corrinado_swam » skateboarding http://emeryclark.net Like hell on fire With jelly arms and beaten bones He rode the crests, he broke the waves Trying to get a breath of air for all that he had left to save Fri, 21 May 2010 04:47:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Skateboarding Videos http://emeryclark.net/2010/02/skateboarding-videos/ http://emeryclark.net/2010/02/skateboarding-videos/#comments Wed, 17 Feb 2010 09:04:49 +0000 admin http://emeryclark.net/?p=158 pop shove-it
http://www.flickr.com/photos/clarkre14/4364247485/

ollie, switch, fakie
http://www.flickr.com/photos/clarkre14/4364247485/

]]> http://emeryclark.net/2010/02/skateboarding-videos/feed/ 0 Rodney Mullen 1983 http://emeryclark.net/2010/02/rodney-mullen-1983/ http://emeryclark.net/2010/02/rodney-mullen-1983/#comments Tue, 16 Feb 2010 11:15:06 +0000 admin http://emeryclark.net/?p=152 Inspiring skate video, http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XOTg3NDcxMjg=.html

“Most people look at a champion and say, ‘Oh, what a great life” but really, it’s a lot of work. The hard part, even harder than getting to be number one, is staying there. Being there and staying there. That’s when the real stamina and real professionalism comes out in a person. That’s when it gets tough.”

]]> http://emeryclark.net/2010/02/rodney-mullen-1983/feed/ 0 Skateboarding http://emeryclark.net/2010/02/skateboarding/ http://emeryclark.net/2010/02/skateboarding/#comments Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:53:01 +0000 admin http://emeryclark.net/?p=80 So, we are on vacation right now. The Chinese Lunar New Year is approaching on Februrary 14, which is like the equivilent of the Western world’s Chirstmas. My friend Sam from Britian and I have been skateboarding every day. I brought my skateboard to China and he bought one here. He’s a decent skater, has been for his whole life, and he’s teaching me the ways of a skater.

First, you have to learn the language: Ollie, Shove It, Fakie, Nollie, Frontside Shove It, Switch, Backside Shove It, Fakie 180, Backside 180, Kickflip, Heelflip, Manual, Riding Goofy, Riding Regular, etc. Second, you have to learn the technique. Skating is all about technique: balance, foot placement, and focus. Third, you have to practice. Practice, practice, practice. Every day, practice.

The cool thing about skating is that you actually get better.   There is a Chinese saying that reminds me of this. Every Chinese student knows this. It is posted in all the classrooms, and if you begin to say the phrase, they will chime in. It goes:

好好学习，天天向上
Hao Hao Xue Xi, Tian Tian Xiang Shang
Translation: “Good Good Study, Day Day Up”
My intrepretation: everyday use your mind and be productive.

Skating is about the mental game. You have to be sharp, focused, on point, ready to take risks. You have to be able to trust your body and mind. You have to use your judgement, and think fast. You have to be confident. You have to be cool. You have to be disciplined, and well-trained. You have to be yourself. You have to know yourself. You have to push yourself. You have to be somebody else. You have to wear a helmet. You have to be in shape. You have to exercise. You have to see your skateboard as a tool. You have to know your tool. You have to use the tools you have. You have to respect the tools you have. You have to love being outside. You have to love wasting time. You have to drink water.  You have to keep a mean face. You have to keep a game face. You have to love being a superstar. You have to love being yourself. You have to love what you are doing. You have to love skating.

Peace.

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