#64: Try something Extreme

This kind of relates to Kristin’s awesome post about learning to skateboard, but I’m going to take another angle and go with BMX biking! I have to admit that I am still a little nervous to try this one out, but again, it’s on THE 144 LIST so I have to do it!

Pete doing his thing in Dallas Courtesy: Peter Rosendahl

I’m bringing back my friend Pete again, the pilot from the 23rd post, because this is definitely his favorite hobby, (and he’s really good at it!) Anyway, I asked him a few questions and he’s just a pretty simple guy, but he thinks that everyone should try it out at some point in their lives, definitely before they die.

We went to the bike trails off of 9th street and Lamar and here is a little look at what the jumps look like with Pete giving me a little run:

I talked with him afterwards and asked him a few questions, keep in mind that Pete is a simple man with simple answers. I interviewed him on my small digital camera so you can’t really hear him, but here’s a better look at some of the jumps and of Pete basically talking about riding.

Pete says he rides “because it’s fun” and because he can “meet some interesting folk out here”, meaning on the 9th street trails. He’s been riding since he was about 13 and he and his buddies find any ramp or tunnel they can to see what kinds of tricks they can come up with. I asked if he’s been hurt and that was a definite yes. Pete has separated his shoulder, fallen on his face, scraped up more parts of his body than he can remember, but he says it’s “totally worth it”.

So if you ever get the chance, or the guts to practice your bike tricks, Pete recommends that you make a stop at Empire BMX on 5th street first to make sure you have the right gear and get some tips from more experienced riders before you head over to the 9th street trails. If you go on a Friday afternoon, you will probably see Pete there!

Be careful!

#59 Learn To Skateboard

Skateboarding has been around since the 1940s. When some California surfers didn’t have any waves to ride, they put some roller skate wheels on a box and away they went. In my hometown, it went more along the lines of…snowboarders wanting something to ride when the snow melted.

Me doing an

I learned to skate (no true skater really says “skateboard”) with my big brother when I was about 10. We learned on our street on ramps we built out of wood and others we propped up with metal sheets on cinder blocks. We learned from the other kids in town and by pouring over the pages of Transworld Skateboarding.

It was a bit frustrating at first, but rewarding in the end. Although other sports and distractions intruded on my life, I’ll always have a soft spot for the sport. When I got a Nintendo 64, Tony Hawk‘s Pro Skater was my favorite game. Whenever I see skating on TV or in a video, I am always in awe of their control of the board.

So, go ahead, give it a whirl. To my fellow Austinites, get your board and shoes–and pads and a helmet–at No Comply on 12th and West, and get your skate on at the new mini-ramp in Patterson Park.

For now, because I love to laugh and I hope you do too, just check out my little “how to ollie” video:

For some more cool skate tricks, check out these videos at 5 Min Extreme.