Tuesday Session: March 29th

Bry and I rode the Cromwell park for an hour or so with Ryan Staron before Evan showed up and persuaded us to head over to Wethersfield. It was the first time we've been to the Wethersfield Skatepark this year and the Winter was not nice to the park. The majority of the flat bottom is cracked and chipped away making the place nearly un-skateable. Apparently this has resulted in the park being virtually empty on a daily basis...leading to some heavy BMX sessions. I'm sure the town is gonna fix the damage so get your sessions in before it's infested with kids again!

Tuesday Session Photos: CLICK HERE

Plainville Park

The new Plainville Skatepark is open and Bry and I hit it up on Friday afternoon for a bitter cold session. The place has a few good hits, but is pretty spread out and small...like most pre-fab parks are. Brandon Begin showed up and was getting rad. It was good to ride with him, haven't seen that kid in forever. Good times likes usual!

Plainville Photos: CLICK HERE

Jam Postponed!

Sorry folks, the Spring Has Sprung Jam is being postponed till May. We're due to get 5-8" of snow tonight, the temps are gonna hover around freezing till next week, and things just aren't falling into place as expected. We'd rather postpone it and have it be a great event, than have a cold, sh1tty one this weekend. Stay tuned for a new date!

Saturday Sessions: 3/19/11

Steve and I hit up the Middlefield Skatepark Saturday afternoon. I didn't even have my bike out of the car yet and some 3 foot tall weiner who couldn't of been any older than 12 or 13 felt the need to belt out "Skateboards Only"...as if that was gonna stop us from riding the park. Need I say it again...we have plastic pedals, pegs, and bar ends. Our bikes are less destructive than skate trucks! We rode the place for 20 minutes or so before a ton of skaters rolled in. The place isn't crowd friendly and is packed with 5-8 people trying to session the place at once so we hit the road.

We headed over to the Newington Skatepark later in the afternoon and the place was crowded as usual. Pro-hoes sitting on the ramps, little kids on scooters....typical Newington session. Ryan Staron was at the park blasting airs out of the big quarter. Total balls!...cause it was windy and the slightest gust could of been deadly! It was nice to ride 2 days in a row, but damn I'm getting old...my whole body hurts! We capped off the day chilling around Steve's fire pit, good times for sure. Rest today, rain tomorrow, maybe some riding Tuesday?

Saturday Session Photos: CLICK HERE

Middlefield....Finally!

We finally hit up the Middlefield Park today. Rumor has it the town decided to make the park skateboards only. No bikes, blades, scooters, etc. Talk about some BS discrimination! Regardless, we rode the place for 2 hours and nobody said a word to us. To our surprise the place already has a lot of chipping and cracking going on, proof that boards are just as destructive as bikes can be. Fortunately, we run plastic pegs, pedals, and bar ends so even if our bikes did hit the concrete no damage would be done and nobody could gripe at us. Bry pulled a really solid fuf which resulted in a great photo. We had a good time flowing around the place. Hopefully there will be more sessions to come at Middlefield. Later in the afternoon we hit up the Cromwell Park, which was infested with kids like usual. It was sunny and 75 out, so it didn't matter how crowded the park was, we were enjoying riding outside and the Spring-like weather. Bring on the sunshine!

Session Photos: CLICK HERE

The Lot

The Lot needs some serious shovel loving, but the snow is finally gone!

2 Weeks - WHOA!

New world record, 2 weeks without a post! Why you ask?...because Haven has been closed, we haven't been riding much and I've been away on a ski trip for the last week. The snow is melting fast, the temps are in the 50's, and rumor has it the Cromwell and Newington Parks are clear and rideable. Spring is just around the corner and we'll be riding out a$$es off soon enough! Don't forget, Spring has Sprung Jam in 2 weeks!

Jake's Going Under the Knife!

