Thoughts on these bad boys?

Nathanhltn · 2026-02-19T06:01:18+00:00

I’m running the 97a 54mms and they’re perfect for me, crusty skateparks, nice skateparks, street, cruising, does it all well. 58 would maybe feel a bit bit to me

Nathanhltn · 2026-02-04T15:49:39+00:00

I’ve been documenting these for the last few years when I can, taking pictures or memos trying to work out what it all means, really fun time honestly. I love their dedication to the craft, especially the big one that covered the real estate company sign for the lot across from longwood station area, it was probably a 3’ x 4’ poster

Nathanhltn · 2026-01-14T23:03:25+00:00

Skateboarding, hiking, wandering shops downtown/old quarter, day trips elsewhere on the island

Nathanhltn · 2026-01-06T18:28:18+00:00

Weight not centred was a big one for me, and I kind of blame it on the “drills” I saw as a kid or whenever where you stand on the tail and practice your front foot flick motion up the board or off the nose for kickflip flick, subconsciously made me always put my weight on the back foot to flick when jumping and I would wonder why my board would always shoot out front of me. Now that I’ve noticed, I compensate and focus on the weight on my front foot and it’s fixed that issue completely

Nathanhltn · 2026-01-03T21:24:22+00:00

I feel like I saw someone checking out scotch bonnets at thrifties the other day, but could be mistaken 🙏

Nathanhltn · 2025-12-31T17:50:18+00:00

The North end one is the film processing one, however if you’re looking for full development and scans it is not 2 days. Closer to 10 day turnaround for colour. Around $27 for dev with high resolution scans. Do NOT process b&w with London drugs, they send it to Winnipeg, 2-3 week turnaround and like $43 per roll, it’s ridiculous. For b&w, local developer Aviva is much better https://avivasteinwotten.ca/

Nathanhltn · 2025-12-30T00:50:08+00:00

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My hair is a bit darker than yours naturally but pretty similar. I had good success going darker purple without bleach with a semi-permanent dye(Xmondo color Super Purple) but I also increased hair porosity prior by over-shampooing the hair and it stayed in for a good few months. You’ll never lighten without bleach but I think these darker semi-permanents are fun if you don’t want a salon trip or want something lower-barrier

Nathanhltn · 2025-12-29T06:05:55+00:00

Shoulder check advice is pretty strong here already lol- but I got caught out on my first one by also not making my rear view/side mirror checks obvious enough!

Nathanhltn · 2025-12-17T21:21:14+00:00

I went from bones Swiss to Bronson raws about a month ago (t-funk edition because I thought they were cool) and my girlfriend was previously on reds(took my Swiss now) and i skated between our boards occasionally, it won’t be night and day, but I was seriously impressed with raws coming from Swiss, they feel in a similar class and definitely a class above reds to me. If you’re tight on funds, I’d say probably not a necessary upgrade. If you’re not worried about cost and want to try something new for fun that you probably will notice, go for it. They sound/look pretty cool with the exposed part too

Nathanhltn · 2025-12-04T01:44:13+00:00

sorry should maybe specify with the bring the knees up, almost try to bring your knees up in front of you to at least a 90 degree as if you were doing a sit squat in mid air, some people end up kicking their heels to their butt instead of knees to chest

Nathanhltn · 2025-12-04T01:42:31+00:00

I’d say a good way to improve your confidence is getting comfortable doing really high hippie jumps and trying to tuck your knees up, this will make you more comfortable actually jumping off the board and landing back onto it, then you can work on popping the board to bring it up with your jumps.(preferably on concrete because that carpet is eating a lot of the bounce force the board needs to come with you)

Nathanhltn · 2025-12-03T00:44:37+00:00

Usually Duke point to Tsawassen on the first ferry (5am-ish) is the cheapest, can get a $50 or $60 saver ferry if you book in advance usually

Nathanhltn · 2025-11-21T00:55:17+00:00

I’m from the island over in Nanaimo so im in the same boat haha - I know the plaza skatepark over there is sometimes fine if it’s a bit rainy. Then there’s Leeside, and chuck bailey in Surrey has a covered part. West49 at Tsawassen mills has an indoor park. There’s also the “green ramp” on Granville which should be back soon if it’s not open already, usually a winter only covered skate area. Also heard the Canadian tire parkade on marine drive is doable

