Slamless - a skateboarding philosophy

//To Add:\n\n#Uberlingo snapshots\n#Ambibelt\n#Link to AVM's paper\n#Links to other research\n#All Past courses (requires rearrange)\n#\n

//"Slamless"// is a term I coined in 2005 to refer to a skateboarding philosophy that I adhere to. Given that I'm 36 years of age, use a computer, play drums and guitar, the prospect of breaking ankles and wrists is unappealing, to say the least. //But I need to skate!!// From these constraints the philosphy was born. There are two pillars of the philosphy:\n\n''Pillar One: //Stay on the skateboard//''\n\n''Pillar Two: //Avoid objects//''\n\nThere are some other less important guidlines, such as avoiding leaving the ground wherever possible- acid dropping off gutters (kerbs for you Americans) is OK, but wherever the board leaves the ground it can meet it again- //hard.// Generally, the idea is to avoid slamming, whilst still trying to improve your skill and have fun.\n\nOne way I achieve this is through the use of [[fat wheels]]. My 57mm wheels are very forgiving when it comes to gliding over bumps and potholes, grass and gravel. Actually, they're probably 52mm at this point. Now you know what I want for XMAS.\n\n[img[Justy by Skatelight|img/sl_druid.jpg]]\nThe author lit by Skatelight. Keep //still//, Justy!\n\nYou can read the original manifesto [[here|manifesto]].\n

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//''13 June, 2007''//\n\n- New [[videos|Video]] uploaded.\n\n- Skatelight featured on Cool Fusion's [[cool page|http://www.coolfusion.com.au/cool.html#an_Skatelight]]\n\n\n//''27 September, 2006''//\n\n[[Skatelight]] photos uploaded.\n\n[img[sk8lite passes|img/sk8lite.gif]]\n\n//''20 September, 2006''//\n\n{{justyImportant{**NEW:}}} //Slamless// wiki goes online.

My driveway is my canvas, the skateboard is my brush. Paint is light.\n\n[img[art1|img/sl_art.jpg]]\n\n[img[art1|img/sl_art2.jpg]]\n\n[img[art1|img/sl_art3.jpg]]\n

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// a skateboarding philosophy //

Slamless

http://www.aarch.usyd.edu.au/~jcla8108/slamless\n

I recently added some headlights to my skateboard. I often have to travel to and from work in the dark, and so this makes a handy pothole spotter!\n\nIt's still under development; batteries are the only issue- 2 recharchable 9 volt batteries were used for this experiment, however for stability I think I might move to a series of very small watch batteries.\n\n{{justyImportant{**UPDATE:}}} I'm now using a single very small 12 battery, plus I've added a [[tail light]]. I'm also having fun with a bit of [[Night time artmaking]].\n\n\n[img[Skatelight front on|img/sl_front2.jpg]]\nBe my spotlight bunny.\n\n[img[Skatelight wall lamp|img/sl_wall.jpg]]\nDoubles as attractive wall lamp.\n\n[img[Skatelight headlights|img/sl_headlites.jpg]]\nHeadlights.\n\n[img[Skatelight headlights detail|img/sl_headlite.jpg]]\nHeadlights in more detail.\n\n[img[Skatelight streaks down the driveway|img/sl_streak.jpg]]\nThe thin blue streak.

[<img[slams|img/slams.jpg]]\n''//Slamless//'' is a philosophy, not a super-power. I'm happy to say I can count the number of slams I've had on one hand; here you'll find the list of shame.\n\n''Slam #1:'' Fairy Meadow Skate Park: {{justyImportant{grazed elbow}}} \n\n''Slam #2:'' Fairy Meadow Skate Park: {{justyImportant{grazed elbow}}} (Same exact spot- both the elbow and the spot in the park.. learned //that// lesson well!)\n\n''Slam #3:'' Morrison ave, Wombarra: {{justyImportant{grazed and bloody knee}}} - transitioning from grass to concrete.\n\n''Slam #4:'' Fairy Meadow Skate Park: {{justyImportant{grazed and bloody knee and elbow}}} - going down a ramp I'd been down 100's of times before!! -got straight back on the board and did it again, then went and got band-aids..\n\n[img[kingslam|img/kingslam.jpg]] (King Slam!) ''Slam #5:'' University of Sydney: {{justyImportant{hard smack to the side of the head and chin, punctured hand and grazed knee}}} - dark and wet; negotiating around a pothole, when gravel acted as both unwanted slippage as well as a material to puncture my hand. It was a dark and wet night.\n\nThis is ''not'' the Slamess way! That's one hand of slams I can count now. Slam #5 was a confluence of several factors. One of these was the poor conditions of the Maze Crescent road- there is major building going on at the uni at the moment and the condition of the roads has deteriorated significantly.. \n\n''Slam #5 pics:''\n\n[img[my hand is punctured|img/slam_5a.jpg]]\n\nThis is a 'karate chop' injury- on the fleshy part of my hand. My palm is grazed and there's a puncture on my thumb. These aren't so bad, but what's worse is the unseen damage- the spraining. This slam has made me decide to wear wrist guards at night. I'm using my right hand to type this now, but it's still not pain-free.. as mentioned in the Slamless philosophy, I need my hands for work, music and.. play.\n\n[img[my knee is grazed in a few places|img/slam_5b.jpg]]\n\nI've grazed my right knee before, but never quite like this. Needless to say my jeans are toast. I didn't even notice this one until I got home.\n\n[img[my cheek and chin are bruised|img/slam_5c.jpg]]\n\nI've //never// hit my head or face before- I remember hitting the deck and thinking "Fuck! Have I really blown it this time?" I got to my feet straight away and realised that all would be well, although all the next day I was a little slow on the draw. As I write this I realise how lucky I was; it's all very well to worry about my wrists, but without the brain in full working order, my life would change in unwelcome ways.\n\n\n''Slam #3 pic:''\n\n[img[bloody grazed elbow|img/slam_3.jpg]]\n\n\n

