Longboarding the Canyon

Wow! We finally took that longboarding trip down the canyon. It's something else to fly through the trees next to a river on a longboard. With the kicktail longboard I was able to manual for quite a while through some of the flatter areas. I even threw in a kickflip at the end. I knew the other guys probably weren't going to be as prepared so I brought along some of Consolidated's Super Hydrocarbon Bearing Spray (Warning!! Extremely Flammable - Keep away from children.) We had been talking about this for some time. So of course I came prepared and willing to share. After all, I figured they would need the extra grease to keep up. ;-) I worried as I traveled that my bearings might catch fire due to the extreme rate of the trees zipping past our heads. It wasn't until later... just now in fact-- that I glance at this can of spray and notice the bullet point that finally calms my trouble heart. "Withstands heat and high speeds" NO WONDER! If it wasn't for that... Well you know. Charred remains. The can of spray also hold true to the promise "Girls will like you". (Results may vary.)

I'm telling you man, these kicktail longboards are LEGIT! (Emphasis added.)

Jared Rich

Starting to Warm Up!!!

I'm getting excited about the weather. Seriously, it's starting to get warmer outside, snow is disappearing, and you know what that means. Time to skate. I don't know what you've got for your skate scene, but I'm going to take a little longboarding trip down Provo Canyon in Utah once it warms up where I am. Get air and a view of nature as we cruise down the asphalt path between the trees and cliffs. I just asked Jordan Sprinkle what he thinks about that. He thinks he'd like to be sponsored and travel more. I respect that. Welcome to the B Team Jordan.

Anyway, so it's time to toss out that old warped and tattered skateboard, grip up a fresh deck with new bearings and hit the streets. I love the feel of a fresh skateboard deck as the tail hits the pavement and lifts off the ground.

And of course there are those on and off days, snow, no snow, rain, melting snow, etc. Those are the days when I practice a few tricks indoors with my Softrucks complete. Softrucks are legit! I must admit.

Kicktail Longboard

I set up a kicktail longboard for myself and rode it to work today. Sure there was some snow on the ground, but the streets were clear enough to ride it to work. It was really something. I was able to grip it with several sheets (and pieces of sheets) of Jessup. Don't know why... We have Longboard Griptape available, maybe I just wanted Jessup, and I wanted to do something a little different. I made a little design for the grip. It's interesting to overlay griptape on a longboard as part of a design.
Anyway, so here I am. Longboarding to work, I make a pit stop to see an old friend. I tell him I can kickflip this beast. (42.5" x 10" the standard skateboard being 32.5" x 7.75") Not to mention the trucks and wheels are also quite larger in size than your usual skateboard trucks and wheels... So I'm leaving his house and I tell him to watch. I place my feet and there I was airborne with this massive chunk of wood, metal, and urethane flipping underneath me. All I'm thinking is I hope this 10" wide 8 ply board doesn't find its way to my shins. I land somewhere within the 42.5" available landing space and roll away clean. Nailed it. Later I call my friend and all he says is, "It was kinda mob dude." ...!?! Alright, that's cool. I'll work on my longboard kickflips I guess.

Jared Rich

Blankdecks.com Team

I've been making calls for the new skate team, we're forming an A Team and a B Team. It's been exciting talking to many of you about being on the skate team. We've got some awesome plans for the Team. If you would like a shot at being sponsored by Blankdecks.com please visit the sponsorship section of our website. We're always considering new skaters for the Blankdecks.com skate team.

Jared Rich
Team Manager

Softrucks on FOX with Rob Dyrdek

Wow, check this out, we've got Pro Skateboarder Rob Dyrdek talking about Softrucks on FOX!



This is particularly exciting for me as I am sponsored by Softrucks, and also skate for Vile Skateboards which you can see are attached to the Softrucks the kid is skating. See the previous entry below to buy Softrucks at Blankdecks.com...

Jared Rich
Blandecks.com

BlankDecks.com Announces New Team for 2010

BlankDecks.com is planning to announce a new skate team for the year 2010 with Amatuer skateboarder Jared Rich as the new team manager. Jared had this to say in an email to last years team:

"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Jared Rich, I skate for Vile Skateboards, Softrucks, and Blankdecks.com.

BlankDecks
Vile Skateboards
Softrucks

I'm getting forward to learning more about the way things work around here and helping to manage the team. I'm also looking forward to becoming better aquainted with each of you as far as that is possible.

Let me tell you just a little bit about myself. I grew up in Lindon, Utah. I've been skateboarding since I was about 13 or so. I've been sponsored for years. I think around 5 or 6. I've skated for Geertsen, NiNjA Bearings, a few different deck companies, Littleman Shockpads, Softrucks, and on and on. I can't remember all of them. There were a few that I skated for that were a little odd. Flux Risers, the ones with LED lights in them... I even tried those Lozin sliders at one point. Those were very interesting.
I spend 2 years in New York as a missionary. It was a very enjoyable experience. Thanks to Softrucks I was able to keep my skills up with how busy I was and actually learn a few new tricks while I was at it. I love skateboarding. That's why I'm here with BlankDecks right now."

It has also been decided that he should be the one to update the current BlankDecks.com Blog. As he is doing at this very moment... Okay so I'm talking about myself. But hey, I'm excited for this new team!

If you haven't submited a video yet, please get around to it as we are forming the new skate team for 2010.

Newest Member of Blankdecks.com Team

We'd like to welcome the newest member of the Blankdecks.com Team, Brandon Lee Sjodin!

We're excited to have him on our team. More about him below with an interview...

Q: Brandon, how long have you been skating?
A:Since 2007


Q: What's your favorite thing about skateboarding?
A:Skating with my friends


Q: How would you describe your feelings about winning the Dew Am Force?
A:Amazing, it's my biggest contest win yet, and in the intermediate division. I stuck a flawless run, and went from there.


Q: You had mentioned earlier that you don't drink, smoke, or take illegal drugs. You're a great example to many skaters around the world. But what exactly are your reasons for that?
A:It will mess you up. Do you want that?

Brandon recently won the Dew Am Force contest at Warp Skatepark and secured his sponsorship with Blankdecks.com!



Welcome to the Team Brandon! From everyone at Blankdecks.com.

Jared Rich