Mama Behind the Hay Bales

GET in the Van ...

2012-01-18T16:14:00.000-08:00

Wolf's a 'tank' .... what does that mean? I'm confused.

2012-01-18T16:05:00.000-08:00

Okay, who is this guy? And is being a tank a good thing?

Maryhill Free-ride video 2011 as the bird flies

2012-01-18T16:03:00.000-08:00

Okay ... so one guess who the cat is who is dancing in the front of the van. Watch for him on the hill ... if you can spot him.

Wolfshark ... video and ad

2011-08-04T15:48:00.000-07:00

Okay, I thought I'd posted this earlier ... maybe I did. Maybe I'm losing my mind. Anyway. Here is the Wolfshark. Wolf worked with the folks at Landyachtz to design this board ... But I'll let him show it to you himself.

Landyachtz: Maryhill Freeride 2011

2011-07-02T08:58:00.000-07:00

Yes ... more Maryhill. I have to post this now as I don't have enough to post from the Festival of Speed as it is currently taking place. But here is the hill, and here are the LY riders ... Wolf often seen here. Okay, as his mom ... I have to favour the videos that have him in them! Look for the white wolf claws on the right shoulder-blade and you have my boy.

2011 Maryhill Free-ride, super amazing video

2011-06-27T17:02:00.000-07:00

I should say super 'sick' video ... love the helicopter scenes. Wolf is the dancing boy in the front seat of the truck with the ice cream head ... also one of the many red-leathered lads with black helmets...

Event: Spring Maryhill Freeride 2011 from SkateHouseMedia.com on Vimeo.

Maryhill Free-ride video 2011

2011-06-27T06:53:00.000-07:00

For anyone who hasn't seen footage of the hill at Maryhill, and don't know what the fuss is all about, this video shows the lovely landscape and the original road ... This is why they go and ride. Wolf is in there ... red, with black helmet, with camera on his lid ... but then there were many others. Looked like fun.

Record length STAND-up Slide !!!

2011-06-21T07:03:00.000-07:00

Okay, It wasn't apparent until Wolf came home with friends with meat for the bbq, with raves of his feat and video footage to prove it ... but wow, that's a long slide. Previous record holder Kevin Rimer, slid 160 feet on his board, no small effort there! Wow. So, Wolf marked down this epic distance in chalk on the road, then the tried and tried to slide over it ... and not on his knees, hands or anything other than his wheels. His efforts paid off!!! Watch and see!

Wolf - 162 ft Stander from Merrick Wildash on Vimeo.

Wolf and Mike and others

2011-02-09T18:21:00.000-08:00

I have to say that I enjoy watching my son, Wolfgang (Wolf), skate, especially on youtube. Now, does this make me a bad mother? It isn't that I don't enjoy watching him skate live, I do, but in all reality there is just so much more to see in the footage of a co-rider's go-pro, where hours and hours if not days of footage has been edited down to a nice a tidy, rather fun bit of video, with music added and usually humour. I've spent many days behind bales of hay watching for my speedster breeze past once every 40 minutes or so.

I say to him, 'cool! nice slide.' Sometimes I even venture into the skate-language and utter praise of , 'Siiiick!' That was 'gnarrrr'.( I don't think he notices.) I never miss a chance, like today over dinner to comment on a new video ... 'and where was your shirt?' I would love to say that my son follows all the rules, but I'd either be lying or delusional if I did. He does wear a helmet, gloves, shoes, kneepads (almost always). and ALWAYS leathers when racing. The footage below is not, NOT a race. It is a cruise. There are careful distinctions to be made.

I heard rumour of a new board coming out soon.... LY... I've seen it in the Concrete wave so I'm no longer spilling the beans. But Wolf is 'stoked,' with the Wolf-shark, soon to be available. We're thrilled for him too. Very cool. (that's mom-speak for siiick)

Go Eh Team, Go! A Video reflection

2010-12-14T09:35:00.001-08:00

60 foot standup

2010-08-06T14:47:00.000-07:00

Landyachtz Scratching Post

2010-08-06T14:46:00.000-07:00

Landyachtz Scratching Post

When a Longboarder is in Paris...

2010-08-01T14:41:00.000-07:00

If you have a son who is longboarder and is under the age of, say, 25, and you happen to be visiting Paris, France, you may wonder what you could do to keep you both happy and get the most out of the trip.

Here are a few suggestions:

Take in the Scenery in Paris:

Tour Eiffel, Wolf, Skateboard... of course

Arc d' Triomphe, Wolf, skateboard... of course

Skating in Paris: You will notice right away that there aren't many skateboarders or longboarders in Paris at all. We also noticed that there aren't many SUVs either; this is a good thing. But the ratio of skateboarders to SUVs is about 1:1, not a good thing. We counted 4 of each.

The likely cause for so few skaters is the fact that many of the streets are cobblestone and next to impossible to skate. There are smooth paved areas, but they often have 10 lanes of cars on them. One day per week from 9am about to 5pm on designated areas, cars are banned during the 'Paris breathes' program. Roads that are typically open to cars are closed so that non-motorized traffic can take over, bikes, scooters, in-line skaters, and though they don't specify, this would also include skateboarders. We will check out the scenic routes tomorrow. I'll be on foot.

Try snails, speak French, eat baguettes:

Escargot & Rose... He tried one... I had the rest... not bad.

Eating in Paris: After more than a week in France, my boy was needing a fix of Vancouver famed, Bon's, an all-day cheap breakfast joint. Unfortunately, nothing is cheap in Paris. But you can find bacon, eggs and a bottomless cup of coffee that needs a load of milk and sugar to make it palatable. We found: Breakfast-In-America. One happy lad. A small chain restaurant that offers the standard North American Breakfast fare all day long.

Art in Paris
You shouldn't be in Paris if you are not going to look at art. There are hundreds of museums and galleries and parks where you can find art. There is art for every taste. My son, it seems likes the impressionists, post-impressionists and gnarly renaissance art:

Coast Longboarding at the Louvre

When looking at art and artifacts, try to make it relevant to your longboarder... look closely and see the reflection of the Coast longboarding logo in the glass. 'Cool.... Coast in the Louvre...' okay, maybe I am desperate to find a link, but it's worth a shot.

Take the Metro
This is the easiest way to get around. Today, we had a race to see who would get back to the apartment first. I took the metro, he rode his skateboard.... guess who won... yup... by 40 minutes... Lunch was on the table by the time he rolled in, but it was a good experiment. The lifts (elevators) are tiny and slow, the metro is big and fast.

Cathedrals
There are a lot of these in Paris, so there is no shortage. Some of the biggies to check out are: Notre Dame (must not wear Bermuda shorts or bare shoulders), Sacre Coeur (many many stairs, both at the metro and up to the cathedral; worth the climb), but our favourite was Chartres. It is a little out of town, but crazy interesting. A huge history an it has a crypt tour; it's all in French, so listen closely, or read your English cheat-sheets and try to follow along. My favourite part was the tower climb where you can see over much of the roofline over to the village below and much of the countryside. It was amazing, and I am afraid of heights. Wolf took his go-pro camera on this one, hopefully it turned out better than our trip through the catacombs (also very cool, in a historic, creepy kind of way).

view from Chartres Tower

Wolf at Cafe across the street from Chartres

Wolf at Notre Dame, Paris, France

Bones in the Catacombs of Paris

Skull detail from Catacombs, Paris

Wolf in Catacombs, (yes with his board and go-pro camera...