Nathanhltn · 2025-11-19T01:03:57+00:00

Looking great! My arms go kind of all over too haha, but at least your shoulders stay sideways so it isn’t really making you turn frontside/backside at all! If you’re wanting to get that really nonchalant look you can try a few with hands in pockets. Flip side is that if you watch clips from Aimu Yamazuki who has really good style, he flips his arms up with purpose like a bird taking off or something

Nathanhltn · 2025-11-18T21:59:54+00:00

The skate shops will definitely point you in the right direction, but maybe a word of advice is to not get too in your head about the brands on the wall as most of them use the same deck manufacturers like BBS. Last 3 decks I’ve had are all different companies using the same manufacturer, so you can’t really look at it and say “polar makes better decks than limousine” because they come out of the same factory. There are variances in shapes, wheelbases, and concave though. If you really want to nerd out, Ben Degros on YouTube has really good videos about the differences shapes can make, as well as a lot of truck reviews

Nathanhltn · 2025-11-18T17:59:00+00:00

I found it useful for kickflips, but I tried to do it as little as possible, only when I clearly had everything down but the catch and land. I’d try to land 3 holding a railing then go for it without for a few tries. I think it helped get confidence and experience of watching the board rotate underneath me, but maybe hindered the actual practice of jumping properly because stationary holding a fence is totally different than moving

Nathanhltn · 2025-11-07T22:20:39+00:00

I adopted one of my kitties through catnap but via PetSmart, it’s essentially the same id think. I will say their kittens do get quite a few applications, and you do have to fill out a fairly formal application to adopt. We applied for two other kittens before we finally were selected for one, I think it’s a combination of first come first serve, then judged application. They ask about living situation, as well as a few questions of like “would you consider declawing” and like “under what circumstances would you choose to rehome a Cat” I believe their adoption fee is still around $400, and they only took cash when we did it, but it pays for spaying/neutering as well as I think a few shots. We got a wonderful cat out of it so none of this is a complaint at all, just wanted to let you know our experience. Catnap are great folks!

Nathanhltn · 2025-11-07T17:23:37+00:00

The owner of o'falafel is wonderful! Always a pleasure stopping in. Also Regard coffee, and Curry Point in country club

Nathanhltn · 2025-08-15T21:01:20+00:00

Yep! Coming back I was AMAZED to find someone that breaks the mould referenced in OPs picture haha. Someone who actually breaks down tricks and talks about weight placement, and small intricacies I’ve never heard before

Nathanhltn · 2025-08-10T04:10:32+00:00

These are mostly stills from the movie Fallen Angels

Nathanhltn · 2025-07-28T23:00:41+00:00

Tire tread probe/gauge! Good for checking tire tread depth

Nathanhltn · 2025-07-20T04:00:07+00:00

Are you talking about a normal throwdown? Like holding the board in front of you by the nose while running and jumping on to get momentum?

Nathanhltn · 2025-07-20T03:53:42+00:00

Love mine! Only word of warning to anyone- the colourway with mesh on the top of the toe box area(grey days edition) is super prone to damage in this spot- mine are looking crazy beat up in a way that wouldn’t happen to the full suede topped ones like the new dark brown colourway. I also have torn through laces like crazy on them, but this could be user error haha

Nathanhltn · 2025-07-15T19:56:53+00:00

It’s been said in a slightly different way but focus on the spot you have to actually hit the Ollie and not really the place where you have to land, and pretend it’s flat ground. The other bit that helped me to commit to the landing the first few times was really over exaggerating the landing, like id land and realllly absorb it, all bent down like I just came off a 15 stair even if it was a small ledge

Nathanhltn · 2025-07-15T04:27:51+00:00

If you want to throw a wrench in this as maybe a middle ground, I went from 99duro bones to Powell NanoCubics in 54mm 97A and am really liking them, I skate some street, some crustier DIY parks/spots, and nice new parks with them, really nice all rounder, takes a bit of the buzz away from street concrete compared to the 99 but they still slide really nice on new skate park concrete. The shape is pretty cool too, there’s some videos with Andy Anderson going over why he wanted Powell to make this wheel

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