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| Blog: Paul Dunn, 60-days to Hood River (177 Posts)
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Blog 3.1
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On 5/7/2005
PD
wrote in from
United States
(24.176.nnn.nnn)
So what's up today???
Have a couple of piping gigs this afternoon. But Maysey is in town and we're gonna rally and go over a few things. Yes, the student has now become the master! No skating, probably just a mind-meld.
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Blog 3.0 -- Revised
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On 5/7/2005
PD
wrote in from
United States
(24.176.nnn.nnn)
Wrong photo -- this one with the silver bottom is Sherman's.
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Blog 3.0
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On 5/7/2005
PD
wrote in from
United States
(24.176.nnn.nnn)
Another classic -- but my back-yard makin' board days are over. Let the professionals make 'em. This is the rig that I made for Steve Sherman. With his size and power, it worked real well for him. My foam was too thick for most riders. But Steve raged about this thing.
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Blog 2.1 -- Resubmitted
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On 5/7/2005
PD
wrote in from
United States
(24.176.nnn.nnn)
Had to re-size this photo I posted last night. Here you can see my increased girth... I noticed that the old kilt had been gettin' a wee bit tighter as of late. That's my understudy Brendan from my pipe band with me as we play outside Mother's Tavern on St. Patrick's Day.
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He's baaaack
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On 5/7/2005
Steven King
wrote in from
United States
(67.116.nnn.nnn)
PD, Glad you're coming to Hood. I remember '02 when you commented on the TS course - said you liked it. I felt really proud. (You probably said that about all the courses when you won, which were many that year.)
You'll love the GS on the old Gorge Highway, if for no other reason than the scenery is so incredible and the pavement so beautiful.
Pile of mush? You sandbagger. Is that like the "broken arm" of '02? Truthfully - glucosamine, chondroitin and Advil are the key for us old guys. Take care of that back, arm, knee and whatever else is ailing you. See you in July.
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Decks?
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On 5/6/2005
Evans
wrote in from
United States
(66.214.nnn.nnn)
Winning a TS isn't really winning without you there, Paul!
I'm stoked to have you back!
Those decks look more like the original Ick Stick layup style. How soon everyone forgets. Still one of the fastest and most custom boards on the market.
I'm getting your old student in tip-top racing shape. Video training is back, how critical can we get? Is it true you and Maysey were trained by Jack?
You'll be back hauling ass in know time with that beautiful style! Speaking of great style where's Beau?
I've been trying to get him to come out and run some cones with us.
Hope to see you soon,
Evans (SSS) Badlands
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SWEET DECKS!
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On 5/6/2005
HACKETT - BLACK LEATHER RACING
wrote in from
United States
(68.71.nnn.nnn)
Nice work PD- Great to see you surface again. I like the deck work too...
That right there is one of my new Hackett ReIssues down at Deathbox. Only
made 300 of those bad boys- All gone in two weeks! Signed and Numbered.
Here's one for the record: FS Two Wheeled Carve Double Grab.
Thanks for the Thoughts on Paris - We will Conquer! A La PD Style!
Best,
HACK- BLR
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Blog 2.4
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On 5/6/2005
PD
wrote in from
United States
(24.176.nnn.nnn)
Here I am laying up a board for Beau Brown. You gotta work fast when it's sunny and the resin wants to gel quicky. That's my transportable, adjustable rocker/lay-up molding table that I made in about 30 minutes with a Skil-Saw and some left over 2 x 4's.
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Blog 2.3
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On 5/6/2005
PD
wrote in from
United States
(24.176.nnn.nnn)
A lot of people gave me piles of dung on the fact that my boards that I HAND MADE IN MY BACK YARD looked somewhat "Pistol-like." Well, if you think about it, the PPS lay-up is the easiest way to go without a two-sided mold. I'm not here to argue the merits of any lay-up schedule and the pros and cons of either, but I am proud of what I accomplished with a fraction of experience and 1200 frickin bucks to make boards for my homies...
Heck, my board made it to 3rd place in the slalom-cross at Breckenridge in '03 (but was it "Tony Hawk Syndrome?" -- that's a good question...)
