Skated back to my childhood

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Like most kids growing up in the US suburbs, I saw kids skateboarding, biking or rollerblading around the neighborhood all summer long.  For any kid, there was nothing more fun than just hanging out with your friends, cruising the hood and causing trouble on those lazy summer days.  Not only was it fun to roll around town, it was a necessary mode of transportation.  For me, I couldn’t wait to get my own set of wheels.  My first board was from the toy department at K-Mart.  It was nothing fancy and it came with the standard break pad on the tail and grind strips in the middle.  That board was fun, and got me around.  I also sure fell plenty of times trying to skate off homemade ramps and jumps.  Throughout the summer, you’ll probably see me with band-aids or bruises somewhere on my body.  That was all necessary parts of growing up.

Fast forward now to more than a dozen years later, and I’m rediscovering the fun of riding on a skateboard.  I have wanted to get a new board for a few years now, but after picking up Nigel Ong’s Skate First video at the AnD party, I knew I had to get a new one.  So yesterday I found my way to the 8Five2 shop to pick out a new board.  The staff was very helpful at the shop and got me just want I need.  So here's the Alien Workshop deck by Jay Croft that I picked out.  I got myself a set of independent trucks and some spitfire wheels too.  They offer a great package price at the 8Five2, so I recommend going there if you want to get a board.

Btw, if you haven't seen the skatefirst video, check it out and learn some tricks.  It's got some great music from Audiotraffic, Ryan Hui and 24 Herbs.  Warren did a great job instructing on some tricks too. 

For all of you who skated as a kid and haven't done it in a while, go out and get a new board and start skating.  Ditch that car that you been driving and ride around on a board for a change.