Category: Interviews

Ben Nordberg has in a very short time come from the country fields and rolling hills of Bath, skating nothing but a small patch of gritty concrete, to getting headhunted from across the pond and getting on one of Britain’s hottest skate teams.

In his first ever official interview, we caught up with Ben to discuss how he came to where he is now, the rumours surrounding who he was riding for, fighting, music and doing chores for his Mum.

Interview: Nic Powley and Zac
Skate pic: Leo Sharp

Ben, is this officially your first interview?

Yeah man, will do my best.

Are you shitting yourself, I’ll try to make you look like a right tit?

Haha! Nah, ’cause I know deep down that you are more of a tit than I’ll ever be.

OK then, let’s start with the basics: Full name, age, years skating, sponsors etc

My name is Ben Nordberg, I’m 18, been skating for about 6 and half years and my sponsors are Vans shoes, Blueprint Skateboards, WeSC, Nueu eyewear and Detour skatestore.

You’ve been around for a while, how come you’ve only really started getting a load of coverage recently?

I made a sponsor me tape kind of thing to send out to some people, my mate sent it to you and you emailed me saying that he wanted to start sending me some Vans. I was stoked and then from there went on some trips, got my First Light out and then it’s all gone from there. It’s been a hectic year but a sick one!

But I had a sponsor me tape from you back in my O.G. days and didn’t you ride for Bomber and I-path for a bit or something?

Yeah I was on Unabomber and I-Path few years back but then that all fell through because they sold out or something like that. So then I went without any sponsors until recently, when I was hooked up on Vans and then almost on Stereo, and now I’m on Blueprint, so now everything’s going really well.

So, do you care to spill the beans on the latest switch to Blueprint, you were destined to Stereo and had a trip planned to LA right?

Yeah, I recently went to Mallorca with them and had a sick time and got on with everyone really well, Stereo weren’t really doing that much for me even though – I’m very grateful that they helped me out though. I just think it was time to try something different out and I’m stoked with the situation now. Jesus, it’s a long story, but it all started about Christmas time. I think when I heard that Blueprint wanted me to ride for them, which was sick. Then Wes from Out of Step phoned up Stereo and said that I might be going to ride for Blueprint, so Stereo said that they would get me out to the States etc, so I thought I’d stick it out and see if it actually came through. Then about 3 months later nothing had happened. Magee then asked me to come to Mallorca with them on a trip, so I went, had a sick time and got loads done. After that I started to think it would be the best the decision to skate for them because they have got a solid team and I’d get a chance to film a video part.

Did your Mallorca trip seal it?

Yeah, pretty much. It was a sick trip and got on really well with everyone who was there – it was really different to what I thought it would be like. It was really chilled out and skated some amazing spots. Was a sick trip!

What does Blueprint offer you more than Stereo in skateboard terms?

I get to film for their new video which is sick and to be part of a team here in England. I think it’s better than being on just flow for an American company because get to go on more trips and is just easier to deal with.

Are you looking to have your name on a deck and follow the likes of Brady and Jensen into Worldwide skateboarding?

Haha, fuck knows to be honest. Just take it one step at a time and just keep skating and travelling and see what happens in the future.

Before you got skate stuff posted to you for free where did you shop?

I used to and still shop at Detour skatestore. I’ve known the guys there for years and its now the only skateshop in Bath because Route 1 just shut down which is amazing! So hopefully that means Detour will be around for years to come.

What is view on Skater Owned Shops right now as they seem to be going down all over the country?

I think its all to do with locals not supporting the shop. Prime example is Story which was a sick shop but people would just find cheaper places to buy there stuff. Shame really cause if you don’t have a local shop then the scene will struggle to stay strong.

This photo below shot by Leo Sharp was one of those you would rather forget right?

Yep. This is the night when I did my elbow in….not a fun time.

Did getting the cover of Sidewalk change your life?

Ha, yeah it’s definitely been a dream to get the cover and when I found out I had it I didn’t really know what to do! Good times.

Seems like everyone wants a piece of you at the moment, how is it being this month’s hot property?

Well, stressful to tell the truth but it’s all good and now it’s chilled out a bit and I’ll just take it from here.

