So here it is, the first ever longboard session. Meet outside Cheapskates at 6, skate through town, meet new frends, ride new boards and end up at The Dux for a cold pint.

No words needed. Just watch.

Now for those of you who know me and actually read this here blog, you might be aware that I am uprooting from Blighty and moving with my family half way around the globe to New Zealand. Next Week.

It’s been a pretty amazing couple of years. Meting Julia on the 3rd day of SkateNewZealand, getting engaged, having Noah and getting married. I really couldn’t be happier.

Moving to NZ will be an amazing adventure, all three of us are so bloody excited to get there.

This pic really doesn’t need many words. Jak BSD on the mountain of vert at The Unit.

I like skateboarding, I really do. But when it comes to kit; especially bushings, I throw on what i think will work and deal with it until I’m happy with it.

I have been getting it terribly, terribly wrong…

There is a huge science to this and it is being researched on a daily basis with hours of intesive work. Not by scientists but by skaters putting in the miles.

This picture alone is worth a thousand words.

Bearings come in 3 general styles; Barrel, cones and hourglass. There are lots of variables; urethane used, height, inserts, size etc. However, people like James Peters et al. over on pavedwave and John Galac are really fine-tuning the science behind bushings and their properties and I can only applaud what they are doing.

With a bit of light reading, it will mean that my slalom turns quicker, has better return to centre and hopefully that I can skatefurther on my mermaid with less effort. Cannot be a bad thing.

Not really got many words for this. This is going to we an amazing skate. 20+ people have signed up already. In association with Skatefurther and Liquid boards of Plymouth. BribaBri.

This happened a month or so ago, but I’ve been meaning to write something up about it for a while. The King of the forest push race in Vancouver, Canada is really leading the way in distance races. Now in it’s 5th year, the 20km longboard endurance race offers a $1000 first place prize, a hefty amount for any kind of race.

The race itself is partnered with Metro Vancouver and the BC Brain Injury Association to promote and deliver a challenging and fun form of recreation for all rider skill levels and runs along the Seymour Valley Trailway in the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve.

Skatefurther forum member Paul ‘Fuzzydeer’ Kent claimed the King title again this year with a time of 38 minutes, whilst fellow Rayne rider Brianne Davies claimed the Queen. Paul’s Wife, Rachel got third in the womens.

Queen of the Forest
1. Brianne Davies 47.14
2. Charlie D. 52.15
3. Rachel O neill 53.25

King of the Forest
1. Paul Kent - 38.00
2. Graeme Hystaad - 38.42
3 David Mitchell - 39.03

Ok, so it’s been super hectic over the past 8 weeks. Actually hectic really isn’t a big enough word for it! 2 months ago Julia was just beginning to feel the first pangs of labour. 50 odd hours later at 11.35 p.m. on the 15th of September Noah came into our lives. Julia is the strongest and most wonderful girl ever. I could never go through what she did for our son. I am so proud of her.

As you could probably expect, we think Noah is the raddest little man ever. Hes a big bugger and is smiing and giggling away already.