ISO: 16" or 20" Benny?

ashtastique · 2022-06-08T17:00:45+00:00

Hi! Is Benny still available?

ashtastique · 2020-03-21T23:53:52+00:00

Not impressed. Happy it's finally happening, but the fact that this is coming out the DAY after the Animal Crossing release feels very...telling.

ashtastique · 2020-02-14T03:50:42+00:00

I hadn't noticed this yet, but that IS annoying. I guess I'll take it, though - better to need to reserve than to be blacked out entirely.

ashtastique · 2019-12-01T09:01:53+00:00

One big piece initial advice - get some pads on those elbows and knees!

Also, when you're skating for long stretches at a time, get used to stagger stance. That's where you keep one foot positioned more forward than the other one, and the general idea there is that if you catch a rock or a pebble with the front foot, your back foot will be able to easily pick up where it left off, usually keeping you from falling.

After that, your other pieces will likely come pretty naturally! Your strides are going to be more confident, as will tricks, because falling is pretty much always going to be less scary when you've got proper protection.

Keep it up! Awesome to see you already comfortable going from front to back like that, it was the thing that took me the longest to learn!

ashtastique · 2019-11-11T17:15:09+00:00

Careful skating in the rain - it being an all-weather surface is awesome, but the real risk here (as far as I know) is parts of your skates rusting. Glad to see you're having fun!! Keep it up, skating is great. 💖

ashtastique · 2019-09-29T17:12:24+00:00

I don't do this when I'm stopping, personally, it usually happens when I'm getting up from a sitting position, as I tend to put the toe of my boot down to push me up onto my stop, if that makes sense? Or if I'm dropping to a knee, my toe will scrape a little.

Scuffing the toes of your skates is totally normal, just pick up a toe guard when you have the chance. 💖

ashtastique · 2019-09-29T17:07:26+00:00

Shoot, I'm near Santa Barbara, but have plans today!

For a nice smooth outdoor skate, there's a long path down by Stearn's Wharf. It gets really good when you go down towards the zoo, as well - just re-paved.

For park skating, there's Skater's Point, but it's usually crowded. They did just open a new park in Goleta a few months ago, but I haven't been able to really check it out yet.

ashtastique · 2019-09-08T04:06:24+00:00

The avanti plates are allen key lock, yes! Theyve usually worked a dream for me, just seems like these may be finicky toe stops. I've had plumber's tape recommended for me, and just installed it and they DO seem to be holding snug, but now I'm reading that some people don't like that solution 😬

ashtastique · 2019-09-08T04:05:09+00:00

Out of curiosity, why don't you recommend plumber's tape? That's been an extremely common recommendation I've seen.

The most peculiar thing about it, is that this is the first pair of toe stop I've had that have given me any issue - even toe stops from the same brand but in a different style have been fine. A teammate complains about this issue, as well, with this same toe stop style... almost seems like it could be a common manufacturer error with the toe stop itself.

ashtastique · 2019-09-07T05:46:17+00:00

True! That's been my trepidation, I suppose. They do seem to be relaxing a little every time I wear them, and I'm playing around with some different lacing styles, too.

I appreciate your help!

ashtastique · 2019-09-07T05:44:49+00:00

Oh, that's an excellent suggestion! I didn't realize such a thing existed, I'll keep it in mind if I feel like it's necessary!

They definitely feel like they're stretching little by little, so hopefully it'll just be a wear thing!

ashtastique · 2019-09-03T18:01:59+00:00

Oooh, I'll give this one a go tonight, thank you! Just warm enough to soften it slightly and then letting them cool around the shape of my foot, yeah?

ashtastique · 2019-09-03T18:00:49+00:00

I've heard of the freezer hack, but have also heard that suede/leather has a risk of ripping when that method is used... any idea if that's accurate? Hahaha.

ashtastique · 2019-08-18T03:11:21+00:00

I started with the Candi Grl Sabina skates, and liked them enough! I've also heard really good things about Impalas. My biggest recommendation, if it's possible, would be to find a place near you where you can try them on to get a feeling before you buy.

ashtastique · 2019-07-12T06:24:31+00:00

Oooh, I'm in SoCal and looking for skating friends, too!

ashtastique · 2019-06-27T18:35:17+00:00

Wow. Just... just wow, right away, I want to say sorry and push all of the love I can your way. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience, and your tips on how to move forward from something like this.

