It has been my experience that the only thing more fun than skating on a flat surface is skating downhill. One could imagine that if you added a mixture of bumps, corners and beautiful scenery to a slight downhill you would be left with a pretty amazing surface for skating. The Seylynn Snake Run in North Vancouver provides all these things and is a must see / shred for any skater looking for a type of excitement that isn't easy to come by in skateparks full of three stairs and ledges.
In fact, there is absolutely nothing to grind at this park. Instead, what you are offered is a top to bottom experience that you can take at a casual or high speed pace depending on how hard you pump as you move through each section of the snake runs' walls. Once you get to the bottom you are given the choice to either hit the "Showtime Booter" otherwise know as a launch ramp with whatever backflip trick you are most comfortable with or ride the final section of the bowl out in a circle and reroute your momentum back uphill.
If speed, good vibes and grass stains are things you find enjoyable, I highly suggest checking this amazing vintage skatepark out. The feeling of going downhill is something that is undeniably fun on so many types of wheeled devices. Fortunately for us it is most fun on rollerblades; most fun until you get to the bottom... After that you'll have yourself a nice little uphill struggle ahead of you. Have fun.
"SKATE OR DIE"… HA
]]>In case you missed it Shop-Task is once again carrying the new jeans from Vibralux Denim. In the past Vibralux had always made the best slim fit jeans, known for being extremely easy to skate in with a cut that you could wear when you go out. Long time fans of the brand exist and its a relief to know that each line is an improvement in overall quality and stylish as ever.
]]>When Shop Task supporter and friend Warren Hutton heard through Facebook that we were the getting the new line in he was first to reserve as well as receive his pair. Warren's been a collector of Vibralux from the beginning so we figured we'd find out what he thought of the new line and how fresh he looked rocking them.
Warren Hutton "Finding a pair of jeans you really like is a hard task for most, and finally finding that pair of jeans can be life changing. Vibralux has been in the game for over a decade and has perfected the greatest blading brand jeans.
The new line is everything you expect from Vibralux and more. Triple-stitching, 5-pocket, 2% spandex, awesome colours, soft & strong materials; and even new tags and pocket-lining. The fit is greatly improved from the last line (brown Broskow’s & black Farmer’s) and feels lot like the line before (black Shima’s, corduroy Broskow’s, blue Haffey’s) Both new pairs feel great, the brown LeRocks are the tighter fitting jean, but not too tight at all. Haffey’s are a very clean grey denim that fits more traditionally. I also think the fabrics have changed because they feel much softer too.
I’m pleased as always with Vibralux, and if you’re looking for new pants, spend a little extra at Shop-Task and support rad dudes like Adam Johnson".
(Below Warren wears the Chris Haffey's)
(Warren wears the LeRock's)
]]>Shop Task Toronto is having our first info night. Anyone is welcome to come that has an interest in learning more about inline skating.
]]>Date: June 12, 2004
Time: 8pm
Location: Shop Task - Toronto
1624 Queen Street East
(416) 698 - 7405
Shop Task Toronto is having our first info night. Anyone is welcome to come that has an interest in learning more about inline skating.
Inline Skating 101 will be a general overview of the following...
For the past few weeks Brian Long and Danny Beer have been working on a little something something to promote Seba's new line of aggressive skates. Being the talented skaters they are, Danny and Brian decided to make a true street edit for the brand filled with creative tricks, awesome spots and on point rap music. Anyone who has ever tried to make a street section of their own knows just how difficult a task this can be especially when the person you are collaborating with lives in a different country!
]]>For the past few weeks Brian Long and Danny Beer have been working on a little something something to promote Seba's new line of aggressive skates. Being the talented skaters they are, Danny and Brian decided to make a true street edit for the brand filled with creative tricks, awesome spots and on point rap music. Anyone who has ever tried to make a street section of their own knows just how difficult a task this can be especially when the person you are collaborating with lives in a different country!
Lucky for us neither Brian or Danny are scared of travelling by Greyhound. Whether it was Brian travelling to Vancouver or Danny to Seattle this edit was going to get finished and the skating was going to be next level.
What you are about to witness is intelligent street skating. Lines, cess slides, sidewalk grinds and cross legged roll outs are not only present in this edit but also beautifully excited and at times hilarious to watch. Both of these boy are Wizards on their skates and only getting better with time. Be on the lookout for more from these two as they are paving the way for a style of skating that is not only enjoyable to watch but also extremely fun to emulate.
Keep up the good work boys, we'll be ready for the next one!
]]>Its hard to believe that rollerblading is alive and well when brushing the snow off your car becomes an integral part of your daily routine. For those looking for some sort of early relief next winter I highly suggesting attending the Pandhandle Pow Wow for a weekend of around the clock skating, camping, live music and most importantly friends.
