skip to main |
skip to sidebar
TOC Skateshop
Terre Haute, Indiana
by Bud Stratford
In my opinion, TOC is the best skate shop in the entire midwest. I know this, through real-life, first-hand experience. You can argue, whine, squeal, snicker, and hate all you want... but, you're still gonna lose if you argue with me on this one. Read on, brothaman, and see for yourself why this is the case.
It all began just prior to my 2008 Summer Tour. That tour resulted in my "And The Road Goes On" piece in the Holidays 2009 issue of Concrete Wave Magazine. But, in the spring of 2008, that article was in the very, very beginning stages. It was just an idea, at that time. Maybe, not even a full-fledged idea yet. Just a case of wishful daydreaming, really...
Anyway, that spring, I was calling virtually every skate shop in the five-state region (Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and Kentucky). Just to find out where they were, who was in charge, and what was going on and stuff. I mean, I really didn't want to travel hundreds of miles from home, just to find out that nothing was happening, right...? That would've totally sucked ass. I figured, it'd be way safer to call ahead of time, and see what the hell's up.
So, I'm calling all these shops... and, jesus bleedin' christ, some of the dudes answering the phones at these shops were just like... the most unenthusiastic buncha guys you could ever imagine. And then, to make matters even worse, when I told them what I was doing, and why I was coming by... they didn't seem to really care all that much. Maybe magazine-tours come through their owns every single week... who knows? All I know is, I got some nasty-ass vibes from some of these fuckin' shops. So much so, that I actually avoided a few of them during the course of my tour. I mean, seriously: If they're that dicky on the phone? Then I couldn't even imagine meeting some of these dildoheads in person...
Here they are! If you need me to tell you which one is "Elizabeth", and which one is "Jeremy", then you've got more problems than I could ever help ya with, there, buddy...
Liz and Jeremy of TOC in Terre Haute were, and still are, the exceptions to the rule. When I first called TOC, Liz was all bubbles and happiness, right off the bat. As she always is, I soon found out. So, I introduced myself, I told her who I was, and what I was doing... and, my gawd, you'd swear that 'ol girl just won the zillion-dollar jackpot or something! All enthusiasm, all the time, and then some.
Now, that's what I like to hear on the other end of the horn, when I call a skateshop. Enthusiasm is, after all, pretty infectious stuff. Have it, give it, and it'll all come 'round, eventually. Liz had "enthusiasm" coming out of her ears, man. I felt it coming through the cellphone, and it kicked ass.
So, yeah. Liz- whewboy! Right away, I knew that I'd just stumbled upon something, or someone, unique beyond imagination. And, I was right. The first time that I went to TOC, it was like... Liz and Jer were the best friends that I've ever had. I just didn't happen to know it yet. It didn't take long to figure it out, though. Right away, they were fully hospitable people, and totally raging pals. They aren't forced, or fake... they're the real deal. Genuine beyond all imagination. The bestest. Maybe, even better than that...
Jeremy is the hands-on skate rat of the dynamic duo. He's been skating forever, and it shows. The dude is a walking textbook of all things "skateboarding". Sometimes, we'll stay up all night long, just shooting the breeze, talking about all things skateboarding... old contests, all the old pros, spots that have come and gone over he decades... all while smoking out a full carton of Camels in the process. Jer's a lifer, that is fer damned sure. He truly loves what he does, and he's gonna be doing it forever. It shows.
The shop "storefront". You can definitely see that this isn't your "ordinary retail storefront", by any stretch of the imagination. On the other hand: It's historic, it's unique, and it feels like home. That makes it better than most "ordinary retail storefronts", in my book...
The shop itself is located in what looks like an old warehouse facility. I think Liz mentioned that it used to be a brewhouse or something, but I totally forgot the details. The bottom line is, it's the most welcoming, and low-key "skateshop" that I've ever been to. It's mellow, inviting, and it feels like "home" every time I swing by. Just like a good, skater-run shop should.
I like a sense of humor. Note the "Give or take 10 minutes" bit... classic!
I go out to TOC about three or four times a year. Usually, when they have one of their many summertime boards, bands, and bar-b-que benders. Those are a real hoot. They had one just last week, and it was a gas. Seven bands (I think?), a "contest"... I used the quotes there, because it's not all super-serious, dull, stale, and boring like most contests usually are. It's fun. I judged one once, and I've gotta say, it was probably the weirdest judging gig I've ever had. We made up "scores" that were just... "absolutely nonsensical" is probably the only way to descrbe it. Like, the "scores" just did not make any sense! Because, it doesn't really matter what the "score" says. At TOC, everyone's a winner. There's no judging, no egos, no losers, and no worries.
Here's a panoramic of the inside of the shop. Oddly shaped, with lots of wood paneling, it totally comes to life with the help of Liz's "merchandising" genius. I think it can probably be summed up in to words: "Stuff, everywhere!" It may look like chaos... and, it may even feel like chaos... but, once you see it live, and in person... it actually starts to make a lot of sense.