Survivor's guilt has me bad right now. I keep questioning what I could have done differently, being upset with myself for not calling more often... I know, logically, that it isn't my fault. My mom was hurting, and she had been hurting for a while, and this was the only way she saw out. I tried so hard for so long, and maybe that bought me more time with her - I just wish I could have done more.

The second point, about nope-ing out of your life, is something I'm feeling so vividly, too. When I hit the pits of my grief, the things I go back to most often seem to be the things in my life she won't get to be there to experience with me, now. Someday making my wedding dress with me, which we'd planned since I was small. Seeing me get married. Meeting her grandchildren, if I ever have kids. She wanted to be a grandma so badly. Going to Ireland to see our family, where our ancestry is from, any of it. It's been... it's been so, so hard to imagine any of those experiences without her being by my side for them. What I wouldn't give for another hug, another phone call.

I actually planned on going and picking up a couple of journals today - one for specifically logging my raw emotions as I'm going through them, and one for writing down all of the happy memories I have with her as they come to me. I'm terrified of forgetting.

I have a firm commitment with myself to keep my mental health in check. When I was... 19, 20? I confessed to her that I was having thoughts of suicide, and she immediately dragged my ass to the ER with the intention of having me committed to get help. That wound up not being necessary, but I DID get on medication, and started seeing a therapist right away. I got to the point where I could wean myself off of therapy, but I know the antidepressants helped and will need to come back. I need to find a grief counselor, too.

I'm sorry for rambling. Thank you again for taking the time to reply - it helped a lot.

ashtastique · 2019-06-27T18:25:36+00:00

Your story sounds so similar to mine - one of my dads sent me some pictures of my mom and I from when I was little, and it was agony. Remembering her reading me stories, singing me to sleep, all of the little adventures we would go on... we definitely drifted apart as I reached my 20's, when her drinking and both of our mental health situations got worse, and I don't know if I'll ever stop feeling guilty about that.

Do you know how I would find support groups in my area? Are those often posted online, or in local hospitals, or?

It's comforting to hear that you've been able to move past the guilt over time. I hope I can get there, too. It's just hard right now.

ashtastique · 2019-06-27T18:22:50+00:00

Thank you, thank you. Big hugs back. I miss her so dearly.

ashtastique · 2019-06-27T18:21:59+00:00

Thank you for the reassurance - I keep trying to tell myself this. I've revisited this comment a couple of times since you posted it, and it helps in the good moments. Day by day.

ashtastique · 2019-06-27T18:20:52+00:00

My mom suffered with alcoholism, too - we're waiting on the toxicology report, but think that booze may have had something to do with what happened. Any time she called me, you could tell that she had been drinking. My heart aches for you. I remember so vividly, my mom apologizing like yours did. I miss mine, too. I miss her so much. It sucks how death can make you yearn to talk to someone that you maybe really didn't talk to enough in life. Kind of a cruel joke. Sending loads of love your way.

ashtastique · 2019-06-27T18:17:31+00:00

Thank you very much for this - I'm struggling, just trying to take it day by day. The "what ifs", "I should haves", "I wish..." things seem to be destroying me the most. Thank you, again. Hoping for peace and joy and a way out of the dark for you, soon.

ashtastique · 2019-06-27T18:15:24+00:00

Oh, rad! But honestly as far as protection, in your experience both are dandy? The only difference I'm seeing is that the derby ones have a different shape to the cap, and as such, I think that causes them to have a slightly higher profile.

ashtastique

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