]]>Its hard to believe that rollerblading is alive and well when brushing the snow off your car becomes an integral part of your daily routine. For those looking for some sort of early relief next winter I highly suggesting attending the Pandhandle Pow Wow for a weekend of around the clock skating, camping, live music and most importantly friends.
This year I had the opportunity to attend on behalf of Shop Task and couldn't be more excited about my experience. The Pow Wow takes place at Kona Skatepark, America's oldest and most visually appealing skate park. Within the park you will find a snake run, vert ramp, concrete bowl and outdoor street course. This park is almost too much to take in at once. For someone who hasn't skated consistently in over two months the decision to set up camp before strapping on the inlines was almost impossible.
Luckily I was able to contain my childish glee long enough to set up my combination hammock/tent on the backside of the vert ramp alongside a variety of other VIP guests. Thanks to some crafty maneuvering, a ladder and two metal signs I was able to hide my food supplies for the weekend from Montre Livingstone's dog Forest long enough to make sure I got first dibbs.
From there on out the weekend was the perefect mix of skating, spectating, good conversations and gut wrenching laughter. It's not often that you can go to an event of this size completely alone and within seconds feel like you are among family. The Pow Wow really has a special vibe that makes you proud to be a skater. The smiles, sun burn and big tricks that went down are all strong reminders of how far rollerbalding has come as a culture and community.
In my opinion the most exciting event to take place this weekend was the Inline X, a downhill snake run race that had its fair share of impressive spills and tight finishes. I really enjoyed how the aggressive community embraced this event with such a high level of intensity and fearlessness. A ton of awesome looking powerblading setups came into play, but unfortunately none were a match for my Seba FR1's with brand new Intuition liners. Unfortunately that was only the case until I faced off against Ariel Surran and Robert Guerrero in one of the most intense race scenario's of my life. All the years of power-skating wouldn't had been for nothing if I hadn't slipped up and lost my lead in the last corner. Mark my word I'll be back next year to claim the title of Inline X from champion skater and great camping buddy Ariel Surran!
As I sit here typing with a smile on my face and intense sunburn on my shoulder and nose I'd like to personally thank everyone at the event for including me in the fun and games as well as organizers Blake Taylor and Jesse James for running one heck of a good time.
#doyouevenpowwow
-Erik Burrow
]]>As most of you already know Tommy Chung gets nice on the aggressive inline's and Danny Beer gets freaky behind the lens.
]]>As most of you already know Tommy Chung gets nice on the aggressive inline's and Danny Beer gets freaky behind the lens.
In all seriousness this edit absolutely blew my away. Tommy has the unique ability to turn a crazy idea into his own reality. Who else do you know who is doing drop handplanting off roofs with so much finesse you'd swear you were dreaming. Add amazing skating to some of the best lifestyle / lady killer shots and you have yourself an edit that appeals to all the right people.
Thank you Tommy for always coming through with the inspirational blade moves. I feel sorry for your leg, but lets be honest sometimes 15 foot 360's don't always play nice...
This edit is definitely going to make everybody waiting for spring just alittle more antzy, but not to worry our time will come. In the meantime enjoy all the hard work Tommy has been putting in lately.
-Erik Burrow
]]>Cobble stone is a terrible surface to skate on, in many cases it acts as a barrier that only the bravest inline skaters attempt to travel across. Unfortunately for this rollerblading duo, or more so this rollerblading boyfriend, no surface was too rough to put an end to this hilarious and cute New York City skate date.
Believe it or not, you don't have to be a good skater to appreciate just how amazing rollerblading can be as a bonding tool. Skating is something that you can learn to do together, its something that can look awkward and as a result can be extremely funny to watch as well as share with another person. Don't make the experience of skating about being better than someone else, instead use it as an opportunity to travel, to see new places and most importantly get out of your comfort zone with another person.
When myself, Shaun Unwin and his girlfriend Ashleigh crossed paths with this happy go lucky couple they could not believe how excited we were to see another group of skaters. As a group we were all odd balls, we all choose rollerblades as a way to blow off some steam and as a way to spend time with others.
Next time you are out of ideas for your next date, remember just how much fun skating can be. It is essentially ice skating without limitations. A way to share time with family and friends and most importantly a practical reason for couples to hold hands, or more literally hold each other up!
Oh and if you were wondering how this girl came across this pair of Roces M12's complete with grind plates, they belonged to her Mom. What are the odds?
]]>Brian Long is Shop Task Seattle's store manager / most stylish skater we know.
]]>Brian Long is Shop Task Seattle's store manager / most stylish skater we know.
Brian is the type of skater whose natural fluid style makes him an extremely enjoyable skater to watch. He has a type of confidence and control on skates that most definitely took years to develop and master. He is an inspiration to the creative skater, he understands how to make the most out of every spot he skates without coming across as cocky or arrogant. He is a trendsetter, torque master and all around good guy.
We hope you enjoy the last of Brian's Valo footage as much as we did. Only time will tel what kind of magic he will stir up this spring / summer.