Get a Haircut
When cultural overload sets in, get a haircut. So that is what he did.
Tomorrow, onto Lyon. The adventures continue.

Landyachtz Longboards - Eh Team - Young Gunz

2010-07-27T02:24:00.000-07:00

Authorized Downhill Skateboard Route in Argonay

2010-07-22T09:39:00.001-07:00

P1000382
Originally uploaded by lunatickle

Although this sign may seem intimidating, banning skateboarders from practicing on this road at any other time other than those specified by local municipal authorities, the living history of this location is supportive and promising for the riders in this sport.

This road has been transformed from a two way car route, to a one way car route that is then closed to cars for almost each Sunday afternoon so that downhill skateboarders, longboarders, can practice their sport.

This has been such a success over the past decade that four other areas in France have followed suit and have given over a road to the sport, again for a half day a week.

The flip side of this road closure is that the skateboarders have agreed to not skate in the village at all and as a mountain town, all roads are downhill--cruising around is not really possible. It seems that the riders in this community have complied and are happy with this arrangement.

They began with forming an association of downhill riders; it was then that they had a voice with council. Well done folks!

Merci de partager votre réussite avec nous, et votre colline pour cette belle course.

The Patron Saint of DH Skateboarding

2010-07-22T04:35:00.000-07:00

Wolf is having a fantastic time here in Argonay France. We arrived in this village on the outskirts of Annecy, two days ago for the IGSA World Cup Race, Graveyard Call. We walked the road when we arrived to check the route when Wolf discovered an amazing thing:

Yesterday was registration and free-riding. A very technical course with lots corners. Everyone seems to be enjoying the challenge.

I hear the qualifying rounds have begun. Must grab my camera and head back behind my safe spot behind the bales....

Why are there so many pretty girls in France?

2010-07-20T14:28:00.000-07:00

He asked me this over dinner, fillet perch and fries with salad, and he asked with all honesty and he's right, there seems to be an inordinate number of lovely young women, de jolies jeunes femmes, I should say. And here I worried that he would be monocular with his skateboard race only in his mind that he would overlook the rich cultural environment we have found ourselves in... well my boy has not let me down, not only can he concentrate and fixate on the race course, but that while still noticing les jolies jeunes femmes as well.

Medieval France is stunning, as are the summer Alps, and that is coming from a gal who is used to mountains. The Coastals are beautiful and the Rockies are breath taking, but i'd have to say the Alps are pretty nice as well, and the towns near them seem friendly and welcoming,,, but I'll have to see how the next few days go first....
Pictures to follow.

Enroute to Toronto, To Montreal, To Geneva

2010-07-17T21:23:00.000-07:00

Checked: One wheelless longboard, one very large very old backpack with a Canadian Flag stitched to it from my husband's journeys 20 years ago, (a sturdy bag indeed) and a heavy micro-duffle bag stuffed with 10 sets of wheels, replacing the 30 dimpled field-hockey balls.

Carry-on: One blue wheeled bag containing all my attire for the next 17 days, one computer bag with camera, charger, laptop, travel documents, books, journals, extension cord and one european outlet converter, One purse (mine), one backpack containing one hoodie and one vintage notebook and power cord (without it would hold no charge at all).

Two excited travellers have checked in, all the way through to Geneva, but will wake in Toronto, and now lounge, repose, sip and sup in the very tranquil environs of the Maple Leaf Lounge... thank you aeroplan.

I have been looking forward to this trip for sometime, and finally... here it is and I could use a nap;(... but will wait to board the plane first. no photos to report, and it is unlikely that wolf will let me take his picture sipping his sprite and tapping on his computer... I'll save the photos for something actually interesting.

au revoir mes amis!

The Journey Begins

2010-07-16T09:07:00.000-07:00

We've had weeks to prepare, to gather documents, tickets, passes and gear. My gear consists of computer and camera; his includes a virtual crate of wheels, a board, leathers, etc. I have had some difficulty convincing my son that this is not the same as camping where one set of clothing will do for the week. It is France. We will be a week in Paris. Camp clothes won't do, not if he's going with me, and he is. One pair of well loved and worn jeans and a set of three-year-old swim trunks won't get you smiles when you try to get a table reservation at a restaurant, or entrance into some of the cathedrals. So as much as he hates it, I have convinced him to go shopping and to buy some new clothes. Wicked, controlling mother, I know, but too bad.

Train Pass Mix-up

I was writing up my itinerary yesterday so my husband would be able to get in touch with us during our journey when I discovered a most disconcerting error. I had purchased rail passes for me and Wolf several weeks ago, one adult 4-day pass and one youth 4 day pass, each clearly marked with the correct name, but when they arrived via courier, the tickets had been transposed. I should have taken photos of them for humour: Lorrie Miller youth pass: ages 16 through 24 inclusive... just a few years out of date. With much wrangling I managed to get it straightened out with Rail Europe (still waiting for the refund), and have new tickets issued and printed at a local dealer with the correct names. Phew... close, I imagined the stress and embarrassment trying to explain the mix-up on a train in France, in French-- not fun.

Argonay, France (location of IGSA's Graveyard Call)

Lonely Planet Phrasebook French

I have been to France, but that was over two decades ago, and I was a poor French speaker then, and was determined to improve my French following that trip. I improved some, but that was again twenty years ago. I've been practicing with Wolf and my husband (who is rather fluent--despite his denial) and it's coming back to me. But all the same I thought I'd pick up a language support, but not a full on thick dictionary. I chose the Lonely Planet phrasebook French. It is a thin blue book with a reasonable front illustration and has 3500 words and phrases with easy to follow colour-coded categories:

rust: tools
teal: practical
olive: social
orange: food
aqua: safe travel
green: sustainable travel
plum: dictionaries

The 'social' category, included 'meeting people, interests, feelings & opinions, going out, romance sports, beliefs, and outdoors. This seemed very helpful to me until I began to read some of the helpful phrases to my husband over a glass of wine. I could hardly stop laughing.

Meeting people: " Tu es de quel signe?" what sign are you?

" Est-ce que ta un fetiche?" Do you have a fetish?

Two phrases I will NOT be needing on this trip, but those and many others brought lots of laughter to our evening.

Shortly we will be on our way to....

Annecy Prison in Annecy France

(both images from Wiki commons as I am not actually there to take my own images... yet)

Death of a Rider: A mother's nightmare

2010-07-12T18:01:00.000-07:00

The tragic death of well known and liked artist and competitive longboarder, Glenna Evans, has shaken the local longboarding community, and stirred public debate.

As a mother of junior racer, Wolfgang Coleman, I took the news the way mothers do, poorly. I didn't know who it was when the news first broke and imagined all the beautiful faces of the female riders that I know or have met through Wolf, and then thought of her mother, and my heart cracked. It doesn't matter that she was no longer a child, she was still her mother and father's daughter. Their pain must be great.

This sad loss has made me reconsider my stand on this very fast sport and my complicity with Wolf's participation. My first reaction was, never again; I must protect my boy. Luckily that lasted for mere seconds. My longer feeling was a quiet prayer to never know such loss myself.

How many people find a true passion in their lives, something that brings them joy beyond textual description? How many young people find purpose and challenge in what they do? How many are able to compete at an international level? How many find community in the physical face-to-face type that extends beyond any virtual network, friends to high-five, to trade trucks, to swap road-rash tales?

