Hemel Boards & tSB

By January 2, 2013March 1st, 2013tSB News

Written by Media Intern, James H. tSB Summer Program class of 2012

In November tSB was invited to Hemel Board Company‘s shop to personalize some skateboards for the evo Grand Opening Party. Our new media intern, James put together this post:

Anna's turn with the paint.

Anna’s turn with the paint.

Going to the Hemmel board shop was definitely an experience I will never forget. I got a chance to go and make skateboards! Not everyday kids get to be apart of the manufacturing and designing of skateboards.

Tommy is stoked.

Tommy is stoked.

It wasn’t what  expected, it was more. I thought we would be in a computer lab designing graphics on a computer then printing them out onto screen sheets then baking them to the boards or however board designers get fancy graphics onto boards. Instead, I got to paint a graphic by hand on a no kick-tail old school cruiser board. The design came out better than I expected. I wrote out initials in the back of the board (tSB) and wrote my name in reverse (semaj) on it. The board is unique to me because it is something I have definitely dreamed of doing all my life as a skateboarder.

The finished product! A James Hopkins original.

The finished product! A James Hopkins original.

This opportunity was probably one of the greatest days of my life so far. I don’t know exactly how my friends Anna Nguyen and Tommy Teav felt but they were laughing,

 

smiling and cheering the whole time. I would say they had a total blast! It’s also awesome to know that the proceeds from our boards go towards letting other youth like myself to have this experience.

The dudes over at Hemmel Board shop were way cool and chill. They made the whole process so interesting and fun. They are some of the chillest dudes I know – they manufacture skateboards and they invited me to come back and  make some more. With a offer like that I don’t think I can refuse it!

This is me.

This is me.