-By Erik Burrow
]]>Ryan Roux is one of the best bladers we know!
Ryan has been blading for a real long time and has always been one of the top names coming out of Canada.
If you ever get a chance to blade with him, please do. You are in for a treat. This is a promo edit for Ryan helping to promote Shop-Task, Razors and RPT
]]>The wait is over.
Fish 'n' Clips is finally available online and it does not disappoint. This video is for the boy's. It is a special piece that looks at rollerblading as a bonding ritual rather than something super serious used to separate the boys from the men. Everyone in this video is clearly having a blast. It reminds me of when I first started skating and every kid on my street would either use a skateboard or rollerblades as their main way of interacting with the outside world.
]]>The wait is over.
Fish 'n' Clips is finally available online and it does not disappoint. This video is for the boy's. It is a special piece that looks at rollerblading as a bonding ritual rather than something super serious used to separate the boys from the men. Everyone in this video is clearly having a blast. It reminds me of when I first started skating and every kid on my street would either use a skateboard or rollerblades as their main way of interacting with the outside world.
Unlike so many skate videos I've seen in the past Fish 'n' Clips also doesn't feel obligated to showcase skating through the traditional aggressive lens. Be prepared to see some nice grinds and stylish gaps, but also be more prepared for hilarious winter snow skating sessions, technical big wheeling and most importantly laugh out loud lifestyle footage.
In many ways this video nails the mindset that we at Shop-Task are working to promote every single day we are in business. Rollerblading is supposed to be fun, its supposed to be about friends and most importantly without fresh air we'd all wither away eventually turning into khaki wearing, bandwagon sports fans.
Watch this video, and pat yourself on the back for being a Canadian skater.
Blading is for the Children
]]>The wait is over, your favourite group of East Coast Canadian By's have put together an amazing collection of skating that is not only diverse in style but also beautiful in its cinematography.
]]>The wait is over, your favourite group of East Coast Canadian By's have put together an amazing collection of skating that is not only diverse in style but also beautiful in its' cinematography.
I seriously cannot wait for this video, after seeing Danny Beer's it was obvious that this video would be filled with humour, great skating and a beautiful Canadian backdrop. Times are changing and it seems that Canadians, especially the Fish 'n' Clips crew, are embracing skating in a variety of ways that are not all necessarily possible on a traditional aggressive setup. The diversity in this video should be amazing and we already know the editing is going to be on point.
With winter slowly wrapping up this video will definitely be a nice change of pace and should give us all something to look forward to. Skating, Filming, Good Friends and Canada. What more could you ask for?
Fish and Clips Available on Vimeo 23/02/14.
]]>Originally posted on Skatelife.tv
Originally posted on Skatelife.tv
Ryan – I think the gracefulness that goes along with the sport, or at least what people strive for, is similar to that of ballet, and with that, a feminine aspect comes along. Everyone seems to focus heavily on promoting their masculinity, what do you think about focusing on femininity though?
Erik – People should not get so concerned certain aspects of skating. Especially the beginning learning stages, do not accurately represent the vision of skating that they want other people to see. I guess the way I looked at the question is that for the most part skaters want people outside of skating too think of skating in a way where someone like Chris Haffey, Aaron Feinberg or any other skater of that caliber would be the model that outsiders relate to. After all skaters like these are as masculine as it gets, you might hear people toss around the idea that “they go so big they put skateboarders to shame”.
The problem is not everyone gets in to skating to put their life on the line, not everybody puts skates on then feels compelled to skate a drop rail. In all honesty not everybody is gonna put skates on and ever want to do a trick.
If people have an attitude that skating is a go big or go home sorta thing and thats all there is, then of course people will feel awkward about developing skills on skates that don’t really relate to aggressive skating. If you don’t care about what Skateboarders think of you, then its even more important to not care about what skaters who can’t relate to your style of skating think either.
In the end Blading is something that can become part of your lifestyle. I know a lot of skaters who wouldn’t be caught dead fitness skating because they’ve been brainwashed to think that fitness skating is feminine in the same way a Skateboarder wouldn’t be caught dead trying to rollerblade without mocking it. In the end its these people who miss out the most. These are the same skaters that don’t skate backwards their switch way in front of other skaters because its embarrassing for them to show that much weakness. They care way more about spin to win, acid drops and posting ignorant comments on shitty message boards
Feminine aspects of skating like grace and fluidity are best developed by just constantly skating being on skates, regardless of the wheel size, regardless of the trick, regardless of how you look. The people who are developing aspects of their style that others are trying to call out as feminine are the ones that are and will be making names for themselves in the future. In the end the more time you spend working on your style and understanding how tricks work, the better you will be in those raw moments when the camera comes out to capture you.
As far as the song goes I wanted a fast instrumental. The song might not make me look that hard but I know that ten years down the line I’ll be glad I used this song in an edit over what would have been trendy at this time.