You’ve had a pretty hectic year, I think you’ve been on every Vans mission on offer, you even blagged on the UK tour, how was that?

Yeah man, summer was amazing! From the Ride With Us Tour, Prague Mystic Cup, other little missions and then of course the Vans tour, that was definitely one of the funniest and amazing experiences of my life and I’ll never forget it!

Obviously most people reading this would have seen the DVD but what was your personal highlight of the trip? Can you think of anything that got missed off the film?

There was so many funny moments on and off camera, but my favourite moment was either all of Tyreman’s impressions or when everyone got really pissed on the way to Glasgow, it got messy.

As a result of the tour it seems you’re now pretty good mates with everyone on the team, particularly Kris Vile, you’ve been skating with him quite a bit right?

Yeah, I became good mates with mainly Vile, Ross, Olly etc and yeah, I’ve been skating with Vile a lot which is sick because every time we go skating he pushes me to learn new shit, he’s ridiculous and also a good lad to be around.

And you must have been staying at my house about 4 out of the last 5 weekends, do you wish you were an honorary northerner like me?

Umm, nah, but it’s definitely sick to skate up here, the spots are amazing compared to were I live and also it’s good skating with peeps like Mike Wright, Manhead, Lyners and of course Dougie! And also you’re not a northener, you’re a fassy!

So just because you’ve been watching Kidulthood a bit you reckon you can talk to me like some West London thug now?

Yeah man your gunna get bashed up, still.

Talking of films how did you enjoy your introduction to Napoleon Dynamite the other night?

I could not believe how good it was, I was on the floor laughing..”You ever take that off any sweet jumps“…so good.

How did you get some good growing up in Bath as it’s not exactly the skate capital of the UK?

Basically there’s just the skatepark which is alright. It’s got a good block and mini ramp etc I just skate there most the time when I’m at home because there’s not to many good street spots but is all good.

What’s the history of skateboarding in Bath?

A lot of famous skaters have passed through here during the years and a lot of well known guys used to be around here like Flynn Trotman, Will Ainley and others. It’s a sick place to live with a decent little scene.

That skate park there has been there for years, I used to skate it 10 yrs back when the metal vert and mini was there. What other rippers are local to you that people should be aware of?

Definitely Jasper King-Harman. He pretty much lives at the skatepark and has got some crazy moves, also Whitlock who’s a got a serious heelflip on him. Also Fred Mansbridge is sick as well.

So what about music, what’s top of the pops on your iPod when you haven’t mislaid it?

At the moment I’m all about reggae, but I’ll listen to anything. Kunt and the Gang is always good.

Do you get up to much outside of skating, any other hobbies?

When not skating I’ll either chill with my mates, some basketball, getting pissed…but pretty much just skating.

And you don’t feel the need to mess up your day by having a job or anything?

At the moment I don’t really have time to get a job and also can’t be fucked.

Do you want to explain your general lack of respect towards my house, does Mummy do everything for you at home?

Well, I think you are over-reacting I’m a good boy really and I’m getting better I swear! Nah, I do chores at home but it’s just my Mum is chilled and she lets me get away with it sometimes.

Are you getting bored with all the ‘Lazy Style’ and ‘Asleep at the Wheel’ comments yet or do you take it as a compliment?

I just think it’s funny man and kind of take it as a compliment and if people are into the way I skate then that’s all good.

I’m sorry to bring it up but your laptop is seriously crap, when are you going to trade it in and get a grown up one?

You’re going the right way for a roundhouse punch! It might not be a Mac but it gets the job done…you’re jus playa hating.

Yeah that reminds me, what people might not know is that you’ve got some pretty powerful street fighter moves, what’s your favourite one at the moment?

Haha! At the moment its either tiger uppercut or spinning bird punch, but both get the job done.

Have you ever actually been in a fight and tried those moves out?

Nah, but I’m sure I’m gonna end up fighting you soon and then you will recogonise…Ha!

So you still reckon you could have me in a fight?

Umm, stupid question really. You know you can’t step to my roundhouse kick and several other deadly moves.

