N-Orbit revisted

there's been a buzz in my little internet world lately. it all started earlier in the week when chad minton and greg the mayor got the crazy idea to have reunion party for N-Orbit. unless you lived and skated around here before 1992 you probably have no idea what i'm talking about. N-Orbit was a skateshop/outdoor skatepark located in greenwood just south of the mall on fry road (the OG shop was on main street in greenwood). they had a street course out front that you never had to pay to skate. it was fresh smooth asphalt. there were ollie bumps, a flat bar, and probably the first bank to jersey barrier ever made. inside the fence was a 4 and 6 foot mini and a huge vert ramp. the only covered ramp was a 2' tall 8' wide "dork ramp" that was under the awning. pretty simple set up, but that was standard in those days. looking back, it's about as romantic as any skateboard memories are for me. the boards that lined the walls are ones that collectors would kill for today. it was when i fanned out on visiting pros and nervously asked them for an zine interview. it was a time of skateboarding innocence, oblivious to the inner workings and dynamics of the industry, friendships, egos, drama and anything else that taints us. jim and bruce were 100% skateboarding with out knowing or even claiming it. it's been fun to revisit these memories and images. here are just a few.

adam beltz on the last day that n-orbit was open.

kein lieu.

OG card.

bruce barnett on the vert ramp. photo unknown.

ad that was in my first zine.

christian hosoi. photo greg the mayor

OG sticker.

stolen

tim's

tim and grant getting down on the extension.

willy akers

willy's gone pro. i remember meeting him and his pops at contests way back when. always stoked when i cross paths with him today. congrats and well deserved!

wood harvest

the General

i've been reading john feinstein's new book. so far, there's alot about bobby knight. it reminded me of these clips. you don't even have like basketball or sports to get a laugh.

sponsor me

looks like fat nick is cleaning up the shop.

19℉

to cold do anything. wish i had some real toys to play with.

+ulysses+

i've been missing this guy alot lately. my parents are out of town and i've been stopping by the house. it never felt so empty there. ulysses held it down for 16+ years, and it's now been a month since we lost him. just like it was yesterday, i still remember him running into our yard (and lives) when i was at college in bloomington.

me and ulysses-2005

bill eppridge-photograher

shot all the rad before we were even born.

sold

sold the orange 550 today. it hadn't seen much action in the last year so it was time to go. i'm not going to miss it dripping oil on my shoes, but i am going to miss it just sitting in my garage. think i liked looking at it more than riding it. felt good about the guy i sold it to, however he's about 3 inches taller than me. maybe he'll ditch the drags for some apes.