Bottom-line: desparate men take desparate measures.
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Blog 2.2
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On 5/6/2005
PD
wrote in from
United States
(24.176.nnn.nnn)
Here's a board that I made for Mike Maysey in the Spring of '03. Some pretty cool stuff in that deck, but the blue carbon-layer didn't stick that well with the rest of the lay-up. Still, he had a good time on it for awhile...
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Blog 2.0
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On 5/6/2005
PD
wrote in from
United States
(24.176.nnn.nnn)
That's too weird. Dave Hackett is like this quiet, whispering voice sometimes in the back of my head. I was just cleaning my bearings and I was thinking about Hackett. Then he logs on...
Back at ya Hack!
Heck, after "Lords" comes out, you'll need a press agent! Oh, I forgot: you already have one (Zena?).
Anyway. What's up today? I went down and got my wig jammed, then broke out my 36" that I made to ride at Breck in '03... I'm gonna git on that thing in a few minutes and pump around the nay-bow-hood -- then I might hop on my dirt back and join these knuckleheads who keep making all this noise outside my office window. Then I'll get serious and do some serious sweating.
Oh, Hackett - I know you're gonna go off in France! Have a killer time over there. Take a bunch of pics.
Back on this channel later,
--PD
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Need ride (San Diego to New Mexico)
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On 5/6/2005
John "JJ" Corning
wrote in from
United States
(68.8.nnn.nnn)
Need a ride to the Ditch race in New Mex, have dependable transportation if want to split gas money, seats 3, any response would be better than using my thumb, Thanks
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Blog 1.3
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On 5/5/2005
PD
wrote in from
United States
(24.176.nnn.nnn)
Mt Trashmore. A skatepark built on top of a garbage pit.
Virginia. 1988. I'm working at Vision. Fly to Virginny with the Vision team to catch most of the ramp comp. and an impromtu slalom race.
Night before, we're all shackin' in out hotel rooms, and Mark "Gator" Ragowski is lighting his farts on fire while sitting open-legged in front of the team manager.
Next morning I'm in the parking lot working through the pumps with my fairly-new Blackbird. Some guy from England will be at the hill today.
Fast forward 9 hours. Simon Levene takes me by a tenth or so, and Keith Hollien is behind me in third after a funky, rain-soaked day on a single lane kinda GS-ie course...
A few months later, I'm fired from Vision and sitting in front of the publishers of Poweredge Magazine. Want a job?
Can't I just go home?
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Blog 1.2
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On 5/5/2005
PD
wrote in from
United States
(24.176.nnn.nnn)
Happy Cinco de Mayo...
Heh, heh... I remember back in '92 when me and another dude were doin' a business together... There was basically no slalom goin' on. The skate scene was kind of in a flux...
But THAT Cinco de Mayo I went down to this bar (I was in the height of my single days) and started pourin' back tequila shots, beers, margaritas, and I think anything else that was put in front of me.
Long story short, I remembered walking home sideways that night, trying NOT to fall down (good thing I walked, too: I would have blown a .20 that night).
Next morning, I'm under the desk at work, talkin' to customers while lying flat on my back. I think my head finally cleared around 8 that night.
Four hours of fun... 18 hours of pain.
Now ya gotta ask yourself: Would THAT make me faster???
--PD
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The Return
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On 5/5/2005 Pauliwog
wrote in from
United States
(64.5.nnn.nnn)
Hmm, Cool!
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Blog 1.1
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On 5/5/2005
PD
wrote in from
United States
(24.176.nnn.nnn)
So... Just what DID I actually do today to "get up" for Hood?
Well, let's see. 100 sit-ups, 45 minutes on a cycle-trainer thing, some weights over ma heid, and some power phone calls and a few emails to a couple of huge industry moguls. Managed to get Maysey on the phone... He and Evans were actually practicing (!)
Maysey tells me Chicken has been spotted surfing! Hey Barrett: Welcome to the Pacific Ocean! (He's gonna get me for that.) Could this be HIS way of shedding the old look to reveal an extreme makover??? I hear ABC is drivng the industrial backwaters of HB trying to catch one overly-huge black F-250 with brand new surf racks...