Some sports are riskier than others, but consider life-altering knee injuries from basketball and soccer, the bends and death in sea-diving, paralysis and death in horse-back riding, in snow-boarding, in skiing, in motor-cross riding, in mountain biking? How about rodeo sports in general? If we look at the negative and very dangerous effects of lack of sport and passion in one's life, perhaps it outweighs any inherent risk? I don't know; I'm just putting it out there. Not everyone can be passionate about badminton, or table tennis, or golf... but golf has it's heart-failure risks apparently, but that may have something to do with the age and health of some of the players.

I also don't want to see a short-sighted public knee-jerk reaction with any sort of a ban on skateboarding. This would be a step backwards. Should we try to avoid death by closing hospitals, because it is in their walls where most deaths occur? You get my point. Riding usually results in fit, well transported and happy people. And these are good things.

I will not take my son out of the sport. But I will continue to insist on safe riding and safe training, and that means in a group, all the time. Like in diving, and swimming, and sailing (usually) 'buddies stick together'. We've adopted that diving rule and applied it many areas of our lives, and here is just one more.

In a few short days Wolf and I will be jetting to the French Alps for him to race in IGSA's Graveyard Call, and then to take in the cultural scene in Paris before coming home. The race goes on, but I do know that Glenna Evans will be remembered as she has touched the lives of many with both her life and her death. Rest in Peace Glenna, though I never knew you.

links: igsa's memorial page
Glenna's page

Vernon DH 2010 News

2010-06-14T11:16:00.000-07:00

Three o'clock in the morning and I woke in a chilled sweat. I heard clattering coming from the kitchen. My blood boils. I've been woken for their third night in a row because my nearly 18 year-old has taken to being a night-owl and thirsty/ hungry and noisy in the middle of the night. I stormed down stairs to stop the noise and hoped to return to sleep... Of course it was my fault for being a light sleeper, and grumpy... aghhh.

On my way back up stairs, I peeked into Wolf's room. He wasn't home yet when I went to sleep, so I thought I'd check and see if he was in... His bed was empty, unchanged from Friday afternoon when he departed to Vernon for his first IGSA Race. He has his packing to a bit of an art, and can stow his tent, sleeping bag and all his gear and clothes in less than thirty minutes. He has a tendency to underestimate the amount of needed clothing... but that's just me.

My heart crashed around in my chest... empty room, three thirty... I thought he'd be home. Then I became sane for one minute, and checked my blackberry. No messages, good news. No worry. Right? I thought. So I checked the web, and as I suspected in my mid of the night daze, Vernon was a two day race that didn't finish until six pm Sunday evening. He'd be home Monday. I sighed and then went back to sleep... sort of. I actually scrolled through the IGSA website trying to find the final results.

It became clear that Kevin Reimer came in first, followed by Douglas Silva, and Zen Shikaze, with Max Erwin in forth. Women top rider was Brianne Davies. The rest of the results weren't posted at 4am... So I finally went to sleep.

Over breakfast, I flipped open my computer and browsed the posted results. I prayed that Wolf qualified... and he did. I hoped that he'd get through the first round. He did. He made it through to the first quarter final matchup. His was the first heat, consisting of Kevin Reimer, Max Erwin, Jesse Tynan and Wolfgang Coleman. A tough heat, to be sure. The results above tell the tale; Reimer and Erwin went on to the Semi finals and to the top. Wolf went on to the Junior round. He is still sixteen an is going to race juniors and open as long as he can.

On a blistering day at Vernon (up to 30 C) clad in leather- from head to toe, Wolf came in 2nd place in the Junior division, after Alex Tongue and ahead of Mike Slota. Well done gentlemen! Way to go Wolf.

There is a lot of other news from Vernon DH 2010, but my job here is to spread the news of Wolf. Here is a photo of my speedy son--from Gold Rush Challenge. I will post photos from Vernon when they are available, but for now this will have to do.

Here is the link to the full list: IGSA final results for Vernon DH 2010.

Gold Rush Challenge on the News

2010-06-08T16:02:00.000-07:00

Here is a splash of Gold rush Challenge. Nice coverage!

Gold Rush Challenge 2010 - Global News from UNKLE.CA on Vimeo.

Danger Bay 2010

2010-06-08T14:47:00.000-07:00

Bad Mother
Okay, so I missed the beginning of the race. Since when does Danger Bay begin on time... I'll tell you when, in 2010. That's when. So when I finally got to the race site, I found my racing son, FINISHED. Yes, chillin' behind the bales, where I should have been an hour earlier! I still can't believe it.

And then, Wolf, watched intently as the race went on... he, like the record number of racers, had crashed out into the bales, and his race was finished, but the weekend was still far from over, ahead lay still Jake's Rash and The Gold Rush Challenge.

Wolf took third place in the Gold Rush Challenge Junior division--his last year as a grom. Well done son. Spencer Smith took the top junior place and someone I don't know (but will find out) took the second spot. Spencer and Wolf can race it out this summer at Graveyard Call. That race, son, I promise not to miss.

Abbotsford Outlaw

2010-04-19T19:57:00.000-07:00

Graveyard Call: Argonay France

2010-04-13T15:03:00.000-07:00

Booked flights yesterday!! Yes, we are looking forward to it very much.
Looking for this year's poster, as the dates are different here. But I'll bet the course is the same. Wolf... you are one lucky kid! Okay, I'm a lucky mom too...

More Maryhill!!! Free ride

2010-04-01T17:46:00.000-07:00

A black bird glides through the air above the steady turn of giant white turbines. It lets out the tell-tale cry that says I'm not Crow--I am Raven.

I unpack my red folding chair and set my seat along the road in front of a twisted dry blackberry bramble. I rest my feet on one of the many hay bales that line the road and I wait. For a moment I am alone. The wind rustles my hair and blows into my ears, reminding me of many Saskatchewan springs from my childhood, as a meadow lark sings. This is where the comparison ends. The hum of urethane at speed along a smooth black ribbon of asphalt that winds its way through these hills reminds me that this is no ordinary hill; this is Maryhill.

One rider after another with wide smiles and keen concentration tuck around the bend in the road where I'm stationed. The day goes on much like this, as peaceful as it is beautiful. I can see why this road has become legondary among the downhill longboarder and street-luge scene.

Another U-haul load of riders drives back to the top, and then a second truck and a third, all filled with sweat, leather and hot eurothane.

Most of the hundred plus rider mostly men and boys, and a few women are a clad head to toe in safety gear. Heavily worn shoes, knee pads, some with armadillo-styled spine protectors, an aray of helmets, gloves and leathers of every shade and hue, often augemented with patches of duct-tape. They remind of some combination of super-heros and race cars. Love it!

Then Wolf, my son, rides by again. I, mother, spectator, van-driver, bale-sitter, photo-taker, click away again as they round the corner. Though it was a very late night, or early morning, when we pulled into Goldendale, WA, and I've had little sleep, my day is good. A little too much sun, and not enough sunblock, but all managable. Being here allows me to pay back so many of the rides Wolf has gotten from Blake in the Landyachtz Van, as both Blake and Simon caught a ride with us. Besides being fine car company, it allowed Wolf to share talk and enthusiasm for the trip and all the skate talk, a topic I can only carry on for so long before zoning out... sorry.

