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!