Sunshine State of Mind

There are certain things I only really do when I am in Florida. Eat at Chipotle. Drink about 3 super sweet Dunkin Donuts Iced coffees a day. Listen to the terrible hip hop station. Get sunburned. Etc. But I think it’s these things that keep me coming back (well that, and it’s my job.) My Florida traditions have almost become guilty pleasures, some sort of alternate universe from my every day life. And as I become less interested in traveling (never thought it would happen, either) I think the fact that I have these routines makes it much less painful to be on the road.

New for this trip, my friend Jason constructed a mini ramp in his backyard. I saw pictures of it when they first got it, and were yet to fix it up. It looked pretty junky. But I should have known that once Jason got his hands on it, it would be perfect. It is. One of the most fun ramps I’ve ever skated.

There is awesome skateboarding in and around Orlando no doubt, but I come here for the wakeskating. I got to go out and ride with a boatload (literally) of girls including one of my favorite contributors Lacey Menkin, and Canada’s own Ally Boothroyd. The last two days have mainly been spent at Orlando Watersports Complex for the first stop of the 2009 Byerly Toe Jam. It was nearly impossible to find a decent angle of the montrous pool gap, but I got a few decent ones. This shot of Andrew Pastura is probably my favorite.

Actually no, the shot of Ben Horan I got is my favorite, but you’ll have to wait until Monday to see that one. Check out all my shots on Alliance Wakeskate. Practice session and the big show. Well I am off to get one of those Iced Coffees and spend the day with my favorite haters, James and Silas.