This contest that I just got back from, was the same sort of gig. Jeremy was telling me that there was a "best trick", and a "worst trick" contest. Best trick, I've seen. But, worst trick?! Leave it to Liz to think up such a thing. It's all in fun, so it's all good. I didn't even bother offering to "judge". I just cheered everyone on, and shot photos all day long. And, ate hot dogs. Best day that I've had in a long time, that was. Just like every day in Terre Haute with the crew. While I was there, I ran into dudes from Greencastle, Indianapolis, Evansville... these are places that are two hours away by car! Imagine that shit! People driving all over the place in a breakneck pace, to get to Terre Haute...
Liz and Jer used to have an employee named "Crazy Gary", that was truly crazy... but, in a really good-natured and positive sort of way. Always happy, always gung-ho, always over-the-top enthusiasm. Gary recently relocated westward; a "replacement" was sought out in the form of Nate. As Nate says, though, "Nobody could ever 'replace' Crazy Gary...!" He's right, too. But: Nate's a good chap, and a real friendly bloke in his own right. He might have some mighty big shoes to fill, but he's definitely off to a good start.
By the way: The skate scene in Terre Haute used to be... nothing. It was basically one of those lackluster places that we drove through, to get to somewhere "cool". Like, St. Louis for example. Terre Haute was basically a piss-stop, a place to gas up at. Nobody could have ever guessed that Terre Haute would actually become a "destination" for something. Let alone, for skateboarding.
Nowadays, Terre Haute has a brand-new, concrete skatepark that rivals the best in the midwest, an up-and-coming music scene... I witnessed that one firsthand, just last week... and, obviously, a great shop. With great people running things. And great kids, to boot. I can't forget the kids! Like Liz and Jer, the locals are a pretty laid-back, fun-loving, and friendly lot. No vibes, no bullshit. Just good times, and good skating. The way that it's supposed to be, really.
Here's another panoramic of the still-fairly-new Terre Haute skatepark. It's probably less than 200 yards from the back entrance of the skateshop, is all-concrete, was extremely well-designed and well-built, and is a shit-ton of fun. An amazing accomplishment, given Terre Haute's limited size (And, more than likely: Budget).
It exists, right there. Go check it out for yourself. Or don't, and suffer the loss bro. Like I said: Best shop in the midwest. Smarten up, and plan a road trip today.
Tell 'em I sent ya.
Slob's specimen (featured in Concrete Wave last fall) was entirely "NHS-correct", while I went all-out for "period-correct". Bottom line? Mine looks better! On pigs, wide wheels are the only way to go, if you ask me. The wheels sticking out also gives you a visual reference between the board, wheels, and the coping. Very important, when you have a big, thick, concave-less deck that tends to kill a lot of the "through-the-foot" feedback... Just the facts, Dudeman:Width: 10.625" (Massive)Length: 29.625" (Tight)Wheelbase: 16.5" (Ridiculous)Nose: 3.25" (Stubby)Tail: 5.625" (Oh, shit...*)
The lack of concave becomes awfully apparent, here. As does the tiny, mellow kicktail. The risk, is more than obvious. The reward, though is greater than you could ever imagine...
Concave: Nada, zilch, zippo, and none. But: There's a kicktail! A little one. But, it's there. And, it works.Bought: Two! Of course. One to hang, and one to ride.The price: On sale for $47 each.From: Hirschy at SoCal, as always... (www.socalskateshop.com).Okay: Why...?!See... that's why you're clueless, and I'm having more fun than you are right now. Because I got all genius, and bought two of these beauts! The question is: Where's yours...?If you ask any dumbass kid these days what these kinds of boards are "good" for, they'll probably tell you something like "cruising", "falling on your ass"*, or "not much". Again: That's why kids are clueless, and I'm buying these up as if they're selling out of stock.
Again, the small tail is fully obvious, here. It does provide a lot of leverage, though. Which was, pretty surprising...
Because: They are...!You see, Santa Cruz only made 1500 of these bad bitches. Last fall. They've been dwindling away ever since, and the current numbers say that there's only about 100 of these left on the open market. And they're on sale, no less. That means: Stop reading this bullshit*, pick up the phone, and call someone that's got one. And then: Buy it. Quick.Regardless of what "the kids" say, the bottom line is that these boards excel in their intended domain. And, that "intended domain" is: Big-Ass Skatepark Bowls. If you buy one, and strictly use it as a beer-runner? You're fuckin' lost*, dude*. You should be tossed right into jail for that kind of treachery. Seriously...Here's the real deal: Go find yourself some kinky-ass vert, with real vert (3'+ would be ideal), real pool coping, and some real pain potential... and then, get busy on that shit*. That's the way it's meant to be, folks. "Real"...
The nose is, for all intents and purposes, completely useless. The only thing that it does, is provide a visual hint of where you're going, and how much plank you have left before you step off of it. It takes some getting used to. And, a lot of guts.These boards are a throwback to skateboarding's heydays, when "men" were men, and real men rode flat pigs. Which is what this board actually is. Not, a "cruiser". Or, a "beer runner". It's a "flat pig". Get it right, people...!Flat pigs were designed in their day (which was, the very late-1970's, through to the very early 1980's) to dominate the concrete skateboard park pool. And this, they did. Oasis, Upland, Newark, Big O, Lakewood... the names, are legendary. As are, the skaters that piloted these big-ass planks over those harsh environs. Duane Peters* used to win contests on this board, more than thirty years ago. I can barely ollie on it, today. And, that's the fun of it all: Actually going out, and re-living the history... while taking up the challenge of actually riding it, and riding it well, in the most unforgiving of environments. It ain't easy, that much is fersure. It's actually, way harder than I thought it'd be. That lack of concave can be a real killer, actually...But: It is the best time that you'll ever have on a skateboard. Ever...Santa Cruz did an outstanding job on this one, by the way. The hype mill says that this was "reverse-engineered from an existing, original deck". My bet is that, this "original deck" just might be one of Slobbo's specimens... but, whatever the case, Cruz totally nailed this shit*. Hard. Authentic, real-deal silkscreening, tough-as-nails wood... what could be better than that?! How about: "Really routed, with real hand-holds, and real wheelwells!" Oh, really now...?! Well, I'll be damned...Good job on that one, boyz. Keep it up.