So what’s you’re plans for the immediate future, if you have one after trying to fight me? What have Blueprint got in store this year?

Got some trips planned, going to Barcelona, then going to New Zealand and Melbourne with Vile and Ross and some other people. The video will be out by the end of the year and just loads of travelling. Not just with Blueprint though, there will be lots of stuff with Vans and also some stuff with WeSC. Gonna be off the hook.

And you’d better say thanks to everyone that helped you out

I’d like to say thanks to you (Mr Nic Powley) for hooking everything up, all at Blueprint, Toff at Detour, Gegs Man, Ben Powell, Leo Sharp, Kevin Parrott, Wes at Out of Step, my parents! Whitlock for filming my stuff, all my mates and anyone else I didn’t mention, and JAH! Peace out.

Tom Watts is very good at two things. Skateboarding and drinking lager. His consistency and raw gnarliness has seen him hooked up as pro on Unabomber shortly after his ridiculous part in Urbane Mob. Now if only Stella Artois had a pro team, he’d certainly be their first team member.

Despite killing it, Tom has never really gained that much coverage in the skate press so Crossfire decided that this should change as roving reporter Neddy spent some time with the Oxford lad to catch up over a pint.

Words and video: James Needham
Pics: Leo Sharp

Easy Tom, not spoken for a while, how are things in general?

Everything’s alright at the moment, working too much, as usual!

Urbane Mob was quite a while ago now, but were you happy with the part, and what you got for it?

Yeah, I was pretty pleased with the whole video really, I might have chosen a different song for my part in hindsight, but never mind.

Not long till the new Unabomber video is out, how is it coming along?

Just starting to get some filming done, only long lens though, I’m waiting for my death lens to come over from the States, taking fucking ages.

Any trips planned for the new year?

Going to Barca in April for my birthday, so loads of skating and getting pissed up!

Less drinking = more footage! You are banned from booze when you come up to the Sheffers.
Your second pro board is out now, with a pretty rad graphic. Does it feel different skating a board that has your name on?

It’s weird having a board with my name on, doesn’t feel like I deserve it sometimes.

Even though you’ve been on Unabomber for quite a while now, how does it feel riding for a team that carries such a history within the UK scene?

It’s great riding for a company that means something to skaters in the UK.

Was growing up in Oxford skating quite daunting, especially with the old heads of the past?

Daunting isn’t the word, I don’t even think of myself in the same category (or whatever the right word is) as those guys, just watching Penny skate down the ramps was enough for me! But I just went skating coz it was fun and learned about the history as I went along.

So how did it all start out then, sponsorship wise?

Well there was the Thame comp, where I managed to get hooked up with SS20, then Budd managed to get me sorted with Flip stuff through Shiner, next was Karma, now Unabomber which is really good, along with Ace, Supra and Krew.

Worried about the little brother yet?

I am worried, but only coz he keeps breaking his ankles! He is getting good though, 15 years old doing flip back smiths on my flat bar, little bastard!

15! Fuck me, I thought he was like 20! He was killing it last time I saw him, nice hardflips on lock yo! It seems as though you don’t seem to get much coverage, does that bother you, or do you reckon you get enough?

If there’s a trick that I have in mind that I think’s worthy of a photo, then I’ll try and get a photographer out or whatever, but usually I’m pretty happy just going skating and filming.

It was mentioned in your Sidewalk Haunts of your sketchy sponsorship history, do you feel it has all settled down a bit now?

I think it has at the moment, but for me its all about feeling comfortable with the sponsors you have ya know?

Yeah I know mate, with all the sponsors I don’t have!
Back to business, what are you up to when you are not skating?

Seeing my girlfriend usually, or buying stuff online, my money doesn’t last long!

Maybe its all the booze!
It heard at SS20 that you are quite the drinker. Are the rumours true?

Nope, I’m tee-total.

Any shout outs and thanks?

Thanks to anyone who has ever helped me out. Cheers!

Have I helped you out Tom?

No!

29.02.08

I was standing at a bar in London’s Waterloo district one night in 2005 and a guy rocks up next to me and we say hello. His name was Zarosh, he is alone shredding London and he’s thirsty. We strike up a good conversation, I buy him a cold beer, we talk skateboards and the rest is history.