At 3:20 the sky is white with cloud and the wind picks up; blows with a bite less kind than earlier this morning--but still an hour and a half to go. I hunker down and wait. From time to time the radio sounds, someone announcing that riders are on, or someone has spilled at corner two, but then up again all is good.

Already I know that this will not be my last time to this hill, nor behind these bales of hay. The Festival of Speed is in June. Maybe I'll be back for that, maybe I'll let my husband come out with Wolf. Either way, one of us will be here with Wolf. It won't be long before he'll be travelling without us, but not just yet.

The weekend was a fast one, in the end. In more ways than one. A well run, well attended event. I still have to go through day two's photos... still more to come.

Maryhill Free ride

2010-03-23T09:00:00.000-07:00

Anyone who has ever seen her smooth black ribbon of blacktop winding its way over hills and through a magestic landscape will know at a glance Maryhill. But to be honest, I've never been there, but have seen many a minutes of footage thanks to my son, Wolfgang, aka Wolf, aka Wolfie (but only I can call him that). Wolf wants more than anything to skate this coming weekend at the annual Maryhill Freeride. This is the location of the also annual MHFOS, Maryhill Festival of Speed, a World Cup race where longboarders from everywhere come to challenge for the top spot. Think Snowboard cross minus the snow.

He likes riding and it seems he's pretty good. But he is still my lad and a mature 16 year old, but I don't feel comfortable sending him off to another country, even with mature, and responsible co-riding adults. So, this means that I will likely be volunteering to drive... Soccer season is now over, so time to switch hats and follow this child, ah hem, young man, in his sport.

I suggested that I rent a hotel room, and he looked at me like I was a total wimp. I'm not. Usually. Maybe we have to camp? On the ground.... in March? All this given that I will host our youngest son's sixth birthday earler the same day!!! Yes a house filled with a dozen five and six year old girls and boys in costumes doing field day races. A totally different type of event: egg race (on a spoon) three-legged races, and sack races. Fun.

Then off to ride the hill. I'll post again as the week progresses. But for now that's the plan.

Here is a video of wolf 'shredding the gnar' (official term) at the Cypress Mountain. See after 7 minutes the 'side session'. Wolf finishes things off with some 'gnarly slides' and a slip into the one and only hay bale along the entire road. Well done son.

A great, not typical, skateboard film!!!

2010-03-19T18:35:00.000-07:00

Last night I attended the premier of the film Drop: My life Downhill, with my son Wolfgang. He is a fan of the sport and a talented rider in his own right. I have attended numerous launches and openings of various sorts through my life, from theatrical performances, to art openings, book launches, architectural and academic celebrations of various sorts. But what I have to liken this event to the most in my experience is an art school theatre opening. What! You are probably thinking, but hear me out.

First of all, this was a highly involved, emotionally charged cooperative project. Lots of folks had a lot invested in this film, from skating, and revealing thoughts and experiences of the sport from an insider's perspective, through to the hours (and hours) of filming and editing. This is not at all unlike the investments that people pour into theatre performances, especially when original material is being produced.

Secondly, the energy of the young people that attended the premier was so charged that they could have it could have run the equipment, or heated the building with it--should have heated the building... brrrrr. Maybe it is just a sign of my deepening middle-age, and I am making more connections than are actually present, but I will hold for now that the community of longboarders with their shared passion, openness, and uni-focus 'skate?' is again like the communities that I was a part of at that same age. How can someone eat, breath, and sleep skateboarding (dream more than sleep)? Well, I know the answer to this: easily, just ask any one of them; ask my son. It may seem extreme to me to have such a single foci, but if you had asked me when I was twenty-anything, if I would do anything that wasn't involved in art, theatre or academics (research...yes it's true, I was very passionate about this), I would have said quiet emphatically, 'it's my life, that and my kids. There is nothing else.' That would have been true, it was my community, my entertainment, my passion, my recreation.

I have to applaud the director, Marc MacCrudden for his vision and execution of this film. He has succeeded in presenting the world of longboarding in a light that it so deserves. Drop: My life downhill, is in a league of its own as far as skateboard films go. If you expect the typical 'skate porn' as described by Chris Chaput, then you will be happily surprised. Drop takes viewers into the individual experiences of some of the word's top ranking downhill and freestyle riders. The racers speak for themselves, revealing their highlights and some lowlights (ie: famous crashes or close-calls). The film is as educational as it is entertaining. One of the highlights for me was the spectacular shots of Maryhill and other winding roads. Sexy indeed.

I am looking forward to an IMAX downhill experience that looks at the entire race circuit... why not? Or how about a feature film that takes a fictional racer (with lots of techincal/ cultural advising and stunt doubling) and follows him/her (maybe a him and a her) through their training, drama, close calls, and other conflicts as they follow thier dream, and get into the big leagues. Think Billy Elliot, but not; Thrashin, but not. You know what I mean?

Way to go all that made Drop happen. You have a fan in me.

Drop: My life downhill

2010-03-17T21:47:00.000-07:00

The premier of the film Drop: My life downhill is tomorrow night at the Richshaw theatre in Vancouver... Yes, I have my tickets, and Wolf and I are going to check it out for sure. I've seen the previews and I am totally intrigued. I have watched more youtube videos (at the request of my son "mom, check this out,") than a non skater, non-boarder really should. But here we go, to the show. I'll post my 'review' later.

Olympics 2024

2010-03-08T14:00:00.000-08:00

So, post games--Winter Olympics, that is, I got to thinking about the summer games, and what if we hosted them, and what if, say, longboarding became an olympic sport... This sent my mind a wandering into all sorts of fun and wooly ways until I finished the following piece (check out the two part post on Siverfish as posted by Skategeezer)

Olympic 2024: by me... yours truly... hay bale mama. (meaning the spectator, not the rider)

Would love to hear what you think!

White Rock Slopestyle

2010-02-28T10:18:00.000-08:00

Earlier this month, prior to the Olympic hullabaloo, a group of dedicated longboarders (Wolf included) organized a slopestyle event in White Rock British Columbia:

Here is a picture of Wolf showing his moves, and a link to the full album and article as featured on Unkle.ca.

Too much Steeze? How could that be?

2010-02-20T14:20:00.000-08:00

Landyachtz has posted my son (the speedy one) on the team page! Official and all;)
More steeze than someone his age should have... they say.

here is his team page info:
landyachtz team
you can click on his photo, or go to the link directly below. It's a slideshow of his riding.
Wolfgang Coleman

fun!

Landyachtz opening picture is Wolfgang Coleman

2010-02-10T22:51:00.001-08:00

Wolf went out for a photo shoot with the folks from Landyachtz and here is his latest pict! See Wolf ride, See Wolf slide!

I am ever amazed at the photo quality possible, clearly by someone more skilled than I!

Concrete Wave Article

2010-01-20T21:17:00.000-08:00

Yeah, this issue is up and live in full colour glory. I have six pages of story about parenting high speed longboarders. For full details of the article see: Lorrie Coleman (still me... this way I match the kids' name???) anyway, that's another story, and it will have a note in the next issue as to my actual name... funny.

But the great thing is some lovely photos and even my little guy is in it (Finn) and Wolf of course. Wolf is just kind of happy to have mention in two consecutive issues of his favourite magazine.

Here is the link, but it doesn't have the full issue on line, so if you are interested, you can find it on some magazine stands or at Landyachtz, or at Pacific Boarder.
Concrete Wave Magazine.