Ryan – Next, I’d like to talk about the issue of safety in rollerblading and how it is neglected. This is relatable to the first question in that, it is very macho for one to disregard their well being for the sake of looking cool or obtaining a sort of rush from the thrill of the risk. I personally think that if the sport were to embrace safety more (stricter rules at comps about wearing a helmet, more pro’s wearing helmets in edits, etc), that might at least strike some of comfort or interest with a parent looking to give their kid something new to do. Would you agree with that? Do you think we as a sport need to take that extra responsibility?
Erik – Being personal friends with people who have gotten really hurt skating, including major head trauma, I’m always conflicted about the role helmets play in our activity. While its undeniable that if top pro’s all started wearing helmets more and more kids coming up would do the same, I don’t think you can force anyone to wear a helmet. It should always be someones choice.
I do however think it is important that our culture does not hate on people who choose to make the responsible choice and wear a helmet. Helmets are like a hat, its not that hard to get over. The last thing anyone needs to do is giving these people a hard time on the internet, at skateparks or behind their backs. After all these people are may not be interested in buying vintage blouses or creating an image for themselves, they probably just really like skating and care more about how it feels than how it looks to other people.
Skating is sick because there really aren’t any rules. Its healthy for our sport to be diverse, to be filled with people who have different styles and spot preferences. We don’t have the right to tell someone they need to have a helmet or that they should just man up and ride without one. We just need to support the homies and make sure we our presence if felt.
Ryan – I’d like to sort of go 180 on that stand point and discuss the, sort of hypothetical but ever so present, “outsider view”. A lot of industry leaders involved in the sport discuss the public perception of Blading and what it will take to get us the recognition that the sport deserves, yet isn’t that sort of a waste of time? Rather than focus on the external, why not continue to focus on the internal?
Erik – This is where I think that a physical skate shop becomes most important. In order for aggressive skating to get whatever recognition people think it deserves, Blading still has to be around. Even more than aggressive skating I believe its extremely important to get average people back on skates. These people might be 30+ and just want to do something fun, they are the people who wake up one day and realize they don’t have a hobby and want to change that. At Shop-Task we are the ones getting these people back into skates. The difference between us and a sporting goods store is aggressive skaters are making the decisions as far as what skates people are actually able to buy in our store. We try to stay clear of selling people skates with wheels that are too big for what they want to do, or sell traditional soft boot style skates that offer minimal support.
We try our hardest to sell these people an urban style, freeskate or whatever you want to call it. Basically, we are putting people into powerblades. 80mm setups with a solid boot from brands like Seba or models like the Rollerblade Twister are such amazing skates because they are easy to move around in as well as solid like an aggressive boot. It’s skates like these that let people ease into an understanding and appreciate the way we skate. Whether or not these people will ever be able to emulate our moves doesn’t really matter. Instead it’s just nice to know that these people are skating around the city having a blast on their Blades. They can stop saying they Rollerblade and instead that they are a Rollerblader. These people might not check Blader websites everyday or ever, but you can guarantee they were the guy showing everyone at their office “Richie’s” new edit.
More rollerbladers, especially people who aren’t getting tricked into thinking 110mm setups are the best for them because they are more expensive, means more potential aggressive skaters in the future or at the very least more aggressive appreciators. I’ve seen multiple people crossover from a pair of Seba’s to Aggressive and vice versa. My new favorite thing about Blading is there are so many ways to enjoy it and so many awesome and interesting people who want to get involved.
Ryan – Let’s talk about Canada a bit, you guys had D-Structure, Shop Task, the MTL Classic. Mind you, things change, as everything does, so I guess what I’m getting at is, how would you compare and contrast the scene you are in today with the scene you started in, and how can that scene continue to build itself? What does it take to build a proper scene? I am talking more than just a Friday Night Skate and an edit here and there, but the engagement that you have with others and how that positively effects them to continue to participate in the sport, and how to breed that kind of mentality to make the scene flourish.
Erik – A lot of what I said in my last answer relates to this one. Right now in Toronto but also in the rest of Canada, Shop-Task is working hard to make sure that people who want to skate are able to find what they need. As far as Toronto goes there has always been a great scene with truly talented street skaters coming in and out of the picture at a moments notice. We have had many transplants from places like Japan, France, the UK, Germany and other parts of Canada. When they arrive in Toronto these people pretty much have a solid crew of friends to work with right away. One of the most important parts of a strong scene is also the age and commitment of members within it. I have grown up with many of the skaters from the Toronto area and as time goes by I’ve noticed that our role becomes more and more important in terms of taking care of the scene. I was lucky to grow up in a scene that had good skaters, skate shops and high quality contests. These things were a constant reminder that skating was alive and well, and regardless of what the outside word thought of us, I always knew I had something to do with my spare time.
