Ever seen this guy? He’s out walking his dog at 8:15 in the a.m., and all you can think of is how together his life must be. He’s got his coat on and it suits him fine, you think, because he looks comfortable and warm. His well-fed hound is happily trotting along at the end… Continue reading Timbre #59: Yeah, Guy

When sitting down to work, it’s rare that I don’t struggle. Actually, my struggles with most everything are becoming more and more common. If it’s not struggling to find something to do instead of what I’m supposed to be doing—like cleaning out the garage or sweeping floors—then it’s sitting here attempting to smash writer’s block… Continue reading Timbre #57: The Funny Thing About Regret

A Midwest farmer, upon emerging from his storm cellar after a brush with a springtime twister, witnessed a local news team skidding their mud-covered van into the middle of his front yard. In the post-cyclone calm, he stood watching as reporter and cameraman hastily pulled their equipment from the vehicle and slid over the soft… Continue reading Timbre #56: Every Single Thing

Pushing around on a skateboard, and all the things that go along with that simply truthful exercise, would appear to exist gleefully and almost exclusively in the last minute—that magical instant just before any moment. And the idea that anything associated with skating might be destined to take place—no matter how premeditated or prearranged it… Continue reading Timbre #55: Not Happening

“You have been disconnected.” My computer benignly relays this message to me. It’s from my modem, to whom I am not speaking. “This is very true,” I think. And even though I consider offering the modem a compliment, explaining that I’m impressed by its amazing observation, I think better of the urge to flatter and… Continue reading Timbre #54: Disconnect

I did my own tests. You might have read about them on my blog—inherentawesomeness.blogspot.com. Traffic is high. In these highly personal studies, I used two separate trials to see which of my set-ups I could ride faster. MAX bombs OAK faster. Photo: Ben Colen After each lap of the course, I’d high five myself. Based… Continue reading Timbre #53: Exactly The Point

Almost this whole time—with the exception of this one other time when I was totally wrong—I’ve embraced the belief that we, as skateboarders, are the center of the universe. Robbie Russo goes Jonathan Livingston over the death box. Photo: Ray Zimmerman I first acknowledged this as my local heroes traveled the world and met my… Continue reading Timbre #52: Be-All, End-All

What’s wrong with me? I mean, this time? The answers are here. I know them all, and most of them I know to be true. I’ve recited them to myself and others so many times that we all agree—but seldom out loud—that I’m on the right track. At least that’s what we hope. Another day… Continue reading Timbre #51: This Time

I was born with a gift. So it isn’t bragging when I tell you that I can complain like nobody’s biz. It’s just a fact. I’m very talented in that regard. My favorite subject—for years and years it seems—is the (mis)direction of anything and everything that has to do with skateboarding. Dill moves feeble forward… Continue reading Timbre #49: Critical Acclaim

I live in the most amazing place. All my friends are here—I mean even all the friends I’ve met from other states and countries. Relocated, fool. Plus my entire well-adjusted, extended family. We’re thick like a German accent. The high school I dropped out of is like second or third globally when it comes to… Continue reading Timbre #48: Paradise Localized

Do you ever think about what you’d give up or trade for skateboarding—for some trick or skill or expertise that you don’t currently have, but that you really, really want? Would you trade your apartment for perfect frontside flips? Or maybe you’d give up your car for stalled inverts. While we’re placing orders, you might… Continue reading Timbre #47: Give It Up

Who the heck do we give this award to? Because we’ve been informed that skateboarding is, once again, the Best Of The Year. Yeah … out of all those other things out there—streaming things and lifestyle things and self-hacking netizen things—skateboarding is still the best. Just like it has been since all those black-and-white photos… Continue reading Timbre #46: Best Of The Year

Temper and anger and madness and frustration. They’re my most familiar buddies these days. And even though I keep my relationships with these most royal of downers close to the chest—surprising the less familiar of my acquaintances when they first witness a board-splintering tirade or toe-to-toe confrontation with one of my personal demons—they’ve been with… Continue reading Timbre #45: Goodbye, Shithead, My Old Friend

The other day, I reluctantly found myself telling a local city worker that I was an expert in skateboarding. Then he looked over at his fellow city worker and rolled his eyes. Great, right? Design, build, and use. Lance Mountain has expertly carved out his share of parks, pools, and otherwise. Photo: Arto Saari Listen… Continue reading Timbre #44: Expertly Speaking

I don’t know what to tell you. I hurt my knee jumping off the space shuttle, but I’m a finisher. I’ll just get a new joint and go again. Are you getting all this? Cool, ’cause later I need you to take me to the moon. I’m gonna back flip that thing. AVE‘s approach isn’t… Continue reading Timbre #41: Comin’ Attcha