Art and skateboarding

So this is about Art, or more specifically the BTEC subject im doing.

I like Art itself. I can sit there and draw something or try and paint something, it's something that distracts me. And then doing it as a subject, and at the minute i've got 4 or 5 projects to work on and try and improve and I just have so little motivation. Mainly because I can do the bit where you just have to chat shit (chatting and writing shit is my speciality in life), but I cant do the bit where you actually have to produce artwork. I have never produced a piece of art I have been proud of. Nothing turns out as intended. The canvas I painted for one project is at a "pass" standard. Is it so bad to see pretty much everybody produce great work with ease and want to do some too?

Being able to paint well would be awesome. In a lesson I dont recall ever being taught some painting skills, so I suppose like everything else in the subject you've just got to try and pick it up. If, like me you havent got the talent then what can you do? I am screwed.

And then, theres skateboarding down hills. I've been handed this amazing waste of time. I can grab any board and go skate anything, and nobody cares. Recognition doesnt matter. And if I go and focus on just having it and having fun, I end up pushing my limits. And then you just have faster fun. Nobody gives a fuck anyway. You dont need to be shown how to do anything, have a laugh and it all works out. It's too amazing to put into words, the people, the hills, the stupid stuff that happens, the crashing and being on the edge of messing yourself right up, going so fast you scare yourself...

If Art as a subject, if that and everything was like skateboarding, things would be great.

But its not.

Tories and politics and not being arsed

The title isnt very good. Its quite hot and this was probably a factor in the title-decision-making-process. Also not sure how to properly use hyphens, the previous sentence looks kind of weird.

Anyway, I havent written anything political for a while due to various reasons. The main reason being that the more I observe our countries politics the more it depresses me.

But I thought i'd write about Tories and the Right and the Left.

It would seem to me (having put a small amount of effort into looking at things) that people are getting bored of the current government and the austerity approach. Perhaps bored isnt really the right word... more like the people are getting thoroughly pissed off with the constant bullshit that we are powerless to defend against.

I know more than the average person about this kind of thing but I still know incredibly little. I think I can still sum things up as:

Average person suffering.

The wealthy, the Right wing and The System- flying high.


Ordinary working people prop up this country whilst the government is able to consider undermining their basic rights. Sly, scheming Tory MP's have been in stasis at the back of the commons and the recession has given them a chance to thaw out and creep from the shadows, ready to push through their horrendous social ideals and irresponsible Eurozone approach.

But like I mentioned earlier, the people are getting pissed off. And that means the clock has finally began to tick on this coalition government. Little things, such as Cameron's party and their cosy relationship with the media, and his "muttering idiot" attack on Ed Balls in the commons allow the "Modern Right" mask to slip for a moment and reveal that they are (to generalise) a bunch of arrogant, priviliged, agenda pushers who are incapable of relating to, or caring about, the average person.


Oh, except I havent mentioned one thing.... the people arn't powerless against this at all...

Britain, YOU FRIGGING VOTED THEM IN!

What did you expect!?

Now it seems the public is irritated by Austerity, and Cameron and his Tories. But er... you voted for them. Or didnt vote at all.

And thus my sympathy is greatly limited by my exasperation with this countries voters.

Screw it, I can't be arsed to go into politics and change anything. Let the Tories be (to generalise for the second time) goons, and let the voters be typical Britains who dont care until that pasty tax affects the paticular sausage roll they were buying in Greggs that day.

This country is actually a bit shit. Because it could have been so, so good.


Will

Sabre trucks- review

So this is my review for the Sabre 45 degree RKP trucks. There are lots of reviews that get published on the internet about gear somebody has picked up and skated for a bit. I’ve been skating the same set of sabres for 22 months, before getting into downhill and during. At first I set them up on a lush 09’ spooky, my first speed board. Then for a long while on a 35” wheelbase board (also drop through). For four months now I’ve been riding them on an Earthwing Bellyracer (simple topmount speedboard). Obviously a truck will behave slightly differently depending on the characteristics of a board, such as wheelbase, mounting style and width. But I think that the core “feel” stays very similar. So here is everything I want to say about them.