For the most part we’ve learned from the mistakes of past scenes, learning that the most important thing we can do is embrace everybody who shows an interest in skating. We aren’t competing against one and other or trying to find out who is the best. We skate because its way more fun than sitting at home and we try to make skaters feel welcome. The best way to make a scene flourish is to make sure that the average dude is always aware that there is a session going on. Skating won’t go anywhere if people don’t stop skating. If you can’t remember the last time you showed up to a local session in your scene then you probably don’t skate enough. People who tell tall tales about back in the day are just a waste of time. Scenes die when you stop making new friends or acquaintances. The average skater needs that extra push to get out and meet up for local sessions. In Toronto there are lots of people who are willing to share their experience of skating with other people, this is what keeps our scene alive and keeps us in the public eye.
]]>Its winter its cold and I miss skating outside.
I was looking through some of the photos I took this summer and I came across this little gem of AJ taken at the "Bike Park" in Toronto. This might be one of the loudest, slowest sliding skateparks in the city, but god is it fun.
]]>
Its winter its cold and I miss skating outside.
I was looking through some of the photos I took this summer and I came across this little gem of AJ taken at the "Bike Park" in Toronto. This might be one of the loudest, slowest sliding skateparks in the city, but god is it fun. This years setup combined a series of prefabricated metal ramps with a few of the salvageable wood quarter pipes from bike parks of the past. What makes this park special is that its a mediocre park for bikers at best. The ramps are alittle too small and the run ups a little short to accommodate the X Game lines of a true bike pro.
Fortunately on skates the bike park has amazing flow. This park makes you want to be skating at the very least on a flat setup, but ideally on some sort of big wheels. Although noisy, the ramps are super smooth and blend into each other really nicely. It reminds of a time when skateparks weren't filled with 5 stair ledges and 'real' street skating obstacles. I for one am not going to complain about getting to skate a 6 foot hip into a spine followed by a 7 foot quarter. Thats the sort of terrain we all grew up on, and undeniably always secretly wished we could skate better.
I love this picture because AJ is my boss and The Boss. He boosts alley airs higher than anyone else I know and can rock a mean 45 second line with a his signature beard smile. If your are wondering how AJ got so good, he'll tell you its all thanks to his toe cut M12's and flat setup.
]]>Here's alittle trip we took to Buffalo last Friday featuring skating by Taylor Ritchie, Sushi and Erik Burrow and edited by Immony Men at Xtreme Wheelz Skatepark
]]>Here's alittle trip we took to Buffalo last Friday featuring skating by Taylor Ritchie, Sushi and Erik Burrow and edited by Immony Men at Xtreme Wheelz Skatepark. This park is every rollerbladers dream, seriously when was the last time you went to a park that had a launch box and a 20 FT shotgun ledge. To top it off Xtreme Wheelz has an amazing family friendly vibe, its one of the few parks I've been to where you are greeted with a smile from the staff at the door. This place is definitely blade friendly when kids on scooters skateboards BMX and rollerblades can all get along you know you've created something special. Winter won't last forever my friends, but if you are getting antsy I highly recommend taking the trip out to Buffalo. You won't be disappointed. Rap music and rollerblading WE OUT HERE.
]]>Wow, Danny's section from Newfoundland's new video Fish and Clips absolutely blew me away. You really can't help but smile as Danny finds the most creative ways to use rollerblades all over a beautiful Canadian backdrop. There is such a good mix of humour, skating and personality in this section, that surely will keep you coming back for more...
]]>Wow, Danny's section from Newfoundland's new video Fish and Clips absolutely blew me away. You really can't help but smile as Danny finds the most creative ways to use rollerblades all over a beautiful Canadian backdrop. There is such a good mix of humour, skating and personality in this section, that surely will keep you coming back for more.
Considering this is only a taste of what will be an amazing video from the Fish and Clips crew I'd make sure to sit tight and get ready for the video in its entirety. Watch this video if you want to watch Danny toe roll a canoe just before getting wet. Its nice to see such high quality content coming out of our country these days. Keep up the good work boys, we'll be ready to laugh our heads off and take notes soon enough.
]]>After a few weeks of cold snowy weather in Toronto the skies finally parted on a day that both myself and Taylor had off. It was easy to convince ourselves that skating street would be a nice change of pace from skating expensive indoor parks where knee pads and helmets are the norm and inline skating is only tolerated because it helps pay the bills. All of the spots we wanted to skate were covered in snow and the ones that we found slid extra slow due to lack of wax. Regardless we got out there and did our thing and to top of our day I renewed my drivers license. Take that winter. Listen to Busta.
]]>I recently received a demo pair of the new SX skates from Seba and I have been enjoying them very much. Thanks to Danny Beer for making this video and thanks to Seba for making amazing skates. The skate will be available at Shop-Task before Christmas, so start saving, they are expensive :)
]]>I recently received a demo pair of the new SX skates from Seba and I have been enjoying them very much. Thanks to Danny Beer for making this video and thanks to Seba for making amazing skates. The skate will be available at Shop-Task before Christmas, so start saving, they are expensive :)
]]>One of the greatest things about traveling as a skater is the fact that I can bring my skates wherever I go. Even if I don't end up using them very much, it's always nice to know that they are there just in case I find that irresistible spot. The problem nowadays is deciding which set up to bring when I go away.