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\n[img[Slamless|img/logo2.jpg]]\n\n//.. a sk8boarding philosophy//

Please enjoy this 5 minute work that tells the story of a man and his ramp. \n\n[["The Passion of the Ramp"|sk8tale.mov]]\n\nThis is a 30 meg file, so here's a [[you tube version|http://www.youtube.com.au/justy256]].\n{{justySmall{coming soon}}}\n\n"Tasmania Snake Run"\nThis is a short edited piece of my traversing the wonderful snake run in Tasmania. Here's [[Google's view|http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=h&om=1&ll=-42.876691,147.312573&spn=0.003247,0.007033&z=18]] of the park. Here's a [[you tube version|http://www.youtube.com.au/justy256]].

\n[img[Slamless|img/logo.jpg]]\n\n//.. a sk8boarding philosophy//\n\n{{justyImportant{WARNING: This site uses the "EFF" word.}}}\n\n\n''An ode to 19 year olds''\nRecently I received some feedback on my skating video [["Snake Run in Tasmania"|http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIegxcP0aDI]], along the lines of "ur a pussy", and other grammar-ly challenged utterances. The video isn't "Watch my heaps gnarly sk8 trix", it's "Snake Run in Tasmania". Both were posted by 19 year olds, so I wouldn't expect any different, but it got me thinking how fascist a lot of skateboarders can be.\n\nFor a sport that has its roots (at least partially) in rebellion, it's ironic how often I hear references to an unspoken set of standard behaviour- in other words, what I //have// to do in order to be considered a skater. If I can't grind, or ollie, or drop in, I'm somehow not a skateboarder.\n\n''Fuck that and fuck you.''\n\nI'm doing my own damn thing- having as much fun as I can whilst minimising the risks. Read the [[manifesto]] if you need clarification.\n\nNow, where's my board?\n

Normally found on longer boards, I use fat wheels with my regular sized deck (and regular sized trucks). The fat wheels thing kicked off for me when a friend of mine gave me a 1980's-style unidirectional board, which I set up with 57mm wheels.\n\n\nThe advantage of these wheels is they allow passage over a variety of surfaces.\n[img[Skatelight streaks down the driveway|img/gravelwheels.jpg]]\nRolling down a very long gravel driveway.\n

“SLAMLESS” by Justin James Clayden (written sometime in 2005)\n\nAs a skate veteran of one week, I thought it would be a good idea to start a label; nay, a philosophy that describes my attitude towards skating.\n\n“Slamless” is the result. At 33, I’m really not into breaking bones, grazing skin and jarring my ancient body. Thus, the “Slamless” philosophy is as it sounds- either no slams, or at the very least, fewer slams. I’m not particularly keen on wearing pads either, although any move to vert skating changes this situation.\n\n“Sure”, the rest of the skating world says- “Big deal- that’s nothing new; who wouldn’t try to avoid slamming?” and of course they’re right. My approach simply limits the kinds of activities performed on a skateboard to those that minimise or eliminate the possibility of injury due to not sticking to the skateboard, hitting to pavement or other skaters etc, whilst at the same time trying to maximise the fun that can still be had with this restriction. It should go without saying that this is my thing- if an elderly or newbie skater is interested, great- but there’s no way that I would intend to detract from the awesome skills of those who do the real stuntwork- I love seeing ‘real’ skating, and it will always flourish. Meanwhile, for those who want to skate and have fun, but can’t afford to not have the use of their limbs (I drum, play guitar, use the computer, etc.) perhaps “Slamless” is for them. It is a style that has perfection as its goal- what it lacks in diversity and extremity of tricks, it makes up for in consistency, safety and elegance.\n\nSpecifically- no discontinuities, that means lots of lovely gentle curve work, akin to long board riding in surfing. It also means no grinds, flips, etc. Of course, the implementation of this philosophy is up to the protagonist. Personally I’m aiming for no slams whatsoever due to my lack of skill, my age, and the fact that I don’t like unnecessary pain. (Currently the count stands at zero). As my skill improves I’ll still be interested in ollies, air and the like, but the Slamless philosophy dictates that the pace of learning these tricks will never outstrip my ability to consistently perform them. This means standing tough in the face of peer pressure- sometimes a grey area that lies next to ‘encouragement’.\n\nKeywords: Safety, consistency, elegance, style.\n

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With a tail light attached, there's no excuse for a car not to avoid me now!\n\n[img[Skatelight front on|img/sl_trails1.jpg]]\nThe tail light in action.\n\n[img[Skatelight front on|img/sl_tailtrails.jpg]]\nThe tail light in further action.\n\n