Tag Archives: skateboard

Balance yourself! 

26 Jun

2016-11-06 09.52.23Balance is important for our agility, it develops our coordination, sharpens our reactions.
It also helps to recover and strengthens ankles and knees.
I use it to develop my coordination while skating, build my core and have fun while in conference calls … it will also help when sliding on a wet leaf, avoiding falls, … your body will remember how to keep its balance.

 

There are lots of choices when it comes to balance boards

Or, you do like me, and make your very own balance board for $1,99!

let’s go get a 2-liters
empty it and fill with water, duck tape it
insist on the cap
almost ready
wheels and trucks out
  • Take a board. If you have on skateboard lost in the garage, take off the trucks (leave the risers), and we are already halfway to your very own balance board.
  • Buy a 2 liters at Publix ($1,99), empty it and fill it back with water.
  • Duck tape the bottle (insist on the cap).
  • Put the board on the bottle and hop cautiously on it!

That’s it!

My first bottle lasted about 7 months before leaking … and I practice almost daily.

Now, go get your balance back!

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I’m sensitive and soft …

15 Jul

Photo Jul 03, 8 04 27 PMSince I started pump racing, I must admit that balance is sometimes challenging and gravity calls me back to reality.
After hurting my right knee, left finger, right elbow and butt …
I decided it was time to get a little bit of protection and to invest in what’s best out there …
I didn’t want the regular goofie pads but some cool, stylish, smart and efficient pads to protect my skin and bones … after all, it’s bermuda-time all year long in Miami, I can’t continue to buy bandaid and creams for bruises …

S1 helmet
the wrist protection by Demon United
the soft pads for knees and elbows by G-Form

My brain is protected by a S1 Lifer helmet, no brainer you need an helmet when on wheels, … whatever the wheels ($60).

recto/verso, with a removable skid plate
flexible dorsal thermo-plastic splinth
adjustable triple wrap security straps
still have the felexibility of my wrist while being protected

For the wrists, after a careful monitoring of the wristguards options available out there, I decided to go for the Flexmeter wrist guard double sided by Demon United. A flexible wrist protection (allowing the flexibility of the wrist). Price: $69,99.

they are soft and super comfie to wear
the soft pads for knees and elbows by G-Form
off-mode, ready to go

For the knees ($69,99) and elbows ($69,99), the G-Form was the right choice. These soft pads protects almost every parts of your body with their Reactive Protection Technology (RPT). The soft protection stiffens on impact and then dissipate the energy.
The G-Form protections are

  • lightweight,
  • flexible,
  • breathable,
  • washable,
  • UPF50!,
  • and so comfortable to wear that you’ll forget them

Now, I’m ready to hit the tracks with style (trying) and protection!

when you bail and your footwork is not at its best
you fell
and roll …

And if I still got a bruise, time to plunge in the freezer and unwrap my DrCool bandage to minimize the swollen and the bruise!

More info:

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I’m pumping … 

8 Jun

And here’s the result of my intense practising sessions … Almost there …
Also, don’t forget to check my article “Pump it“!

And if you are around Miami on June 12th, you are invited to the grand opening of the pump track in Amelia Earhart Park!

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The Grin vs the Jam

6 Apr

I’m into longboarding a lot these days.
I love to clean the wheels, chase the squeaking away, switch bearings, … In short, I need tools.

The T-shape tool does it all
No luck with the Grind
No luck with the Jam

I treated myself with the Grind by Leatherman ($20). I love it. It’s design, small, light, in two part so perfect when I need to tight the trucks to the board.

The Grind presents a total of 8 tools

  • a grip tape file,
  • 9/16″ open end wrench,
  • truck key,
  • 1/4″ hex bit driver,
  • 1/2″ open end wrench,
  • 3/8″ open end wrench,
  • 1/2″ flat/philipps screwdriver
  • and of course … a bottle opener.

It’s a great tool to drop in the pocket of my bermuda, but I already lost it once (I bought a 2nd one), then I discovered the Jam ($20) still by our friends from Oregon Leatherman.

The Jam is a 5 tools in one with

  • a gripe tape file,
  • 1/16″open end wrench,
  • 1/2″ open wrench,
  • 3/8 open end wrench
  • and … the bottle opener.
the Jam does the job
the Grind too
so does the T-shape

What I really do like about the Jam is that you can use it as a carabiner too … I don’t loose it as easily as the Grind and I hang it at my backpack. I always have with me even if I switch bermuda 😉

Then I needed to change my bearings and I couldn’t do it neither with my Jam nor Grind as my wheels are deep … I had to go back to the standard T-shape skate tool with its wrench (starting price $5 on Amazon). I unscrewed my wheels in no time, using the wrench.Photo Apr 05, 7 27 01 PM

To sum up, the Grind and Jam are cool, stylish and easy to carry around but the one really doing the job is the t-shape skate tool (that I keep home). Use the metal allen key in the t-shape tool to pop the bearings out (can’t be easier).PS: both the Grind and the Jam are TSA compliant!

Photo Apr 05, 7 29 35 PMDon’t forget to check out

  • I met Pete, my visit to Pete iand Hamboards HQ in Huntington Beach!
  • Hamboards official website
  • The Grind and the Jam on the Leatherman official website

PS: Thanks Pete for all your advices!

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I met Pete!