]]>One of the greatest things about traveling as a skater is the fact that I can bring my skates wherever I go. Even if I don't end up using them very much, it's always nice to know that they are there just in case I find that irresistible spot. The problem nowadays is deciding which set up to bring when I go away.
In the past when I only used aggressive skates, life was simple and choosing one set up for the road was a no brainer. But now, as I actively use 3 to 4 different styles of skates, the choice is much tougher and I usually end up bringing at least two. On my most recent skate adventure, I decided to challenge myself and only bring one set up for a two month road trip around North America.
My set up of choice was the SEBA TRIX 90, a carbon fiber shell with a semi low cuff, a solid metal frame, 90mm wheels, and NO SOULPLATE. This skate is fast, responsive, and extremely stable at high speeds, however, it's not the best set up for "real" tricks like jumps or grinds. As an aggressive skater for almost 20 years, going on a skate trip with this non aggressive set up might seem like a strange choice, but for me it was simply a natural progression. For the past year and a half, I have been using the SEBA FRA skate full time. I had them set up with a rockered 80mm frame and intuition liner which made this skate faster and more responsive than any other aggressive skate I ever tried. Earlier this summer I decided to try the Trix 90 as my fast commuter and distance skate. After a few sessions, I realized that this skate has a lot more to offer than what I initially thought and it quickly became my favorite set up.
Before going on this trip I was unsure why I liked them so much and what exactly they have to offer but I was very curious to find out. What better way to to find out than forcing myself to exclusively use them for the next 2 months. The first part of the journey was the annual Task Around tour. My friends and I drove from the Pacific to the Atlantic, passing through all of our 5 stores and skating whatever we could find in between. The other guys on tour, used bigger wheels as well, ranging from 72mm to 80mm. The fact that we were all using relatively big wheels, made this experience very different. For the first time in many years, I felt that we were doing something special. This time it was a different game, we had no rules to follow, no tricks to film, no skateparks to see. We had a clean slate to create a new experience.
We spent most of our days driving and skating down big hills on the highway and exploring the cities by skating through them at night. As much as I enjoyed this set up for downhill and fast city skating, the true highlight for me was using them at a slalom skating contest in Boston. For those of you that don't know a 90mm set up for slalom skaters is as awkward as an 80mm set up for aggressive. It's something that is used for fun but not really taken seriously on a professional level or during competition. Unfortunately this was the only set up I had and it was my first real attempt at cone skating on the 90s. As expected, the longer frame was much harder to maneuver through the cones which forced me to make wider and more drawn out turns. The additional height allowed me to lean in very far on my carves creating a very unique rhythm and flow that I have never experienced before. I didn't place very well in the contest but that didn't change the fact that this was one of my most memorable and unique experiences of skating in 20 years.
After the Task Around tour, I met up with my girlfriend in New York, where I spent the next 2 weeks exploring the city on my rocket boots. I used my skates almost everyday and I found New York to be the best urban city for experienced skaters. The wide streets, endless traffic and all the chaos takes skating to a whole new level. The ability to hang on to moving cars, maneuver trough crowds and predict traffic patterns, allowed me to be quicker, smoother and more intelligent than any other vehicle or pedestrian around me. During my stay, I found out about a 42k skate Marathon in Brooklyn and decided to put my skates and skills to the test. I completed the race in just over two hours, which isn't very fast but considering my limited racing experience and my non speed set up, I was very happy with my result. The skates performed very well and my feet were not tired or sore after the race. Despite my poor performance, I am glad that my set up allowed me to get a small taste of what speed and long distance skating has to offer.
After New York, my girlfriend and I headed back to Vancouver. Driving south to Florida, west to California, and then up the coast to Vancouver. On this part of the trip, I wasn't planing to do any skating at all unless off course, I found that irresistible spot. After days of driving there it was, a strange and awkward half pipe shaped structure in Slab City, California that I needed to skate. The spot and the setting were perfect, but my big wheels made the transition almost impossible to skate. After some life threatening attempts I managed to do a quick Fishbrain stall and my girlfriend captured the perfect picture. I was so happy that the picture turned out and the fact that I had the "wrong" set up made it so much better.
Looking back on my experiences, I have come to realize that there is no set-up that is perfect for every terrain and each skate has it's strengths and weakness. When I use the "wrong" set up, it forces me to skate differently and strengthen my technique to compensate for the weakness of my skates, ultimately allowing me to be more creative with the way I express my vision of skating.
]]>Thanks for visit our new site. Our online store is up and running now with the first batch of products, and I'll be continuing to add more products on a regular basis. I'd like to point out a few things about our site that should help you find what your looking for a little easier.