It’s safe to say that Zarosh is one of the good guys, intrigued by the history and roots of where skateboarding has come from and always ready to push it forward in his own unique way.

Jonathan Hay also turned up in London and a similar experience happened, usual skateboard stuff, you can’t beat it. Between the pair of us, we managed to get words together for this interview alongside Jon’s fantastic photography in various US locations. – Zac.

Let’s start with some quikfires to get this warmed up. What’s the range of Zarosh?

uhh, starts with a Z.

Sponsors?

Bones, Indy, Death and Dekline foo.

Preferred habitat?

Look under “platipuss”.

Other possible sitings?

Armpits

Dangerous?

I have fake teeth. Bad thoughts are dangerous.

Estimated lifespan?

I’m half way there i think. I’m supposed to hate myself when i get older.

Number of mates in lifespan?

I recommend celibacy.

Reproduction practices?

I have a condom sponsor, for real. Bravo condoms.

Top speeds while in chase?

I can’t outrun sketchy dudes chasing me.

Active all year or is there a stage of hibernating?

I want to fly south for the winter.

Favorite terrain?

Concrete (three shovels of Portland per one bag of quikrete).

Population?

Endangered

Favorite trick?

Griptape

OK, you warm?

Yeah, let’s go…

If your legs were gnawed off by a grizzly, what activity would you take up instead of skating?

Climbing trees? I guess I wouldn’t be 100% Skateboarder any more, then maybe I could be part surfer.

How’s it going Pro in the UK? Are you more known in the US or in England?

The UK is rad. I did turn pro for a UK company, but I am their US ambassador, right? I chose Death Skateboards because they’re the Death team, and it’s something tangible. I don’t think i’m a good judge of me being known. Am I known in Japan? I have a lot of friends in San Diego and all over too, and that is one of the tightest things about skating.

Why did you chose a bleeding broken heart on your pro model?

Dude, that graphic is so sick. When i got back from India i saw it at Zorlac’s house and we chose it right there. I think it symbolizes something different for each person.

Now you are part of the Death family, is there a particular rider on the team that you like to watch skate the most?

Yes, the Death family. Isn’t it rad that people wanting to watch other people skate is how this whole game works? I’m stoked on a lot of those guys, Boots, Horsey, Steak. I just saw the ‘Better Than Life‘ vid recently – the Andy Scott section is a pleasure and Benson skating Livi is inspiring. I enjoy that whole video, Everyone here’s hyped on it. I’d like to record the music to a tape, start to finish. That would be sick.

What is Better than Life?

Dying is better than life, but, to tell you the truth, skating and meditating. But skating makes you actually feel alive. Meditation actually takes you outside of life. I’d be lost without the two. I think I found myself. Skating is my connection to the world.

How many attempts did it take to nail that massive acid drop in the Death advert?

Uhh, I think I tried it 8 times. My friends made me stop.

Many people online mentioned it was staged, do you want to take the finger out of your fuck off pocket for them now in this interview?

Rad, come to Baldy, I’ll do it again for you. That one was for me. Sometimes I want to skate so bad and the pipe was full of water, so…Did I mention we had a g-bag? Hightower I am the wallride or something.

Did you have an obsession with rooftops as a kid?

I always wanted to see how far you could take it. But yeah, I remember playing on the roof, then my Dad or Mom would come home and i would have to jump off. It was fun and there was some adrenaline there. Maybe.

When people go for a curb session, do you feel inadequate due to your roof top and gap history?

I’m always down for curbs. Over here in Monterey there was an unspoken ledge height rule. So curbs got left out.

US skate scene vs UK? Differences?

I think it’s so rad that there’s still parks from the 70’s out there in the UK. and all those brick trannies are super inspiring, how the littlest random spot can be so fun to skate and Saffron Walden is just as sick as some of those other Northwest parks. The US has a lot of different scenes. San Diego is so rad to skate, always pools, one of the most solid bridge spots. So much concrete, in fact you could grind through a truck in a weekend there!

You must have over 100 decks you’ve ridden and also made custom grip tapes for. How did that habit form?

