Monster Skate
A new skate facility has been built at the Homebush Olympic site. This includes a 1,000 sq m street course for those who don't shave yet, and 2 ramps for the real men. You can have a look at www.monsterpark.com.au but all you really need to know is the half pipe is the largest in Australia. At 14 feet high with 2 feet of vert, it dwarfs even the Fairfield steel monster we grew up skating. This truly is an olympic ramp ready for when they replace something like synchronised swimming with a vastly more popular olympic sport, skateboarding.
Until recently, I have never dropped in on a vert ramp. They dismantled the Fairfield monster before I could screw up the courage to try it. Just before xmas I went to Perth for work and dropped in on the Leederville vert ramp, but it is a baby, merely 9 feet high with 1 foot of vert. Still, step by step we grow towards the light, and the light is Monster.
Last Monday night was the 3rd anniversary of our friend and mentor John Findlay departing the troubles of this life, and the consensus was that we should all turn up, wearing loud/ugly shirts and have a skate for Fin. All the old crew were there: Adam Luxford, Paul the rollerskate guy, Michael Mulhall (who works at Monster) and a few older guys who I didn't recognise. Many of these people brought wives and kids with them and it was a really positive vibe all round.
So, Justy steps up with trembling knees and drops in on this monster ramp, travelling faster than I have ever gone in my life. What a rush! Kickturn in the vert, then pump and kickturn again. Several runs I had, interspersed with Mulhall doing 4 foot backside airs and tailslides on the 18 foot extension (have to be seen to be believed). There was another guy there a bit more experienced than me, dropping in and trying to land backside airs. Hopefully I will be at that stage shortly, but quite happy at doing better at 29 than I was at 17 years of age.
After about 2 hours I dropped in and something went awry. I don't remember what happened, all I know is I dropped in and then opened my eyes to see 2 guys leaning over me saying "are you OK?" They helped drag my carcass off the ramp and into a bean bag where I had a bit of a recovery for 10 minutes or so. Turns out I was out cold for about 30 seconds and docile for 5 minutes or so. You can see in the photo how skewed my helmet is, seems I fell 13 feet and landed on my left hand side. My knee, hip and shoulder were sore, and my love luggage was scraped by my shirt or the surface of the ramp.
Can't leave on a bad note, gotta climb back on the horse so I climbed back up the stairs and dropped in again a couple of times, and actually had better runs, smoother turns than before. All the other guys were holding their breath, hoping I was OK. I was pretty tired after that so I left, caught the train home and got into bed about 11.30pm, but all in all had a great time. I will be back to skate that monster ramp again.
A week has passed and my hip has a yellow bruise about the size of my palm. Knee still a bit sore and the love luggage is scabbing up nicely. My shoulder/delt/trap is the worst but I think that's mainly because I sleep on it funny. I'm getting better but it takes time at this age.
Until recently, I have never dropped in on a vert ramp. They dismantled the Fairfield monster before I could screw up the courage to try it. Just before xmas I went to Perth for work and dropped in on the Leederville vert ramp, but it is a baby, merely 9 feet high with 1 foot of vert. Still, step by step we grow towards the light, and the light is Monster.
Last Monday night was the 3rd anniversary of our friend and mentor John Findlay departing the troubles of this life, and the consensus was that we should all turn up, wearing loud/ugly shirts and have a skate for Fin. All the old crew were there: Adam Luxford, Paul the rollerskate guy, Michael Mulhall (who works at Monster) and a few older guys who I didn't recognise. Many of these people brought wives and kids with them and it was a really positive vibe all round.
So, Justy steps up with trembling knees and drops in on this monster ramp, travelling faster than I have ever gone in my life. What a rush! Kickturn in the vert, then pump and kickturn again. Several runs I had, interspersed with Mulhall doing 4 foot backside airs and tailslides on the 18 foot extension (have to be seen to be believed). There was another guy there a bit more experienced than me, dropping in and trying to land backside airs. Hopefully I will be at that stage shortly, but quite happy at doing better at 29 than I was at 17 years of age.
After about 2 hours I dropped in and something went awry. I don't remember what happened, all I know is I dropped in and then opened my eyes to see 2 guys leaning over me saying "are you OK?" They helped drag my carcass off the ramp and into a bean bag where I had a bit of a recovery for 10 minutes or so. Turns out I was out cold for about 30 seconds and docile for 5 minutes or so. You can see in the photo how skewed my helmet is, seems I fell 13 feet and landed on my left hand side. My knee, hip and shoulder were sore, and my love luggage was scraped by my shirt or the surface of the ramp.
Can't leave on a bad note, gotta climb back on the horse so I climbed back up the stairs and dropped in again a couple of times, and actually had better runs, smoother turns than before. All the other guys were holding their breath, hoping I was OK. I was pretty tired after that so I left, caught the train home and got into bed about 11.30pm, but all in all had a great time. I will be back to skate that monster ramp again.
A week has passed and my hip has a yellow bruise about the size of my palm. Knee still a bit sore and the love luggage is scabbing up nicely. My shoulder/delt/trap is the worst but I think that's mainly because I sleep on it funny. I'm getting better but it takes time at this age.
posted by Justin Sawell at Sunday, January 15, 2006
1 Comments:
Sounds like you had a fun time but you need to take care. Just as well you were wearing the pads and helmet!!! Di and Jaz need you healthy!! Does the Tai Chi warmup set help with the muscle tightness?
Love and hugs Mum
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