13 Mar
Surf City, here I am
Meet The Pete
Let’s try some boards
Hamboards HQ
THE boards

I met Pete, not any Pete, THE Pete.
Pete is the CEO and founder of the Californian skateboards brand called Hamboards!

On a cloudy Saturday, I decided to drive my rental car to Huntington Beach. Huntington Beach is not just any beach, it’s also called Surf City and it’s also the cradle of the landsurfing invented by the Hamborg family.

So I drove the one hour trip on south 405 … When I arrived I was stunned because the Hamboards shop is only opened by appointment during the week-ends … Oops …

Too bad, so I drove back to Huntington Beach to check on the beach life …

I was watching the crowd walking the boardwalk when suddenly coming from nowhere I saw Pete! Pete was casually landsurfing on a biiiig board with his land padel! I jumped on my feet and tried to chase him …

I ran, I lost Pete, I ran and out of breath I said “Hi Pete, I’m Julie from Paris” … I looked like a stalker … Scary …

Pete stopped, I caught my breath and we started to talk boards and ended up testing his brand new board!

Then we decided to meet at the Hamboards shop after I ate a pulled pork sandwich at the Duke’s (another must see in Huntington Beach).

The full belly and after a little tour on the Pier, I was ready to meet Pete and test some boards …

Let’s go back to Hamboards HQ!!!

For the record, I already have 2 Hamboards boards:

  • The tiny Biscuit, great for traveling (it’s fits in my luggage) and for boarding in style downtown Paris, NY, Melbourne, … I love this board as its funny, aggressive and you still have the feeling and moves of the surfboard (without the sharks and the cold water) or snowboard (without the snow and freezing temperatures).
  • Then, I wanted to experience a longboard and I got the taller Huntington Hop, safe, fast and great for long rides.

I wanted to pitch the idea to Pete of having the best of both worlds with the fun and aggressivity of the Biscuit and the pleasant rides on the Hop.
In a matter of second I was on a Pescadito, riding the cement with Pete!!! LOVE it!

The Pescadito is as tall as my Hop, it’s also great for pumping, for long rides and easy to bring in the bus or in the metro … I’m in!
After some discussion with Pete, we decided to customise it and add bigger wheels so I chose the model with the holes in the boards. We agreed on the colors and I left … without my board … Pete has to work on it …

After 7 days, Pete texted me. My Pescadito was ready to be shipped from Huntington Beach to Miami.

Waiting impatiently for my new board, my Pescadito by Hamboards!

To be continued …

More info:

Thanks to THE Pete, Donnie, Andre and MrT!

 

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This board is long … 

18 May

The Huntington Hop by HamboardsLast summer, I decided to learn how to landsurf. 

The Huntington Hop by HamboardsI received my very first board: the Biscuit by Hamboards. A short board giving me, the newbie, the feel I was surfing or snowboarding the cement.
During the past year, the Biscuit board followed me wherever I flew (it fits great in my luggage).
And even if it’s not a cruiser, I cruised a lot. I also try to carve and pump. This is great exercise for the core (let’s not forget the bikini objective).
Now, I’m discovering the Huntington Hop, a longboard … my first longboard.
Huntington like the place in California also nicknamed the surf city and Hop like the move the surfers do to gain speed.
The Hop is taller than my Biscuit and I thought it would be less “portable” because of its height and … I was wrong.
I can still squeeze my Hop in the metro, even during rush hour!2015-05-16 16.45.37
On the streets, I skate on the pavement and so far I didn’t hit anyone. I cruise, in style, around the tourists in Paris.  The Hop is very manoeuvrable and I’ve been riding it for a couple of weeks now … And I love it.
It’s an easy and comfortable board, forgiving my mistakes and cruising faster.
I can walk on the board up to the toe and back to the tail like on a real surf (I have to practice my moves though) and I still carve and pump!
More infos

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Runkeeper vs Shine from Misfit

8 Apr

2015-04-08 17.43.40Last morning, I decided to landsurf my Biscuit board on the  Rickenbauer bridge in Keybiscayne, Florida. 

It seemed far to me and my calves but I wasn’t sure. I decided then to download the free app RunKeeper and dropped the phone in the pocket of my bermuda. I tied my Shine tracker on my shoes laces and hopped on my board surfing the cement asKelly Slatter on the waves (I’m day-dreaming a bit …). 

The objective was to compare the results from RunKeeper with my Shine and see which one was the more accurate. 

The RunKeeper app is a great app and gives you the basics:

  • your run/skate cruise on the map
  • it makes a great impression on colleagues and friends, 
  • it give you your average speed, 
  • and a woman’s voice covers up the music and gives you useful infos every 5 minutes (speed, km or miles). 

The Shine can be worn as a wristband or tied to my shoes on its clip (I decided to try both). 

    • Tied on the shoes the Shine is more accurate as I push with my foot, 
2015-04-08 17.38.45 2015-04-08 17.38.39 2015-04-08 17.38.33
  • My  activity was categorised as “pretty active” during 1,1 hour for a total of 976 points. While worn on the wrist, I was “pretty active” for 29 minutes and “kind of active” for 22 minutes which earned me a global 123 points. 

2015-04-08 17.38.27
Let’s say that the GPS of my RunKeeper app beats it all. And it’s so cool to have a map of your run/skakeboarding path.

My Shine is nowhere near the truth …

More infos on

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