]]>At first glance it may look like we have a lot less products to choose from, but we've simply just grouped similar products together. So instead of showing the same wheel 7 different times for all the colour options, we show it once and let you choose the size and colour via drop downs.
For inline skates we've grouped them together based on the boot model. Choose your skate size first then we show you what wheel size and colour options are available. Alternate product photos will show you the different colour or wheel size options.
Searching works really well and you get product results right way or you can click to see all the results which will include blog posts too. Try searching brand names, or specific model names if you know what your looking for. For browsing, click on "Shop Online" in the top menu and you'll see a list of categories.
This is something we're still experimenting with and are open to feedback of course. We've added filters to our inline skates which will let you narrow down your choices based on Boot Support, Brand, Wheel Size, Wheel Setup and our new Performance Rating. So if you're looking for skates from a specific Brand or a certain wheel size, you can select that filter and only those skates will show up.
Those are a few of the highlights as we see it with the new site. If you have any ideas or comments for us please leave them below or contact us directly via phone or email.
]]>Shop Task's own Taylor Ritchie just put together this really fun edit of some of his skating that was captured this summer. Taylor has always had a great eye for finding street spots. His unique perspective on skating and the skills to back up his ideas makes every session with him interesting. Your never quite sure what tricks Taylor will have up his sleeves, his mastery of cess slides, illusion spins and everything in between makes him stand out from your run of the mill skater
]]>Shop Task's own Taylor Ritchie just put together this really fun edit of some of his skating that was captured this summer. Taylor has always had a great eye for finding street spots. His unique perspective on skating and the skills to back up his ideas makes every session with him interesting. Your never quite sure what tricks Taylor will have up his sleeves, his mastery of cess slides, illusion spins and everything in between makes him stand out from your run of the mill skater
This summer Taylor kept it relatively local when it came to putting his section together. By finding the best aspects of his own neighbourhood for street skating he was able to put a together a section filled with the right tricks on the all the right spots. This isn't your typical ledge edit, instead it is an example of what creativity and hard work bring to the table when it comes to filming a section. That, and how to skate Razors skates like a boss.
I Hope You Like Makios...
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Who would have thought that a city that never sleeps, notorious for its crazy traffic and upfront attitudes, would be so accepting of Rollerblading? Before I go any further I'd like to clarify that by 'accepting' I don't mean to say that the city has gone out of its way to accommodate skaters. In reality the number of paths and traditional inline friendly venues are few and far between. With skate specific venues not being a priority one really only has one option when skating in New York, which is to take to the streets.
]]>Who would have thought that a city that never sleeps, notorious for its crazy traffic and upfront attitudes, would be so accepting of Rollerblading? Before I go any further I'd like to clarify that by 'accepting' I don't mean to say that the city has gone out of its way to accommodate skaters. In reality the number of paths and traditional inline friendly venues are few and far between. With skate specific venues not being a priority one really only has one option when skating in New York, which is to take to the streets.
For the average skater this will most definitely be an exercise of courage as the New York City streets are a very busy and chaotic place. At any moment a pedestrian may try to cross the street at the wrong time, a cab driver might suddenly stop to let a passenger out, or even worse the dreaded door prize (unexpectedly running into a car door as the driver carelessly opens it in front of) could be awarded to you at any moment in time. Yes, all these things are scary and yes, skating amongst traffic will add a certain amount of danger to any ride. But, for those up to the challenge, the New York Streets offer skaters a sense of freedom that I have never experienced in Canadian cities like Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal.
So how is New York accommodating to skaters? At this point I have described just about every way the city lets down the skater looking for a traditional experience. We'll lucky for you here at Shop Task we are anything but traditional.
The thing about skating in New York is that because the streets are so hectic, a certain every man for himself vibe comes into play on the roads. In the metropolitan areas that I skated it was my experience that drivers did not care about signalling or using the correct lane if it was inconveniet to them. These roads were a complete free for all where failure to move at a moments notice can get you stuck at a crosswalk for the better part of an afternoon. The more congested traffic is the easier I found it is to skate around and between cars. At the rate they were moving I found it easy to flow with traffic, maintaining a very similar speed as cars without putting myself in to much danger. If timed correctly approaching a red light could be your best friend as it allows you to seamlessly grab onto a bumper unseen and undetected in order to be pulled through the intersection and back into the thick of things.
Skating on the streets is accepted in New York because there is nothing anyone can do to stop you.
Being on skates makes an you an extremely efficient traveller as it combines the speed of a bike with the mobility of a pedestrian in order to get you to where you need to go. Skates allow you to be on the streets, sidewalks and all other sorts of public places. Why wait for a cab or rent a bike when all you need is a pair of skates and a sense of adventure?
When you limit your skating to the same paths, trails or skateparks skating becomes stagnant. Skating should be spontaneous, it should be about strapping on your skates and not knowing where they will take you next.This is exactly what skating in New York gives you. A free pass to explore the city at your own pace, your own time and on your own terms.