The Duane, pictured with it's technical follow-up, the extremely concaved Steve Alba Bevel. Both were designed to take down massive, vertical terrains. But, while the Duane relied on pure guts and brute force to tackle the vert of the day, the Bevel relied on superior engineering and artful sculpting. Thus, they're really quite a study in contrasts. The Bevel is comfortable, refined, and a sheer joy to ride around. The Duane takes some work... and, that's putting it mildly. On the other hand: The Duane brings the "man" out of ya, real fast...
The Set-Up:Stage 10 Indy 215's, 1/2" risers, and 65mm No Skools in a variety of duros (92a, 94a, and 96a). It's not perfectly "period-correct", but it's pretty damned close. You'll also need: Some fast-ass bearings. Fully paid-up medical insurance. A little bit of style. A lot of luck. And, a ton of courage. Then: You're in there. A legend in your own mind, time, and right.Impress some ladies, and you might get even luckier. If y'know what I mean...*
It's also, kind of a hell-raiser. It makes you into a hell-raiser, too. That good 'ol testosterone gets a' pumpin', and there's just not a whole lotta looking back...! Fun, fun, fun. Is It Worth It...?Are you fucking* kidding me?! Hell yeah, it's worth it! It's so good, I actually told Santa Cruz to bump the price back up, and offered to send Mikey at Socal a few extra bucks for shipping and booze*. Mike declined the offer, but it's still solidly on the table. That, my friends, is how good of a ride this bitch is. It is absolutely priceless. Get yours today, and find out for your own damned self. *We here at The Solitary Life certainly do not condone drinking, excessive cussing, cavorting about town with floozy women, or flagarant dude-isms. On the other hand: It's a Duane, y'know? It kinda brings the badass out of everyone. Even strictly monogamous non-drinkers (like, us).
Unity Skateboardsby Bud Stratford
On the web at: www.unityskate.com
Unity Skateboards is a kick-ass little company out of North Carolina. What makes it so good, when there's about 50,000 tiny little companies popping out of the woodwork these days...? Listen up, because I'm about to tell ya."Every single Skateboard company should have to label where all of their product is made..."Let's start with that name- "Unity". Something that skateboarding could use a lot more of these days. Y'know, skateboarding is waaaayy too fragmented, and horrendously over-populated with the "cooler than thou" sort of blokes. Everyone's far too concerned with Jereme Roger's shitty rap "career", who's gayer than who, who had the best banger in whatever video... I mean, give it a goddamned rest, already. It's just skateboarding, for pete's sakes. Go out, grab a board, and go ride that shit. It's very simple, kids. Why do we need to make it a big-'ol drama-fest all the damn time...? None of that other shit matters, anyway. So, why are we wasting time even discussing it...?"Stop using sex, money, gimmicks to sell your product. It's a lie, a consumer gimmick to keep your eyes on something else, [other] than the real product. If your shit is good enough graphic- and quality-wise, with the right pricing structure, and righteous guys actually running the business... you don't need gimmicks to sell your shit, it will sell on its own..."Unity is basically a "new-school" brand, with an old-school soul. The guy that runs shit over there, Tyler Creason, is wise beyond his years. He's pretty fuckin' judgemental, he stands strongly on his principles... shit, dude, even "having principles" these days is a real fuckin' accomplishment for most "industry" types... he can't compromise for a damn, I don't think dude even knows what the hell "compromise" even is... because, he's a true-blue skater. He never falters, and he never fails. That's what skaters used to be like, before everything got all "mainstreamed" and then went straight to hell. Rebels, y'know? Yeah... that's Tyler, alright. Straight troublemaker. Good kid.
Here's the "troublemaker" himself, doing a signing at some skateshop, somewhere. Knowing Tyler, it's probably a thousand miles away from nowhere. The kid gets around.These big, yellow quotes that you see through here? Those are quotes straight from The Guy, Himself. He believes in stuff. Like, doing the right thing. Supporting the core retailer... something that very few skate brands seem to give a shit about, anymore. Labeling where products are made. Supporting American jobs, and American industry. Having some fuckin' pride in something. Touring all over the place, to support anyone and everyone. I met Tyler once in Wilmington, Ohio... Unity was there to support the city's drive to get a new skatepark bult. Wilmington, it might be important to note, is smack-dab in the middle of nowhere. But, Unity made it all the way out there, just to show their support for the cause. I don't know about you, but I thought that was pretty cool. Very few companies would have done that. Actually: None of them did. Except, Unity.Supporting your fellow skater. Another cause that Unity's totally down for...
