We lived like kings …

Thrasher Magazine, Feb, 2005 by Emil Hillding

I FEEL BLESSED. A FRIEND OF MINE AND I RECENTLY COMPLETED A CROSS COUNTRY DRIVE FROM RHODE ISLAND TO WASHINGTON, IT WAS FOUR WEEKS OF PURE CEMENTAL SICKNESS. OUR LUCK WAS PRETTY UNBELIEVABLE, EVERYTHING JUST WORKS OUT WHEN YOU'RE ON THE ROAD. ALONG THE WAY WE STOPPED AT SOME PARKS. STRICTY SKATEPARKS, NO STREET SPOTS SO IF THATS WHAT YOU'RE INTO GO AHEAD AND SKIP THIS. IF YOU'RE INTO BIG FREE CEMENT PITS. THEN YOU MIGHT WANT TO CHECK THIS OUT.

OUR FIRST STOP ATHENS, OHIO. WE SHOWED UP AROUND NOON AND IT WAS WARM OUT. WE WERE THE ONLY ONES SKATING, THE NOONTIME LOCALS CONSISTED OF SOME YOUNG SNAGGLETOOTH BIKER BOTTOM FREEDERS. THEY WOULD CONGREGATE LIKE A PACK OF HYNEAS AND SIMULTANEOUSLY RIDE INTO THE DEEP END, SOME ONLY MAKING IT THREE OR FOUR FEET UP A TEN FOOT WALL. IT WAS A LITTLE IRRITATING, BUT ALSO PRETTY ENTERTAINING. OUR CREW IS ONLY TWO PEOPLE DEEP, WE CAN'T KEEP IT GOING THE WHOLE TIME. THE FULL PIPE CRADLE COMBO IS BANANAS, SO WHIPPY AND FAST. ON OUR SECOND DAY THERE MATT DYCK AND SOME HEADS FROM TUSCON SHOWED UP AND CONVINCED US TO GO TO SKATOPIA. WHAT CAN I SAY THAT HASN'T ALREADY BEEN SAID? NO PAD NANNIES, NO RULES OR REGULATIONS BUT LOTS OF TALL TRANNIES AND OVERVERT.

FROM THERE WE WENT TO LOUISVILLE, A SKATE HOBO'S PARADISE. YOU CAN SLEEP UNDER THE BRIDGE A STONES THROW FROM THE PARK, BATHE IN THE FOUNTAIN DOWN THE STREET, AND STKATE ALL HOURS OF THE DAY. ONE NIGHT AROUND TWO A.M. I WENT TO GET MY BOARD AFTER A BEER AND BAKE BREAK AND REALIZED I SPACED IT AND LEFT DOWN BY THE TRUCK. I WENT TO GET IT BUT IT WAS GONE, THANKS TO SOME FUCKING THIEVES I DIDN'T GET TO SKATE THAT NIGHT.

AFTER A FEW DAYS TO SKATE THAT NIGHT. BURNT, IT WAS TIME TO MOVE ON. WE DROVE TO BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA AND SKATED FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS, BEFORE HEADING UP TO WHITING, THE GROMS THERE WERE ULTR HESH, FLAT SPOTS, HAND ME DOWN GEAR, AND WAL MART BOARDS WITHOUT GRIP TAPE WERE ABUNDANT. FROM THERE WE HEADED WEST AND SPENT A FEW DAYS DRIVING, CAMPING, AND RELAXING. WE STOPPED IN OMAHA FOR A SHORT SESH,

EVENTUALLY WE MADE IT TO COLORADO. I LIKE FORT COLLINS. ITS GOT TILES, POOL COPING, AND A STONY SNAKE RUN. IT'S PRETTY ABSTRACT. WE DROVE TO DENVER AND SLEPT IN SOME BUSHES ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WE WOKE UP EARLY AND HECKLED ALL OF THE S.U.V. DRIVING, LAPTOP CARRYING GOONS AT A COFFEE SHOP DOWN THE STREET. WE GO TO THE PARK AND THIS DUDE CHAVEZ STARTS ON THIS HYPER BRO BRAH I KNOW MARKOVICH CHECK MY NIKE BEE HIVE ARTICULATING SKATE SHOES. SPEECH.

MY LEGS FELT JUST LIKE JELLO WHEN WE GOT TO CARBONDALE. I WOULD DROP IN AND GET LOST, I FELT LIKE A RAT STUCK IN ONE OF THOSE MAZES. I DIDN'T CARE; A COUPLE OF WEEKS ON THE ROAD WILL MAKE YOU REALIZE HOW EPIC LIFE IS WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A SCHEDULE TO STICK TO, WE WERE JUST SURVIVING AT THIS POINT.

I KNEW A STOP AT HAILEY WAS MANDATORY. THIS PLACE GAVE ME GOOSE BUMPS. GOING OVER THE FULL PIPE FOR THE FIRST TIME WAS SERIOUSLY SCARY FOR A SLACKER LIKE ME. IF YOU DON'T GO, YOU WILL NEVER KNOW.

ONWARD TO WASHINGTON, MY HOME STATE. SPOKANE, LEAVENWORTH, CARNATION, AND MILTON ALL SUCK, DON'T WAST YOUR TIME GOING. JUST KIDDING, I'M ONLY SAYING THIS BECAUSE I LIVE HERE AND I LIKE IT LOW KEY. MOST OF THE TIME WHEN WE GO SKATE THERE'S HARDLY ANYONE ELSE AROUND. YOU AND THE TREES AND GRASS AND DIRT, THAT'S THE WAY I LIKE IT.

SO YOU'RE PROBABLY CHECKING THIS THINKING WHO ARE THESE NO BODIES? WHATS UP WITH THESE CRAPPY PHOTOS? HEY, I WAS ON VACATION AND WHEN THE SESSIONS REALLY HITTING SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T BE BOTHERED WITH SHIT LIKE TAKING PICTURES. BESIDES, I'VE GOT THE MEMORIES PERMANENTLY BURNED INTO MY BRIAN, GO MAKE YOU OWN.