me the last time I had hopped a fence I would have no clue. It's been so long that the muscles that I used to do such a task were (and still are) screaming at me. Hopping a fence is no joke and should only be done by seasoned professionals. And the funny thing is, my fence hopping today had nothing to do with skateboarding. Not one bit. There was no benefit for me other than getting my hoodie and HP blanket that was left behind after my son's soccer practice this morning. That's it!

With that being said, I will now forever remember this day. I will remember getting home and asking my kids if they remembered to pick up my hoodie and the blanket my daughter used to hang out on. They both looked at me and said, "No". I knew right then and there just what had to be done. And I'm the type that if something like this comes up I go and handle it right away. No way in hell am I going to let this wait. I needed to go get our stuff now, before someone takes it!

I remember telling my wife that I'd be back. She replied with, "Do you want us to come?"

I said, "Nope. I've got this. Just need to hop the fence real quick."

I had no idea what I was in for. I thought it would be so easy. You know, like riding a bike, or in our case, a skateboard. I'd just hop on over, grab the two items, and then HOP back over. Easy.

Upon arrival, I did a quick stroll past the main gate. It was locked. We had been the last soccer group to leave so that was no shock to me. I was hoping for some sort of miracle or something. It was all good in my mind though. So I walked back towards where the two items were as they hadn't moved at all --- sitting in the nice sun on the bottom of the bleachers.

So, I did what most 40+ year olds do, I positioned myself directly behind my target, made sure to look left and then right. I obviously didn't want anyone to see me, just in case I did some AFV worthy footage, so I had to wait for a cyclist to pass.

Once he zipped by I placed my hands on top of the fence and jumped up as if to position my belly on top of the fence. However, once I tried to put my foot in one of those damn chain link fence holes, my shoes slipped out and down and I did as well, just barely escaping getting impaled.

My arms instantly buckled as well. I felt defeated. I had attempted to use some muscles that have been sleeping for quite some time and the fact that I chose a wobbly section of the fence wasn't helping either. I tried again, using even more energy to make it up and over, but had no luck. Slipped again!

It was at this point when I seriously considered getting back in the car and calling it quits. I was perfectly fine pulling up to my house empty-handed. I didn't care. But then the skater in me kicked in. No way in hell am I going to let this fence defeat me. I needed to get over that fence and right at that very moment when my "fight or flight" adrenaline kicked in.

I looked left, then right, placed my hands on the top of the fence and gave it one last shot. I got up. I was half-way there! I then finished the deed and didn't even get my adidas sweat pants caught. I was on the other side!

My first thought was, "Oh, shit. No way in hell will I be able to get back. What the hell do I do now?". I almost had a mini panic attack. I was going to be that guy getting busted for hopping a fence for a hoodie. At least it could have been for something like skateboarding. You know?

But, much like in the movies, there is always someone or something that the protagonist stumbles upon to help them face the dragon in Act 3. For me, that was a small metal container by the main gate. It was my out! All I needed to do was get on top of that, which still took some effort as my arms were like wet noodles at this point. I also had extra protection to get over the chain link fence too -- my blanket.

I placed the blanket at the top of the fence and proceeded to climb and roll over the fence one last ( and I do mean last) time. I was free. It kind of reminded me of that scene in Shawshank. It was such an amazing moment. Felt as if I finally landed a trick that I had been battling for hours.

However, I still had one more thing to do. Drive home with noodle arms.

So, like I said earlier, shout out to tall the fence hoppers out there still doing it for the cause. I don't think I need to do that again, ever. When was the last time you hopped a fence? Should there be an age restriction? Do you think I will be able to still hop fences at 60? I know skaters like Brandon Turner will be able to.

Next time I will just swing by Home Depot and purchase bolt cutters.

Stop Hurting Your Local Skate Shop

3/1/2021

Pic via Circle-A's Instagram

Well, it appears that my local was hit by a smash and grab today.

Nothing pisses me off more than seeing this. And I'm sure I am not alone.

My first question is always, "Why?"

Why would you do that to any independent or small business? Why would you put their future in jeopardy for some boards, shoes, sweatshirts, etc.? Why would you risk serving jail time for some wheels and trucks?