I don’t know how it formed, but the skateboard is such the raddest thing. have you ever had an old Santa Cruz or H-Street board? The top passes? I used to fall in love when i got one of those, so i guess i’d have to do it justice when i did the griptape. I couldn’t imagine skateboarding without creativity. over the years i’ve spent a lot of time on my boards, so i end up keeping them and they cover most of the walls at my dad’s house.

Feeding Habits?

Lots of healthy food.

Drinking Habits?

Watro

What gets you fired up to jump off high shit? Any tips for aspiring stunt clones how to jump off tall buildings without breaking bones.

Just the idea of something being possible.If it’s there, if i can see the landing without it getting blurry then i want to try it. My advice to anybody out there is learn how to fall and you should love to slam. It’s half of skateboarding. But if you learn how to roll, i think you will survive a lot longer and listen to your mother, she’s always right. Your grandmother probably knows too.

Who do you have most fun skating with?

Neil fucking Heddings. Nobody can grab their board like that and he’s cool to everybody. I’m glad you’re out buddy.

Where’s the most interesting place you’ve ever visited?

I’d have to say where my family lives in Bombay, India. Absolutely everything was different, beautiful and full of culture. The smell, the heat, the constant sounds and music, i’m having a hard time finding somewhere else that i want to go to. I really hope to visit Japan, Maru? i like you.

Have you been building anything to skate lately?

Yes, i have, thank you for asking. It is very fun to find a home for all the stray parking blocks. There is a need to have concrete in the hills of California. It’s going to be tight. maybe you have a photo of it. Dekline and Death cut me cheques and i buy concrete and food. Skaters come to help stack dirt and sling mud, and sometimes i give them things from boxes that people send me.

What’s your take on the Don’t Do It campaign. Do you think mega sporting companies moving into skateboarding is helping skating or hurting it?

Dude, oh my god. I’m kind of shocked that the whole of skateboarding isn’t backing this. I feel it is a worthy battle to stand up and fight for. When i see someone taking a stand, i want to back them up, because i know what it’s like, people try to knock you down. You’ve got to remember, it’s not these big companies that make skateboarding happen, flying people first class and wining and dining? It’s the skaters, who let you stay at their homes when you’re in town, the people who are building skate scenes without even thinking about money. I’m not interested in taking jabs at people, but to let people know you can make a difference. we can make a change. we can keep skateboarding in our hands.

Ghandi led a revolution by walking, fasting, and speaking the truth, and it worked. I make a concious decision with who i ride for, and we all make concious decisions with what we buy. I don’t mind that people skate in Nikes, that’s fine, but skateboarders need to stick together. When the shit hits the fan and all these mega companies pull some lame shit, i’ll be right here doing the same thing, saving change to buy a bag of concrete. I’m going to come out and say, i don’t think that Nike gives a fuck about skateboarding. Where were they when Washington St. was under construction and there was no money? I really doubt they care, but you know what? I do. I care. And I don’t need g’s to keep me skating. It’s a heavy hit when a skateshop goes under, but skateboarding belongs to skateboarders, don’t give it up to the dark side, or pink side. Don’t fucking do it.

Is punk rock an asset in your life?

I’ve never ever called myself punk rock. I really like living free and not caring. I just like to be myself, I dont want to fit in with other people. If you have to try then it’s not real. As long as you’re being yourself, that’s real punk rock. As far as the music, there’s punk rock on every mix tape. I’m down for people standing up for what they believe. As long as you’re trying to make a change, then I think you already are.

Wales has always had a strong skate scene, but over the last few years you would have been forgiven for not seeing past the Dirty Sanchez boyos and the Kill City scene due to their exposure.

Philip Procter caught up with independent filmer Scott Magill to have a chat about Who? – the Welsh scene video that exposes some of the hidden talent locked away over the border…

Hey Scott – Hows it going fella?

All good man.

Cool, lets start with the basics, where you from, age etc:

Single, Male – looking for attractive female. (laughs) Nah, 20 years old and from Bridgend, Wales.

What got you involved in skating, how long has it been?