Our boy Tyler, out and about, and having fun. The way it outta be..."Major companies have no idea what to do right now, to make [their] sales grow. They are bankers now, not skaters..."
There's something to be said for doing it "the right way", whatever the cost. Unity makes a solid, quality product. It's expensive to do. So naturally, they'e not exactly raking in the cash hand over fist over there. But, it's no worries. They do stuff that they can be justifiably proud of. And, I'm proud of 'em. I've known Tyler for a couple years now. He kind of reminds me of me, when I was his age. Raring to get up, get going, get roaring, and take down all of the bullshit that the world is gonna toss his way. He's ready, too. He's on it. He's been taking the names, and he's got a plan to take 'em all down. The kid's definitely got some balls... and, good for him. I wish more company owners had that kind of mojo these days. To stand up, stand proud, and throw a punch at something that obviously sucks ass."...A middle class family struggles hard for skateboards for their kids. So, yeah... I've seen kids get so mad at their brand new (major company inserted here) board just splitting apart, breaking like it was made out of particle board. Their parents get pissed - "We just bought you that!" The kid feels bad, and I have even seen people QUIT skating because they just couldn't afford it..."
Tyler's a champ. That's important. He even calls me up once in a while, and calls my ass out. You know how many companies I've talked shit on, over the years?! I mean, let's just take the IASC Retard Contingent, for example... that's gotta be a few dozen "brands", right there. I sucker punch [John] Bernards every chance that I get... he makes it easy, of course. He's always doing something worth sucker-punching him over.Yet, not one of those jackasses has ever done shit to me. Nothing! Yet, this punk-ass little fucker will never hesitate to call my personal cell phone, to give me some crap. That's not a bad thing at all! That's actually, pretty damned impressive! So: Get smart, and get into his corner right away. That's the winning ticket, the safe bet. He'll go far, or die trying. But: You just can't kill a fully determined, piss-and-vinegar skater. There's just no way in hell. So: My money's on "going far", and I'm stickin' to it."If you're in the business of being a skateboard company, it should be your utmost priority... to yourselves, and your consumers... to involve them, be true to them, and tell them exactly what they are getting..."
As far as the "image" of the company goes... the same stuff basically applies. It's either very '80s "neon", "punk", or "troublemaking". Lots of skulls and shit. I mean, let's just face facts, right here: This company isn't particularly well-suited to the "wussy" contingent in skateboarding, that's fer damned sure. It's pretty hardcore. And, that's just fine with me...So, yeah. While other "industry leaders" are chasing their tails in the never-ending search for corporate profits and "shareholder value", and the other 49,999 "small companies" ain't sayin', or doin', jack shit out there... Unity stands out, big time. Good going, guys. Keep it up.
Report Number One: The Resurgence of Freestyle
The resurgance of Flatland / Freestyle skateboarding has been growing since '97, when Stefen "Lillis" Akesson, a Swedish Freestyle Champion, started the INFSS Online Magazine. This was the first forum on the web that talked about Freestyle Skateboarding, and who's founders and members organized get-togethers... and eventually, contests. This little website, and the efforts of a few die-hards, developed into what is now it is known as the WFSA, and the "F Forum", which connects thousands of Freestyle skaters and enthusiasts from all over the globe...!
Stefen "Lillis" Akesson. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.
In addition to this website, the dedicated practitioners of this form [of skateboarding]... the commercial exposure of the legendary [freestyle] skating of Rodney Mullen... the THPS Video Games... and, even the Game of SKATE tournaments have also helped in rekindling and interest in flatland and freestyle skateboarding in the U.S.
Freestyle Overseas, vs. Freestyle in the U.S.:
Overseas, it is a different story. As most other countries tend to be more "inclusive", and accepting of all forms of skateboarding. And, many top riders in freestyle are legends in their respective countries, even being seen in the pages of Transworld and other major media outlets [in their home countries].
The problem that freestyle runs into here in the U.S., is the short-sightedness the majority of the current skateboard industry. Especially, the companies... and especially, the media. The only "major" exposure that most kids get to freestyle, is via Rodney Mullen. So, most of them assume that he is the one and only. I can't tell you how many times I, or others, get "Whoa, its Rodney Mullen skating!" reactions from the kids. And, that's due to the lack of support from major companies, and the media...
Who's this bloke...? Oh, yeah: It's Rodney, back when they used to call him the "F-word". The "F-word" being "Freestyler", of course. It's easy to forget that all modern-day "street" skating... starting with the flatground ollie... is all based on Rodney's flatland and freestyle experimentation from the early '80s. Today, the freestyle scene is coming back. What are they doing today, that the rest of us will be doing ten or twenty years from now...? Photo swooped from the Age Of Consent blog.
"Overseas, it is a different story. As most other countries tend to be more "inclusive", and accepting of all forms of skateboarding..."
People been freestyling since the '50s. Freestylers today are doing things that the top pros weren't doing in the '80s, when Rodney reigned supreme. I give Rodney all the props in the world... but, he isn't the only one out there... and, he isn't doing it [anymore], or progressing skateboarding on that level. The difference, is major company support and media exposure.