When your only goal is to keep moving everything else becomes that much more simple.
]]>Welcome to our new website. The plan was to relaunch it at the begining of November but instead of making you wait till it is completely finished, I thought I'd let everyone see it as we are putting it together. Our hope, through this new site, is to bring you a shopping experience that is friendly, educational, and easy.
Over the past few years, Shop Task has changed and grown alot. Those who have been around since the beginning will remember buying skates off Leon from the back of his station wagon...
]]>Welcome to our new website. The plan was to relaunch it at the begining of November but instead of making you wait till it is completely finished, I thought I'd let everyone see it as we are putting it together. Our hope, through this new site, is to bring you a shopping experience that is friendly, educational, and easy.
Over the past few years, Shop Task has changed and grown alot. Those who have been around since the beginning will remember buying skates off Leon from the back of his station wagon. Since then, we created an online shop solely focused on aggressive inline skating. We opened our first retail location in Vancouver and branched out into other types of skating. The next year we opened our second retail store in Toronto and now have four stores in major cities across Canada and a U.S. store in Seattle. We're very grateful for the things we've been able to do in such a short period of time and for the small group of dedicated individuals that have joined the us along the way and that have become part of the Shop Task family.
We've learned so much throughout the whole process of opening and operating traditional retail stores, meeting customers face to face, and helping each individual skater find a skate that suits their needs. It's now time to bring that knowledge and experience to our new online store.
Over the next few weeks we'll be slowing adding product to this new site. It won't be a complete reflection of what we have in stock, instead we'll be focusing on a hand picked collection of products that we think are the best. There will be products from all categories and skating types so you should still be able to find what you need. However, if you're trying to find something and you don't see it on the site please call us and ask if we have it. Our phone number is 1 (877) 497-7613.
Thank you for your patience through this transition period. I'll be making some more post here about the features and progress of the new site, so please check back soon.
]]>Any seasoned Canadian skater knows all too well just how quickly a summer spent skating all day and night turns into getting home from work and wishing you were able to skate.
Whether your problem is that the indoor park near you was designed as a day care first and skate park second or that your favorite trail is no longer lit at night, we feel your pain. In these situations its really up to you to show your true Canadian spirit and brave the elements...
]]>Fall is here. Deal with it.
Any seasoned Canadian skater knows all too well just how quickly a summer spent skating all day and night turns into getting home from work and wishing you were able to skate.
Whether your problem is that the indoor park near you was designed as a day care first and skate park second or that your favorite trail is no longer lit at night, we feel your pain. In these situations its really up to you to show your true Canadian spirit and brave the elements. I've heard way too many customers tell me their skating 'season' ends in September as if there was some unofficial rule that you can't wear elbow pads under a jacket.
I'm here to tell you that fall is the best time to skate. For starters the number of skaters on trails, paths and skateparks slowly dwindles as the temperatures drops leaving these public spaces yours for the taking. This means more room on the path or skatepark and less distractions and noise to deal with during your personal time with your skates. For me, there is an amazing feeling associated with being completely in control of my environment. Essentially the beginning of fall marks a time where your only worry is whats going on with your feet and where they are taking you next.
As if that wasn't enough to sell you on the idea of waiting until closer to Christmas to retire the skates I thought I would briefly mention how amazing bundling up can be as far as protection. In the summer we tend to leave a substantial amount of skin exposed, resulting in alot more bumps and bruises then someone wearing gloves, long sleeves and jeans. I can't tell you how many times wearing my flannel jacket has saved me from some serious road rash, whether it be slipping at a skatepark or falling flat on my face due to an unexpected pothole.
Unfortunately, the beginning of fall does mark shorter days makes it alot harder to get out for a skate after a long day of work. Lets face it skating in the dark can be fun, but its also extremely dangerous. For me there is nothing better than getting in an early Sunday morning session just as the sun makes it first appearance of the day. I'll admit I sometimes find it hard to pull myself out of bed, but once I've strapped on my skates, adjusted to the cold and got a rhythm going I'm always grateful I didn't press the snooze button that extra 3 times.
Your skating season may be winding down, but I'm hoping to persuaded you to hold out for another few weeks. Enjoy the he beautiful colours, the changing of temperature and most importantly the freedom that comes with being the only skater brave enough to skate during the 'off season' . When everyone else is complaining about how boring their day was inside, you'll be deciding whether or not you got enough skating in to warrant rotating your wheels.
Do yourself a favour, put on a pair of long johns, find some warm gloves and keep your iPod library filled with music that gets your blood flowing. Push yourself to create a new routine, make the best out of your mornings and most importantly keep those wheels rolling!
]]>Here's a few things you can do with wheels attached to your feet. Thank you Joey, Todd, and Leon for making this delightful video. Enjoy and go skate!
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