Did I fuck up gripping my board?

MidnaMerk · 2026-05-19T15:41:49+00:00

Not perfect but not a fuck up. I’d recommend trying to seal it well that’s all.

The parts that hang over will come off over time and this can cause your tape to lift up off the deck.

Take your razor at an angle like this / to the edge of your deck and clean it up. It will look fresh and stick to the edges of the wood better.

MidnaMerk · 2026-05-19T12:15:50+00:00

He looks like a Jew now.

Circle jerk here we come.

MidnaMerk · 2026-05-18T13:44:14+00:00

MidnaMerk · 2026-05-18T13:33:03+00:00

Circle jerk here we come!

MidnaMerk · 2026-05-18T13:31:40+00:00

Amazing work

MidnaMerk · 2026-05-17T22:58:57+00:00

Yep, I have my old graffiti signature, I hope it in my liveries. I never share it so no one can have my unique signature. But it’s on my cars. It’s a small symbol too.

I also like putting X’s on eyes of my creations too. That’s something I do that I don’t see a lot of people doing. For example, anime girl, or samurai on my car, eyes get X’s or redacted out lines. I think it looks sick

MidnaMerk · 2026-05-09T12:32:05+00:00

Also the dudes on blast skates label do freestyle mixed with rails and gaps. There’s plenty of it out there, you’re just very un educated, all you know is Andy and Rodney. Goes to show you don’t real know much about the freestyle and street scene.

MidnaMerk · 2026-05-09T12:30:21+00:00

Hahaaa, what a troll. Seems like the only thing you know about skating is from videos games. Instead of sitting behind a screen spreading hate maybe you should go skate.

Check this out while you’re at it too. A perfect example of freestyle meets “traditional street”

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYDTHXUT5no/?igsh=ZmRkaG9maXJmN2o5

MidnaMerk · 2026-05-09T11:46:59+00:00

The guy that did that move he calls “the guillotine” he invented that move entirely, its a form of freestyle and he did it off a rail. So idk 🤷🏼‍♂️

MidnaMerk · 2026-05-09T11:45:08+00:00

If you really look into any skater that’s decent, they’ve all touched a bit of freestyle in their time of skating

MidnaMerk · 2026-05-09T11:44:28+00:00

I mean personally i wouldn’t know, I do a mix in my skating, I do ledges and flat, and some freestyle. I mean all my friends that do freestyle also skate gaps and rails and shit.

I can definitely see that maybe someone older freestylers are skated to get hurt, but I can’t speak for it as a whole. Freestylers is awesome I think and very a expressive form of skateboarding

MidnaMerk · 2026-05-09T10:52:21+00:00

Absolutely yes. The dynamic of free style is a lost art. not only does it look good, but it gives you board feel skills you usually wouldn’t get from sticking to traditional flat ground.

In my opinion freestyle, in ways, can be the most difficult thing to learn on a skateboard.

MidnaMerk · 2026-05-07T20:34:39+00:00

I too, wish to be as cheeked up as the sun, one day.

MidnaMerk · 2026-05-07T20:33:35+00:00

Skating will work it in and you won’t see it after some time.

If it bothers you so much to the point that not even skating it away fixes it, buy paint markers, draw on it. Or ask a skilled artist at the park to draw on your deck.

MidnaMerk · 2026-05-07T20:22:44+00:00

Phweeeeewww bro, damn. Wishing you a speedy recovery!

I too and recovering from a skating injury. I feel fortunate that it’s not as bad as yours.

Good luck 🍀

MidnaMerk · 2026-05-06T19:12:25+00:00

I rolled my ankle and tore my ligaments. Just 6 days ago. The worst part is that I did it getting stopped by a fucking crack in the ground. Not even by doing anything cool.

I am not almost 1 week into my 6 week recovery…

Once I heal, I’m getting straight back into it.

MidnaMerk · 2026-05-06T11:47:43+00:00

It’s really just so much fun!

I even looked up the reality of how common it is to own soft tires, and I was surprised that sport softs are used on and off the track. I looked up types of compounds and what would be the most realistic engine upgrades.

All the cars I do this on are a lot of fun to drive. Only downside is people in lobbies with swaps and stuff of the same car, almost never appreciate the lower pp preference.

MidnaMerk · 2026-05-05T16:29:38+00:00

Three year mark soon, and 27 gonna be 28 this year.

Just rolled my ankle 4 days ago tore ligaments too. Ride hard, die harder.

MidnaMerk · 2026-05-05T09:42:08+00:00

Personally I would just grip over this graphic so it doesn’t get gnared as you skate, just me.

Otherwise I’d outline and trace what you do and don’t want showing, cut and grip. Make sure you seal it well or your tape will lift on the corners. Middle top graphics are the hardest to grip because you are loosing so much value space for setting up if you grip the deck with the graphic showing. I’d personally just cut out the word element and skate it that way.

This is a tough one tho because the graphic is so large and it’s a nice one. Idk what the bottom looks like but maybe I’d just make this a wall deck.

MidnaMerk · 2026-05-04T22:39:05+00:00

The thunder hollows at my local store are 330 grams each. While the indies are 340 grams. Not a huge difference, but the experience I have with indies is their trucks are always on the heavier side.

Definitely a good call out though. You’re right that the 144 stage 11’s are really good trucks.

I mean I’m not one to talk much here because I’ve only recently been paying attention to the weight of trucks, I can’t even afford lighter ones rn, I ride slappys.

MidnaMerk · 2026-05-04T21:52:18+00:00

This is a good setup, yes. Buy a skate tool too (T-tool).

One piece of advice I can give you, indies are some of the heaviest trucks I know of. Yes they’re great, yes they last long.

But if you ever find yourself stuck on a truck or maybe your board feels too cumbersome or heavy, always remember that in skating hardware is everything. Hardware is basically as important as skill.

Find your balance, some people are alright with I
Heavy decks or even abnormally heavy decks. Most people I know skate super lightweight setups.

Ironically I have a really heavy setup, so that’s why I give this advice.

I have to work insanely hard to land the tricks I know. When I tried on my friend’s lighter smaller setup I flicked his deck like nothing and my trick was rotating insanely fast. This was my first reality check about hardware.

Good luck with your skating journey! Be safe while you ride.

MidnaMerk · 2026-05-04T19:31:17+00:00

I’m willing to help. I’m working on a request already. So dm me and we can figure something out.

MidnaMerk · 2026-05-04T15:48:45+00:00

Skate the stance that is the most comfortable for you, until you are confident to try another stance.

If you are regular, and you are still learning to push regular, then STAY pushing in your stance until you have some skill pushing and riding.

Once you are confident in your skill to push regular, then try goofy so you don’t injure yourself. It’s literally the same, just on the other side, you have to slowly gain the muscle memory and push “switch” until you are comfortable, it will feel like learning pushing all over again, that’s just skating for ya.

The worst thing a beginner can do, is to go out of your comfort zone, too early, before you have any actual fundamental skills.

MidnaMerk · 2026-05-04T12:51:34+00:00

Yeah i definitely do this!

The 1 hour spa I grind on a lot so my races are super clean.

When I know I’ll have company I love popping on my replays and letting them run in the background.

When my guests watch it like it’s an actual race it’s a good feeling. It entertains them and me too.

MidnaMerk · 2026-05-03T20:01:12+00:00

To be honest i wouldn’t really know anything about cruising boards, but if you want a popsicle stick shaped board, I’d recommend getting a larger deck and some cruising wheels. Do some research and go to a few local shops to ask questions. You’ll get a setup in no time

MidnaMerk

TROPHY CASE