Skate shops are hit especially hard from smash and grabs because their profit margins are already slim-to-none. I've had so many great experiences and met so many cool peeps at my local shops over the years. They also provide access to gear and merchandise that some members of the community might not have access to (internet, etc.).

So, once again, I ask, "Why?"

Do the individuals (punks) doing these kind of things just not give a shit about anyone but themselves? I'm pretty sure I can answer that.

Nevertheless, one benefit to living in 2021 is that by now most businesses are able to afford great security cameras and a rather decent price. I can't wait to see and share the footage and/or pics when they are available.

Circle-A Skateboards has been around since 1997 and I'll be damned if some punks are going take our little shop away. If you know any information or anything that could lead to finding out the culprits behind this latest crime please reach out to me or Bob at Circle-A. (408) 995-0677.

Also, if you have a local skate shop that has been hit recently drop their info below so we can help spread the word (either on this blog or my podcast).

I thank you in advance.

Nyjah's Olympic Dreams Are Slipping Away

2/20/2021

If you've been following my work for the past year (since 3/13 to be exact) you know that the ongoing pandemic and its relation to skateboarding has been a hot spot for me. In fact, you can probably recall the two weeks that I completely lost my mind on the podcast around that time.

I said what I said and I don't regret it one bit. Yet, here we are almost an entire year since the world shut down and, yes, it does appear that we are inching closer and closer to whatever sense of normalcy our entire planet will be blessed with soon.

With that being said, I wanted to talk about Nyjah Huston's latest misdemeanor charge of hosting a Covid-19 superspreader party.

Yep, you heard that right and I know this comes as a shock to not a single human on the planet.

My first thought was, "Just one party!?".

Even if you don't follow Nyjah odds are you have seen retweets or some footage of his antics on your social media timeline over the years. He continues to be the most polarizing rider on the planet by way of constantly doing things his way or the highway (@ 104 MPH+ - allegedly). He's since left Element for some unknown reason and still appears to have aspirations of performing on the biggest stage of them all, the Olympics. Well, at least I think.

I know I've joked about his short movie that he created last year stating the fact that he will be an entire year older when/if the games begin, but at this point it is something to take very seriously. More often that not, I wonder if he truly wants it. On the regular, he goes from looking as if he is the absolute front-runner to win gold to acting as if he doesn't even realize what is truly at stake.

Sure, he is only 26 and technically a "kid", but the fact that he still views himself as invincible just might come back to kick him in the butt. In fact, I feel it may have already started. Or be too late.

I think the average age when an adult finally figures out his/her life or "get's it" (I was looking for the word "maturity") is around 25.

We are officially at that sweet spot now. That proverbial "fork in the road". Sure, not all people are created equal, but I feel the next few years are literally going to make or break Nyjah's career. I 100% believe that. We are at that point, right here, right now. We've seen plenty of maskless parties, reckless behavior on and off the road (car and motorcycle), and signs that a shift in either direction is inevitable.

He also seems to be struggling to stay healthy these past few months and just might be losing his magic touch by the minute. I can hear some of you now, "Dude, Rick. You've got it all wrong, man. He's fine. Just shut up and go push mongo or something."

I don't know. There's just something about this latest misdemeanor charge that is resonating with me. Something is different this time around. And not in a good way.

Considering his struggle to stay healthy, while continuing to maintain his current lifestyle, the last thing he needs is time away from "training" in order to appear in court. But nevertheless, something tells me that with his money and notoriety his team of managers/lawyers has his back.

Could he actually get sentenced to jail some time? Maybe.

Will he actually serve time? I think you know the answer.

However, there is still something very serious to consider here.

And it's not just the fact that this recent charge is going to be living in his head rent free for the next few months/year. Sure, he seems to have a unique talent to stay laser focused on the task at had, under very high pressure situations, but the fact that he is now lumped in to the now 20,000 Covid-related deaths in L.A. might be some cause for alarm.

I'm just going to come right out and say it, unless Nyjah decides to shift his priorities, his focus, his crew, and regimen his hopes and dreams of Olympic glory are going to end in a nightmare. Plain and simple.