Freestyle In The Media:
Their have been a few advocates in the media, such as Concrete Wave Magazine, and For The Crew Magazine (FTK)... but, other than that, most media outlets have straight up ignored or snubbed us in the U.S. Even if that magazine covers it in another country such as Japan... TransWorld SKATEboarding covers Freestyle in Japan (8 pages in the one issue!), but why not in the country where it originated...?!
They (major media and skate companies) know we are here, as we have been crashing their events since 2001... we've performed demos for the executives [of those companies], and [we] even got other demos from some of the people who work for them. So, why are they hedging on covering events, or supporting riders...?
It comes down to control of what's "cool" here in the U.S. And, it's controlled by the companies who have influence... which is not to be confused with "true clout", but with advertising dollars. What they don't get, is that if a freestyle skater shows up to an event... they will garner the most attention, because they stand out. I can't tell you how many demos we have crashed (or, that we were legitimately invited to perform at) in the past to test this theory... and at all of them, freestyle stole the show. It's partially due to the uniqueness if the movements, as well the fact most people never seen [freestyle] "live", which makes it even more impressive. And, if you're a demoing freestyler, you are on point about 90% of the time, and it's [landed] trick after [landed] trick after [landed] trick... which is truly incredible, from a spectator standpoint.
"It comes down to control of what's "cool" here in the U.S. And, it's controlled by the companies who have influence... which is not to be confused with "true clout", but with advertising dollar$..."
Major companies of today... most of which are owned by former freestyle skateboarders... have forgotten their roots, and don't support this new movement. Even though they have profited, and are where they are today, largely due to freestyle. The "Game of SKATE" is a perfect example of this. The basic essence of this game is a dumbed-down version of freestyle contests. The reason that I say "dumbed down" is that, it is extremely limiting, insofar as to which tricks are "allowed" during a game. For the last couple years, they haven't let any of the known, "higher level" freestyle skaters enter any of the events. And, they have outlawed many variations of trick combinations that they had allowed in the past. Hence, no cross-foot landings, one-foot landings, etc.
Don Brown (top) and Pierre Andre (bottom), "back in the day". Before they were footwear gurus and mega-millionaires, hell-bent on dictating and controlling what's "cool" in our industry. Photos from Outlook Skates' Freestyle Museum, and flickr.
I was told via email from a representative at eS, that "No one wants to see a no-name skater, doing tricks that no one does". I countered by saying: "Well, let the people decide...!" And, I received no response back. What's even crazier is that the whole "Game of SKATE" is a marketing initiative from a former freestyle champion (Don Brown), who along with another freestyle champion (Pierre Andre), run the Sole Tech empire...
Last time I checked, skating was about pushing your limits... creatively, and technically. Skateboarding is not about being regimented, or controlled. This is "skateboarding", not little league! These days, there are many skaters who are really proficient at flatland (from playing SKATE), as well as manual pad skating, etc. And, they are more open to learning different styles and approaches. So, there is hope.
"Last time I checked, skating was about pushing your limits... creatively, and technically..."
But, the question is: When will these companies "get" that freestyle is a viable form [of skateboarding], and that it's back...?!
Here it is! My prized backpack. Big, lightweight, tough, lots and lots of pockets and pouches... perfect!Just The Facts, Ma'am: Well, uhhhh... it's a backpack? I'm gonna have to get creative on this one....
Dimensions: The "main" compartment is about 18" tall, by 7" deep, by 12" wide. Bigger than you'd think. The extra pockets add another 2" to the depth and width (on each side), for a total depth of 9", and width of 16".
Holds: Two full gallons of water in the main pocket, plus a 3-ring binder in the "laptop pouch". And then, a shit-ton of stuff in the 8 outer-pouches. Mostly backwoods-survival gear like knives, waterproof matches, skewers, a fishing kit, a sewing kit, all kinds of fire starters and blowhorns, a few Cokes... you name it, it's probably in there.Neato Features:Will accommodate a skateboard or a snowboard via outboard straps. Comes with a very handy cellphone-carrying pouch on the front of one of the shoulder straps. Has a comfortable, padded hand-carrying strap between the shoulder straps. The shoulder-straps themselves are super-comfy. The boss-as-hell "black" colorway effectively hides grime and stains. And, it holds a ton of stuff. But, I covered that already. I think that it may be Camelback compatible, too... but, I'm not 100% sure on that one. It has a straw-hole for "something", but what that "something" is, I'm not entirely certain. What is certain s that, MrCokesNSmokes is only Coke compatible. And thus, so is MrCoke's backpack.Price, From:I think it was on sale for about $40, from The House (www.the-house.com).Worth It...?Hell, yeah! I stole this bitch, no doubt about that. Great deal. Wish I'd bought two...Why I Didn't Review It This Winter:I got all busy snowboarding and slacking off, and I plum forgot to do it. Worry not: It's way handy during non-snow months, too.Also good for:Toting my shit all over hell and creation, storing crap in my econocar, and day-trips hiking through Brown County. Also works great on snowboard expeditions, and surviving in the backcountry.The Bag Has Survived:Mr Coke's haphazard tossing-of-the-bag, several water spills, an entire snowboarding season, and several weeks in the blazing-sun-greenhouse of the econobubble. Looks like new. I'd say, this fucker could probably survive an Armageddon. Maybe, even two.Typical "Burton"?Well, Burton stuff's traditionally been kinda hit-or-miss for me. Generally, it's very good stuff... but, there has been the occasional less-than-perfect product in my collection. This one's a definite "hit", though. I'm liking it.
