The Parking Block Diaries

Please allow me to introduce you to Kyle DuVall. He is a skater and writer (like myself) who has started a blog called The Parking Block Diaries.  You may recognize his name (now spelled correctly) from the current issue of Luchaskate (#5 to continue my overuse of parentheses).

Check out his work by clicking here.

Bon Voyage!

It is time to say farewell to three people who have meant a lot to me over the last couple of years. Wrex, Kim and Mike are heading to ColoRADo for a new life in beautiful weather, surrounded by skateparks. Luchaskate wishes them all the best.

Thank you for your contributions to Memphis, Luchaskate, and my life.

Growing the .com

I've been working on the "static" site luchaskate.com every single day lately. Sometimes no real change is visible on it, but the work is being done. One of the primary goals is to get the "Branded" section up and running. When going to print from all digital, I realized that I had to take some things out of the magazine. The first thing to go was the lengthy essay. One essay could easily take up 8 pages of 'zine sized paper. The second thing that had to go was the "Get Branded" section. It was our product review section, primarily composed of products that I got flowed or I took the plunge and bought.

The Branded link on the blog is the continuation of that Get Branded section from the 'zine. I've posted a couple of older reviews from back issues, and I'm working on new reviews. I want to make luchaskate.com as all inclusive as possible of skateboarding, so you'll see that section continue to grow as the year progresses. I reviews some Spitfire wheels tonight btw.

If you haven't yet, dont forget to go to our home page and read the new issue also!

Issue 5 online

Here it is, folks. Issue 5 is online for your reading pleasure.  If you'd like to buy a download or paper copy (and help us fund stickers, t-shirts etc...) go to the luchaskate.com website.

Luchaskate is always accepting submissions to the magazine and website. Email me at luchamag@yahoo.com to get in touch with me. We are adding product reviews to the ever-growing website. Get in touch with me! So stoked that this is blowing up as big as it is!!!

Please feel free to share the link for this 'zine on your own blogs, facebook pages, and websites. It is super easy to get the embed code or just put the link into facebook. You can read it directly from facebook! Oh, and stop by the luchaskate facebook and click like!

Jolly Roger Skateboards: Jolly Roger Memphis Chapter: Zach Beerman

I was just checking out the Jolly Roger page and saw this:

Jolly Roger Skateboards: Jolly Roger Memphis Chapter: Zach Beerman

Variety

I've been in a rut. I live right by Tobey park and that has made it a no brainer to hit the park after work or on the weekends.

But, I realized that my progress has really slowed down lately. Yes, even 40 year olds like me want to progress. That is why you see me doing kickflips these days. I needed a new direction to take my skateboarding so I have started to flip my board. What once was a make 1 out of every 10 tries has become on lockdown. It stokes me to continue to progress as I get older.

I got out of my comfort zone a little lately. I went back to Al Town, the DIY Spot in Memphis. Then, my trip to Russellville. Then to Kanis.

What happened? When I got back to Memphis, I had a new trick on the Jersey at Tobey and a couple new tricks at Al Town. Why? Because hitting different spots REALLY MATTERS to your progression. It forces you to think differently about what you're skating. It forces your body to adjust to new terrain and you improve because of it.

So, go out and skate a new spot this week. Your skating with thank you.

Home is Where the Heart Is Part 2

The last time I was in Russellville, Arkansas (which I consider my hometown), it left me wanting more. The awkwardly fun skate park there was still a puzzle to me. I wasn't sure how to navigate the odd half snake run. I wasn't sure what to make of the weird bank to tight transitions in the next area. I wasn't sure why there was a two foot to vert bowled end in the shallow. I didn't get it, but I wanted to master it.

Plus, there was a ditch from my youth that I so wanted to skate. There was a new ditch that looked even more fun than the old ditch. The curbs at the nearby London elementary school had been painted red. I was very interested in hitting some spots in Russellville. So, one month from my last visit, I went back.

This strangely placed loveseat is so fun to carve around

Here you can see the bank to transitions. Very awkward to get used to, but fun once you do.

This little bowl end pocket is only about 2 feet tall. Frontside carving it has eluded me, but backside is fun and easy.

I didn't get to skate the elementary school because of people and cars. Well, shit.
 