Started in 2000, guess my mates started and I got a deck from Argos, Argos for life!
I was skating with guys from my year at school, but they all quit after a while, so it was just me left basically. I loved skating so carried on and started to skate with Chris Wilson and he introduced me to everyone from there.

So Chris was the first guy you filmed?

Yeah, I started filming him and all the other guys and we made a shitty little scene video called Second Nature. We burnt 70 copies on my PC and flogged them in a local skate shop – we sold 60, pretty stoked considering they were £10 a pop.

What was the first skate video you saw?

It was a Logic, My nextdoor neighbour loaned it to me and I must have watched it at least 5 times a day! One of the first I got stoked on was Osiris, The Storm all the OGs, Scott Paazelt and Jerry Hsu were my heroes back then.

I bet you didn’t appreciate the work that had gone in to videos back then either, tape to tape steez.

Didn’t even cross my mind, probably so much harder back then as well.

On to “Who?” – how long did it take to get the footage?

2 and a half years I guess, last time I checked I had 2000 tricks on my external hardrive, most of the footage is a year and half old and I combined it with the newer stuff so it saw the light of day. Richard Tyler is responsible for most of the double angle shots.

So, who features in Who?

We have Chris Wilson, Chris Jones, Jess Young, Dai Williams, Alan Williams, Caradog Emanuel, Nick Batt, Dylan Hughes, Nicky Howells, Rhys Meek and a ton of other locals.

What hardware did you use to make this?

I use the Sony VX2100 with a Mark1 death lens and edit in Final Cut Pro.My camera is starting to fall apart, it took 3 or 4 direct lense hits from bails during filming, its doing ok tho considering ive used it everyday pretty much for the past 2 years.

You need to get that puppy insured…

Yeah I gotta do that one day soon, did you see in the credits section of Who? Tyler falls face first on his VX, probably the funniest thing I ever filmed!

Haha yeah I saw that, if only Beadle was still alive!

One of the Boyos actually sent that in to You’ve been Framed!

There is no shortage of hard slams in Who?, ever feel bad about keeping the video rolling?

Nah, its all part of the fun, a lil bit of filmers revenge never hurt anyone!

Travel much shooting for the vid?

Nah, not nearly enough, some London and bits in MK.

I think I spied the Gasworks in Manchester?

Ah yeah, that was filmed by George Nevin, he filmed some of Nickys stuff as he now lives in Bristol. So yeah Bigup George, he’s filming for the new Bristol in Bloom video at the moment, so look out for that this summer.

Didn’t see any mandatory Barca footage.

Nah, would have been nice, but it’s a PROPER scene video, Welsh BOYO! We filmed mainly in and around Cardiff, just wanted to show the best and worse of what Wales has to offer.

Takes me back to industrial estates and school yard sessions on Sundays, some good looking spots.

Yeah, but most of the spots look way better on camera, but if you actually go to the spot they are so ghetto.

But the skaters did them proud! I’ve got Who? Playing in the background, who is that lil dude?

That’s Caradog, such a little shit, he is 18 too! He is the only skater on there who speaks fluent Welsh before you ask.

No way?! Id never serve him in a bar, he looks like Zammo off Grange Hill! How are the guys doing for sponsorship etc?

I think everyone who had sections are pretty much hooked up, Rhys (Meek) just got hooked up with Alien Workshop flow from Shiner, so yeah, pretty sick, we filmed his part in 4 months, he wasn’t originally going to have a part but his stuff was sick so we had to squeeze him in with a joint part.

Great skating all round in this film, I thought Nicky Howells part was a standout, is that fair?

Well yeah, Nickys part is shocking. But everyone stepped up at the same time.

Fuck, someone just pinged a 360 nollie heel flip down like 9 steps! Any standout tricks your feeling?

Yeah that’s Dai (Williams), he got nollie lazers on lockdown, So many tricks, its hard to pick out, everyone has got hammers, you have to see some of the spots to truly appreciate some of the tricks to be honest.

I think spot wise, I’d compare this DVD to Static 3 – some proper grimey spots.

Welcome to Wales!!

Lots of cracked paving and stuff……..

Yeah we love it! We take a hammer to them for added gnar! Who wants to skate a perfect spot in perfect weather huh?

