THE BOOK OF FEAR

In this the third book of skating I describe fear. Fear is your mind’s own protection against that which may harmful. Everybody also has his own fears such as heights or being alone in the dark. You may be afraid to leave your home and be away from your parents. Nobody has ever accomplished anything of value without facing fear.

In skating fear presents itself anytime you are presented with a dangerous situation. If you acknowledge the fear and then ignore it a vert ramp is the same as a mini ramp. Looking past fear is learned simply through skating as a way of life. Discovering the meaning of life and death. Learning the way of the skateboard, knowing exactly how to do tricks and how your board will respond in every situation. Once you master these principles there will be no fear in your life. You will come to possess miraculous power.

This is the practical result of skating.


DEPENDING ON YOUR PLACE

Examine your environment.

Are there many other people skating? Are there lights installed for night skating? Examine the ground, whether it is rough or smooth. Know your current abilities and apply them to the environment in every way. Just because everyone is skating a spot the same does not mean that is the only way, it just means there is potential to be found.

HESITATION

Hesitation only increases your fear. If you know that you can do a trick there is no reason why you won’t land it first try. If you try a trick and crash you may think it is a lack of skill, but it may be the fear of landing that is holding you back, do now think of the trick only of landing it and easily riding away. Many times even if you crash you see that it is not as scary as you originally thought.

THE FIRST METHOD OF ATTEMPT

The best way to land a scary trick is to roll up first try and do it. If you know in your mind that you will land you will land perfectly, this is true. You may be surprised at times how powerful this concept is. If you are unsure of yourself you may either crash or roll away. Of course, if you roll away it was only luck. You were not using the true Way of skating using luck.


THE SECOND METHOD OF ATTEMPT

The second way to land a scary trick is to try it and either run out on the landing or crash. Either way you will find the fear inside your mind to subside and make room for concentration. Now you may be ready to push yourself.


THE LAST METHOD OF ATTEMPT

Many skaters land tricks that are technically above their ability. This is usually accomplished after many attempts at the same maneuver. This may seem wrong, but it is how many of the hardest tricks ever done have been accomplished. Many tricks done for videos were done in this manner. The video camera is a powerful motivator for young skaters with high aspirations and is taken into consideration for this book.

These methods of avoiding fear are the only methods that exist. These things cannot be clearly explained in words. You must research what is written here. In these three ways of attempting tricks you must judge the situation.

  CROSSING AT A FORD

“Crossing at a ford” means, for example, crossing a wide river, or leaving your hometown. I believe this “crossing at a ford” occurs often in a man’s lifetime. It means setting sail even though your friends stay in harbor, knowing the route, knowing the soundness of your ship and the favor of the day. If the wind changes within a few miles of your destination, you must row across the remaining distance without sail.

If you attain this spirit it applies to everyday life. You must always think of crossing at a ford.

In skating it is also important to “cross at a ford”. Know what you want to do and your ability. Some days you may be injured and some days when you are fully healthy you should make attempts. This is how to face fear. You must research this well.

DROPPING IN

Every skater has to learn how to drop in. the only difference between dropping in on vert and on a mini ramp is fear. Standing on the coping, looking down at the flatbottom will get you nowhere. If you are not going to drop in why bother even being on the deck? If you haven’t dropped in before but you are sure of yourself and you want to do it then you will land it first try. Dropping in is one of the easiest things to do on a skateboard. Put your tail on the coping and stand on it. Keep your front foot steady above your front mounting hardware and lean forward. Roll down the transition and cross the flatbottom. It is easy.

Before you drop in everything is still. In one moment’s decision the world’s pace will quicken and you will be skating the ramp instead of looking at it. This is a universal way of doing things. You may not know what is going to happen the next moment but if you don’t drop in you will never find out. Study this well until you do know what is going to happen.


BOMBING A HILL

In its most simple sense bombing a hill is simply a fast form of transportation. Be aware of cars and stoplights. Keep an eye on the road for cracks and uneven patches. At some speeds the skater may get speed wobbles. Press down firmly with the feet and remove the speed wobbles from your movement. Of all the acts done on a skateboard, bombing a hill takes the longest. Instead of a moment of great fear, it may be seconds or even minutes of fear. It is more drawn out, but in essence is just the same.


TO RENEW

“To renew” arises when you have tried a trick many times but cannot land it. Instead of getting closer to your goal you are getting farther away. We must abandon our efforts, think in a new spirit and try another trick or variation. It is important to think of “to renew” on the smallest scale, there are an infinite number of ways to do every trick.


STICKING WITH A TRICK


Sometimes you will land a trick imperfectly. You must learn to relax and roll away anyway. Do not step off your board just because you weren’t satisfied with the trick. It may be a moment of great struggle, but it is always better to stick with all your tricks. Practice “sticking with a trick” always in skating and everyday life and you will become consistent.

What is recorded above is what has been constantly on my mind about skating, written down, (more or less) as it came to me. This book is a spiritual guide for the skater who wants to become good.

My heart has been inclined towards skating since my youth. I have devoted myself to training my mind, tempering my body, and attaining my spiritual attitudes of skateboarding. If you watch narrow minded skaters practicing tricks they may appear skillful, they have not the slightest true spirit. Skaters that skate in this way think they are training the mind and body, but it is an obstacle to the true way, and its bad influence remains forever. Thus people may believe that the true way of skating can be captured on video.

The true way of skating is the completion of tricks consistently and solidly, and nothing other than this. If you attain and adhere to the wisdom of the way, you need never doubt that you will do this.

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