The Final Verdict:I'm glad that Burton is keeping up the good work (most of the time). Good job, fellas. Hope you make these again next year.
Sarah Gore has asked all of us... that is, skaters from both Indianapolis (and, surrounding areas), as well as skaters from the state of Indiana (and beyond) for "Letters Of Support" for a new skatepark in Indianapolis. Wanna help?! Just follow our lead, and write one of your own!Whatever you do, your letter should be well-spelled, well-written, and... maybe, most importantly... sincere. We went all-out for "sincerity", as you can see! Have a look:"Dir Sirs and Ma'ams:Hello there! My name is Bud Stratford. I am a 37-year-old skateboarder that uses the "current" Indianapolis skatepark… that would be, Major Taylor…at least once a week. I'm sure that "37-year-old-skater" sounds a bit odd. You probably don't hear that, every day. Fortunately for me, I also happen to belong to a 20-or-so-member skateboard club, that is entirely made up of 30-something-year-old-skaters. So, it's not as "uncommon" as you might like to think.I would probably use Major Taylor more often, if I weren't always on the road every weekend, skating at other area skateparks with "The Crew" (Terre Haute, Greencastle, Louisville, Carmel, Noblesville, etc…). We may be old, but we still get around. Right along with our wives, and the kids…Obviously: As a skateboarder, I wholeheartedlysupport a new skatepark in Indianapolis. I would actually support several skateparks in Indianapolis, if I thought that Indianapolis would build as many as I'd like. If there's anything that I could get happy about paying taxes toward, it would be "more skateparks". The way I see it, having a quality skatepark that I like to spend my days at, is a "quality of life" issue. My life is a heck of a lot more "quality", when I'm out skateboarding. That's why I keep doing it, long after my "grow-up-by" date has come and gone. It's fun, it's good exercise, and it sure beats watching Lifetime movies while I'm running in place at the stupid gym. It's fresh air, and it's good times. It's good for me, and it keeps me feeling a lot younger than I really am. Life is grand, what more could a guy ask for…?"A Place To Do It". That's all I need. A skatepark. To skate at…Skateboarding is good for kids, for the same reasons. As a kid, I got into a little trouble. "Skateboarding" is synonymous with "trouble", for most citizens. Especially when you're doing it on their property. However: As a kid, I surely could have gotten into a hell of a lot more "trouble", if I weren't constantly "wasting" my time learning tricks, or figuring out how to not kill myself on these beastly contraptions. They're certainly a challenge, that's for sure. Challenges, of course, are also super-good for kids. They keep kids occupied, and tires them out. And, as we all know: "A Tired Kid, is a Good Kid"…Skateboarding is currently one of the fastest-growing "sports" in America. Well, of course, we can all see why: Because, skateboarding rules! Anyone can see that. Well: All of those kids… and, adults… will need places to go, and skate. If not here in Indy, at our local skateboard park… then, where? As it sits, we... the "older" skaters of Indianapolis... drive for hours every weekend, to take our kids out of town, and spend our hard-earned dollars elsewhere. Why, you ask? Simply put: They have better, and less crowded, skateparks! Major Taylor is a great park, don't get me wrong. But, there are days (like, on any weekend day, for starters...) where you can't even see your own toes through the massive throngs of skaters. So: We go elsewhere. It's that simple.But: If we had the choice, we'd probably opt to stay closer to home.I think that pretty much covers it. Thanks so much for listening,Sincerely yours,Bud StratfordOld, fat, and balding skater (That does pay taxes, though…!)"
Yeah. Something like that...
Maybe I should have sent a pic along, just to show that I'm not the only crazy, 30-something-year-old-skater in Indianapolis...?! Bart was asking me about this photo, just last weekend. Bart?! This one's for you!*
* And, your handful of nads there...! What were you thinking?!?!
On Monday, May 3rd, the Indianapolis Skatepark Advocates had another meeting. This time, the venue was Indy Cycle Specialists on east Washington St. in Irvington. 