Perfect is over rated man…

Amen.

Filming for anything else?

Filming some stuff for the Motive video as Dylans (Hughes) is on them. Im not sure what im filming for at the moment really, just building up the footage, I have a few things on the horizon.

Ok Scott, wrap this up for me, got any shout outs?

Yeah man, thanks – big shouts to friends and family, all the boyos in Who?, Tyler, Dainton, Caddy, George Nevin and the Bristol lot, Dykie, Sk8uk and Crossfire for the hype, and everyone else who helped along the way! Peaceee

Who? is on general release right now. Click here to read the Crossfire review. Visit www.myspace.com/whovideo and www.bridgenders.com for all Who info and pick up a copy for just £5, you will not regret it.

Portrait by Grant Jolly
Tre Flip over bin by Chris Winch
Footage filmed and edited by PaulVX

Scotland has unleashed many very talented skateboarders over the last couple of years and it seems like when it rains, it pours.

Osiris Shoes picked up on Brandon Ide throughout 2007 and instantly recognised that he would be one of the only 2 riders on the UK team. He has tech skills a plenty and certainly does not seem afraid to get his hands dirty on the big stuff, so Joe Moynihan shared some words for this Fresh Blood interview.

First of all, we met you this year as a guest for Osiris at the Crossfire Xmas Jam (07) let’s hear all about skating with all the US Osiris crew in London. How was it?

So much fun! I can’t even explain. It was my first time away on a proper trip and my first time in London so stoked to be there; especially with all the U.S guys they are awesome and I hope I see those guys again. Can’t thank the guys at Jett26 enough for making that happen.

Rattray reps Scotland hard, you must be stoked to be on the same team. How did you get hooked up with Osiris?

Haha yeah I’m so stoked. Like 3 or 4 months ago a friend of mine was over from California, he said I should put together some stuff, send it away, and see if anything happens. He helped film a little, I sent it off and here I am basically, Getting into Osiris though was like, wow. Happened so fast as well, 3 months ago I was buying my gear from TK Maxx then 3 months later I was in London with the Osiris dudes…

Are there any further trips this year that you’ll be involved in?

I hope so, that’s all I want to do, travel and skate as much as I can as soon as I can, Osiris is the only thing helping me out right now so ill just have to see what happens I guess.

So you’ve been skating six years now, what made you start?

I was into Tony Hawk’s pro skater like mad, like the only Playstation game I played then, when it came to completing it and unlocking all those videos and seeing what skateboarding was, I couldn’t believe my eyes and decided to try it out.

Those games have influenced a new generation of skaters that are bringing more combinations of tricks together, looking back do you see it as a major influence in what can be done on a deck?

For me it was anyway, I wouldn’t like to know how many times I watched all them videos, and sat repeating tricks figuring out how to do them n shit, that’s pretty sad actually but screw it, it did kind of help.

What tricks are your worst nightmare, which ones do you find hard and why?

Hardflips, I hate hardflips, only because I can’t do them haha! They do seem to be bit easier switch for me. Same with varial heels, I’d rather do them switch as well if I decide to do one that is.

What sort of places were you skating when you first started?

When I started I was skating the kerbs down the street, a classical plastic McGill kicker ramp from Argos and rail to match. I was actually hanging with a group of bladers at first for about a year or something till I met with the dudes I skate with now. Was skating like that till I could get into Glasgow and start skating the real stuff.

The weather must play an important part of whether you skate or not in Scotland, is Unit 23 the saviour for Glasgow?

Haha yeah man definitely on a rainy day. Most Glasgow skaters have no where else to go but there if it rains which isn’t bad at all. It gets everyone together for a good ol session. I can’t wait for summer though man, so we can get some street skating done for a change.

Transgression Skatepark has just opened in Edinburgh, been over there yet? Is the Edinburgh scene stoked?

I really gotta check that place out. I actually might try go over there next weekend or something. The Edinburgh guys needed an indoor park near by to skate so they must be stoked for sure. I know I would be.

