Go Skateboarding Day 2011

Go Skateboarding Day is June 21st and has been promoted by the skateboard industry for coming on 10 years now. I was in the Denver area and had the ability to check out the events put on by both CRISIS and 303.

Fuzz and the CRISIS crew took over the Broomfield park for the day

Rich Johnson is an ambassador  - holding court at Broomfield.

303 put on a best trick contest down at the river. This kid did well.

Didn't catch his name, but this kid was the winner.

Lots of people swim in this RAPIDs section of the Platte river.

This guy kept me completely entertained.

I met a pal of 10 foot Ted's for dinner. Nate is a really POSITIVE guy!

Root Down is a localvore hangout. I went with a tofu and brussel sprout dish.

Nate elected for the veggie sliders and sweet potato fries.

Capped off the evening at the 303 premiere of Not Another Transworld Video

Backyard Paradise

I came to COLORADO with two spots in mind that I had to skate. I wasn't leaving the state without skating them. Jerry Hahn had been collecting ramps for years. Two years ago it all came together. He made the MOUNTAINS of TRANNY dvd years ago and I used to buy SLIP SKIN rails from him. I'd worked with him for years, but I'd never met him face to face. I put in the call and got the invite and the session ended up being a rip roarer!

Greasy lays it back at Jerry's.

 I started seeing photos in 2010 and took quick notice of the hip transfer possibilities. Once there I quickly realized they were out of my reach...  JERRY did it backside....

Ramp owner Jerry Hahn blazes a nosegrind.

SE Denver backyard paradise

TIM took a few turns with me, but for the most part it was just me.

Big thanks to Rob Hoovis for putting me in touch with TIM and his wonderland. I am so thankful that the Mott's were able to oblige me!


                             and now for a few shots of some other parks I hit in Colorado..........

I'd never been to the massive Colorado Springs park

Big bowl at Steamboat

 Steamboat Springs has a new skatepark that is dreamy. A bowl of all levels and street area with fun, small elements.

Frontside pivot on one of the small elements.

Kremmling is on the way to Steamboat

Roxborough was wet, but I got 1 trick as it dried.

Winter Park at dawn was chilling but FUN!!!!

Valley View

my view off the back porch of the Oak House

They don't call it Valley View for no reason.  Set up on the hill with a magnificent view of the valley, VALLEY VIEW hot springs is a must for any naturalist rambling through the state of COLORADO. I make a visit anytime I'm in the state and have been doing so for the last 7-8 years.

enjoying a soak in the lower of the 3 upper pools

late evening or early morning....?

the view of the 3 upper pools from the source pool

I dig the clouds in this shot... is "heavenly" a good word?

there's a new deck out to the MEADOW pool

 While I didn't get any photos, I did make two new friends this visit. Ed and Martha live in Denver and we're car camping right next to me. They invited me over for dinner one evening and we'd bump into each other from time to time. We've stayed in touch and you'll see more from them in a few posts.....

you see deer all the time

waterfall pool is my favorite...had it all to myself

 the indoor sauna with cold pool is unmatched in the country....

Back to Boulder

From the Fort I rambled back to Boulder to hang with LZ. We had a ball taking over the streets for some frisbee action. Farkle was played as well.

Check out that technique

I can't recall who was victorious...

was that a 1500 point roll... does it matter?

Rich Johnson of John Doe zine was scouting spots for his king of the road episode and we connected for lunch at VG.

Rich was a good sport about his vegan lunch.

I was able to eat at LEAF two more times. I can't recall what these two dishes were but they were GOOD.

                         

rode my bike up BOULDER CANYON

took a hobo bath in BOULDER CREEK

toured the gorgeous grounds of a ZEN sactuary

viewed adventurous souls rope swing into Boulder Creek

                       Final night in BOULDER I saw a screening of I AM in a sold out theater.

would have loved to stay for the FOUND FOOTAGE FEst

a packed house of in tune people! 

the FORT's skateparks....

One of the most significant reasons I ended up going to school at CSU was because of an indoor skatepark called FORT SKATE....... I just did a search and found no vid clips or photos... but it had a vert ramp, a wooden bowl with PVC coping, a fun mini ramp, and small street course. I asked around and a few pics were sent over. The park lasted during my freshman year 90/91. After I came back from summer vacation in 91, it was closed.

early construction - p:borrowed from Kurt Olesik FB by A Wiess

John Boyd worked at the park... We later shared an APT my Junior year.

Matt Swanson smithing where I spent a lot of my time. p:boyd

Another park wouldn't open til the LATE 90's. Here it is in 2011 and the town has 4 public skateparks all offering something a little different....

1st to open is EDORA.

Some of the fellas from SeanKelly's wedding were out bailing the big bowl at Edora..

After my early morning game of golf, I set to skating.

Zac Powell works with Sean at GRINDLINE SKATEPARKs. Adam Marshall has lines for days in the bowl.

Northside aka the DIY park - back bowls section

Northside - street

The STREET PLAZA park at Fossil Creek way on the south end of town...This was my first time ever figuring out how to get there.

Fossil Creek offers lots to the transitionally challenged.

I enjoy a nice ledge but most are too tall for my old bones.

TheSPRING CANYON skatepark is the newest to the area... phase 1 had the bowl and the few street elements. Phase 2 has the door way and qp section.. 303 MONTAGE of some of the parks...

the doorway is challenging and the POOL is ridiculously HARD

 The Skateboar Market, aka MRKT, has been holding down in the FORT since just after I left town in 94. There is a lot of history on the walls and ceiling at the shop. Marcus and Andy were the OG partners. Then Andy ran it solo and more recently passed the torch so he can concentrate on his nonprofit - LAUNCH.

the MRKT's well stocked DVD case

 It's hard for me to talk about skating in FT COLLINS without thinking about JOHN DOE ZINE and Rich the creator....22 years deep of chaos, fun, and b/w zines... Footage from the most recent anniversay party.

From the road I couldn't tell if it was wet.. looked fun but I was foiled.