Holding the Tilt

I dropped straight onto the coarse black grip tape of a skateboard resting along the driveway incline. The abrasive sandpaper bit into my shoe soles, giving me the kind of traction you can trust. Instead of tiptoeing across, I planted my back foot solid over the kicktail and threw my weight down to test the deck's temper. The front trucks lifted with a sharp, hollow clack, pivoting on the rear urethane wheels. The heavy rubber bushings groaned under the angle, but I held my footing, locking my knees to balance the board on two wheels against the asphalt. Standing on a hair-trigger tilt is the only honest way to wake up your balance.