Where was I?

Hidden Clothing - May Fun Edit

If you've been following my blog for awhile now then you've heard of Hidden Clothing video edits. If you've seen any of them in the past year or two then you know that the filming is really good and the riding is amazing. This recent edit from the Spring of 2011 is no exception. Check it out and enjoy a north Texas clothing company doing their thing to show support for the BMX scene.

Deven Ferrer Lewisville Park Sesh

Deven is a north Texas local that absolutely shreds on a BMX bike. As you may remember, I interviewed Deven Ferrer awhile back (which you can read HERE.) Last night he went to ride the Lewisville Skatepark and Tazz (Juke the Earth) filmed a quick edit. Enjoy!

365 Days Round 2 - Day 035

Today is my day off while traveling, and since I'm in Phoenix there's nothing else I'd rather do then hit up some skateparks. As usual, my little buddy came along to watch. This photo was taken at Espee Bikepark in Chandler, AZ.

365 Days Round 2 - Day 033

BMX is truly good for my soul. Yesterday I started my next 2 week work trip and while I was bummed & feeling depressed about being away from home, I was at least stoked to get to ride one of my favorite bikeparks in the country. Tonight I took my little buddy with me for the maiden session on my new frame. It still surprises me how much a good session can help me realize life ain't so bad.

365 Days Round 2 - Day 007

My little buddy loves going to the skatepark to watch me ride. This morning he tried to help me measure how high I was airing out but he came up a little short. We had a fun little session at Lewisville Skatepark.

365 Days Round 2 - Day 005

If I've told him once, I've told him a thousand times, "Don't hang out on the coping." He never listens though. Talk about bad park etiquette. I took this photo during my lunch time session at Lewisville Skatepark.

Florida Tour BMX Video

This video was filmed during a 2 week long work trip around Florida during the early part of 2010. I subtitled it 180 degrees at a time because it seemed every clip I filmed included a 180 to fakie or fakie to half-cab. Either way, I had originally planned on this being more of a documentary style film but there were so many clips in there that I wanted to use that I decided to make a purely self-filmed riding video. As usual, the riding is nothing special but I'm stoked on it nonetheless. Enjoy!

Florida Tour 2010 from Nudnik on Vimeo.

 

My Last Business Trip - Part 2

I am currently 2 weeks into my current 3 week business trip. When I started this trip I thought it would be my last but things have changed for me. My wife lost her job at the beginning of the week so I have decided to keep my job until she gets back on her feet. I was really looking forward to not having to travel anymore but it's just not in the cards for me right now. That being said, this video documents the second week of my trip around the state of Arizona. Enjoy part 2 and stay tuned for part 3 soon. Enjoy!

My Last Business Trip - Part 2 from Nudnik on Vimeo.

My Last Business Trip - Part 1

I am currently 1 week into my last 3 week business trip. Since this is the last time I will ever travel for my current job I felt the need to document the trip. The total video is going to be a little longer than I had anticipated so I'm breaking it down into parts. The video below is part 1 from New Mexico. Today I travel over to Arizona for the next 2 weeks so I figured I would post part 1 now and I'll post part 2 later. Enjoy!

My Last Business Trip - Part 1 from Nudnik on Vimeo.

Roadtrip to Ray's MTB Park

Roadtrip to Ray's MTB Park from Nudnik on Vimeo.

About a month ago, I took a roadtrip to Cleveland, OH with 2 friends to go ride a bike riders paradise. If you EVER have the chance to go to Ray's Mountain Bike Park then definitely do it. It involved 40 hours of driving for 20 hours of riding but it was totally worth it. Travis, Clayton and I had a blast at Ray's and are already making plans to go this summer if possible.

This is only my second ever video that I've been truly stoked on the outcome. I admit it's a little long for the average viewer but since I made this video for nobody but myself, I think it's perfect. The entire process had quite a few ups and downs but all in all, it was a great way to spend an ENTIRE Sunday.

I look forward to my next roadtrip and my next video documenting it all. Watch the video and let me know what you think. Be aware, there is some "foul" language.

I totally forgot about the photos that Travis took during our trip and just now found them so I'm updating this post to include those photos. Enjoy!

 

The Park Skatepark in Ocala, FL

Yesterday I had a Show Car event in Ocala, FL and after work I stopped by a new skatepark I'd found at Concrete Disciples when I was searching on Google. The Park Skatepark is located south of Ocala on N Pine Ave.