The ditches? Water in both. The skate park? I got that down on my second day this visit. I started finally putting some runs together. I still don't like how the "bowl" area dies and become dirt halfway through, but the rest of the park became flowable to me. Skate the roll in to the kicker which transfers you across to a bank then up a bank, wallie over, then either backside carve the super tight micro mini or ollie up the strange bank to step then up the other side. Ollie to 50/50 on the short ledge then down a bank to go up the bank to trannie and over the oddly placed loveseat (which turned out to be my favorite thing), then up the other bank to trannie, feeble that and call it a run. Good times.

However, the KOOK METER went off the charts this visit. I got to the park my first day to find 3 kids, late teens I'd guess, shooting off fireworks in the skatepark. Okay. This is something I could see myself doing at that age. No biggie. However, in my 1 1/2 there that day, they skated for all of 5 minutes and left their fireworks remnants lying around the park. At one point, I hit some and stopped short in the middle of a carve through the bowl. This is lame, and it is what keeps more parks from being built in towns like Russellville. I know, punk rock disrespect the authority.  But, when people in your community step up for you and work to give you a park, don't disrespect that.

The second day at the park I met up with a kid named Grant that I had met on my last visit to Russellville, and I thought I was out of the kookville blues.

Nope, I was wrong. Same kid from the day before shows up, skateboard in hand, but doesn't skate. Nope, this time he spent about 10 minutes working with a permanent marker on some graffiti. Then, finished with his little art project, he picked up his board and walked away again. Dude wins the kook award for sure.

In other news:

Two Luchaskate drop offs made. 1 to Enjoy.

Haney with his copy. Enjoy drop off.

 2 to some good folks at Kanis (which means I got to skate Kanis).

Kanis Park. I love you. I'm freakin' serious.

Only skate for about 30 minutes, but it was a great 30 minutes.

 I'm super stoked to share Luchaskate in my home state.  I've put a lot of thought on how to grow Luchaskate and I truly believe the scene in Arkansas is the first direction for expansion. I'm always met with good vibes from the folks in my home skate.

Web Exclusives Password

Here it is folks, the web exclusives password. With this code you'll be able to read Moscow's essay, see Jack Carlson's cell phone footage, and see more of the pictures from skate rock. Next issue, we hope to have more exclusives (or more pages in the magazine).

Neckface stuff

The password is found on the Contents page of each new issue (and this post).
Go to luchaskate.com and hit the exclusives tab at the top of the page.
It will prompt for a password.
Type in "Lucha5" (do not use the quotes).
You are now logged in for this visit. You'll have to log in again next time you want to see them.

New Issue is Available!

I just dropped off mags to Hunter at Midtown Skateshop. Go buy something from Hunter and get a copy of the magazine with your purchase!

Not in Memphis? Hunter out of copies? You can buy copies and downloads from the website. I'm so stoked that people are buying this already! We've sold more copies than I had hoped already! Thanks for your support.

Don't forget the web exclusives on luchaskate.com as well. There is an article from Moscow, more pics from Skate Rock, and Jack Carlson is our Featured Skater for this issue!

Spreading Stoke!!!

Special Thanks:

Hunter at Midtown Skateshop
Lew at Fickle Skateboards

Without those two this magazine would not have gone to print!

And now for something completely different.

What a weekend?!

Friday night we were all worried about rain, but the morning turned out great for the Push It event. Great job Kim! Unfortunately, the rain came in a couple hours in to the event and we were all forced to scatter.

Lew and the rest of the Fickle crew from Cincinnati, Ohio along with the En Joy folks didn't make it before the rain, but they did make it.  After a quick lunch we met up with the Fickle guys and En Joy at Midtown Skate Shop.

 

It was a great opportunity as Lew got to meet skate enthusiest and Lucero band member, Brian Venable. Lew, as only Lew can, told Brian about Fickle Skateboards.

When the rain stopped, the squeegee and towels came out, and then the skating started again.

And the rest of the weekend was ON FIRE!  The Fickle guys were killing it. Wrex was killing it. I nearly killed myself (just kidding, mom. Total safety first, all weekend).

Early Sunday morning. Pre-session.

Sunday brought more rippage with an appearance of Jungle out who gave us a sideways acoustic jam.

And some proper skateboarding (in a mask).

Who is that masked man!?