I feel that it can go two possible ways from here.:

Going with the most extreme scenario first. He will continue to plug along as typical Nyjah, throwing maskless parties, living the high adrenaline life, loving the publicity, with not an ounce of worry in the world. I'm talking going all in on the SEND mode which could mean some sort of disqualification or complete removal from the U.S. Olympic team.

Extreme? Yes. Probable? Very.

Now to the least extreme scenario. Nyjah, due to his reckless behavior, will somehow end up injured or unable to compete. He will either stall the misdemeanor charges or find a way to get out of them from the help of his team of lawyers. He will then go on to make his own brand and hope that his previous work on a board will carry on his legacy. This whole opportunity that he dreamed of will be a total waste.

I really do feel that this recent charge is going to have way more detrimental effects on Nyjah than he thinks. Yes, he's clearly shown us that he is capable of doing amazing things under insane amounts of pressure, but as I said, this one feels different. It is different. It should serve as a huge wakeup call for him (and his team).

Otherwise, it will end up being that the very thing (Covid-19) that stalled his debut in the Olympics will end up contributing to the demise of his skateboarding career for good. Talk about a double whammy...and irony.

We'll just have to what and see what happens next. It's your move, Nyjah.

Nyjah Huston to Pizza Skateboards!?

1/27/2021

Photo by Ivan Torres on Unsplash

It has been a full week since we got the news that Dominick Walker, Chris Colbourn, and Nyjah Huston parted ways with Element Skateboards and there has been plenty of speculation as to where these riders might end up, especially Nyjah. And, although I'm pretty sure all three will bounce back sooner than later, most of the focus has indeed been on Jah as he continues to be one of the most polarizing skaters on the planet.

I was able to break this news via the No Mongo Podcast with Nathaniel Odom AKA Losko (EP 100) last week and we both agreed that he would most likely go on to create his own thing, his own brand, and one that he can control. Only because the guy clearly is a rebel and blazes his own path, literally.

However, the more I thought about it the more I'm reminded that skateboarding really doesn't need anymore board companies either. We are all good. At capacity. See my post from 2019 here. It's gotten to the point that I can't keep up with all the new and latest brands. So yes, this is more of a selfish take, but one that I'm sure others can agree with. Too many board companies!

But then again, outside of starting his own brand, we couldn't really come up with a team that he would be a perfect match for. Like zero options. He just isn't a good match for most of the core brands, or at least ones that could afford to have him on board. So, over the past few days I started brainstorming some teams that might serve as potential for his next board sponsor along with some thoughts.

Here's a list of some possible options with my gut reactions.:

Santa Cruz - nope
Primitive - maybe, but would be interesting
April - it could work. He's got the same work ethic as Shane
Thank You - nope
Creature - nope
FA - maybe, leaning towards nope
Deathwish - nope, but he seems to be on one as of late
Baker - nope. although his name in Baker font could work
Toy Machine - nope
Powell - nope
Habitat - nope
Polar - nope
Zero - nope

And these are just some of the ones I jotted down off the top of my head. However, there is one other option that might be a fit for him as well. Now hear me out...Pizza Skateboards. Pizza is one of those brands that pretty much everyone hates and would be a perfect fit for him. Could it work? Of course it could. Would it get a lot of attention? Yep, but I keep going back to the idea that if he does start up his own brand he will be able to benefit from the exposure (free advertising) of the Olympics. This serves as a huge boost to any fresh or upcoming brand. Definitely something to think about.

Although Nyjah going to Pizza is highly unlikely I figured I'd at least provide some examples as to why his departure from Element is kind of a big deal, on many fronts.

Where do you see him landing? Will he do his own thing? Could he team up with Leticia Bufoni on something? Or do you even care?

Curious to hear your thoughts below.

More TV and Less iPhone

1/22/2021

Photo by Michał Lis on Unsplash

I've never been one to make New Year's Resolutions and this year is no different.

However, today I am going to go on record and say that there is definitely one thing that I'd like to change about me in 2021 and beyond.

