Vegas has come and gone, and I enjoyed myself thoroughly! Ben and Evan were very hospitable hosts and a great big THANK YOU for the housing accomodations, driving us around the city, the food Saturday night, putting up with our funny accents and just being great people. I had a blast and would love to come back!
I played pretty hard through-out, and got really sore after the second day

. It hurt to walk for 2 days afterwards, but I toughed it out and was back footbaggin' the Tuesday following the jam. I hit what I wanted to, but I was a little bit dissappointed in myself just for the general shred aspect of it. I don't know if it was the new insoles I got (which I replaced the very next day after the jam), my nerves or my shins acting up but for some reason my legs felt like they didn't have that usual spring in their step. Regardless, I can't say I played badly so I'm happy with that. The only one thing I was really dissappointed in myself with was that I could barely double spin, but whatever. It took me a little while but I think I might have worked that kink out.
So yeah. Filmed a bit yesterday and I want to make a video with only big tricks (inspired by Jorden - we watched a lot of Jorden videos in Vegas

). Hit a new 8 add and had another unsealed (

). Also have ideas for one more 8'er I could probably hit so my next session I'm going to be bringing out the camera again and see what I can do. Also should put them on paper and come out with a brief storyboard (or maybe just an outline?) for a big tricks video. The biggest thing on my mind, if I were to go along with this idea, is originality. I want these tricks to stand out. I want them to be my own. I don't want the majority of these tricks to be considered "somebody else's", you know? Like when I think Rev. Gauntlet, Torch-R-Rack Swirl, Fairy Gyro Barroque, I think Jorden. When I think Nemesis, Swirlwind, Backside Genesis, I think Dave. And anything to do with Symp Atomic or Nuke I usually think either Johnny or Derek. After people watch my video, I want them to associate those tricks with me and not just "Oh Byrin hit those tricks too" or "Jorden already hit that, but that's cool that he did it too". So originality is key, though it's going to be really hard when the best player in Canada can do everything you can do and regulate it three times over

. It's inspiring and despiriting at the same time.
I guess that means I just need to bust harder or something.