Arnav Sonic Shah

Montreal Cup was an absolute blast! It proved to be an important and personal mental exercise to better my relationship with skating as I strived to put intrinsic joy over extrinsic outcomes. So I focused on having fun, hanging with old friends and new ones, and bringing back new inspiration. That said, between my practice sessions in the week leading up to the competition, well planned runs, sticking to my guns, and getting pumped by the crowd and incredible peers alike, I placed second overall in the quads division, enjoying my first ever podium in the skate park world! Thanks @david.mascolo and your team for a memorable and supremely well run event! Photos by @yan.blgr and @mxmcaron . Videos by @bean.daddyy , @resuwreck.d , @pathological.zero , and @shawarma_gang .

2023 was a pivotal year in my skating life, where I created a new mentality to combat long creeping burnout. As I focused on joy and being present and intentional, I was brought back to why I love to skate and forward into new means of expression and big-mile realms. Here’s a few of the experiences I treasure: I played and danced my way through every @wednesdaynightskatenyc as “just a skater” for the first time in 14 years after finally retiring off the volunteer staff. I broke into the 24 hour @miamiultraskate 300 mile club with a solid portion of it filled with content composure, a reduced amount of suffering compared to past 24s, and even periods of ecstasy! I completed my first @brageorgia (Bike Ride Across Georgia), as I skated through endless miles of elevation, dropped into downhills that toed the line between exhilarating and terrifying, got chased by dogs, remained vigilant of country road traffic, and survived a century day, for over 400 miles and 22k of elevation gain in the span of a week. I switched over to quad skates for skate park, which subsequently allowed me to unlock new moves, new expressions, and even a new community! I blasted through my fourth consecutive @ragbrai for another 500 miles in the span of a week, with good beers and great company along the way. I rekindled my love for my small-wheel skating roots, as I leapt, laughed, and learned with some freestyle slalom greats, and cruised and commuted on my 80-ish mm 4 wheel setups. I allowed myself my first ever race DNF (did-not-finish), as I called it after a fierce 38 of the 64 miles of the @nycskate 100k, drenched and freezing cold. My personal enjoyment was more important than completing a race I’ve done many times before. I persevered through my most physically demanding @athens2atlanta , given 60 miles of skating through cramps that were preceded by some savage early miles, but attained a level of equanimity I’d never before had in a race. What will 2024 bring? I have some inklings, intentions, and inspirations, but it’ll be sure to be a surprise, for you and me alike! #skateallthethings

Miami 24 Hour Ultraskate report: After months of preparation and with just days before the event, I found myself laid out sick with a fever, cough, chills, body aches, and even dental pain. I was already in Miami having just finished Skater Migration and thankfully had rest days planned, but it looked bad as I felt wiped out and wasn’t calorie loading as planned. But in addition to physical prep, my hefty mental prep kept me calm. Sure I had lofty goals, but I’d be content to skate at any speed with my friends under sunny skies and cool moonlight. And since I’d already joined the 300 Mile Club last year, anything now would be a bonus. On the morning of race day, I felt substantially better but still ran a temperature 1.5ºF higher than normal and had some cough and fatigue. My original strategy, to skate in a sustainable manner to stay on the course for as long as possible, would remain mostly sufficient. Except I’d have to play things more conservatively, really pay attention to how my body felt (especially as my worn heart rate monitor finally died, at race start), and remain open to the possibility that I may have to sit out sick for portions of the event. As we took off at 7:30am and the first few hours passed by, I was grateful for rather favorable circumstances - gloriously good weather, a solid support crew, and plenty of pacelines to choose from given the plethora of participants this year - and I kept a brisk pace and an upbeat spirit. As the afternoon heat, sun, and winds rolled in, I receded to a slower pack, and despite the urge to jump onto the faster packs repeatedly lapping me, I remained prudent. It was early still and I had to bide my time. Besides, while I was truly enjoying this skating experience, music flowing, I had moments where I didn’t feel so hot. I noticed foot blisters developing as the pavement was rougher this year, so I adjusted my technique. My legs felt partly worn so I put things in lower gear and shifted to using different muscles. And while I didn’t desire much sustenance, I put down water, Tailwind, Gatorade, string cheese, homemade energy bars, potato chips, Naked juice, gummies, and chocolate. CONTINUED IN COMMENTS

Quick Cali session to start the year Great skating w you guys today Been having a crazy week but I’ll be posting year recaps and a few others soon #wizardskating

Let’s Sk8 1nce Again! 🛼

@sonicskates 🥈Montréal Cup quad open 2024 Montréal Cup 2025 August 29-31 août Register now/inscription maintenant

NYC FLOW 🗽 @slicks_skates @londonskatelife #WELOVETOSKATE #bigwheelblading #wizardskating #slickstricks #jarollin

Whatever wheels you have on your feet, I hope 2025 brings you all the skating your heart desires! #skateallthethings #yafilthyanimals 🎥 @oneandthesame.co

Incorporating four new moves into the run: fakie 360, fishbrain stall (one foot truck stall), one foot backside to 180 out, and one foot half cab to 180 out! 🎥 @prettyflossin

Spinning up some new 360s! With my legs too destroyed from the previous day’s shenanigans to do any precision grind/stall work, I kept it safe in the big ramp. In addition to my tried and true “cheater 360”, I worked out a real 360, switch 360, and cleaned up my fakie 360! Thanks @weencitysk8 for helping me think out the details and for the 🎥!

Breakfast ➡️ 3 mile skate ➡️ leg day at the gym ➡️ first lunch ➡️ 3 mile skate back ➡️ 2 hour walk and talk with a friend ➡️ second lunch ➡️ skate shop customer ➡️ 5 mile skate ➡️ chat with fam ➡️ 5 mile skate back ➡️ dinner ➡️ skate park sesh 🎥 @urian_r

Rainy Tuesday morning hooky sesh: drilling plenty of new goodness! Thanks @skatingfi for some inspiration and 🎥!