Skate?Surf?Both?

I went for a skate with some Japanese friends who ride longboards, i had a ride on one of the big boards a while ago, and it made me think how far longboarding is seperating for its origin, surfing.

Alot of video's i have see of longboarding have had complicated tricks, and some people can even ollie their boards, but today i could see the style my friend Minori san, he was really relaxed on the board, taking it easy like back in the 60s and 70s where longboarding was about the easy way of life, and flowing with the tides.

Minori san made this long skateboard, and the patterns on the underside are inspired by the hawaiian patterns found on long surfboards, It is a really well made deck, with nice flex.

I think skateboarding started to become more agressive through the movement of the Z boys, who slashed and pushed the boundaries of skating, which was the starting point of the evoloution into todays style .

Its good to go back to the roots every once and a while, and remember where it all began.

Natsu ga kita (summers arrived)

So summer has finally arrived in Auckland

the beaches get packed with office people who havnt had their shirts off for most of the year, sunbathers who are totally burnt and red, and family groups from rarotonga come to play volleyball and beach cricket , theres loads of them on the beach in summer, gigling and cooking sausages on the barbeque, which is used frequently by nearly everyone but the vegetarians. The smell of barbeque is in the air, thick and oily like the sausages fried on them.

I think the barbeque has become the traditional method of cooking in New Zealand, its more well known than the original New Zealand style of cooking called a hungi, which can be described as an underground oven, with hot stones and cages full of meat and vegetables left under the ground for several hours. Its pretty nice if its done properly.

The Before

This is basically a before photo, as i am waiting for parts from my uncles friend to convert this bike to fixed gear, its been ages, but i know the wait will be worth it.

I did a cycle courier interview on this bike recently, i had to follow a working courier to see if i could keep up with the pace, i dono if the guy i followed was taking it easy for me, but i managed to keep up with him, even though i was totally wasted at the end of the day, so i am waiting for a emply spot in the company i applied for, im real excited about the job, riding my bike and being paid, i cant imagine anything better.

Bike lanes?

well i have just heard some great news, there will be an upgrade to the city harbour bridge due to some weakness on the outer lanes, there will be a rebuild incorperating a bicycle lane, it should have been done a long time ago, but im glad the idea is set in motion. Maby this upgrade will urge Auckland in the direction of creating some different types of public transport within auckland city and suburbs. It will soon be free to go over to the city from the north shore in Auckland by bicycle, big thumbs up for Auckland!

Sunny Urban Auckland

Today i set out to search for new and interesting places around Auckland, it was great weather and i just went out with no goal, or destination in mind, but i visited a few cd stores to listen to some new cd's , and look for some dvd's, and i continued around the streets until i came to an old train yard covered in graffiti, and rusty carriges. There was a huge german shepard, which eyed me up, but must have thaught it wasnt worth the effort, and walked slowly into the shade of the train building.

Also i went for a ride in the reserve next to the Auckland mesuem which i havnt visited since i was a kid, it has really nice paved roads, and long winding paths through native NZ forest. Just a nice place to relax, or even watch some sports like cricket which was being played on the fields.

After a cycle i headed off to a Japanese super market to be ripped off for yaki soba i payed like 400yen for! but its worth it, because it tastes great! On my cycle home, i found a sign on a kindergarten and i couldnt resist taking this photo, see below..

For a person without a car or motorbike in Auckland, the only way over to the city is by boat which is not so good because its about 9NZD for a return, Auckland is a car friendly city, and i don't see any bike lanes going on the harbor bridge anytime soon, unfortunately.

Auckland, New Zealand, clean and green "the myth"

I have been brought up with the idea that New Zealand is clean and green, with lush forests and farm land, but in reality it is just the same as many other countries with sprawling suburbia, and plaster board houses, Auckland is one of the biggest cities in the world when all of the suburbs are included, and also one of the furthest behind when it comes to public transport resulting in an incredible amount of cars per capita. In my family we have a van, 3 cars and a motorbike. Its insane.

Leaving all this negative stuff behind, it is a great place to ride a bike, and the area where i live is basically cut off from the ugly side of the north shore, leaving me placed in an area 5 minutes from a nice beach, and 30 minutes from the city by ferry boat.