Happy skatin'

Racing in France

2010-01-19T10:43:00.000-08:00

Okay this is the next project in the works. I'm heading over the pond to give a cultural, historical education to my lad. You know things like museums, monuments, villages and lots of French bread, wine, galleries, trains, and well there are the alps. The French Alps that is. So, we are off to Wolf's first IGSA international event. Not yet registered, but then again they have just announced the dates. But, we will be going. It has been almost 20 years!!! since I have been to Europe at all. I always assumed that I'd go back right away, but life just got so busy. I am sure it has changed a lot in those two decades, but I am so pleased to be able to take my son to explore with me, and to follow his own passion and tear up the roads that wind their way through the French alps. Many photos and stories to follow with this up coming adventure! We'll keep you posted!

Concrete Wave!!!

2009-11-24T14:03:00.000-08:00

Wolf came home from Landyachtz the other day with the current issue of Concrete Wave. Needless to say, he had a huge grin.

" Turn to page three," he said.

So I did, and there it was...
Introducing Wolfgang Coleman...

At that moment, I was simultaneously proud and terrified... This is my boy!!! This is my boy?

Then on the next page there is this gruesome image, a Zombie... well, not a real one. But a good lookin' fake.
Now, that's not my son. Or I should say, that's NOT my son. But the tag-line says (if you are like me and can't read the tiny print,) 'The deadliest freeride wheel ever' Wolfgang Coleman, Eh Team. Okay, they're not saying that it's my son, but his name is on the icky guy!!!

Now, I have to stock up on the current issue, and keep some extra to send to grandparents. ... because, after all, He is MY son;)
L

...

Things are looking up!

2009-11-09T22:43:00.000-08:00

Seems that with some insistence, ICBC reviewed our boy's file, and it seems that the other witness--was a friend of the driver and is now finally discounted. They had already discounted all three of Wolf's witnesses as being non-biased as they were friends. My husband was a star. He wouldn't let this drop. It really looked like they were going to ignore everything presented to them on behalf of Wolf, despite contradictory statements made by others--statements that were false and in one case impossible. So now we have an offer of a settlement. We are considering it, but he did sustain knee injury during this accident (driver went through a stop sign when the intersection was occupied!). So, back to the doctor we go. This whole process has taken 18 months so far. We can expect at least another six. What a joke. I am so glad that he didn't' sustain any injury more serious.

Caution riders! You will be found to be in the wrong unless you can prove it otherwise. They don't care if you are a minor, or if you were following the rules of the road, or if you had the right of way... you are a skateboarder and there is a lot of unfair attitudes about you... sadly. Maybe one day that will change. Maybe it is just because you are young and your jeans are ripped. Maybe because others are just fools and forget what it was like to be young and energetic, or maybe they just never were!

Have a safe ride!

Lorrie Miller

2009-10-24T08:49:00.000-07:00

Lorrie Miller

ICBC is unfair to our Longboarder

2009-10-20T16:27:00.000-07:00

Now I don't know what others' experiences are with this insurer are, but we have discovered that they seem to have no interest in being fair with one longboarder in particular.

They have neglected to consider any of the witnesses from our son's claim, and only from the driver and his witnesses. Our son was skating in control, with a helmet, through an intersection where the car was stopped at a stop sign. Then at the last second, the car lurched through the intersection, and my son hit it in the tail side of the car. My son had the right of way, the driver drove through the intersection when it was not safe to do so. Our son had three witnesses who provided three witness statements along with his own.

We were told last March that an infant advocate would handle his claim as he is under 19 years old. They were apparently never assigned eventhough he suffered injury which we stated when filled in our claim, and have doctor's notes to prove.-- They say that he wasn't injured and that is why he wasn't assigned an advocate. Another ommision on their part.

How can they say that his witness statement don't count, and also that he wasn't wearing a helmet? This whole situation makes my blood boil. They now tell us that there is no appeal process--which is also a lie.

Riders beware. The 'insurer' will take the driver's side it seems and discount anything said to the contrary. Yuck!

We are not dropping the ball on this one! They can't treat our son this way, we won't let them.

Unkle and the Push

2009-10-15T07:19:00.000-07:00

Unkle.ca is a local e-zine for longboarders and they have pubished the first half of my story about the Push for the Cure. Go here to check it out! Push for the Cure.

Pink is a rag-tag gaggle of longboarders

2009-10-11T11:07:00.000-07:00

Pink is bubblegum, and baby girls; pink is candyfloss and Barbie’s Corvette; pink is October. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so PINK has a whole new meaning!!! A group of Britich Columbia longboarders are doing their bit to raise awareness and funds to further research for a cure for this cancer.

Pink is now the colour of hair, duct-tape on helmets, spray-paint on longboards, and skate-park concrete.

Push for the Cure

2009-10-09T07:17:00.000-07:00

This weekend is 2009 Push for the Cure, and Wolf is keen. This isn't the first time he's participated in Fundraising and awareness raising, but it is his first time with the Push for the Cure. He's done runs with school, and then on his own, when he was about 12, he shaved all his long hair off, donated the money he raised to the Children's Foundation at Children's Hospital, and he also donated his hair to a wig organzation that makes wigs for kids who are undergoing chemotherapy.

So tomorrow morning, bright and early, we'll be loading the van and driving to Hope, where he will meet up with the other riders who are in for the long haul: 150 km, or 97 miles; whatever way you look at it, it is long. What began a few years back with a small group of energetic riders who pushed from east coast to west, and others who pushed from West to East, has become an annual event, where the final leg of the journey, Hope to Vancouver, is the focal local push.

At 15 years old, yes, still fifteen for a few more months, I will leave him in Hope, and collect him in Vancouver. I have come to trust and really like the group of riders and racers he here at the Coast. All the best to all of them!

Longboarding and Volcano Sliding... oh my!

2009-10-06T21:39:00.000-07:00

We all want what’s best for our kids—that goes without saying. But for those of us who are speed and pain adverse, it is a little more difficult to wrap our heads around. Today, I am happy that my son has ‘only’ taken up longboarding. If we lived in Nicaragua, it could well be another story. You see there, parents of extreme seeking athletic type kids would be seeing their kids off for a day of fun ‘bombing’ the local volcano! The local active volcano. I am not kidding. These riders go down the 40% incline sooty ash of active craters at speeds of 50 miles an hour! There’s till lava in Cerro Negro, though it hasn’t blown in ten years, it could. So, all you worried parents out there... count your blessings, unless you have a sooty cone begging to be ridden, your speedy off-spring will have to settle for asphalt and pavement.

King of the Forest results.

2009-10-04T08:34:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd throw in the link to the final results to King of the forest. I've already mentioned that Prince of the Forest... fella under 16, is none other than my son, Wolfgang Forest!! no kidding, that's his name and so his title is well suited.

KOTF. resultes click here:

Images are on the same site! That site being Unkle.ca... for great local event coverage!

Salt Spring Slope and Steez

2009-10-04T08:21:00.000-07:00

Wolf's last event: Sept. 27, Salt Spring Slope and Steez.

Okay, the suit is great, and my son... well, still looks like a super hero,

or a race car, depending on which photo...

The event was great, so I am told. I stayed on the mainland, but Wolf and the riders had great weather, and from the full set of photos available on Unkle.ca. you can all see the rest of the event!

Sometimes I rant

2009-10-02T14:16:00.000-07:00

Guilty. Yes, at times I am irrational, impulsive, and possibly even foolish. But that isn't necessarily bad. It seems I am not alone. I have been guest blogger these past few weeks at Rantingparent.com. I know that this has nothing to do with longboarding, but it has a lot to do with teens, parenting and a solid sense of humour... that is if you don't mind satire.

So, if you have like humour... as in you can laugh at yourself, and not just at others, then perhaps you would like or at least appreciate my postings at: Late-onset post-partum depression. They read in order of part 1 and then part 2...

Prince of the Forest!!!

2009-09-21T07:12:00.000-07:00

Yesterday as Wolf left with his brother, Akask, to the King of the Forest 20 km endurance race, he picked up his novelty cheque for last year's finish as Grom of the Forest 2008. He would then hand it off to his successor, the Prince of the Forest 2009. This was also Akask's first event that he participated in as a racer. We wished them well and off they went.

At 10pm last night, they walked in. They looked beat. Happy, but beat. "Do is it okay if I put a couple of screws into the wall in my bedroom," Wolfgang asked.

"What?" I asked.

He held up his trophy board: This year's Prince is none other than our Wolfgang Forest, the Prince of the Forest, an aptly named child.

"Congratulations, son," his dad said. "We'll find a way to mount your board on the wall... but not with a couple of screws."

Wolf had finished 14th overall in over 80 riders, and was the top Grom (junior for those new to the lingo); and Akask was in around the top 20. "I wasn't prepared for that." He huffed, and smiled.

Well done boys. I said to them then and now to them here. Their next event is a three day push from Hope to Vancouver for the annual Push for the Cure, fundraiser for breast cancer, the long weekend in October.

Photos to follow!

Happiness is a new pair of Leathers

2009-09-14T21:38:00.000-07:00

It seems it wasn't that long ago when Wolf bought his first set of leathers. They were used, but still had some life left in them. I have to say that they have saved his hide, quite literally, more than once. But their practicality was rapidly coming to a close this summer. A few skids into the hay left little for duct-tape to hold together. It was time for Wolf to upgrade.

Custom leathers. NJKs sized just for him. Not only that, they have his name emblazoned on the back with a rather cool paw print... yes, a wolf print. He looks like a super hero in his Red and black suit. Not quite a Power Ranger... cooler... hipper, faster.

This past summer we encountered a wolf... the small 'w', big teeth kind of wolf. It was also very cool, very fast, but very quiet. It was an interesting camping mate to say the least. Here are a compare and contrast of wolf/Wolf tracks.

Now, back in the city, the only Wolf tracks around here are the kind that my son leaves with his wheels on the road. Upcoming races include: King of the Forest at the Seymour Demonstration Forest, and then there is the fundraising event: Push for the Cure. More about them to come.

Not a soccer mom, at least not this week!

2009-08-30T09:21:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I had a chance to be a soccer mom, of sorts, for my longboarding son. For years I've driven kids to games, practices, recitals, dance classes, swim lessons and so on. I have even gone to a couple of my son's downhill races. But, over the past eighteen months, I have not been the driver to take him to his down-hill or corner sessions. During the weekends, the riders get together to practice. They belong to various teams, and are sponsored by various companies. None of this seems to matter when the weekend rolls around. A call goes out on the local message board "who wants to skate?". Ten or more replies will be posted back up right away. "Where?" one will ask. From there the meeting places and times are determined. The thread will stay up on the message board, leaving a trail for other riders to follow if they decide to join the ride.

Last Sunday, it was the Access Road on Cypress Mountain, and then Hedgy-Righty (because there is a hedge and a right corner... not original, but descriptive.) I was the driver. Boards, gloves, pads, helmet, and a bag of oranges and apples along with ample water and an empty 4G card in my camera. We were ready. Along the way we picked up two of Wolf’s rider friends and met another at the road. I had heard about the Access Road; I’d seen photos, but wow. I could imagine why they all love it. It is new pavement down a steep incline of mountain, a beautiful view of the harbour, and Vancouver; it’s blocked off with a barricade at the top because the area is under construction, so it would be impossible for cars to come up the road. Safe as can be expected for a practice run location. Funnily, someone had left a single long hay bale at the side of the bottom corner for good measure. Useless, but funny.

The four guys rode the corner doing stand up slides, taking the corner low and trying out different cornering techniques. They checked on each other’s bale-outs, “you okay?” Everyone was properly protected with slide gloves knee protection and of course helmets. Not even a bruised ego that day. It was sunny in every aspect.

About an hour in, Wolf came to me at my camera perfect location at the outside of the lower corner and told me that it was their second last run and then we’d be going to another spot. So, I watched and waited, they had their second last run. I waited longer, and they started to head up the hill. Wolf came and got me. “We’re heading out.”

“I thought you said that was your second last run?” I picked up my blanket and slipped my camera into my pocket.

“Too many people get hurt on the last run, so we don’t have last runs, only second last,”

There it was one more little insight to the world of the longboarder. I hung onto it like a gold dust in a stream hoping it wouldn’t slip through my fingers before I could write it down.

Hedgy-Righty, is a lovely intersection in West Vancouver (Not to be confused with the West-side, or the West-End of Vancouver; those are actually in Vancouver; West Vancouver is an entirely different Municipality on the North Shore which encompasses the mountains that we view from Vancouver—we’re across English Bay from one another.) Though Vancouver does have some gnar hills to bomb, it’s nothing like WestVan. At this intersection there are several multi-million dollar homes and car and boats to match. I parked my little Honda Fit in front of one such house just as the owners drove up. The boys piled out of the car and set up their gear. I smiled and waved as the family in the Land Rover gathered more things from the house. It wasn’t as though we were on their property, or blocking their driveway. The dad smiled back as they did a u-turn in front of their place and drove off.

Spotting corners: I was the only non-rider there, so they asked if I would spot the corner for me. I stood party in the road, checked all four directions, signalled with a big arm loop when it was clear to ride. And one after another they screamed around the steep, wide and beautifully smooth corner. Sometimes the corner was too sharp, and they’d end up sprawled on the pavement, only to dust themselves off and hike back up to do it again.

After a few runs two more riders joined the session. One was a world contender and often graces the top of various podia. He offered up suggestions and joined in the general discussion about each of their ‘set-ups’ (trucks, wheels, boards, etc.).

The last run for Wolf was a self-imposed finish. He was riding his slide deck and spilled. I managed to catch some of it on film before my stomach fully seized up and forced my finger to stop the camera. He skidded out on his hands and knees. He was fine, but suffered a nasty patch of fabric burn on his left knee from the inside of his knee pad. Rather that than the road. But with an open layer of skin, he wouldn’t put his smelly knee pads back on and risk a staph infection or some other nasty thing. It was a relief for me. I didn’t have to tell him anything; he had all the common sense needed. The other riders went on to another local to hit some more runs; we hit grocery store to pick up something for dinner.

One of the things I gathered from this session as the side-line parental helper and observer is that off the race track, it is all very friendly, no, it’s more than that. Longboarders work together to push one another further, to grow as riders. It reminds me of the years I spent parenting my young ballet dancer. In the halls of the dance studio where the young adults and teens mingle, stretch and chat; this is a similar type of family dynamic. Though they compete against each other, they mostly dance together, and want to see their fellow dancers and themselves be the best they can be. In longboarding, these hill sessions are really a lot like studio practice, to me at least. This, in all honesty, it is a good thing. By working together, supporting one another, they all will grow, both in skills and in person. I commend them for this mature and insightful approach to their sport.

