Entries this day: Southside_skate_park_bruising

Southside skate park bruising

4 April 1996

Last Friday I went to Southside Skate Park and met Ed there. That was only the second time I had gone to do vert ramps and such. The first time I went, it was inline skaters only. Friday there were skaters, skate boarders, and lots of guys on bikes. I noted that I was easily the oldest person there, including Ed, as I found out that he is like 1 month younger than I.

Anyway, there is a 9 foot tall half-pipe, and Ed was instructing a little dude named Alex how to skate it. Alex is probably 10. I watched and then went up the steps to the top of the ramp and realized I should probably get warmed up a bit before I try it. (I'm becoming wiser in my old age.)

So I went back down the steps and skated around the street course a bit. It consists basically of some ramps at either end of the room, and a couple of skateable obstacles in the middle: a hump, a rail, and another hump/rail. I skated up one of the 6 foot ramps and proceeded to skate down and *SPLAT* right on my same hip I always hit ****OWW!!***** FUCK!, I failed to lean forward enough. Groan, oh man, I could feel that my guts had just galushed inside me, aaaoohhhh yuck..i..hate..that..feeling. I got off the ground immediately and fortunately didn't have to move too much to roll over to the side. I felt like crap. I thought about going home, but I just chilled for about 8 minutes and recovered mostly.

So I went to the less steep 6 foot ramp and skated up and down it with no problem. Cool. I even dropped into the 4 foot half-pipe and had limited problems. Good. I'm ready for the 9 foot half pipe. I clunked back up the stairs and sat for a bit beside Ed. After watching the apparently unbreakable 14 year olds for a second, I was ready. "okay lean forward lean forward," I told myself as I skated to the edge of the 9 foot drop. Forwaaarrd and zoom*splat too far forward *crap*! I skinned my knee a bit even though I had knee pads on. I've got to get new pads. Okayokayokay so I need to practice a bit more.

I did the 4 foot half pipe several more times and then the first steep 6 foot ramp on which I had first busted my hip, and had no worries on all these excursions. I fell several times, but not from like 6 or 9 feet in the air. No problems.

So I went back to the 9 foot halfpipe and felt confident that I could skate it. I had done it before! What's the big deal this time??? So I dropped in to the 9 foot ramp and *Zoom* down *zoom* up and turn and zoom down

*crunch* I wrecked at the bottom. Much better! I went up to the top again and *Zoom* down *crunch* I reached out to support myself as I fell and strained my right shoulder. OW. ow owowowowowow. Ow that hurt!

So I skated it again and again and after Alex was finished with his training, Ed said to me, "come over to the mini-ramp we're going to straighten yourass out." Cool. Ed is the best skater, and best instructor in Houston, so I'm pleased. I did it a couple of times and Ed told me I just need to relax more. Just skate and flow with it. Hmmm..

It was getting late, and I was bruised pretty badly on my hip. Ed had been skating solid for 9 hours. As the whole place was closing, I realized I lost my car key. Doh!! So we scoured the floor, but never found it. Fortunately, a guy in a garage across the street was pretty handy with a slim jim. Broke into my car and fortunately I did have my ignition key. Got home at about 11pm.