Shop staff can’t shred.

Published on: 19th January, 2010

How many times have you walked into a shop and had the staff members talk at you, but you’re just not sure if they know what they are on about?

Possibly quite a few times, we know we have.

So when FoTP got the call to get out on a shoot with some of the TSA’s staff in MK,  we grabbed the gear and made some moves. After all, they sell enough boards, so they should be able to ride? Right?

The temperature is around negative 5 at least, as we roll into a local car park on a Thursday night. In front of us is a wide plaza with a monster marble ledge running  along one side – and a natty looking double stair set tucked in underneath it.

This is a beast…about 100ft long we reckon and the drop from the ledge to the stairs is over 6 foot. There’s no soft landing off this beauty, so we’re eager to set up the gear in the cold and get shooting, besides frozen hand don’t take photos very well, as we find out later on.

TSA Milton Keynes’ AJ and Ben Rumney are getting ready for the session, and have joined colleague and UK rail ace Chris Chatt in shaping up a small kicker and run out for this session. Little T has also popped out for a but of fun, to try this ledge out and see if it has the potential it appears to offer.

fotp_tsarail_thumb Effort is on the cards too, as the run in is human powered, and after several speed tests Little T drops a backside 50/50. He wobbles and drops off early, eating up the flat landing and stairs with a few choice exclamations.

He’s back on it and as the others size up this 6 foot beast, T eventually nails a smooth 50/50. Job done he’s off for a bath as it’s bloody cold. Over to the shop staff.

AJ is first up, and has a few hits but just cant get approach right to get on top of this slick marble. He’s off early and on the flat several times before he nails a solid board slide, then gets away with some crazy uber-trick – boardslide, 360 pivot, boardslide to 50-50 on a 6 foot ledge. It wasn’t intended but he made it look good!

This ledge is proving tricky to get onto however, and the lack of speed means a big ollie is needed to get on top of it to become balanced. Chatt is still eyeing up the run in, picking some much needed confidence from the session going down.

By this time, Ben has had a few more hits, and bangs out a couple of rock solid nose slides. He’s got some style and takes this impromptu session all in his stride, we feel there is going to be more to come from Ben.

Chatt still hasn’t hit the ledge. It’s now 11:30, and the photo gear is starting to freeze up.

Suddenly, Chatt decides to drop in and hit up a nose slide. It’s the first urban jib he’s hit since his accident last year, so we’re all looking out.

The drop in is good, the speed is good and the style is banging. Back nose slide. Chatt is on it too. Boom!

So next time you are in a shop and you wonder if the staff really are worth their salt, there’s three of them at MK TSA that certainly aren’t any slouches.