So after 6 months of waiting to get into a doctor and get an MRI due to insurance BS, Jake finally got his knee checked out. The results were what most of us expected, a torn ACL...and torn meniscus. Man, that is sh1t luck! After all the huge front flip attempts and 720's Jake has hucked at The Lot, a dead sailor bail on one of the small line jumps and a mis-footed landed took him out. Jake goes under the knife in mid-March and will be off the bike for 5 months. Get well dude! Jake will be the one man cheering section at all the jams this Spring & Summer...and peddling TYRANT merch. for me :)

Spring has Sprung is back!

After a 1 year hiatus due to my busted hand and rehab, the Spring has Sprung Jam is back for 2011. Mark your calendars kiddies, this year's jam won't disappoint!

NEW Old Graffiti Tees

Re-screened some more of the graffiti tees, this time in periwinkle blue. $10 as always!

Officially Over 30!

31 today! When am I eligible for the senior citizen free coffee at McDonalds?

Saturday Mass.

I was being lazy and napping on my couch Saturday afternoon when Matty Still woke me telling us to come to Saturday Mass. Bry and I made our way North through some snow squalls and over some black ice and it was worth the ride. Nothing beats a good old Mass. session, thanks guys!

Saturday Mass. Photos: CLICK HERE

Finally...BMX!

Man, I have ridden once in the past 6 weeks. We've totally been giving in to Winter having fun skiing, snowboarding, sledding, and most importantly snow biking! Thanks to Ryan Staron and his hench men the Cromwell Skatepark mini ramp is shoveled off and totally rideable. I met Steve over at the Crompton Park this morning for a brisk 33º session. The whole park is under 40" of snow, but the mini is legit!

P.S. Spring is 37 days away!!

Cromwell Snow Sesh: CLICK HERE

Banks A Go Again?

So the Portland Banks have been somewhat of a bust, and totally littered with machinery, storage containers, and dumpsters, for a few years now. Due to all the snow and ice we've received the 2 building at the banks suffered severe damage...including one completely imploding! Could this mean the place is gonna sit abandoned and in shambles this Spring?...and we can session the banks once again? Time will only tell!

Winter Carnage Photos: CLICK HERE

Giving in to Winter!

So it's been snowing non-stop and Haven is closed due to roof issues. Steve and I took full advantage of the mass amounts of white stuff and built a little booter at a local hill. Good times!

Valleyview Booter Photos: CLICK HERE

Remembering Alexi DeRochambeau

I got word today that long time BMX friend Alexi DeRochambeau passed away Saturday. This news sent chills up my spine! The kid was so young..WHY?!?!? I have so many amazing memories of hanging out at Alexi's old shops Broken Spoke Bike Shop and Dying Trends, both in Westerly, RI. Alexi was a great guy and we had a lot of fun at the White Rock Park back in the day. I could never forget all the hell raising we did at the FBM Ghetto Street Comp in 2003! When TYRANT got up and running in 2002 Alexi didn't hesitate to fill his shop with shirts, hoodies, hats, and those OG bar ends we made. He supported the hell out of TYRANT! Rest in peace friend, you'll be greatly missed but NEVER forgotten!

New Year, New Stickers

Mellow '11

At the beginning of each year I have big hopes and dreams about doing crazy things with TYRANT and moving in leaps and bounds. Truth is each year I let myself down by March or April - get in that work, eat, sleep, ride groove - and next thing you know Winter is here and the year is gone. I'm not making any predictions for 2011. My goal for TYRANT is to focus on having a sh1t load of fun riding and hanging out with friends and snap some rad photos here and there. Anything else is a total bonus. I do have a new TYRANT site in the works. Nothing too bling, blinging...but a little something fresh to look at. Keep checking back, it will be up in the near future. Enjoy 2011!

Cravin' Haven!

It's been 3 longs weeks off the bike, jonesing to get out and ride Haven. Steve and I went down on Thursday night, but I still felt the need to let the leg chill, hoping to ride Tuesday night!

Haven Photos: CLICK HERE

All Iced Out

So yesterday's storm put a nice glaze on everything! The snow bike is now an ice bike.

