The South Lake Tahoe skate park’s ugly step child, the BMX rider can be seen regularly at the skate park, like most step children they are a misunderstood group that seeks a place to call home. I know first hand way back in the day they were not allowed at the park. The city officials didn’t know if they could share the same space without increased risk of injury? Would the bikes damage the park? Over time I think the policy has been modified, or at least the city turns a blind eye to the riders. The truth is these ugly step children rip! Shortly after a rain storm passed through, I meet up with “Dillon” who had the park all to himself. South Tahoe Skate skate park’s ugly step child is out of the back room and given the best seat at the table.

Learn How to Grip Tape Your Skateboard in Two Minutes Flat
WHO?
Anyone who’s got a skateboard deck that needs grip tape.

WHAT?
Get your grip tape on your deck.

WHEN?
When you buy a new skateboard deck or when your grip tape won’t grip your shoes any more.

WHERE?
ANYWHERE!

WHY?
So your feet don’t slide off your skateboard!

HOW?

1. Get your kit together:
Skateboard deck
Grip tape
File
Razor blade

2. Make sure to take the plastic off of your deck if it’s brand new.

3. Remove the backing from the grip tape.

4. Lay the grip tape over the deck.

5. Starting at the center of the deck and working outward toward the nose, tail, and edges, press the grip tape onto the deck.

6. Take the file and file around the edge of the deck on top of the grip tape, making sure the grip tape is fully adhered to the deck all the way around.

7. Insert the razor blade up from the bottom of the grip tape along the line you’ve just filed, holding it at about a 45 degree angle from the top of the deck. Cut around the deck to remove all the excess grip tape.

8. Take the excess tape and use it to sand down any imperfections in the cutting.

Jesso Via

The Parks at Heavenly this year have been great, Ive got to hand it to them they have really improved. transitions, landings, and creativity…Have you seen the teater toter on Comet?  Check out this quick vid of local skiers having a good time at Heavenly….it could happen,  looks like they missed the Superbowl……good job Allen, good follow cam, Great Song!  says the old guy from Shoreline….

The South Lake Tahoe Skate Park is where it’s at. Skateboarding in December, in Tahoe? The Locals with the right attitude, just carry on skating, mountain biking, whatever they’re into until it snows. No whining about the snow, just shut up and skate. Oh by the way, meet “Bruce” he’s 4 years old, and you don’t hear him whining. Sorry about the crappy quality, I’m still figuring out my new camera.

Shaun Palmer always the Joker

Shaun (Mini Shred) Palmer turned 40 years old this month. I’ve known Shaun for over 25 years now and would have to say he’s the same little stinker that I met 25 years ago at Lake view sports, except he could now beat the crap out of me….not saying he would, but I’m just saying. The nick name Mini Shred was given him way back in the reign of Terry Kidwell, Bob Klein, and Damian Sanders. I recall hooking him up one year on our Snowboard team, this is at a time when he rode for Sessions officially and for us on the sly. That year he got a cover shot wearing the Shoreline team wear in International Snowboard Magazine (ISM). He later asked for some long underwear because he was cold…..I was such a jerk back then that I said “NO, no one will know what underwear you have on, only the logo wear counts”….As I look back at that encounter it says much about the Sponsorship athlete relationship, it can be an evil one if you forget the human aspect as I did. Now I remember back then I was 26 year old a drug infested self centered ego maniac, it would be four more years until I kicked the drugs and alcohol. Life is a trip, in my case it wasn’t until I encountered the power of god did I learn what true love was. The Corporate attitude to treat athletes like a disposable commodity is nothing new. When you’re young, you feel so invincible that you think you’ll some how be the guy still ripping when your 40…. The carnage of young extreme athletes is huge! The years of productivity for a Skater or Snowboarder is at best 10 years, and for most is much less, Tony Hawk & Shaun Palmer are freaks…not the norm. So if you plan on making it in the extreme sports pay attention, get clear contracts from your sponsors, and save your money because your career may be short lived.

Well done Eric V & all those who help out with the expansion of the South Lake Tahoe Skate Park. The New energy the skaters get off the 8ft wall is a great addition. The Shoreline blog crew….namely me stop by for a quick 20 minutes, this vid shows the talent you can see on any given day. The South Tahoe Locals come from now in some cases 4 generation of Skiers & boarders. so their kids rip… although if a kid in Tahoe rebels against his Parents he may end up on the Basketball team.

The Shoreline Of Tahoe Skateboard Team having a good time at the south Lake Tahoe Skate Park.

Master Skate Park designer Eric V talks skateboarding with Bob from Shoreline of Tahoe.