Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Aloha Jam

Story reprinted from Global-Flat.com.

 Aloha Jam 2014
In typical Diversion style I wanted to create something a little different, a little epic, and at times exotic….all while tapping into the soul of BMX and all the good vibes and experiences it can bring into our lives. It´s been over 20 years since there has been a flatland related event in Hawaii and it´s was the perfect environment for the concept of a BMX Holiday. Hawaii is a magical place with a paradise like environment, perfect for BMX and adventure. Aloha Jam is for everybody. You don´t need to be a super pro with a dialed contest routine to move around the planet and have BMX adventures. If you love BMX and good vibes come through for an experience you´ll never forget!
Unknown to most, Hawaii has a thriving BMX scene that ranges from first generation flatlanders like Adam Jung who toured with GT all the way to new school riders. Being a bit isolated on the island, the entire BMX community is quite tight and has that creative DIY flavor of days past. Check out RideHi.net and Shootsbrah.com.
The Jam location was at Petrie Playground which is located in the Kaimuki area of Oahu. It sits on top of a hill that over looks the ocean and Koko head mountain - A view you can only get in Hawaii. All styles and bikes were representing this day, even street riders came through and worked on flat ground moves and then applied them to the big manual pad nearby in the park.
Duane from BIKEFACTORY manned the grill and cooked up some good steaks and hot dogs. Another rider named Cuyler rolled up with some palm fronds sticking out of his backpack. Inside was a big fish he may or may not have caught all wrapped up and ready for the grill. That´s how we do in Hawaii, brah!
The word was out on the the streets of Honolulu and Channel 2 came out to catch some of the action for a segment on the 6 o´clock news.
With Hawaii as the backdrop, riders can feel free to bring non-riding family members / friends because there is plenty for them to do. The second day we mobbed out to Hanauma Bay, which the base of an old volcano, for some snorkeling. We swam with sea turtles and floated through all sorts of coral and colorful fish. Watching a sea turtle make it´s way around the bay is quite the experience as it swims with authority and a look on it´s face of wisdom and calmness….a true master of the sea…
For those that came for more than just the two days, even more epic activities happened...hiking through craters, getting lost in rain forests, and finding more flatland spots in paradise.

BIG THANKS to Derek Takemoto and Duane for helping make the jam a reality and also thanks to everyone who participated. A big Shaka to the mainland crew who came through too! (Todd Carter, Rich Slezak, Nelson Kuo, and Steve and Christina Lapsley)
Everyone who participated in the jam will get a limited edition Aloha Jam T-shirt with everyone´s signatures on the back.
Look for a printed Aloha Jam book and an edit in the near future! Shoots!

2014-09-29 - Bobby Carter


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Saturday, September 13, 2014

Monday, September 8, 2014

part 2, shit happ...

ok so the next week this shit still continues, pain, pain & more pain.
all i can do is lie on my left side and stare at the bottom of floor. more vicodin & pissed off.
my wife is the best! she would make lunch & dinner and leave it on a tray on the floor before she went to work. i can't thank her enough!
it feels like you are in a nursing home, where she basically did everything. wash my hair in a bucket, hot towel bath & wipe my balls & ass. bunch of bullshit. but i am lucky, some people may not get all this help. brush teeth & floss was hard. and this was only a few days in to this shit!

oh yeah, you won't be taking a shit for a few days. did not know about this.

if you are taking a shit load of vicodin, make sure you eat some prunes for the next few days! no matter how much water i was drinking, it didn't help. just a heads up.

i finally had to shit so i dragged my self to the bathroom in intense pain, tried to sit & shit but couldn't shit cause the pain was too intense. i had to lie on the bathroom floor till the pain went away & crawled my way back into the bedroom. brah, i had to bite on a shirt from the pain, i don't know how else to explain it. didn't shit for a few more days.

1 week into this, i go get a epidural shot, this was on 4.29.14. barely make it to my dad's car, i took a bunch of vicodin just so i can get to the hospital. riding in the wheel chair was more painful than i thought. during my procedure they had me lie on my stomach, which i couldn't do. man that was the most painful shit in my life, i was shaking from the intense pain & just tried to stay still enough so that the doctor can stick the needle in my spine. i couldn't even feel the needle. man, they said my blood pressure was over 200/150 during that procedure.

the epidural shot is basically the needle going to the sciatic nerve area to help relieve the affected nerve. it's a steroid. i heard it supposed to work pretty instantly. it's even given to mother's giving birth. but not for me (what's fucken new) it took about 10 days before i even felt any relief. so don't believe the hype.

i'll stop here. part 3, soon, maybe???

shoots,
dennis