This is the last few pictures from my Alaska vacation. The first park is in Soldotna, Ak. It consisted of some metal ramps, banks, and a pyramid-ish thing. The coping was terrible. It was pipe that had been cut into a 1/3 round and pop riveted / screwed / welded on to the ramps. Really it was kind of attached at best and bounced if you hit it at an angle. Scary. It was a fun park to skate as long as you could dodge the scooter kid ripping around shirtless in sweatpants sporting a mohawk. Ahh locals, what can you say.

The second park in the pics is in Anchorage, Ak. It was a modular plastic and metal combo from Skatewave. Defintely interesting to skate on at first. I found it both slippery and scary, but fun none the less. I can see how this type of surface and system is great for the harsh elements of Alaska but I much prefer concrete. Anyway, enjoy the pics and go skate.

Well I am now back in the land of internet and cell reception. Sorry I was off the grid for a week there. I had the opportunity to skate the first 4 days that I was in AK at 4 different parks. Girdwood, Homer, Soldatna, and finally one in Anchorage. Each was different and challenging in many respects.

I already posted some of the pics from Girdwood here. Next was Homer. This park is on the side of a school and consisted of some metal ramps (read slick) and fun boxes that were placed on some rough asphalt (read road rash). Pretty fun considering where you are. And yes the spine took me down (lame coping hang) and split my elbow. Always good to leave some blood at the skate park. All in all it was really fun until it started to rain. More to come in the next few days.

Here are a few pics of the fun.

Travel, yes travel. As I write this I am sitting in seat 29A on a flight to Alaska. Why, to skate of course. Actually I am taking a little vacation and flying up to AK to meet up with my brother and then drive back down to Oregon so he can hang out for the summer. Along this trip we plan on doing a little fishing, camping, and yes skateboarding.

We plan on hitting the Homer and Anchorage skate parks first and then who knows. That is the beauty of being now unemployed and on the road. I will do my best to keep you all updated on our journey and hopefully put up some pics of Alaska’s finest skate parks. Oxymoron? Not sure.

Stay tuned and be patient. And if anyone knows of any skate spots we should hit please let me know.

I stopped by Bacon Skateboards yesterday to grab a new deck for my self and a couple of buddies. This is not my first http://baconskateboards.com/products nor will it be my last. I really like the wider wheel base that is available on some of the wider waist width decks. The added length feels super stable under foot especially when riding bigger transition. For those of you who don’t like that they offer traditional waist widths and wheel bases for you as well.

For all of the Northwest skaters, support local and give Bacon a try. And for those of you who are not up in “Gods Country (NW)” hit up your local skate retailer and get your Bacon deck there. If they can’t get one, then turn to your trusty friend the internet and get one from your favorite online retailer. I have had good luck with Skate Warehouse. But that is just me. Have fun and go skate.

Thanks for the hookup Colin and Tim.

Second installment of what I ride. Yes it has been a week, so here goes the second verse of products that I am stoked on. And incase you were wondering, no I do not get this stuff for free. I will gladly accept any freebies that people want to send though.

Bones Swiss Super 6 bearings. I love that Bones doesn’t subscribe to the ABEC scale for rating bearings. They say they are “skate rated”. Enough said. I have been using Bones Reds for years (much like millions of other skaters) but last year my wife bought me some of these Super 6’s to shred. These are by far the creamiest, smooth rolling, quietest, speed mongers I have rolled on in a very long time.

This unique design features six larger diameter balls instead of the seven balls used in most skateboard bearings. The advantage of this design is higher speed, faster acceleration, greater strength and durability.

What does this all mean? Sure, they are a little spendy. BUT, you get what you pay for. In addition you can easily service these and have high end bearings for much longer than cheap-o non-serviceable rollers that ultimately cost you more over time.

Mob the park and generate speed with the best of em’. Ride Bones Bearings!

Read what else I am stoked on What I Ride

Ok, so here is the skinny. I wanted to take a little time to talk about skate equipment and what I am currently stoked on. First and foremost, I am an old guy hack skater (insert kidney bowl or mini ramp here). So with that being said I am not going to be giving out reviews or props on any skateboard under 8” nor on the state of Facebook or Twitter. I will give you my opinion on gear I am riding or have used.

What I am stoked on now……Bacon Skateboards, specifically the Lincoln Nass 8.5 with the 15” wheel base. The deck feels solid under foot like a snowboard due to the wider wheelbase. I have been skating this board for a little while and am super stoked with how stiff and poppy the board has stayed. Bacon is making good quality boards here in the USA and supports one of the sickest skateboard teams in the industry. Support local and keep up the good work Bacon!