More DJs* shenanigans tonight- After an hour of just three rollerbladers on the vert, a skateboarder wheeled out a bucket and started prepping to wash down the vert ramp. I don’t think I’ve been to this park in the last two months without some kind of confrontation. What’s supposed to happen? Even with Nate working at the park, I feel we’re just being paid lipservice while the owners laugh about rollerblading into their sleeves. With plans for a ’street’ comp in the works, are we supposed to throw our support behind a park whose owners refuse to listen to reason in any way? Such a shame, that vert ramp is breathtaking.

…In other news- has anyone else with Kizer Slimlines had a problem with the metal rocker washers? Mine (Kevin’s) have buckled after only two street skates and pushed the washer against the bearing shield. Anybody found a fix, other than hammering it flat again? I think the metal will be too weak. I really like the frames, but I can’t deal with destroying the rocker washers twice a week.

Well, that’s it for today. Tomorrow brings a Finnish box edit!

*names changed to protect the guilty.

The weekend began in earnest on Friday night as Wheat, Taylor, Celso and myself took a leap of faith to Iceland skatepark in Mississauga. Would the lights indeed be ‘on’? Would we end up driving all the way back into town to drown our sorrows instead? Fortunately as we dipped under the highway we caught the glare of the floodlights on the horizon and our hopes were revived! Some areas of the park still had small piles of snow in, but I’d say at least 80% of the park was exposed and our session was good to go.

Huy arrived after about an hour (Blädr messageboard working its magic once again) and took some photos for us.

Saturday was my 1 year anniversary! Julie and I were married a year ago. I love you honey.

Sunday lunchtime was clear, crisp and begging for a skate session. Mobilizing the combined powers of Facebook, MSN and cellular service, assorted troops were directed to the LE62 ledges. How was the weather so perfect? I have no idea… but the ten degree weather and incredible downtown backdrop made for an exciting hour or so of back and forth tricks.

Mark Benic and Jong were both nailing true top acids. Hans stomped a sick ao top acid to 540 out and Taylor warp 9′d at a true top mistrial, the first time I’ve ever see him do that- I guess the Aragon 3’s are working out for him!

The bright sunshine also attracted the lesser-spotted Jay Smith, one of the rarest creatures in the Greater Toronto Ecosystem. Known for its feathered appearance and outrageous trick vocabulary, the Jay Smith is seen here in bright shiny new boots grabbing a front torque.

Dan took some brutal falls trying some new stuff, but came through in the clutch with a slick true mistrial. Good looking trick, man.

After that it all got a bit messy. We moved as a unit to the nearby Ashbridges Bay but with the park full of Sitdown Skateboarders™ our spirits were waning. Messrs Petrov, Benic, Krizzle, Hans and Jong chose to stay and make of it what they could, while our carload decided to head towards Dave’s new puppy, Jean Claude Van Damme. We stopped at Erik’s insistence to skate a grotty little flat rail near Sherbourne station, where Erik, Dave and Jay feigned enthusiasm but we all knew that futon time with the adorable puppy was fast approaching.

Erik capped our weekend off with a well-held negative acid.

This weekend made me so excited for our coming summer. With a little luck we’ll have Kevin back, our video game will be so far advanced it will be unrecognizable and we’ll see a return to form for the Toronto skating scene! Good times, everybody! Thanks for coming out… the rest of the photos are on our flickr, as always.

In the mean time, I’ve been pulling out some old gems from the Dekalzshop days and started messing with different setups.

I’m using a pair of Original New Old Stock (NOS) black size 7 Albert Hooi UFS throne shells as the base, and building around it with various cuffs, liners, laces, soul kids and frames/wheels.

Here’s the list of goodies I have so far:

• NOS – Red 2 piece souls
• NOS – Abdiel Colberg souls (Grey rear, black front)
• NOS – Black 2 piece souls
• NOS – White Diamond Hooi 3 piece souls with white backslide
• NOS – Chrome Sagona 3 piece, front and back chrome, black backslide
• NOS – Black 3 piece (Thank you Tim Adams!)
• Extra White 3 piece heel plates
• Kizer Slimline Turquoise  Frames (Thank you Mark Korte and The Conference)
• Kizer Slimline White Frames
• Kizer Slimline team Frames
• White GC Featherlite 1 Frames
• Jug Precise Liners
• Sifika Carlos Pianowski 7 Liners

Here are just a few of the setups that I could think of…. post if you want to see something different.

What should I skate? Help me pick. I should have black cuffs and buckles really soon, if that helps you decide.

-Kevin

http://www.be-mag.com/article/1167-TORONTO-REPORT–The-Lost-HeyDude3-Footage

Thanks for putting this together Aj.

HeyDude 3 Leftovers from RollToronto.ca on Vimeo.

Here’s Kevin’s knee, post ACL op, all iodine’d up and sexy as hell-

Out for 6 to 9 months. Man Down.

As if that weren’t stomach churning enough, Taylor found out earlier this week that a month ago he broke a bone in his wrist. At the time, it didn’t feel severe enough to be serious, but it just wasn’t healing- so a quick check later, and yep- its broken.

Would everyone just chill the hell out on the getting hurt, please?

We decided to take a chance on the Hoof- what’s the harm in trying?

Oh good grief, its completely clear!

Corey is slowly breaking in some new Razors he got from Shop Task. Here he is learning negative acids among several new tricks he learnt this session.

One of the most fun parts of the Hoof is the hip transfer, which both Dave and Corey got pictures on.

Dave is beginning to get comfortable on his skates again after changing his soulplates and frames. To prove it, he Fishbrained the over-vert extension. I think he’s just showing off.

Everyone has a stance preference when they rollerblade- I choose Topsoul and avoid the mizou shape like the plague but today I really wanted to try and conquer my fake fear of it… I mean, its ridiculous to be scared of a trick in rollerblading after 14 years of skating, right? After a few practise Kindgrinds in the smaller bowl, I took it to the pool corner and I’m happy to say I think my fear of them is gone!

Later this week I have a mammoth picture post to put online; I’ve been lax recently so there are photos of Taylor at Inflow and a bunch I took in Montreal to be put online, too- so that should be with you probably tomorrow… depends how the vaccuuming and tidying of my apartment goes! If I’m quick, maybe I can get them done sooner : )

January/Montreal from RollToronto.ca on Vimeo.

A bunch of us took a road trip to MTL last weekend. We didn’t film much but here’s what we got. Enjoy.

Lost footage from 2005 from RollToronto.ca on Vimeo.

A little edit compiled of unseen clips from the greater toronto area in 2005. I found some lost tapes over the holidays and though that there were a few people that may want to  finally see their clips.
Enjoy

2Sundays, 2Sessions from RollToronto.ca on Vimeo.