Slow Progression

      Lately I have found myself wanting to try some new tricks that I used to think too difficult or risky to try. In particular, after seeing how smooth smith grinds look, I decided it is time for me to step it up and learn them. The process has been slow and I still haven't quite got them yet, but I am slowly getting closer. One of my biggest setbacks was the rails situation. I don't like grinding rails very much. I used to 50-50 them, but ever since one really crazy incident (dislocated my traffic finger), just the sound of metal trucks on a metal rail kind of freaks me out. Ironically, I went back and 50-50'ed the rail that I got hurt on the next day wearing my stylish finger splint. Anyhow, what I really wanted was a box to try to learn smith's on, that way the falls are a bit more predictable and controlled. Since Tallahassee doesn't have any low or flat boxes to learn tricks on, I was pleased to skate my hometown skate park which does. It was also while I was there that I realized there were many box tricks that I have never filmed. I took the time to make a short video of these.

To my own surprise, I was able to pull off a few pseudo Smith grinds on the box. They certainly aren't pretty, but I am starting to get the motion and feel for the trick. I was super happy about this. 

Now that I'm back in Tallahassee, I knew I just needed to conquer the fear of rails, so that I can start trying the Smith on the one here. After over a month of looking and rolling up to the rail without popping, I finally committed to 5050'ing it. It seems such a small step, but I am finally starting to get more comfortable with grinds on it. The door is now open, so the next step is obviously the smith. Hopefully, I will have more to report back on this soon. Nevertheless, I am super happy about the progression, even if it is at a snails pace.