Leg On the Mend

It's been just about 3 weeks since I've ridden the BMX, but the leg is feeling really good! The bruising has disappeared from the quad and my knee is feeling pretty stable...though I've been wearing a brace for any outdoor activities. I got in some XC skiing last weekend and I'm hoping to get in some more this coming one. Gotta get the strength built back up. Hoping to get to Haven next week for some easy riding, just pumping around and stuff. The Doc. said "Don't be a jacka$$, no stunts or anything, just leg the leg heal! You'll be happy come Spring when you're 100%" Makes sense.

Benedict Kicked Our A$$

27" outside my house boys and girls...that's no joke. Snow so deep the snow bike wouldn't even slide when T tried to ride it!

Never Too Old to Get Rad!

Steve, Bry and I headed down to Haven from 9-11 last night for Macisco's Birthday rental. Another year in the books for Mike, dude's well over the 30 mark now but still getting rad. Happy B-Day Mike!

Macisco's B-Day Rental Photos: CLICK HERE

Snow Bike Sesh.

Steve gave it hell on the snow bike this afternoon! We went to some huge sand hills ideal for getting rad on the bike. Soft snow with soft sand underneath, ideal "hucking" conditions. Good times for sure!

Snow bike sesh photos: CLICK HERE

Pasta for Heaven

CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW AND READ UP ON THE HEAVEN BENEFIT PASTA DINNER...

Hebrank on the East Coast!

Good friend, world traveler, tattoo artist, and dead bird fanatic Shawn Hebrank is on the East Coast for a week of hotness at Off The Map Tattoo in Easthampton, Mass. After stopping by the Team EAST lair I met up with Shawn and gal pal Amy in NoHo for some Indian cuisine. It's always a treat when Shawn's in town...good stories, good laughs, and all around good times. If you're out in the Minneapolis area be sure to look Shawn up for some tattoo work...or catch him at one of his many guest spots around the country!

Over 30 Club

Age is nothing but a number! Old dudes can still give it hell. Over 30 club in full effect...

Photos: CLICK HERE

Team EAST New Year's Jam

A huge thanks to Matty Still and the Team EAST family for throwing a kick a$$ jam last night. Lots of great peeps and lots of fun! If this is a sign of things to come in 2011 expect an epic year!

Snow Bike Ready to Rip!

After 3 hours of ghetto fabrication involving some old skate trucks (thanks Bry!), some old Line Fly Skiboards, a 1999 Robsinson Ruckus frame and lots of miscellaneous nuts and bolts the snow bike is complete. Sure, it's not what I envisioned...but it works and is fast as hell! Let is snow!!!

Ski Time!

Nice, we got 11 inches from the blizzard and Steve and I took advantage by getting out to shred. Yesterday morning we bombed some 1/4 mile tree runs in East Hampton. There was a 6 ft. snow drift atop the hill that we were dropping in off of, pretty rad! That evening we hit up Mt. Southington for the 6-10 session and it was brutal. The wind was whipping at 25 mph, it was 15 degrees out and it felt like it was damn near zer0 out! None the less, we had a good times and got a solid 15 runs in. Psyched on the snow!

Haven in the Blizzard

Steve, Bry, and I hit up Haven in the blizzard yesterday...it was pretty intense getting down there and even worse getting home! For once I left my camera at home, but I did bring the Flip to capture a few clips. Enjoy.

Last Haven Before the Holiday

Last night Steve, Bry, and I hit up Haven one last time before the Holiday weekend ahead. It was good to see some faces out riding who haven't been around in a while...lots of peeps home for the Holidays.

Haven photos: CLICK HERE

HoliDAZE!

It's that time of year again...when people lose their minds and go buck wild over the Holiday season. It's also that time of year that puts a hamper on riding time, cause of all the traveling, parties, family time, etc. We haven't gotten out to ride since Wednesday, but chances are we'll hit up Haven tomorrow to get in one last session before the HoliDAZE madness realy begins! On a positive note, I'm on vacation for 10 days so tons or riding to be done next week!

Took a nice solid crank arm smash to the ankle bone at Haven last week. Hurt like hell! Def not Christmas colors!