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What?????
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On 5/5/2005
Terry
wrote in from
United States
(68.126.nnn.nnn)
PD,
Well, well what a nice surprise. Missed you out surfing with the LO losers last night at the Rock. Writing to ask you if there is run out at Hood for this old mongo gal. Otherwise I might just let Keli skate (if she does her chores). Let me know if you want to skate with us. Welcome back. And don't mind Fluit, I had no butterflies at Luna, just pure fun. Fluit, you still own me $ for a 2nd and 3rd at Breck at which I almost killed myself on every foot drag. Kowabunga!
See you Paul, Hi to Michele
Terry
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Paulog
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On 5/5/2005 FLUITT
wrote in from
United States
(192.18.nnn.nnn)
PD,
Would love to get a peice of you at Hood to finish up old business, but alas, I'll be paddling the big kahunas of Wikiki with the little ones during Hood. This will be an itneresting road to recovery. I see a book and tape series. I want to hear it all. The groin pulls, the aching lower back, the marital stress, the butterflies when you do get back in the gates after this 2-year hiatus. And getting use to the new radiCal equipment.
Gary
P.S. I'm sending you a couch AND a love seat.
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Welcome Back !!!
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On 5/5/2005 Kenny
wrote in from
United States
(68.252.nnn.nnn)
P.D.,
I think its great your heading to Hood. I bet you will surprise yourself. GET A RADIKAL FRONT TRUCK, or forget it. You can push a long board through a tight course with the Radikal. Its the only change since you jumped off the tour. Actually, I had one in Breck 2003 which was key.
Slalom is kick ass and the people are more fun nowadays. Lots of the duds left and now its pretty much just the cool people having a weekend Bro-down/throw/down/combo platter.
I wont make it up to Hood this year, but we'll see you soon. Radikal front or couch. The choice is yours.
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Blog 1: Digest THIS!!!
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On 5/5/2005
PD
wrote in from
United States
(24.176.nnn.nnn)
Welcome.
Well, it’s not exactly “60 Days to Hood River,” but it’s close – it’s either 64 days or 65, depending on how you count.
You may be asking:
Why?
And you know – I sometimes ask that myself. It all happened about a year and a half ago when I posted this:
“Fellow Racers,
Exactly a month ago, I was pushing an oddly-shaped skateboard down a lonesome road in the middle of Wyoming. During those miles, and the miles before them, I had a gathering series of imaginary discussions -- and an entertaining accumulation of thoughts and memories.
The subject of my mental wrangling was singular – and by the time I got to Casper, my mind was made up: I was ready to stop racing.
Slalom racing has been everything I wanted it to be. I wanted to do my best. I wanted to win. I wanted to skate for Bob Turner. I did that. Yes, I wanted to prove myself to the other competitors, and I wanted to prove to myself that I still had it. I wanted to have fun – and I sure did. I realized a short time ago that the amazing high that you get when you win – and win big – is a beautiful thing. But it is “oh so hard” to get back to that place. Michelle and I have had some real highs with the racing, the buzz you get… but I realize that… that kernel of truth is like a fist full of sand: I can only squeeze it for so long.
Friends: it’s a big world out there. There’s lots to do. I need to go looking for some of it.
I will still be a part of skateboard slalom. I’ll be there to help out, to promote, to coach and to provide the zen that so many of you ask for in your personal e-mails to me. I’ll be around to promote the Turner PD Model -- the P-31 – and to promote the other boards in the Turner stable: the Maysey M-34, the Sherman Tank, the Aurora -- and of course anything else that develops in our Skunk Works resin-shops.
That’s it for now. See you all at the World’s.
--Paul Andrew Dunn
Team Turner
Current points leader, FCR Series Tour”
That was my post as of Monday, September 8th, 2003 at 9:54 pm.