With that being said, I'm here to let your eyes and brain know that moving forward I am going to do my very best to watch more skate videos on my TV and less on my iPhone. Wow. Just saying that unloads a ton of guilt I have been carrying this past year. I've always watched the latest contests, etc. on my TV, mainly due to the convenience of it already being on cable/Hulu, but I've never really paid too much attention to my skateboarding viewing habits.

For as long as I can remember, I'd simply just pull out my phone or flip open my laptop and zone out -- never really taking the time to consider the fact that the filmmaker maybe had other hopes for our viewing preference. Maybe he/she/they wanted it to be consumed on something that is plugged in. I feel that films are meant to be displayed on the biggest screens possible. You know, so one can enjoy the sights and sounds in its full glory. And skate videos are no exception.

Sure, firing up my phone to check out the latest Quartersnacks Top 10 is way easier than fighting for TV time in our living room, but how awesome would it be to watch it on something larger than a 4 or 5 inch screen? Very awesome, actually. Well, at least that is how I feel.

It has been estimated that up to 94% of people watching TV also have a smartphone in their hands as well. I know I pretty much always have mine within reach. It's nice to know that I always have an escape from commercials and informercials if need be. However, the problem is, outside of sports or an occasional movie, I don't really watch that much TV. I let my wife or kids have the remote and I just mess on my laptop or phone.

So, in order for me to accomplish my goal of watching more skate videos on my TV I need to become a better at managing my time during the day/week. And, due to the graphic nature of most skate videos this means I will most likely be watching said videos after my kids go to bed -- which at times is as late as 9-10PM. That's fine. I don't plan on ditching my afternoon green tea anytime soon.

Also, my plan is that this will only be a temporary situation until I get the No Mongo Studio set up in the garage for the podcast. Once I have that set up I plan on having at least on TV and/or a projector with a 100" (or more) to check out my skate videos on. Maybe I'll call it the "No Mongo Cave". Eh, probably not.

Until then I'm just going to have to get used to putting down my damn phone and asking my wife and kids for more TV time. Plain and simple. This is something that I'm not just doing for myself, but for the filmmaker as well. I hope you will join me. Or, if you are already doing this please welcome me to the club with open arms.

How do you consume your skateboarding content? Do you notice you use one particular device more than another? Am I the only one that is planning on a larger screen than my phone/laptop?

Curious to hear your thoughts below. Also, let me know if you have any good projector recommendations.

I Want to get a Freestyle Board

11/19/2020

Pic via Pinterest, Unknown

Let me just get straight to the point of this blog post. I want to get a freestyle board.

There I said it, damn it. Wow. That felt great to say.

As I inch closer and closer to my 46th birthday, I've come to the realization that I will most likely NOT have a mid-life crisis. I think I'm in the clear. Maybe. Well, that is unless I do live to 100 and might possibly face one in the next 6 years. Odds are I am in the clear though. Whew.

With that being said, over the past few years I've had the sudden desire to own a freestyle board.

I've only ever ridden one maybe once or twice over the past few decades. It just was never a thing back in the day and my core crew never got into it either. In fact, I don't recall ever meeting a freestyle rider in the wild. Like never. Not one.

I only ever saw footage of Primo, Harris, Per, Mullen, etc. from the old Powell videos. And, more often than not, I would simply fast-forward past any freestyle (and vert -- that's changed over the years) footage on skate videos. No disrespect to the riders, I just wasn't into it, but I kind of am now.

Back in it's peak I was just too busy riding popsicle style boards and shredding all over town.

However, with nostalgia being such a hot thing these days it was only a matter of time until we started seeing all of the boards we loved and broke over the years make a return via reissues - including freestyle boards. And I want one.

I think I want to go with the Rodney Mullen, but am curious to see what's out there these days. I know there are some available and freestyle riders do exist.

How does one go about buying a freestyle board? I'm pretty sure the local shops aren't stacking inventory of them. Maybe only online?

Freestyling looks fun. And hard. And silly at the same time.