Here's part of the group that showed up for the meeting. The lady in yellow in the center is our fearless leader, Sarah Gore from The Project School. You don't know it yet, but she's your best friend ever. I mean, she's working her ass off so you can have a place to skate, right...? Show her how much you love her, and throw your trash away instead of leaving it all over hell and creation... Here's an outline of what went down:- The next "Support The Skatepark" day is May 22nd, between noon and five-ish, at the Greenwood skatepark. The idea here, is to get skaters from nearby communities to sign waivers, and to write "letters of support" for a new skatepark in Indy. Expect more of these "Support The Skatepark" days to happen throughout the summer, at skateparks all around the Indianapolis metro area (Carmel, Plainfield, Noblesville, etc).- The Advocates will be at Greenwood on Friday, May 21st … and early in the morning on Saturday, the 22nd… to clean and tidy the place up before the happenings. You can help, as always, by picking up after yourself when you're leaving the skatepark…- The overall goal is still to get a well-built, concrete skatepark that is between 5000 and 7500 square feet in size. Not a giganto park… but, a nice and fun little park. The consensus seems to be that a few of these sorts of parks, spread around Indy, would be the ideal goal to shoot for, long-term.- Funding and logistics were discussed. Apparently, the neighborhood is totally open to having a skatepark… there's even a few sites available for such a purpose… so, it seems that the typical "roadblocks" of where to put it, and garnering the support of the immediate public, don't really exist here. Not yet, at least...So, things are actually rolling along pretty smoothly. What can you, the average skater, do to help? Just a couple of things, really:1. Remember that "pick up after yourself" bit…? Yeah, you're gonna be hearing that one until the day you die. Get used to it…2. Show Up At The "Support The Skatepark!" shindigs, and Sign The Petitions.3. Sarah Gore could really use some "Letters of Support" for the cause. Something that says:- Why you think Indianapolis needs [another] skatepark,- How a skatepark positively impacts your life,- Maybe even outline what sorts of lame shit you'd be doing, if you weren't at the park all the damn time, learning tricks and stuff, and:- How having a skatepark has positively affected your community.You can send those to The Solitary Life at budstratford@aol.com, if you'd like. We'll pass them along to Sarah.That pretty much covers it. The next meeting is on Monday, May 17th, at 6pm sharp. Stay tuned, 'cuz we're totally keeping you informed.
I like going through the archives from time to time, and re-connecting with favorite boards from the past. Here's a small sample of my expansive SMA (Santa Monica Airlines) collection:
I believe that this may have been the first of the Fiberlam Bennett Harada models. This came in for review, just as I was departing from Concrete Wave; the review actually ended up running at Skull and Bones, if I remember correctly. This Fiberlam shit is amazing stuff: I once came off of a backside grind on Bloomington's tight, 3' tall quarterpipes (that damn near go to vert), landed right on the flat, and bent the tail all the way to the ground. I thought fersure that I'd broken the fucker... but, nope. No damage at all! So weird, man... this one's got 60mm 95a Bullets, and the ever-present (these days) Independent 169/Krux bushing combo. 
An Uncle Tim. I don't know where, or how, Skipper comes up with his graphics ideas... I'm just glad enough that that he does. I brought this as my "rider" to my second or third ASR, just to get from the hotel and back every day. It originally had 60mm 92a NOS Bullets, but I used this as my "hack" to test the reissues. As you can see, I much preferred the OG's, as these only saw a few sessions. With the Indy 169's, again.
Ahhh... a classic! The much-beloved "High Roller" model. I spent so much time on this, and I had sooo many of these... always with the pumpkin-orange Bulldog DubCons, and the 169's... I mean, what else are you gonna do?! This is the Cadillac of skateboards, right here. The smallish tail makes it a handful to pilot around... but if it weren't for the occasional "challenge", skateboarding would get pretty boring, wouldn't it...? And, this thing oozes "style"... so, "challenge" definitely has it's perks, too. A great, great board for those that can cope with it...
Like the Uncle Tim, I swooped this one from the now-defunct (?) Z-Sports Distribution. It's a Bindy Baggs longboard, with 169's and Bennett [84a 71mm] Alligators. Dead flat, long as hell, and with a whale of a tail on it... it's just been great to have around. I thought that the graphic treatment was pretty creative... very unlike most longboards on the market, even today. Skipperboy's a genius like that, y'know...
... and, lastly, my pride-and-joy: A Stigmata! With the OG Kevin Ancell artwork, and the jet-black background... oh, man, she is just beautiful! The rocker concave... a big-ass, mellow kicknose... and, a tail that's pushing 8" long... this board actually excels at big-terrain bowlriding, believe it or not. Lots of control, and all sorts of leverage is available here. It's even nimble enough to tackle smaller transitions, too... again, whether you believe such things is entirely up to you. Not that I'd ever lie to ya about shit like this... but, I can't do your thinking for you, either. Life's short. Try that shit out for your own damned self, or die losing. The choice is yours.
Editor's Note: This review will be slightly longer, and more informative, than most reviews that we do here at The Solitary Life. Why? Because, the product at hand is so outstanding, and so unique in so many ways… that it deserves, and demands, a little bit of discussion. That's all. On with the review:
Just The Facts, Ma'am:Width: 9.25"Length: 32.50"Wheelbase: 15"Nose: 6.25"Tail: 6.875"Concave, construction, whatever: We'll get to all that in a hot minute.
The Set Up:Independent 169's (with the Krux-bushing upgrade), 1/2" risers, some sort of bearings (I forget…), and NOS 60mm 92a Bullets. Also known as "The Usual" around here…
No matter which way you're lookin' at 'er, she's still a beauty...The Only Way To Review This……is to deviate a bit from the standard "Good, Bad, and Verdict" formula, and start with:How We Got ItWe have a policy here at The Solitary Life, of buying "review" products, whenever we can. Instead of asking the manus for a constant supply of freebies. So: We got this one from Mike Hirsch at SoCal Skateshop… a great guy that probably gives the best customer service in the whole damned industry. So, how much was it?! About $63. But: After skating it, I started thinking to myself that… it's seriously worth a lot more than what I paid for it. I started to actually feel bad, like I should send Mike or NHS a bonus-check or something. Now that I've spent some time on it, $63 seems pretty fuckin' cheap. I don't say that sort of shit every day. Let alone, about Santa Cruz...Surprise, surprise…!When it arrived in the mail, the first impression was: "This wasn't what I ordered…!" Be warned, people: The illustrations of the deck that you're seeing all over the 'Net, aren't what it really looks like. The illustrations look sort of like a slimmed-down, and bigger-nosed Bevel. What this actually resembles, though, is a cross between Tom Knox's and Mike Youssefpour's first pro models on Santa Cruz. True: It was a pleasant enough of a surprise. As a rider, it's actually way better than I thought it'd be. However: Surprises are almost always, bad. That's why we took so many photos of this thing: To cut out "the surprises". 