Phwoaarrr doesnt really do this truck justice.

What do you get?

Back when I bought my set, Sabre were stocking them with purple “F” type bushings. Nowadays they come with green “R” types as standard, although this is likely to change back soon. They now also come stock with an additional cupped washer on the baseplate, but this is only a measure to prevent wheelbite when the bushings are new and slippy. It can therefore be removed.  

A brand new Sabre truck is something to behold. You will rarely see a product that has obviously had so much care and attention put into the design. Everything speaks quality, from the organic looking casting to the laser-etched “Sabre” logo on the hanger. The baseplates carry embossed logos also. Surfaces are brilliantly smooth. At the end of the day the appearance of the truck has no practical effect, but when you are buying such a high calibre piece of equipment it is fitting that it looks as good as it skates.

Skating and setting them up.

When you buy a set, it is more like buying a system. Other truck and bushing companies focus on producing large volumes of bushings based on an even spread of durometers. Sabre have recognised that a cold system like this is inferior to one based on application. They have fewer bushings in their range than others, but you know each bushing has been thoroughly tested and the formula perfected for its desired feel.

Double “F” purple barrels with the supplied flat roadside washer is a great setup. You ditched that cupped washer on the baseplate, right? Good. Then you can enjoy a festival of carving fun. Without that cupped washer, the board side bushing is less restricted. This means you can get a smoother lean for deep, controlled carves. Swerving from side to side on a set of purples down a hill makes you smile, and you can be sure that this was the intention throughout the design phase.

And then there is my personal favourite way of setting up a Sabre for smashing hills. Still the cupped washer isn’t needed. Green “R” type bushings board side, purples roadside with the flat washer. Cruising and at low speed you won’t notice any magic. Infact the truck will feel boring as hell! But that’s not the point, this is a setup for being on the edge of sanity as you hoon down a terrifying hill. The greens board side add more of a “centre” feeling and allow you to feel more stable in your tuck. It’s not like balancing on a razorblade; you have some allowance for minor wobbles. Coming out of a tuck is also made easier. On the edge of your ability this is something which is always going to be scary- why make things worse with a bushing setup you can’t handle? It seems these days it’s in fashion to skate a setup that you just about cling onto. Why not set something up that lets you get on with nailing the hill, rather than trying not to be nailing yourself on the floor at speed.

A solid feeling truck and bushing setup like this gives you confidence. Gripping Bopeep corner as fast as possible-fine. Sliding into that same corner at Mach 10-fun!  Navigating down a Euro Freeride hill-controlled and less scary.  I know that skating reliable gear like this has helped me to progress well, but much more important than that, it makes the whole experience more fun and less a survival exercise. When you crash you want it to be because you screwed up, not because your gear was too difficult to control.

 Many people are now going for Precision trucks. For the price of a set of Aera’s or Ronin, you can go for a set of Sabres and FOUR sets of the best race wheels. Go kill hills right away instead of waiting around and paying yet more to import something. When a truck skates this good at this price?

Well, you know what to do.

Will

Minor downhill lid rant

At the moment im struggling to get motivated to do anything. Eventually I will find a job, money and purpose but for now when im not skating or at college I dont do much.

But anyway, here is tonights blog post, on the subject of downhilling lids. It is, quite simply, a message.

Dont wear a fucking stupid helmet for DOWNHILL SKATEBOARDING.

I'll repeat that in bold

Dont wear a fucking stupid helmet for DOWNHILL SKATEBOARDING.

When you buy a fullface hemet for going fast, your main priority should ALWAYS be "is this going to keep me safe".

Now some will say its their choice to wear what they like. To these people I say- those around who get to see you mash your head into the ground dont get a choice. I dont want to witness somebody getting screwed up, because I dont imagine it will be too nice.

To those skaters who choose to wear a lid based on aero over safety- man up, if you want to go faster work on your skating ability. You can make more gains by working on your tuck, footbrake, predrift, push, gear and endless other things.

You cant account for everything. Theres always going to be risk. But if you choose not to minimise that risk, you are being a selfish moron.

Going fast? Wear a proper fullface.

Will