Rodney Mullen made it look so easy back in the day. He is/was so good that he was able to transition into regular size boards with no problem at all. Check out Rubbish Heap to see what I mean. The guy is a freak of nature and helped invent many of today's staple tricks.

What about you? You into freestyle? Have any tips or board recommendations? Am I having a mid-life crisis after all?

Please don't answer that last question. Not yet at least.

No Masker in the Hanger!

11/18/2020

If you've been following my posts or podcast for a while now you know I am a big fan of vert. I could never skate vert (although I tried -- never dropped in), but I have a huge amount of respect for skaters who have the ability to fly through the air like it's nothing. With no fear. That feeling is something that I will never be able to experience outside of maybe video games or lucid dreams.

With that being said, I was very excited to see some new footage / contest from Banger in the Hanger. However, this event went down in Texas, where as I type this blog post, where they're currently are at 1 MILLION coronavirus cases and 20,278 deaths.

So before I even clicked PLAY I was already somewhat hesitant. Sure, this ramp is "outdoors-ish" as it has a huge hanger that is CAT 3 certified, but how were the skaters going to function. Would it be limited to 10 riders (or less) at a time? Would there be copious amounts of hand sanitizer and masks toss around. Would there be footage of at least one person showing some responsible acts of any kind?

**DRUM ROLL**

The short answer is NOPE. No way in hell. Not at all. Nice try. Better luck next time.

The first video I watched was from Bucky Lasek's YouTube page "Buck Yeah" and right away I knew I was in for an interesting ride. Literally. He picked up his long-time friend, both not wearing masks, and proceeded on to the event.

I mean, giving Bucky all the benefit of doubt, I am going to assume that he was recently tested, as well as his friend, who had just flown into town. **Some sarcasm**

However, I guess I do have to give Bucky some credit as he did toss over some masks to his buddy about a minute into the video. It was awkward, but that would be the last time one would ever be seen throughout the entire 11 minute video.

Bucky parked and both made the trek to the huge vert ramp/hanger.

Bucky then went on to introduce many of his friends and some of the riders. There were kids of all ages, boys, girls, etc. I do have to say, at least everyone was wearing protective gear because nothing looks worse than vert footage without any pads or a helmet. I just looks weird to me. So golf claps to all the riders who showed up and represented proper! Don't skate vert without gear. It looks lame, okay.

But back to the video know and how my overall excitement went straight to disappointment. Now keep in mind I live in CA where our coronavirus cases are on a huge increase and spike now. As I type this we are now in stage PURPLE. What that really means I don't know because my family has been operating the exact same since MARCH. Sure, we've gone out and about, but nothing like I just witnessed go down in TX. What a strange site to see.

Much like when I lost my mind on episode 56 "Keep Calm and Stay Home" of the No Mongo Podcast I am getting close to another blow up soon. Maybe this post will help ease my brain a bit and calm me down.

What is it about skateboarders and coronavirus?

So many of us (not me) don't even believe it's real. Or have the thought that "It won't impact me", etc.

Why is that?

I truly want to know.

Does it just not apply to skateboarders? Are skateboarders immortal?

If you think about it not a lot of skateboarders have admitted to testing positive to the virus, but I'm sure there are a lot. Is there a big name rider that caught it?

I do know that many well-known skateboarding legends have gone on to post stupid shit like conspiracies or lame memes and get unfollowed by me though. So many did that.

Anyway. Being that we are going to easily be carrying this virus/pandemic over into the new year this concerns me greatly. Much like I bitched about way back in March, if everyone would have just joined together and hunkered down for three weeks or so this would have most likely not lasted until now. We are coming to the end of November and there is no end in sight. All because we just had to keep "sending it".

Seeing very well known pros like Bucky, Hawk, Hosoi, Staab, Tony Mag, and many more at this event not even attempting to pretend we are in the middle of a global crisis was disappointing. These pros have an opportunity to influence real change in the way skateboarders view the pandemic.

"Hey kids, be sure to wear a mask and wash your hands!" -- (not one pro)

Which one is going to eventually step up and lead by example?