New Organic Tee - ONLINE ONLY

T sketched some cool skull artwork some time back and it's been transformed into an an earthy, 100% organic tee. The shirts feature the "Bird & Hare" artwork on the front and a TYRANT logo on the back of the neck and they are available online right now, go check 'em out...

Haven: 12/14/10

Steve and I hit up Haven tonight for a little Tuesday night action indoors out of the bone chilling temps. Steve was getting wild as usual and I ate sh1t and stopped riding after and hour and a half...like usual! Looking forward to an injury free year at some point in my life...maybe 2011?!?!

Haven photos: CLICK HERE

Punk Rock Patches

I randomly had a request for some of the punk rock inspired TYRANT patches a few weeks ago so I've been screening a bunch. They're only $1 each, and I have 50+ in stock right now fresh off the press. Pin 'em, stitch 'em, glue 'em...whatever. Rock TYRANT on your threads!

Google Mapping Riding Spots

Google Maps just updated their database not too long ago and their satellite images are now current. Time to start scoping out potential hit and run riding spots. Check out the aerial shot of The Lot....

Middletown Park Update: Dec. 9th

'Crete is being poured! 20 yards were poured and spread yesterday with more coming in the next few days. This was shot yesterday by the builders, Who Skates. The bummer is the bowl corner is no longer being made. To quote them, "The design grew in the middle to allow a handrail and proper Pier 7 ledge and the bowled area became a curved China Bank section. We just couldn't gain enough space to do the bowl properly. Overall it's about 700 square feet bigger than the original plan." Like I've been saying all along, anything is better than nothing.

Done with Dirt

So it looks like trail riding is done for 2010. The temps have been consistently under 40 degrees and the ground is pretty frozen. I threw the pegs back on, got some hub guards, and am ready for the indoor riding season at Haven and other New England parks trying to get my grind on.

Heaven Skatepark Update

Here is the latest sketch/idea for the Heaven Skatepark in Hartford courtesy of Ben McCarthy...

TYRANT Night @ Haven

I'm looking to start the TYRANT rental at Haven again. I used to rent the place out once a month for 2 hours, but people started blowing me off and bailing on the session costing me more and more out of pocket each time. The new rental would be the last Sunday of every month from 9pm-12am, open to riders 18+, and would be a $12 admission. The goal is to have a grom free, snake free session of people out to ride their bikes and have fun during a private session. Hit me up if you're interested, I'm looking to get this rolling come 2011!

Goodbye November

December is here, where the hell has the year gone! We spent last night...the last night of November, at Haven. Typical Tuesday night session with people going off. There was an unusually high number of "snakes" at the park last night. Damn kids, learn yourselves some skatepark etiquette!

Haven photos: CLICK HERE

Newi. & Riverside Trails

Steve and I rode the Newington Park for a few hours and Ryan Staron and Chris Piascik were also there riding. Steve was throwing down his usual "thinking out of the box" tricks...peg manuals to grinds, toboggan luc-e grinds, etc. and Ryan Staron was blasting the big quarter. Ryan's a youngin' and going bigger each time he's on the bike. Must be that crazy Jake Lineberry syndrome rubbing off on him! The park was pretty infested with groms and scooter rats so Steve, Chris, and I shot over to the Riverside Trails in Cromwell for a tiny dirt jump session before dark. It was nice to get out in ride...was off the bike for a full week due to the holiday and what not. Should be hitting up Haven tomorrow night, looking forward to it!

Newi. & Riverside Trails photos: CLICK HERE

Newtown Skatepark OPEN!

It appears the Newtown Skatepark is open. Thanks to Ginger Nagy for getting me some photos while she was home for the Holiday!