The top photo shows the "true" shape, while the bottom photo shows the "advertised" shape (as seen at SoCal). The "advertised" shape much more closely resembles a slimmed-down Bevel, while the "actual" shape is a lot more like an OG Tom Knox...
The nose is bigger than what you'd ever expect, just by looking at the "ad" photos. Nosegrinds, nosestalls, even a little bit of "switch" action... no worries there. The "spoon-ish" profile of the nose is a nice compromise between kick, and control. It's hard to describe... best bet, is to try it for yourself. Made In ChinaLikewise: I was sort of surprised to find that this board comes with a very large barcode (on the shrink-wrap) that clearly states: Made In China. Now, I'm not one of those guys that screams bloody murder over the whole China-issue. Yes: I'd rather support American jobs, and the American economy. But, the broader issue for me is "Honesty and Integrity in Consumer Awareness". In layman's terms: The Manufacturers Should Be Labeling Their Shit. Which Santa Cruz does, and does prominently. As a skater, I totally appreciate the honesty, and the forthrightness. So: Thanks NHS.As for the board itself, it's a fairly typical 7-ply construction. If I hadn't have known beforehand, I probably would have assumed that it was made in America. It feels better-than-great, so I don't have any complaints about the wood at all.Skull and BonesThis board seems to be a straight-ahead response to what the Skull and Bones guys have been asking for, for years now. Let's recap the demands real quick:- An older-style concave. Preferably, one of the "legends" from the Santa Cruz stable. I.e., the Cruz Missile, or the Cruz Control…- A "shaped", directional board that has some old-school style, but some modern-day functionality, as well…- Likewise: A "new" graphic that sort of respects Santa Cruz's legacy… but, at the same time, something that is clearly not, a "reissue"…- And, lastly: A "big" board, with an expansive wheelbase. "Expansive" being, about 15". Maybe even, a smidge more.Well: The Boners demanded, and NHS delivered. All of the above: Done well, done better than expected, done very well, and right on target.The Cruz Missile II ConcaveThe trump-card here, is the concave. Most of the "good stuff" about this deck, comes right out of those bends and kinks. And, it is a bendy and kinky bastard that we're dealing with here, make no bones about it. But: Each and every one of those, serves a purpose. Combined, they create one of the most comfortable, most resilient, most responsive, and most capable decks that I've seen in……….. fuck. Years? Decades, maybe…?This is definitely the hands-down winner for "Deck Of The Year", right here. Because of the concave. Hell: It could have been made in Pakistan out of camel shit, and it still would have been a winner…The competition suddenly has a whole lotta catching up to do.
This angle shows the "bend lines" fairly well. The Cruz Missile is not your standard "popsickle stick concave, on an old-school shape". Far from it, actually. The only concave in the same area code, is the Real Aces 3... which is currently (or, temporarily) out of production. It looks wild, but works wonders.The Ride:The best that I can give you here, are quick impressions. First: It took less than one run to "get used to". I do think that maybe, this deck actually made me a better skater, just by stepping onto it. It feels good, comfortable… "like home". It feels like how a good skateboard should feel. It's stiff and responsive: You can pump speed out of the smallest nooks and crannies. It's not too big, and it's not too small… it really is, "just right". You'd be a damned idiot, if you didn't buy three of these, right off the bat. And once you buy one, it'll never, ever be enough… 
Like the front, the rear end of this bitch is a kinky ride, too: The double-kicked tail (with concave running all the way through, for strength and superior control) also has "dog ears" on the outer corners... or, what we used to call "Tri-Tail". These "ears" work with your heel and toes to facilitate stuff like, positively locking into Smith grinds, popping in and out of feebles... or, latching into a long-ass, stand-up, backside 5-0. Like I said above: Just stepping into it makes you feel like you've instantly become a better skater.
The Re-Drill:I didn't feel the need, but for those that do: You could probably re-drill another 1" of wheelbase out of this one. I thought the 15 inches that it comes with… coupled with the massive rocker, and the outstanding concave… was more than adequate. The "Bad":The only "bad" here would be, if Santa Cruz didn't keep it in production for a few years… at the very least. A lot of the manus need to realize… that the "product cycle" for this sort of stuff, isn't the same three-to-four-month cycle that the "mainstream" market utilizes. Realistically, this board could easily stay in production for three to five years. There might even be a good reason to keep it in production, forever. I mean, once you ride this… where are you gonna go?! Besides, onto another Cruz-Missile-Equipped deck…? Yeah, it's that good. I hope Cruz keeps it around, because I'm gonna be buying an awful lot of these. You'd be wise to follow suit, my friends.