If I think about it, I have seen some skaters wear masks over the past 8 months, but it's not a lot. Off the top of my head Shaun White and Chaz Ortiz come to mind. Other than that I'm drawing blanks. Sure, wearing a mask while skating sucks and many would say that it makes the footage or pics look lame, but if we don't get a handle on this virus we are going to see way more masks on film in the future.

Again, which one is going to eventually step up and lead by example? Is there someone that has that I may have missed?

I have a feeling that I will be waiting a long time. I'll be sure to not hold my breath underneath this mask.

Skating Solo in 2020 and Beyond

8/31/2020

Pee Wee Herman said it best, "I'm a loner, Dottie. A rebel."

When it comes to skateboarding, more often than not, I feel the same way. Even more so during the latest global pandemic we are experiencing.

See, for the past two decades I've pretty much just skated by myself. Part of it by choice. Part of it due to the fact that pretty much most of my original crew have either moved away or we just simply drifted apart. All with no drama I might add. These things just happen. We've all experienced it. We can usually see it coming too.

It was right around the time I met my girlfriend (now wife) when my skating slowly began to take less priority in my day/week/month/year. I never quit though. In fact, I remember going skating with one of my friends a time and my girlfriend rode her roller skates and watched us. But nevertheless, it happens. Friends then begin to reach out less and less assuming that you are busy or don't want to skate anymore. That is somewhat true for me as well.

Working on a relationship is hard work. And it never ends. Ever. Well, unless the individuals move on or pass away, etc., but you get my point. And over the years as our social circles (non-skaters) began to grow we found ourselves being insanely busy. Too busy in hindsight. I plan on saying "No" a lot more come post pandemic.

Anyway, once we added kids (we had twins) into the mix it was pretty much guaranteed that my skating time was going to be an uphill battle. And it was. Still is. But I always make some time for it. In fact, my hashtag these days is #skateontheweekend instead of #skateeverydamnday.

However, because of this pandemic I have had plenty of time to think. Plenty of time to dwell on the fact that I am not happy with the amount of skating I am getting in every week. The good thing about having a crew is that there is always someone there to help push each other should you not be feeling it that particular day, etc. I do miss that part of it all. Nothing beats that vibe.

I mentioned on the podcast (Episode 16 - Skateboarding Regrets) that one of my main regrets upon looking back is that I didn't film enough. I just hated filming. I like the outcome of getting the make and being able to share and enjoy said trick, but I hated filming. Now, I wish I had way more footage than I do to show my kids or to just get me pumped up to go ride. Go figure.

Riding solo in 2020 is becoming more of a challenge for me. Maybe it's because my favorite local park, Lake Cunningham, has been shut down since March. I miss that place so much. I always dig the vibe and energy there. Even if I'm usually the oldest dude riding around. I do plan on building a small quarterpipe in my backyard to keep me busy/sane. That was originally slated for this summer, but will have to wait a couple more months.

I guess what I'm really trying to say is that I am going to try and make more of an effort to grow back up a crew. Even if it's a bunch of us #dadbods rolling around slashing curbs. Sure, I am a loner when it comes to my skating, but it doesn't always have to be that way.

I think by getting the momentum going on growing my squad (even if it's just one other skater) now it will help me out even more as we are planning on moving out of state in a couple of years. This experience will definitely help.

Let me ask you this, do you ride solo? Prefer it? A combo of both?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.

Also, let me know how you meet new skaters in your city. Do you use social media? Bump into locals and just chat it up? Or do you just make your non-skater friends pick up a board and ride?

Let me know your thoughts below. Cheers.

Podcast Episode 73 Transcript

7/22/2020

NO Mongo Podcast - EP 73 - Mason and Baca

What’s going on. Welcome to the No Mongo Podcast. A weekly show about all things skateboarding. My name is Rick Bata. I’m on Twitter and Instagram. @rickbata. You can also email the show nomongopodcast@gmail.com And if you are hearing my voice in your ears right now shoot me a quick message or @ me and let me know where you are tuning in from. Looking forward to hearing from you. Let’s get started.

