What makes him so good?

He ain't got no distractions

Can't hear those buzzers and bells

Don't see lights a flashin'

Plays by sense of smell

Always gets a replay

Never tilts at all

I felt like I was inside a pinball machine when I stepped on the floor to take some pictures during the second stop of The 2008 Free Flow Tour held at the Rye Airfield Skate Park May 17 & 18 2008. The Free Flow Tour is an amateur skateboarding and BMX competition that tours around the United States, with stops all over the country. The competitions are open to any amateur skater or rider aged 18 or under. The goal of the Free Flow tour is to give younger amateur skaters a chance to get out there and get seen. "To go from Flow to Pro," is the way they put it.

I was not prepared for the speed of the event. Up to four skaters would be competing at the same time. I would position myself at one point on the floor, safe for the moment. As I was taking a picture of a competitor in the air, another skater would be speeding in my direction, ready to attack the ramp behind me. I was a fish out of water, and more than once, the announcer's shout of "look out" was directed at me.

Lighting and lens selection was a challenge. Wide or long, zoom or fast prime? Flash was a must, a powerful flash. Timing the action, the jumps up to the rail or launches from the ramps, is an art. As a relative novice (a few evenings watching the X Games on ESPN) I could not anticipate the "trick". Would the competitor grab or release the board? Even with a Quantum battery powering the flash, there would be a delay between bursts. I have my "project" for the summer. A lot to learn. Might even try to squeeze in some BMX competition at the park.

You may enjoy reading: Now THIS is a skate park!

I am by no means ready to die! So, with that fact established, let's begin at the beginning: See links for all the Genesis posts to date: Genesis Through My Eyes

In my not too distant past, if I were to see a street person, a bum, sleeping in a door front or on a park bench, I would have kept my distance and perhaps shrugged my shoulders.: He had the "smarts" to ask someone where to go, I didn't

Waldo County, situated in mid-coast Maine along scenic Penobscot Bay, has genuine New England character evidenced by working port towns and quaint rural villages. Visitors are awed by the area's unspoiled beauty. From striking coastal views to sweeping mountain vistas, dramatic natural settings abound. In addition great care has been taken to preserve and refurbish numerous historic landmarks, homes and buildings. Consequently, the Maine of yesteryear is still found here.

Stumble It!

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