View Larger Map

I got there about 5:30 and there were 5 or 6 skaters in the concrete section. I went back to the covered section and found a lot of fun lines. The covered section is little different from the photos below but the general layout is the same. I managed to film a few clips for my trip video and decided to take a break after a couple more BMXers showed up. By the time I got done drinking some water and ringing the sweat out of my bandana about a dozen serious shredders & local "superpros" showed up. I watched them ride for close to an hour before I even felt like riding again myself. The Park had a chill, laid back vibe and none of the riders ever really got loud. Well, except for one guy. He was sort of a heavy set build but had lots of power and control in his riding. He and another rider were seeing who would be the first to land a footjam 360 to fakie out of a short 3 foot quarter. The big guy landed it first but the skinny kid pulled his next try. The big guy finished it with a second footjam 360. I saw a real technical demonstration in the concrete course by at least 4 or 5 riders. The covered section had it's own fair share of "superpro" demos going down. There was a lot of amplitude coming from under that 12,000 square foot roof. It was a really cool park and I only wish I'd had more energy to ride. I was also a little too intimidated to try and take photos. Like I said in my FB update, they weren't a real talkative bunch.

I also found a video on youtube but those guys really need a videographer in their bunch. Can't find anything else really. Sad because there is definitely some good riding that should be shared.

My first video

Well it's finally done, I finished editing my first riding video late last night and as of a couple of hours ago it is now available on Vimeo. I'm not sure how I did it actually but I managed to convince my boss to let me buy a Flip Ultra HD camcorder in order to make a video edit of my Show Car loops for the employee newsletter that I send out after every loop. What he didn't realize was that I actually wanted it so that I could make videos for myself and the video below is the result of those efforts. My first video is a self-filmed edit of me riding Eisenberg's Skatepark after work on a very empty half-price Tuesday. I admit that the riding in this video is nothing special but since I made the video more for the efforts of learning to edit a film I was not that concerned with filming epic footage. Anyways, I learned quite a bit during the process of filming and editing my first video and I'm looking forward to making many more. In fact, I leave tomorrow for a Show Car loop around Florida and I plan on making a video of that trip to get some more practice before my roadtrip in February to Ray's MTB Park. Check out the video below and let me know what you think.

Eisenberg's After Work from Nudnik on Vimeo.

Eisenberg's Skatepark Session Photos

I went to ride at Eisenberg's last night for half-price Tuesdays and while I was there, I took a few photos with my new flashes. These aren't the best photos in the world but I enjoyed taking them so check them out. I may also get a few photos of Cody Hennings published on the Airspeed Footwear website too.

The pure elation that BMX can bring

Tonight I finally got proof that I can now land tuck no-handers and it reminds me of the pure joy and elation that BMX can bring to your life. Anyone who has gotten on the back of a BMX bike and tried to learn a new trick knows exactly what I'm talking about. I have personally spent hours upon hours trying the same trick over and over again only to continue failing attempt after attempt.

Some people may ask why we continue to keep trying the same trick, falling time and time again. They ask what could compel us to keep doing the same ridiculous trick knowing that we are going to continue getting hurt, whether it be bloody shins, bruised thumbs, rolled ankles, or even broken bones. I'll tell you exactly why we allow ourselves to continue getting hurt day after day for the sport we love, because nothing in this world beats the feeling you get when you finally pull that trick you've been trying to land for countless hours, days, weeks, even years.

Tonight I achieved that feeling when I landed my first REALLY clean tuck no-hander out of the bowl at Woodward Skatepark in the Grapevine Mills Mall. I've landed a couple before tonight (most of them sloppy & ugly). Once I even landed a relatively clean one although I had no proof of it so it didn't count. Tonight I finally got my proof in the form of a witness, two videos and a photograph. Here is photographic proof. I apologize for the poor quality but the batteries on my flash died and I had to have a random skater take the photo for me. This was the only photo he took with my hands even off the bars.

I must have landed 6 of them in a row and they all felt great. I wish there was a way to bottle that feeling so that others could experience it for themselves. Unfortunately, the only way I know to enjoy the satisfaction you get from finally pulling a trick you've been working on for awhile is to spend the time working at it. Dedication and determination are the key factors in successfully achieving the euphoric feeling of pedaling away from landed trick.

I'm sure there are other sports and activities where a person could achieve the same if not at least similar feeling but BMX is the way I choose to do so and I couldn't be happier. People may think I'm ridiculous for riding a "kids bike" at 31 years old but right now I feel like a kid and at my age, that's priceless.

Below is one of the videos I took with my phone. I will admit that I didn't extend and hold it cleanly but I don't care because I'm stoked on it anyways.

365 Days - Day 43

Today's submission was taken with my phone at Espee Bike Park in Chandler, AZ after a good session.

 

Duncan Creek Park in Dacula, GA

Tonight I got the chance to session Duncan Creek Skatepark (designed and built by Wally Hollyday Skatedesign) in Dacula, GA, which I didn't get a chance to ride the last time I was in the Atlanta area. My first impressions were that the place was much bigger than the photos I found on-line lead me to believe. I thought about taking pictures of the park on my phone like I normally do but the images below (that I found on-line) do more than adequate job of showing all the ramps and obstacles.

As usual, the bikers were out numbered by the skaters, but on this particular night we seemed to be substantially out numbered. I rode for a little over 2 hours and I'm guessing there was on average 25 bikers and skaters total at any given time. Even with that many people in the park there still felt like plenty of room to ride as long as you're willing to ride different sections to avoid the bigger crowds.

I also really enjoyed the long grind box (which you can see in the lower right corner of the image above) since I was able to pull a feeble to smith, 1st try and a smith to feeble, 37th (I'm estimating) try.

I was particularly fond of the quarter pipes in this bowl. I found airing out of them to feel really comfortable.

The sub-box in this section was particularly fun to icepick stall and grind out of the wedge.

If you're ever in the Atlanta area and you get the chance to ride Duncan Creek Park in Dacula, I strongly recommend you do it. Now if the weather isn't too bad, go out and ride.

365 Days - Day 21

Today's submission is from my session at the Duncan Creek Skatepark in Dacula, GA. The timing it took to get 3 separate pictures at 3 different points in the ramp was more difficult than I thought. By the way, this was done with my cell phone because I absent minded enough to leave the camera at my hotel. Oops.

Attention Stupid BMXer at Lewisville Skatepark

First off, I want to update everyone about the current hours of operation for the skatepark in Lewisville, TX. As you may or may not know by now, the skatepark opened its gates for the first time last Saturday and was open all weekend. I got the chance to ride there and really enjoyed the place. A friend of mine called me today and told me that he was told by a Parks & Rec guy that they are going to open the park every weekend (and only on the weekends) until Monday Nov. 2nd when they will start being open every day of the week. Good news.

Hours of operation: 8 am to 10 pm.

Now on to the bad part of what my friend told me.

Apparently, last weekend some BMXer collided with a skateboarder and (according to the third-hand story told by the Parks & Rec guy) was somewhat belligerent towards the skater afterwards. The rumor is that he was even an ass towards the skater's parents when they confronted him about the matter. Now, I obviously wasn't present during the aforementioned collision and the interactions afterwards but if what I heard is true than I personally feel like beating that BMXer over the head with his own bike. Seriously!

Why? Because attitudes and reactions like those exhibited by that dumbass last weekend could potentially lose all BMXers the right to ride at that wonderful skatepark. Being a 31 year old BMXer who truly and deeply appreciates the fact that I now have a local park to ride, I am angered almost beyond words to think that some immature teenager could be responsible for influencing the city to take away my right to ride my new home away from home.

Whatever happened to people showing each other the common decency of being concerned about the well-being of a fellow skatepark enthusiast? I must admit that I have no idea how old either the skater or the BMXer in the above circumstance is, and I didn't see how it all went down. So I am merely speaking from the details I was given and the image I created in my mind. That being said, I call upon all BMXers and skaters that plan on shredding the Lewisville Skatepark to be mature, responsible and aware of how your actions affect everyone that will hopefully enjoy that park on a regular basis. If we can do what we should do with regards to; cleaning up after ourselves, being respectful of others. and doing our best to avoid collisions then we can all have a park that we can use for years to come. I implore you, be respectful of your fellow human being (more importantly a fellow skatepark enthusiast) and DON'T SCREW THIS UP FOR ME.

Warning: If the city changes their policy on allowing bikes in the park because of situations like the one listed above: I will personally find out who is responsible for these situations and make your life a living hell until I have completely ruined your life and consequently grown bored of you. Please spread the word.

Seriously, tell everyone you know who is going to shred the new Lewisville Skatepark to be respectful. I mean it.

365 Days - Day 16

Today's submission is not much for a creative or skillful picture but I had to document the my first session at the new skatepark in Lewisville, TX. So stoked that I got to ride this place today.

Northwest Quadrant Skatepark Albuquerque, NM

Yesterday when I was driving back to my hotel from my show car event I drove past a little concrete skatepark with a couple of prefab ramps. Today I drove out there for a little session and had a pretty good time. I get the impression that this is a fairly new park. It is located near Cibola High School near the intersection of 7 Bar Loop & Coors Blvd. There isn't a lot there for BMX and the transitions are kind of tight but still fun.