Cromwell River Trails

Steve and I eyed up the old Cromwell River Trails a few weeks ago and it looked like some younger guys have kinda resurrected the place. There was a super small 4 pack with a 1 hitter at the end of it and a few other random jumps here and there. We adventured back to actually ride the place yesterday evening and made a few mods of our own to make the place a bit more fun....hope the locals don't mind. The place has a ton of potential, despite the fact it floods like hell in the Spring. I'm trying to find out who exactly is doing all the digging down there cause Steve and I want to help and get some new lines going. Anybody know the locals? E-mail me or get at me via the TYRANT Facebook link ---->

Cromwell River Trails photos: CLICK HERE

Lot: 11/21

Some of the Enfield/Fat Trax crew came down to the Lot today to film some clips for their new DVD coming out in the next few months. The place was kinda beat up, but with some shovel time it was rideable and people were boosting. After the Lot we hit up the Crompton Park for an hour or so. All in all a fun Sunday of riding bikes and having fun!

Lot photos: CLICK HERE

Haven Thursday Sesh: 11/18

Steve, Bry, and I sardined it in my car with the 3 bikes and headed down to Haven for the Thursday 6-10 session. Good times as usual! Steve was pulling out some crazy peg manual tricks and getting all techy on the coping. Bry re-discovered his tailwhip and was firing them out left and right. A sign of things to come this Winter!

Haven photos: CLICK HERE

Snow Bike

I've seen a number of variations of a snow bike and I decided I'm gonna create my own this year. There are $600 hop up kits, kids bend their forks and install inverted skate trucks as ski adapters, but I'm gonna have Dave Perry at 137 Fabrication create a custom pair of mounts and risers for me. I'm psyched, let it snow!

Snake Runnin'

Awesome time at the snake run yesterday! Enough said!!

Snake Run photos: CLICK HERE

Slow Week!

It's been a slow weak of doing nothing thanks to a sprained ankle. Hoping to get on the bike tomorrow...with the ankle taped and braced. We have a crew getting on down to the Guilford Park. Supposed to be 60...get out a ride!

Middletown Park Update: Nov. 8th

I drove by the Middletown Skatepark site this weekend and they didn't break ground. All I noticed was some flags indicating where underground electrical wires or pipes lay. With the 2.5" of snow this morning who knows what's gonna happen now? Is Old Man Winter gonna scare the builders away till the Spring?

Damp Lot Jam

So the Lot Jam went off Saturday, despite damp conditions and pretty chilly temps. It took a solid 2 hours of work in the morning to tidy up the jumps and keep the slickness down to a minimum. Sadly, Jake Lineberry took himself out early in the day on the small line dislocating his knee cap and possibly tearing meniscus and/or ligaments. Jake sees a surgeon next week :( At it's peak we had 18 riders at the jam and people were having a good time on the big line. The small line was rideable, but ended up taking out 5 more people after Jake. It wasn't the best jam by any means, but people had fun and that's what it's all about.

Jam photos: CLICK HERE

Ride Like Hell!

The cold temps are coming, gotta ride like hell to stay warm. New hoodies, long sleeves, and even some new tees are now available over at the TYRANT store.

Sh!t Talkers

I received an anonymous e-mail last night from bmx4Me479@aim.com, please read below:

"Tyrant sucks balls and so does your team. all you do is tabletops and turn downs and your shirts are shitty. i'll never ride a tyrant bike"

Awesome! I laughed so hard after reading this I nearly pissed my pants. I'm really hoping this was a joke, but if it wasn't the person who sent it is obviously a complete idiot!

1. There is no TYRANT team!
2. Who cares what tricks anybody does, ride your bike and have fun!
3. You don't like the shirts, you don't buy...it's that easy!
4. TYRANT doesn't make bikes, so you're right....you won't ever be riding one!

Keep on hating!

Middletown Breaking Ground!

It looks like construction of the Middletown Skatepark will begin this week. Check it out: CLICK HERE

Blustery Sunday

Steve and I hit up the Guilford Park and the Cromwell Park yesterday. Guilford was a fun session, it got a bit windy, but the sun was behind the clouds which made it nice riding. That park is horrible on sunny days! The gray ramp paint reflects the sun into your eyes like laser beams! We headed North to the Cromwell Park and it was windy as all hell. We still rode it out for about an hour before calling it a day. Fall weather is in full effect!

Morse @ Guilford photos: CLICK HERE