GET in the Van ...

Maryhill Free-ride video 2011 as the bird flies

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

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.

Record length STAND-up Slide !!!

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.

The Patron Saint of DH Skateboarding

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....

The Journey Begins

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)

White Rock Slopestyle

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?

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

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

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

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!!!

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


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