I wanted to dedicate this segment to the the skater who has pretty much all skateboarders talking. And not just talking…tossing around the SOTY acronym. Mason Silva and Nike SB dropped a 6:12 part last week and it took the world by storm. It was practically flawless - from the trick selection, to the outfits, I thought Roxy Music was a great match. It was hammer after hammer after hammer. I guess if I had to list one thing - my biggest complaint would be that this edit was almost too long. Long in the fact that it was a lot of awesome to consume in one sitting.

Mason was locked in the whole time. You could see it in his eyes. Sure, the guy is stoic, but I loved that they showed some emotion — which helped confirm that he is indeed human. I was getting a little worried there for a second. Right around 22 seconds in. Two signs of emotion. And peep that smile.

Now, I simply could just mention that I loved every trick, but that would be taking the easy way out. And because this is a podcast that just wouldn’t be appropriate. So here are some tricks that really stood out to me.

Right from the start that board slide to back blunt around :32 in. So good. And I love how they left in the failed nollie back flip 180 attempt. I bet when/if they release a Rough Cut it’s just going to be that clip on repeat.

And then they cut to the title credit — notice that it’s only his first name. MASON. Much, like… Madonna. All capitol letters too. Now that’s a statement title sequence if you ask me.

How huge was that back big flip at 1:22? He caught it perfectly and that land. So clean. So fast. I didn’t truly appreciate at one until like the 3rd time I watched it.

His front 3 around 1:25 was so clean, but you have to pause it around 1:24. Look at his feet. That back foot lifts up a little then he finishes the rotation, clearing that curb.

Then the very next trick too me a couple viewings for my brain to register. That bank to 5050 on that fence pole. Oh, by the way, peep the angle of that pole. Are you kidding me, Mason? You might hear from my lawyer regarding that one.

I don’t think he could have done that backside 180 up that brick 4 more perfectly, then to fakie flip down the 5 on the other side. Bravo, man. Bravo. If you don’t believe me check it out 2:06 when you watch it. Perfection.

The back to back manual tricks at the Verizon banks @ 3:32 blew my mind. I’ve never been to that spot and I’m sure the video doesn’t even come close to doing it justice, but those tricks were so damn gnarly. How did you do those, Mason? And look at all the peeps watching him.

The Fakie hardflip @ 3:56. He even had to clear that pointed ledge part. And we’re not even 4 minutes in yet.

Here’s one I had to immediately rewind and rewatch. The frontside big spin @ 4:21. It went from B&W to color. When you watch it pause right at 4:24. That angle certainly doesn’t do it justice. The precision needed to pull that one off is insane. I can’t wait to see the rough cut on that one — unless he did it first try. Which is highly likely. Those kind of walkways/ramps are, what, like 4 feet wide? At best. And he’s coming in hot from left to right towards the wall. Very nice.

Another smile at 4:30. Pat yourself on the back man. You deserve it.

I was caught off guard on that front heel at Blubba — I thought he was going to front blunt it. Nope. He decided to front heel the damn thing. The run up got him that extra boost he needed.

Here’s another one I had to rewind. His half cab to 5050 was bonkers. In fact, pause it right @ 4:53. Look at how far back he pops. I mean he has to to clear the curb first, then have enough speed and pop to hit the rail. That ground looks pretty rough too. So glad they gave us two angles for that one.

How about that back 3 at 5:02. Not only did he have to clear the wall, he had to clear the street. So much pop needed. That one must have felt so good.

And then, of course, his ender. The cover worthy ender. Rocking the SB’s, Rocking the Hoodie. He made that one look so easy. Most peeps would get wrecked trying that. In fact, most of us, myself included would never even attempt that one. Nope. Not me.

All in all. this video kicked major ass. Plain and simple. Is Mason now a SOTY front runner? Short answer is…hell yes. And I’m just going to leave it at that. What are your thoughts on this one?

Next up, I HAVE to talk about Sammy Baca’s 11 minute My War video. I knew I’d be talking about it before I even clicked play. This one, too, lived up to all the hype and then some. In fact, I’m going to say, that this one might be THE best MY WAR of all time.

If they decided to end the series right now it will be on a high note and definitely leaving us wanting more, but I would not be mad at that decision. There are so many reasons why this resonated with me so much. I don’t think anyone will be able to top this one though.