It’s been an interesting journey since then. Michelle and I moved to San Miguel, Peggy Turner got put in Jail, and some kid named Clay won on American Idol… Crazy s#@!…
One of the main reasons why I backed away from racing was the fact that my lower back was in a pretzel-like bungle. I could hardly stand on a board. When I flew into Boise to join Jack and the rest of the “Skateboarding Across America: On-Board for Lowe’s Syndrome” crew, I truthfully didn’t know if I could push a skateboard more than 20 feet. A few weeks earlier, I was lying facedown on my living room floor screaming in pain, begging my wife to take me to the hospital. Turns out I had a herniated disc – left over from a surf injury I suffered in 1991.
It took more than a year for my left butt check to stop quivering while standing in line at the grocery store.
Life with a sketchy back sucks. Take care of yours! Hey – that’s why Ransom is out – Kenny got problems I hear – and I know a few others that are wrestling with that demon. Part of the problem stems from vert riding. My full-pipe days made sure that my spine was fully compressed at the bottom of each full-pipe pump. Pools? Same deal…(I guess some guys like Hackett and Chicken never get this problem – freaks!)
Okay, enough whining.
Major point: me getting up for Hood River is not a “comeback.” So take the Rocky theme outta the 8-track.
This race for me, is more like Jack Nicklaus showin’ up at the Master’s for one last appearance. I’m trying not to care about wining – like I was so into doing a few years ago. Back then I was on a mission. These days I’m going to race for the essence of it, the stoke, the camaraderie – that stuff.
Another reason why I got out of THE GAME was that I thought it was time for the young guns to take over. I want my buddy Maysey to win. I want some new names up top. The nagging reality that some of the old farts keep wining is curious – but I guess predictable. It takes a good overall skater to win consistently. And Damn, Kenny – you are the man. Kenny has assembled a legacy that will be tough to ever duplicate – I know I won’t. I can’t. I’m just an old golf pro, trying to work off my love handles so I won’t embarrass myself on the first tee.
So here goes. My plan is to spend a month getting my sorry ass into shape. I probably won’t even run cones until June. Heck – I don’t even have a board yet! So you’ll get the play-by-play on my daily workouts – and what’s goin’ through my little brain as I’m peddling away on a stationary bike, jumping rope, makin’ a board, running cones -- whatever. After I get my board, I’ll post daily what I did, what I felt, how my back is doing, and whatever else I think is worth mentioning.
As it stands, this blog is a journal. You can post if you want, but take it easy on the old man…
See ya,
--PD
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CAKES AND PIES vol 1
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On 5/5/2005
Perkin Warbeck
wrote in from
United Kingdom
(80.3.nnn.nnn)
Given that your training regime is going to be as exciting to read about as it is to do, maybe you could have this as an opener:
- Favourite drum licks from Rush albums (in order of preference)
See? That would make the "ran 10, walked 10, chugged some Glucosamine" entries more interesting.
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Return of PD
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On 5/5/2005
MG
wrote in from
United States
(216.52.nnn.nnn)
It's about time, kook!
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Something Old, Something New...
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On 5/5/2005
PD
wrote in from
United States
(24.176.nnn.nnn)
...Something borrowed -- to make due!
I'll be posting a true "Opening Statement" to kick thing off in a few hours, but for now, let's clarify ONE thing: I'm NOT a former World Champ. I had a few good races, but I never made it to the level of the Mollica's, the Mitchell's or the Chicken Deck.
These days, I'm lucky if I can make it to the mailbox. Damn. I wish I had a "before" photo like one of those infomercials for the workout tapes. That way, you could see what a pile of non-skating mush I am...
Any, check back. I'm off to put together a few ideas.
See ya,
--PD
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New Forum!
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On 5/5/2005
Adam
wrote in from
United States
(198.144.nnn.nnn)
From the webmaster..
He's baaack! Or is he?! Paul Dunn, former World Slalom Champ and admitted master of the Online Psych, is coming out of retirement in an all-out training binge before the West Coast Slalom Championships in Hood River, OR on July 09, 2005.
Or is he?
You decide. Read all about his grueling training regimen in his new blog hosted right here on Ncdsa.com.
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