John, Byron, Joey, Morgan, Kai, Devyn, and the Muir van.
What is that feeling when you’re driving away from people and they recede on the plain till you see their specks dispersing? —it’s the too-huge world vaulting us, and it’s good-bye. But we lean forward to the next crazy venture beneath the skies. - Jack Kerouac, On The Road
Kia & Devyn get low through a speedy S-turn.
WORDS & PHOTOS Marcus Bandy
I open here with this quote from one of my favorite authors and from one of my favorite novels because I feel like it sums up the impetus of this year’s Keep on Tuckin’ tour in it’s entirety. The idea of this year’s skateboarding excursion up the West Coast is adventure and adventure alone—personal, spatial, and physical. As it is said, change is the only constant here on spaceship earth. So, getting out there and exploring with new and old friends is Wheelbase’s purpose-driven attempt at embracing change as we knowingly, and with smiles on our faces, huck our collected carcasses forward—with momentum—into the unknown.
Morgan and Devyn keeping an eye on the cactus proximity.
Morgan, picture perfect.
It’s a corner-session!
Stop-one of this year’s Keep on Tuckin’ tour brings our crew two-hours north of Wheelbase HQ to the Santa Barbara coast, under warm and cloudless blue skies. When we arrive the stoke is as fresh as springtime-cluckers and the focus is as clear as brightly hued trip-crystals. The goal: Let’s skate some rad shit, yo!
John Kreutter, surfing it!
Joey Nickell, dippin’ it.
With a little help from our friends—Byron Essert, Tom Flinchbaugh, Dave Billebach, Mike Taylor, and a dude simply and pointedly known to us only as Jersey—we accomplish our goal of skating rad shit. And, as an added bonus, we even had the opportunity to stay the night at the legendary The Orchid compound.
These guys!
Byron Essert, under the rainbow.
Morgan Owens. Much portrait.
That said, please enjoy these collected images captured during our recent stay in Santa Barbara and keep your eyes peeled for many more such photographic-delights over the next three weeks featuring the 8 other stops of this year’s 2015, Keep On Tuckin’ tour. Also, a full-length video of the entire KOT trip is coming soon.
Pack mentality.
Downhill Riders.
High, so high.
Kai being friendly on the roadway.
Devyn, pivoting on a crusty and steep quarterpipe.
We out!
Where dreams come true.
John Kreutter, the god of Crustonia
Joey and Llama.
Goat eyes!
Bacon.
The crew poses at the Orchid before heading onward.
Next stop, Santa Maria/SLO/Cayucos!
A huge thank you to all this year’s KOT supporters: