Bones Bearings

Another amazing sponsor for 2 years rolling (see what I did there?) is Bones Bearings. The only way I can think to explain how amazing theses bearing are is to explaining the first 10 miles of Sk8 South Dakota verses Sk8 Nebraska.

Sk8 South Dakota: Day 1. We woke in our casino motel ready for the journey, or so we thought. Jarrod, Loose ifur Hooker, PBR, Dubbs and I, grabbed our camelbacks full of ice and water picked up all our junk in the motel room and set out to begin this journey. (Mind you I have spent 2 years trying to block out the memories of the pain of the first year so I may be a little off.) But we headed out to find the allusive North Dakota border, after locating it we piled out. We started immediately getting our skates on, checking out the road, and stretching. I can only speak for myself but, we had NO idea what I was about to get myself into. 

I honestly thought, “this won’t be too bad.” Then a short time after, when I meet the six mile hill that never ended, I changed my tune. It took what seemed like all afternoon in the 91 degree heat to conquer this dang hill (did I say I don’t remember details? because, they seem to be coming back to me quite well now). At the time I would not have known enough to realize it, but my bearings and wheels were complete and total junk. Let’s just say a year later I would really know the difference…

Sk8 Nebraska: Now skipping to straight to the skating in the good life state, that is, Nebraska. As I said I would not have known the difference until the years changed over. Day one, minute four, I thought, “Holy sh*t, this is a smooth ride.” That thought was followed by a shout, “I CANNOT BELIEVE WE ARE DOING THIS AGAIN!” But the rest of those 216 miles seemed to roll by quite quickly. We were even, sometimes rolling at 20 miles an hour on the straight away. 

The Bones Reds, which are the ones we used for Sk8 Nebraska, are super easy to clean and lube. We could have easily cleaned them every night in about ten minutes, if we hadn’t been sleeping in the van on our way to and from fundraising events. Even with less-than-perfect care, the bearings worked great. 

For Sk8 Iowa, Bones has generously donated Super Reds. I don’t know yet what exactly is “Super” about them, but I’m sure I’ll find out when we tackle the hills of Iowa.

I guess the point I am trying to get to is: that a clean, good pair of bearings can really make a world of difference in your skating especially if you are skating a whole state. So when you are thinking about getting a new set of bearing—which you should do from time to time—make Bones your first stop. Not only because they sponsor Sk8 the State for MS because they rock!

Sum Mo Payne

Atom Wheels: Pulses Get Put to the Test

I would like to thank and talk about one of the sponsors that helps make Sk8 the State for MS possible. Atom Wheels makes Pulses, which are an outdoor quad skate wheel. Every year since we started Sk8 the State in 2010, when we first skated across South Dakota, Atom wheels has generously donated multiple sets of wheels for each skater to help us with our journey to raise money for MS research and funding.

 Now, I have owned many pairs of outdoor wheels and I can honestly say that none of them even come close to the Pulses awesome-ness! Not only do they absorb the stress and shock that accompany outdoor skating, they also glide over small pebbles and sticks that would usually leave a skater bleeding on the street. I know this because I usually am the skater bleeding in the street. They are smooth and heavenly which makes outdoor skating pleasurable as it should be. 

 

Another amazing thing about the Pulses is how many miles you can push out of a set! South Dakota was 266 miles and Nebraska was 216, all on pulses. Of course, after so many miles the wheels will have wear and tear, the occasional chunk out or crack. This is bound to happen when you are cruising across a state at 15 miles per hour on well-worn roads. On the last two Sk8 the State's each state only destroyed between 2-4 of my wheels. This fact alone proves how awesome they are,  because out of eight wheels on your skates only chunking a couple of the wheels after well over two hundred miles is fantastic!

 

Thank you Atom wheels, not only for your generosity,but for making amazing and durable skating equipment. Thank you for sponsoring the Sk8 the State for MS girls.

 

Dubbs

Vanilla Skates keeps Sk8 the State for MS rolling!



For the 3rd year in a row, the crew at Vanilla Skates has gone above and beyond to make Sk8 the State for MS happen! How do they do such thing you may wonder?! Well imagine a pair of sk8s that the average derby player rolls on which rarely leave their feet for practice, side training, casual sk8ing, and bouting. They take a beating just as much as the player who rolls on them. The ladies involved in Team Ironfeet aka the Sk8rs of Sk8 the State for MS ( Dubbs, Sum Mo Payne, Skinnerella & P.B.R) are also involved in 2-4 other derby organizations that allow them to basically be derby orientated 24/7!

So those average sk8rs' sk8s I was telling you about see some serious "derby love" on and off the track BUT NOW throw countless training miles on side roads, highways, interstates and anything paved covered in unpredictable elements & unexpected twists/turns. Then ADD the actual event of sk8ing across a WHOLE state and what you are left with is pieces of material that once looked like sk8s which serves a serious set back in an event such as Sk8 the State for MS. Would we Walk the State for MS?! Would we Jump rope the State for MS?! What about Cartwheel the State for MS?! Nahhh, we are sk8rs and we needed to roll! In 2010 as we started the planning for the 266mile training/rolling across South Dakota sk8s were at the top of the list of needs to make this event happen because as we all looked at the current setups we were rolling on and it was obvious they would not survive the journey nor even the training.

Now imagine your car broke down, you're in the middle of no mans land, no cars are in site or civilization, there is somewhere you need to be to make something amazing happen which could be reached by foot but you will be about 2 days late, let's say it's 13 degrees hotter out than boiling water, finally you lose hope on ever seeing that dream become a reality, and just then at that exact moment of sitting down to sulk you spot a vehicle in the distance heading your way. As the dream come true car approaches and gradually comes to a hault, the tinted window rolls down and there sitting in the front seat is a female who states " My name is Vanilla, Where do we need to go?!" with a kind smile on her face. As you hop into the air conditioned vehicle she hands you a thirst quenching glass of milk & freshly baked cookies which soothes your previous worried self. She informs you instantly that her friend, who is a mechanic, is already in route to come get your car and fix it up. As she drops you off at your destination right on time and you have thanked her 1 million times, you know that she will never realize how much she provided a solution to your problem and that you are eternally grateful!  Now I know that's a lengthy lead up to explaining this and may be a little far fetched but Vanilla Skates made all our dreams come true for Sk8 the State for MS when we thought it was not possible and they did it with no ifs ands or buts but rather smiles & humbleness. They believed in our mission just as much as we did of eradicated such a debilitated disease and wanted to make sure we made the journey happen! After saving the day and sending us set ups of Brass Knuckles, Sk8 the State for MS 2010 rolled just as planned (granted it was our first year at the event and we learned many valuable lessons along the 266 miles) and our Vanilla Skates were right there with us with every stride!



 In 2011 Team Ironfeet took to sk8ing Nebraska's 216 miles as Vanilla Skates provided Curves for Sum Mo Payne, Dubbs & Skinnerella and Knuckles again for P.B.R. and yet again in 2012 the unsung hero "Vanilla" has provided Team Ironfeet with the means to make Sk8 the State for MS across Iowa happen!



Dubbs





 Melissa "Sum Mo Payne" Dittberner & Dani "Dubbs" Bock are rolling this year on Vanilla Tiffany Diamond Boots and Libby "P.B.R." Claeys is sticking with her old faithful Vanilla Brass Knuckle Boots in anticipation for another successful year of raising funds and awareness for Multiple Sclerosis.

Sum Mo Payne

Mike, Steph and the whole Vanilla Skates crew: THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR SOLES! Not only do you provide us with dependable, sturdy, withstand the most trying elements and 100% guaranteed skates but you also provide us with the knowing that you believe in us and our cause! We can never fully express enough THANK YOU-THANK YOU-THANK YOU- times 8 million, times supercalifrajalistic 47 infinity million, plus 4. That 4 is the testimonials from Team Ironfeet from Sk8 the State for MS that we are rolling on great quality products that anyone can ask us about, which will be responded on with a genuine answer that we are rolling on the best! VANILLA FOR LIFE!

P.B.R.