The Werkable Blog

Why is it that when you try to get the skateboarding community together, for meetings, and support…no matter how many signatures you get (over 230 signed) you still get “dozed-over?” that’s exactly the kinds of questions that should be asked. But by whom? Who would stand up for us? By us I mean skaters. By YOU, I mean, you and your friends that deserve a new concrete skate park. Think about this: Trailways on 7th street in downtown Augusta has been there for skateboarding since the early 90’s. Concrete…with slabs and grinders…see how long that lasted? exactly.

I remember my first time seeing Michael Jackson on Tv I was about 11 and my dad points at the screen and says for me to watch this guy move! He said “His legs are like rubber bands!” He had his glitter top and glitter black slacks with the whitest socks I had ever seen.. he tilted his hat and began his moonwalk. I don’t think I will ever forget that for as long as I live. My father was amazed at him and began to tell me how he was so talented and his brothers were all in the band. I payed attention after that. After some time, Thriller came out and I don’t have to tell you anymore because you already know. He was very influential in the 80’s for many reasons.. I was in Germany at the time of the Bad album release date and stood in line to get my record. That’s right, vinyl. My father gave it a listen but was a bit hesitant because it wasn’t the same guy he remembered but somehow, he still got us concert tickets to see him. I was super excited and there we were watching this guy do what he does…LIVE! I had a small polaroid camera and I took pix but he was so far away..I do remember looking into my plastic view finder lens and holding down the button to snap a picture and he looked right in my direction as I snapped it. After getting the film developed he looked to be pointing right at me and my father couldn’t believe it.. Im going to find that photo tonight. The point being, this is just a small story of the effect he had on me, and I’m sure everyone has a fond memory. I wanted to share mine in his honor. Think what you want about him but he really was very influential in the shaping of modern music. My son started getting into his 80’s songs and became a big 9 year old fan..He called me last night while Michael was in the hospital in the “coma” state.. I told my son to hang on and believe he will pull thru. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen and I have the whole weekend to explain to him in a subtle way that things happen for a reason. R.I.P.

Well Father’s day and Go Skate day fell on the same day this weekend and I’m stoked on both! Hope your board is ready to cruise down the street.. even for like 5 minutes. I had my friend Jeff Hall from Shed Skateboards build me a 2ftx8ft manual pad for my parking area at the house.. Im guessing tomorrow is a great day for mannies! have a great weekend!!

Something strange is happening to my Sk8 page.. I need to figure out why my images are not showing up… none the less, my page is updating …and I have added a link to the site for The Uganda Skateboard Union. Which was set in motion by the city of Uganda and the Tony Hawk Foundation. Holy crap!!! If anyone in Anytown, USA thought that they couldn’t get a park built.. let this site be an inspiration. I’m following Tony Hawk on Twitter (laugh here if you want)…but I’m tweeting him to tell him how inspirational it is for what he helped do. Man, I got inspired…

Matt Hensley was an inspiration for a lot of my friends as far as skating went in the 90’s. I can remember someone telling me that Aric had the new H-Street video “Hokus Pokus” and I was ready to jump out of my car and skate straight to his house.. along with about 10 others. Matt was always so ahead of the game and it was so much fun just watching him skate, rewinding his part and just feeling like he opened a lot of doors for street skating. Melancholy’s were tried and landed over and out of everything! I can remember his board at the time, one of the first shapes that would alter the state of decks for years to come. Once World Industries came up strong, Matt took a backseat and I was still very impressed with anything he put out, magazine ads or guest spots in other vids, I was able to go  down to the 1st Tampa Am contest and had the honor of getting down towards the camera guys to videotape the event, bumping into Steve Caballero, and a host of other guys I used to idolize in my early years of rollin’ and grindin’. That night after all was poppin off at Y bor city we ran into Matt Hensley in a pool hall (which would later become his new love) I was STOKED, asked him if I could get a clip of us both just for a moment.. and it was a surreal feeling. That footage is around here someplace and would be well worth the digging. I was just always afraid that the footage was lost.. but I am convinced its around. The point of the blog is…If you devote yourself to your hobby, eventually it will pay off. This isn’t limited to skating, its for anything you do or enjoy doing..I miss those days but I’m also learning that remembering the past is better than living in it..so we all move on. Thanks Matt!