Just the fact that it took him about 2 years and about 12 different outfits to finally get the make on his 27th visit is insane. Twenty Seven visits.

And it’s not just your average trip to your local spot. Nope. Sammy, lives in Vegas and the spot is in LA. Lives in Vegas — spot is in L.A. He didn’t fly via private jet for those attempts either. He didn’t cruise in on a chopper or Porsche 911 Turbo S.

Nope. He took the bus back and forth. A route that is normally about 4 hours in a car, but took 6 hours. 6 hours. One way! He also only did this on the weekends and was still able to get his kids to school on Mondays. Straight up dedication. No way in hell you can hate on that.

So, 27 times at about 12 hours round trip is 324 hours on the road. That’s not including the countless hours of attempts. Some days there were shorter than others depending on how wrecked he got. For one trick. This was a full on War. Sammy even said it wasn’t even about the trick, it was about the spot and it was ON.

I enjoyed all the opening images, especially of the lights @ :24. See, I didn’t really notice the lights when I originally saw the video. Or how he had to duck the right amount to clear them. Couple of attempts his beanie tapped them a bit. It was cool to see everything from multiple angles this time around. Makes the spot even more gnarly.

I kept thinking during all the failed attempts that it could have easily gone much, much worse than they did. The small gap on the other side of the rail closest to the wall could have snatched his foot or leg and it would have been game over. Even the gap between the steps and the wall as well. That could have eaten up his leg for good as well if he had landed awkwardly. There were so many potential threats for this one.

Loved the story about the timing of the Baker 4 release too and how the Boss gave him one more shot at it. The ticking clock. Knowing damn well he is going to be right in his decision and that Baca would get the clip. It was like something out of a movie. Sammy knew what time it was and got the make, BUT, yes there is one key BUT in this whole story.

There’s one key piece here. He could get another shot at it, but only after he trimmed his nose at bit. At first, he wasn’t having it, but eventually took heed. And you know what, spoiler alert, that was the only tweak he needed to do. It’s kind of funny.

Think about that for a second. After hundreds upon hundreds of hours dedicated to this trick.

After literal, blood (evidence of that was seen on the wall, his shirts, etc) and sweat, and getting absolutely wrecked on pretty much each and every occasion. Even after getting older and seeing his kids get two years older in the process and he finally did it. After all that, it was only a matter of about an inch or two that determined his fate. That’s it. Andrew had an idea. Vocalized it. Sammy trimmed the nose and got it. Fade out. Roll Credits.

Clearly, Sammy was stoked and I bet he rode that high as long as possible. However, I bet like 5 hours into that final bus ride home he snapped out of a nap, dripping in sweat, heart racing and , screaming, “Thanks for nothing, Boss. You couldn’t have mentioned this, I don’t know, maybe 23 trips ago? Not cool. Not cool. ” Meanwhile, the bus driver adjusts his mirror to see what was going on, but Sammy has since gone back to sleep. Just snoring away. Only about an hour from home.

Once again, this one is my favorite of the My War series. Let me know yours. Also, if you are fairly new to the show and are a fan of Sammy’s be sure to circle back to episode 42 where i talk about Baca 4 and more.

And finally, I wanted to give a shout out to Scott Loyst AKA spot the loonie on Instagram. He’s got a great blog with over 375 skate park profiles. Needless to say, this guy has been hitting the pavement and it has been cool to follow him on his journey to hit as many skateparks as possible. Very cool, indeed. Give him a follow and check out his blog as well. I’ll include the link in the show notes, but it’s scott dreams of skate parks dot blog spot dot com. Keep up the great work, Scott.

That’s all I’ve got for today. Thank you for tuning in and allowing me to be part of your day. I’ll talk to you next week. Be safe out there. See ya.

Author

Skateboarding saved my life.

Not that I was on the verge of becoming a criminal or on the path to self-destruction anything, but more in the sense that it molded me into the confident person I am today.

I started this site to share some of my experiences I've had along the way and to also meet some awesome new people much like yourself.

Cheers.

Rick
@rickbata

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