Learn Inverts in 30 Days: Day 5

So I threw down the challenge to myself really. I figured some public heckling if I failed to make good would be motivating. The first day was not exactly inspiring, but the second was fun. Then I had a couple of days when I didn’t have time to skate, and I worried I would lose what little progress I had made. Then I started getting comments and emails from others stoked on taking the challenge themselves. I’m in the middle of a kitchen remodel, among other things, so my free time is more limited than usual. Stories of other people’s progress was starting to get under my skin. On Friday night I kind of hassled Conahan into hosting a miniramp session so I could get a little practice in. It’s pretty easy to talk Mark into skating, it’s just a matter of talking him into the “where.”

We go the lights hooked up and hit the mini. I started working on some other stuff since I didn’t want Mark to think I was using him for my own selfish invert goals. Mark brought it up actually, and started showing how it was done.

Then started pulling some Andrechts for the heck of it.

So I surprised myself and started to land some hand plants. Let’s make that distinction. I don’t know what the official distinction is, but I’m going to call anything below the coping a hand plant instead of an invert. All inverts are hand plants, but not all hand plants are inverts. Anyone care to discuss?

Landing these things was fun as hell, and not that big of a jump from goofing off in the street, as long as your feet aren’t leaving the board. Street plants aren’t the same thing, so don’t be tempted to put that foot down. I started trying to push them up higher and had a blast. A couple times my trucks would hit the coping on the way in, and I was able to ride it out at least once. There were a few other attempts where I came in tail heavy and was able to ride it out because it was a mini ramp. I don’t think it would have been such a casual situation on vert. Conahan had the idea to try releasing a little early to try and avoid that. The session ended before I really tried that.

And no, not every attempt of mine ended well. It was easy, but not a given. I think the key has been the analysis of the different stages. Hand plants are fun so far. I’m looking forward to getting higher. Something tells me it’s going to be a bit more of a jump to actually make it to the coping. Also, all talk of “de-stinkbugging” them was quickly forgotten. I just went with what felt more natural. Maybe next session.

Rich was at the session and made a few attempts. He seemed more interested in providing comic relief for the backgrounds though. Here’s an pic I got from Ash of Bad Egg Zine. She said the original post got her stoked to work on these too. Of course, she didn’t give me express permission to post this picture, but that’s what she gets for progressing faster than me.

I can’t emphasize enough how fun a hand plant is, even on a little mini ramp. Go out and try it. And let’s see it. Send in some of your progress shots and I’ll put them up. It will be like one big group hug. Gross.