Pete Eubank & Sara Paulshock celebrating good times on Catalina Island. Photo: Paul Reload.
We have all been there before, at the top of the hill, thinking about why we can’t seem to land that one trick, that one banger that must be stuck clean before session’s end. Many a times, I’ve found myself blank-faced, drool spilling from the side of my mouth, breaking a trick into segments—simpler motions—striving to find out which part I’m doing wrong. All I can think about is adding this maneuver to my bag o’ trickery—that way I can bust it out in front of the dudes later, but nevertheless I keep eating pavement, try after try. Until . . .
. . . finally, in one sweaty, dirty, bloody attempt, the trick is landed—roll away clean!
Whether the trick is landed in front of the crew, or alone, one thing is for certain: It’s time to celebrate! Don’t be afraid to express yourself. I’ve seen dudes huck their board into the bushes and throw fists of victory into the air—let the crowd go wild (even if they aren’t going wild at all). Ha ha! My favorite way of celebrating the success of adding a fresh banger to the bag is to put on my G face, chest-bump a homie, and continue to put my hands on my hips and rotate in a seductive two-step fashion. Other riders may throw on their thiz face and flex their zef mega-hard (see dude in video below).
Mr. Yeehaw! drawing a critical line somewheres in Southern California. Photo: Paul Reload.
Some may say celebrating a Shred Victory is arrogant and cocky, but you can’t deny the feeling you get when you nail that buttery-new maneuver. I believe it’s a terrible deed to inhibit the expression of stoke, and it’s been my experience that when the crew sees me get stoked they get stoked as well. That said, when celebrating remember to keep it tasteful and classy—it’s always proper-form to stay humble when you rumble. Yeehaw!
-Pete