New Leathers For Wolf

2009-08-22T09:03:00.000-07:00

After many layers of duct tape, Wolf's leathers have almost had the biscuit. They served him well, and saved his hide numerous times. But now it is time to recognize that they've done their duty.

My son has now ordered his new suit: RED NJKs

He is stoked about the new suit; I'm stoked that his hide will still be protected.... it's not like I could sew up a suit for him. Now to find a spine protector.

video of danger bay and more

2009-08-20T14:56:00.000-07:00

Check out the fantastic footage from Landyachtz.

Wolf, my son, is in the slide competition footage (wearing the I(heart) LY shirt)... one of the many that were.

My son's need for speed! Article in globe and mail

2009-08-19T17:45:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that I posted everywhere but here that I got my article accepted in the Globe and mail!!! It was published two weeks ago, but I am still getting comments and mail about it. Thankfully all good. So here is the link to "My Son's Need for Speed." Now I have to think about how on earth I follow that one up!!!

The photos above are by Caitlin Richardson. She was at Giant's head... I was not. I am glad for other's taking pictures, besides the fact, that I am hopeless at it! Thanks Caitlin.

I should note that Wolf finished as top Grom for the Slasher and King of the Forest, he finished as Second Grom Goldrush, and tied for third--not as a grom--at Giant's Head.) At fifteen years old, he's been racing only 15 months!!! He'll tell me if I missed something. Notice that I am only mentioning the sanctioned races... no outlaws! I am still not comfortable with that...for a few years yet at least.

Giant's Head

2009-08-17T11:12:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday at ten in the morning I dropped my wolf off at a Ferry line up. I never realized that being a mother also meant procuring a ride for my fifteen year old son. But there I was, "excuse me sir, but I am trying to find a ride for my son, Wolfgang, over to Buckley Bay?" The man, about my age, or a bit younger seemed nice enough. He had a big truck with a covered cab, and another young man, a Kiwi, was also getting a ride with him. The driver, Dave, and Wolf shook hands, and it was arranged. (I should have taken down his plate number, looking back on it now, but my gut told me it was an okay thing to do... perhaps I'm a bit cavalier)

Around seven that evening the phone rang. It was Wolf. He had arrived to my sister's house in Robert's Creek, exactly as scheduled. All was good with the world.

After a one day visit, they were off to Summerland--Giant's Head. As I may have mentioned before, the names of the races/events, crack me up. Perhaps that's just the name of the mountain, in this case.

The weather in the Northern Gulf Islands was not quite blistering, but sunny and hot. Perfect for swimming and beach play. Late in the afternoon, the phone rang. It was my sister. God, I thought, what's happened. Then she said, 'Wolf's made it through three heats, but we have to go now if I'm going to make the last ferry up to the coast. If he makes it though the next round, he'll go onto the semi-finals.'

"That's fantastic," I said, "Leave him there and go catch your ferry-- if he can arrange for another ride."

"He's already got one." she said. Of course he has, I thought. The child is almost as organized as I am and he is only fifteen.

I spoke to him after that. He sounded on top of the world. Perfect, I thought. So, It again was settled. He was getting a ride with another young man, whom I vaguely know of, but this time, I had the good sense to get his last name and telephone number.

Eleven thirty five that night, I could wait no longer. I phoned my house. It rang once before he answered the phone. He must have jut got in, I'd called ten minutes earlier. He'd made it through the fourth heat and into the semi-finals.

In the end, he didn't win as only the top two positions were officially acknowledged, but he had a fantastic race all in all. A day of free riding and a day of riding and racing. At this point that is all he wants. Good for him. After that, he'd had his event and I knew my son was safe at home. A restful night for us both.

From Gun Lake to Lillooet

2009-07-13T17:43:00.001-07:00

cliff-side slide

2009-07-13T17:36:00.001-07:00

BC Cliffs... a road with a view

2009-07-12T09:48:00.000-07:00

More from the road...

2009-07-12T09:47:00.001-07:00

Road... did I say road?

Nice road... but remote

2009-07-12T09:40:00.001-07:00

I'm like 0.41% of the quiz takers... take that???

2009-07-07T19:43:00.000-07:00

I took the 43 Things Personality Quiz and found out I'm a

Romantic Self-Knowing De-Clutterer

old article, new link

2009-07-07T15:20:00.000-07:00

Longboarding a parent's perspective can now be found at this link. It is a story about my son's race at the Attack of Danger Bay this past spring. He's still racing and riding, but the story has changed links on it's on-line mag www.Unkle.ca.
cheers. all and happy summer.

My split personality

2009-07-06T14:09:00.000-07:00

I have ventured into a broader web-page world and created my own site. This is where more writing links and my other articles are created. For any and all interested, please check it out at:
http://lorriemiller.wordpress.com/

Wack Attack

2009-07-04T07:48:00.000-07:00

"It's around 6:30 -6:45 and I left to go to the Wack Attack! (Race at Chilliwack, BC) I'll call you in a bit and let you know what's up.

DAD: I took 5$ from you wallet for bus fare? I'm sorry if this inconveniences you at all and so you hat to go get more money.

There is COFFEE on the Stove! (I made it just for you guys!)

I love you! TAlk to you in a bit.

- Wolf"

I woke to the aroma of espresso. Stovetop. Perfect. Wolf must be up already I thought. But when I walked into the kitchen, there was only the note in his neat blue print on the counter and hot coffee on the stove.

He's fifteen, and racing into adulthood, but gently, kindly--the way I don't quite mind. He never passes an opportunity to kiss a cheek or tell us he loves us. He is sharp with his younger siblings and annoyed with his older brother. But he is our baby/middle child. He was the baby for seven years before his sister oh so rudely bumped him from that spot.

Today, he is racing, or rather riding. Nothing hinges on this ride, no trophies, all glory is from the ride. This involves motorcycle leathers, a full-face helmet and a longboard (think skateboard on steroids).

I checked my facebook this morning to see what's what, and he posted a video of himself... of course... skating our hood. He's pretty good, I'd say, for a non-skater. You can see him and his board, and my baby too, and our whole longboarding saga... if anyone cares too, at http://www.unkle.ca/cgi-bin/view?tmp=0&type=article&offset=4

I'm going to go nuke my coffee and enjoy the peace before the rest of my clan awakes.
Happy 4th of July!

Beware of birthday gifts....

2009-06-10T10:39:00.000-07:00

Wolf in the Autumn of 2006. He was already experimenting with new types of wheels and board shapes.
and in three short years. From this shaggy fella to: Wolf is clearly the one in the Wolf shirt and his leather sleeves tied around his waist. Finn is in red helmet on left, and red specs on right. Coco is in pink helmet on left and neon orange on right. The other gals are Wolf's friends.

So parents wondering where your gifts will lead, wonder all you want. It will take your kid to decide how far to take it.

I have filled our cupboards with cleaning supplies, and no one has taken up household maintence any more seriously than before when our supply was megre. Ahhh. I keep trying. Perhaps for another birthday, I'll give them gardening supplies, or some books on famous inventions or brilliant literature...okay, I've already done that. I'm stumped. And I know all Coco wants her own leathers for her birthday, Finn wants a longboard and Wolf, well, custom leathers, of course. I'm sticking with gardening supplies. Won't they be happy?

SUPER HEROES???

2009-05-28T22:00:00.000-07:00

So who breaks the sound barrier, goes by in a blurrr, is clad and leather and knows no fear?

It is a bit much to sort out all at once, but I'll do my best. Each rider (longboard rider that is) carefully devises their own particular look. The colour of the leathers, the striping, logo designs, even the type of duct-tape repairs, demarcate the rider, set them apart from the other red, black and white blurs that scream past on the race track. Each helmet decalled precisely to the individual specifications. Who is that masked man? (My son above in www.johncameron.ca photo) That speeding woman? The answer is easily arrived at even at high speed, granted that you have a fast enough camera to capture them on film. They name themselves, or one another. This is not like nicknaming a baby: pumpkin, sweet-pea, not even peanut. No, these are fearless adrenaline fiends.

One of them happens to be my son, whose infantile nick-name will remain undisclosed. But he, is Wolf, not Wolfman, not, Wofie (unless you've known him since he was a child--which he now is not), he is Wolf, as in Wolfgang. No this is not a name given to him by his peers, but rather by his mother in a bleary-eyed moment at his birth. It is a label he seems to wear well, like a fine fitting suit, though he'd prefer that suit to be custom leathers. For now he will have to make due with his well worn, proudly worn, second-hand leathers that are still holding together through the wonder of duct-tape.

Armadillo. That is what I think. Armadillo Man. Who are you and your clan that I see around the race track. What superior skills and strength belie your costume? My comic-book loving inner child beckons quietly to itself, wondering what drives these people to hurl themselves at speeds that I know for certain that my stomach would not withstand. I become queasy on swing sets. Where did my son get his titanium nerves, if not from me? Perhaps it skipped a generation, back to my spitfire flying grandfather? At the time, screeching through the air at one of the fastest planes in the world.

Post helmet good hair. This is the final criteria for making it as a longboarding super hero. And not just good hair, but exceptiona hair. I have never seen sweaty heads look so good as I have at these races. Helmet hair, worry not. I will be on the look out for the best examples out there. The mohawk that my son sports is merely one fine example of a post hemet coif. The colours and styles are to be admired, not necessarily emulated, but certainly enjoyed by the spectators behind the hay.

Sorry Gold Rush Challenge Fans: My Photos Suck

2009-05-26T17:23:00.000-07:00

My photos suck. There is no other way to put it. They are too blurry and too late. I never seem to be looking at the right angle to get the shot, even when I set my fancy SLR-type camera to sports mode, where the shutter snaps one after another so that, in theory, one can capture an athlete in full range of motion.

In the past, when photographing my daughter riding a trained dolphin, or my son cliff diving, or my hubby swinging a field-hockey stick while in full run, things worked out reasonably well. Nothing award winning, but passable. I haven't been so lucky while trying to show some of the awesome racing I have witnessed over this past week, first at the Attack of Danger Bay at Pender Harbour, BC, and then at Britannia Beach's Gold Rush Challenge.

I am utterly humbled

by the true sports photographer who has the eye, and angle, and shutter finger. I am best at shooting thi

gs like posed children, landscapes, flowers, buildings, and anything else that doesn't move. Documenting longboarding racers is about as far from still as one can get. Filming the space shuttle surely would be easier.

I would love to see what early photographer Eadweard Muybridge would do with my dilemma; how to truly capture these bodies in motion. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eadweard_Muybridge. He proved that a galloping horse does in fact remove all four feet from the ground, which was a hotly debated question at a time pre-moving pictures (that's pre-Youtube too).

What's the trick to capturing the drift, the grabbed rail, the stale-fish, or stylin' corner with hands in the air while taking the inside line? This is what I faced! Yet, I couldn't fiddle with my camera the whole time, not while shaking both fists in the air and whooping like a maniac as Wolf, my speedy son, went tearing around the corner. I was just so caught up in the moment, well-the photo says it all.

There is his shoulder in the lower left-hand corner, just leaving the frame. I later switched to video. The results, though improved, were not much better. And so I'll stick to the posed stills and writing and leave the real sports photography to the pros: those who can ride a longboard backwards while filming! It's true; I saw it with my own eyes. I even tried to capture that spectacle on camera, but no guarantees that it worked out.

And so I offer praise to all those high speed docu-gods. Keep the shutters snapping and the rest of us will be able to verify what we think we saw in the blur of leather and boards.

Some fine photo work can be seen on: http://www.unkle.ca/cgi-bin/list?type=gallery&id_category=

and John Cameron's photos of Wolf at Saltspring Slasher!!! http://www.johncameron.ca/

Fine work folks. Fine indeed;)

Great writing sites:

2009-05-21T11:09:00.000-07:00

As you may notice from my profile, I list writer as well as mother in my self description. You may wonder what on earth do I write besides about longboarding and family issues. Well the truth is, a lot. I write fiction as can be seen at: www.be-a-better-writer.com/evolution-of-a-pantry.html

I also write other memoir as read on: www.themomoirproject.com/?author=9

I'll update other publications when they go live on line.
ciao for now.

Momsteam blog

2009-05-21T10:54:00.000-07:00

I previously started another blog on momsteam.com where I also post articles for parents whose progeny are into skating/boarding. My blog there is: www.momsteam.com/blogs/lorrie

For anyone who cares to follow both, great, go ahead. Or you can catch it all here.

cheers

Mom, I want leathers.

2009-05-21T06:47:00.000-07:00

With cereal poured, juice in glass, and my coffee nearly cold, breakfast
was well on its way. My daughter looked up from her bowl of Koala Krisp
and announced, "Mom, I want some leathers."

I nearly choked. This request unto itself would not be so surprising if it were coming from my motorcycle riding father, who has retired into a weekend warrior. But this request was uttered by my eight year old daughter after a weekend of watching her older brother, Wolf, scream down a race track on his longboard at a 60km/hr or more. The implications in those for words are undeniable. My daughter wants to longboard, just like her brother.

Without missing a beat, Finn, my five year old, piped in, "Yeah, and I want a helmet and knee pads and elbow protectors (he did actually say protectors), and special glubs (meaning slide-gloves, if you aren't familiar with five-year-oldese)." Then he proceeded to finish off his cereal and yogurt.

This would have all been different if Wolf had stayed in ballet all these years. Perhaps Coco would have been asking about point shoes, hair nets, tights and the next round of dance examinations. I was a ballet mother for three and half years with my son. He was good, and then a growth spurt caused pain in his knees, so he took a hiatus and discovered longboarding. He's hooked.

And so, last night, we went for a walk, or I should say, a cruise around the neighbourhood. My husband, Graham practicing foot-braking under Wolf's instruction, Coco and Finn pushing along side. I planted one foot in front of another on terra firma. I have never skateboarded, not even an old banana board from when I was a teen. I am a walker. Okay, perhaps I'm a little chicken too. Even Graham and Coco looked so at ease carving down the road in front of our house on the longboard Wolf built at school for his sister. "It's a nice ride," Graham said as he glided to a stop. "Maybe Wolf can help set me up; that was fun."

That's how our evening ended, and our saga continues. I wasn't cut out as a dance mama, but perhaps I can wear the label of longboarding mother a little easier. For now, I am mama behind the hay bales.