The two Dougie’s and Ken at EHX have managed to achieve something which Edinburgh council haven’t after 20 years of trying, do you think that with the addition of the new Aberdeen park, Dundee’s concrete and the news that Kirkintilloch is about to get a new park has the scene up there been revitalised with places to skate?

Yeah, there’s so many new parks been built all over, I love Dundee’s outdoor though, so much fun there. But yeah keep ’em coming – definitely doing a good job of the parks.

Who’s ripping in Scotland now, besides yourself. Who do you think deserves more coverage?

Andrew White!, he had a first light in Sidewalk a few months back, hes rad im sure there will be some more coverage of him. Radstorms for life.

Any particular inspirational skaters you can think of, locally?

All my friends that I skated with since I started are my inspiration. Big up to all if them.

If you were to pick a skateboard company who you would love to ride for who would it be?

There’s so many decent companies around just now. I’d be happy with any company that helps a brother out to be honest haha! I am quite a fan of Cliche for some reason and Stereo, Habitat I could go on for ages, Listen skateboards. I’m into all the street cruising dudes.

Top 5’s – more fun than eating angel delight on a swingset. Get in there…

Top 5 Skate videos?

Osiris – Feed the need of course haha
Death – Better than Life. (Thanks to Adam Moss for the video)
All the Transworld videos
Blueprint – WFTW
Listen skateboards – Viajeros Locos

Spots?

Kelvingrove
Bt rails (RIP)
Levenbank terrace
St enoch benches
The secret spot

Skaters?

John Rattray
Omar Salazar
Marc Johnson
Chad Timtim
Mike Mo

Places you’ve been?

Florida
Germany
London
Ireland

Places you want to go to?

Barcelona
California
Australia
France
Everywhere.

Tricks you’ll always throw in a game of SKATE?

Switch fs flips
Tre flip reverts
Kickflip
Big flip
Nollie bigspin heel

Obstacles to session at Unit 23?

Flat bar
Driveway hip
The Bowl
Little grind box
Foam pit

Back to the questions, you do computer networking at uni right? What made you get into that?

My dad, hes a network engineer working in Reading at the moment, he even has his own network lab in the loft haha, Yeh computers have always been around me and I enjoy messing around with them, decided to follow on what my Dads doing really,

If skating doesn’t pay the bills, which unfortunately is normally the case, can you see yourself in that sort of job?

Yeh for sure, Going to have to work properly some time and get my skinny arse out of ASDA, if I get to skate and travel on top of been able to work ill be a happy bunny.

Does everyone in ASDA run around touching each others arses like in the adverts?

Haha! Yeah some of the people probably do man that’s why I gotta get away from there, nah its not that bad actually but I hate that in your face uniform you gotta wear….that’s ASDA price n all that.

What’s in store for yourself this year, and the years ahead?

Get this Degree over with, Skate, Travel and have fun.

Any shout outs?

Mum, Dad and Family, Grant Jolly, Jack n Harry Stewart, Wee Jamie Hall, Dell Boy…”i called it”, Paul Callanin, Shaun Markie, James Connolly, David Reasbeck, my Girlfriend Joumana, Osiris Shoes and Aidan, Mel and Matt from Jett26, Andy White and all the Radstorms Crew, All the KG Locals. PaulVX for the footy, Chris Winch, All the skaters ive ever skated with in the past and of course you guys at Crossfire for the interview. Cheers and sorry to whoever i’ve forgot!

For all information on Scotland’s vibrant skate scene, go to www.skateboardscotland.com

Words: Joe Moynihan
Photos: Andrew Belson

Have you ever arrived at a skate spot, and felt like you’re not alone? The ever so gentle, rolling sound of urethane slowly eradicating itself upon smooth concrete, haunting you, and making you feel slightly uneasy?

Well, chances are, at least if you happen to be in a certain fuchsia coloured car park in Essex, that it’s none other than young David Watson. Lurking away in the shadows, only to come out of nowhere and probably pop a switch flip over your head, which, more than likely will have more style to go with it than an absoludicrously well trained, shape-throwing ninja could ever demonstrate.

Besides the surrounding enigma, Dave is a rad guy who is just having as much fun as he can with skateboarding. So if you ever hear that sound of someone hard at lurk in a multi-storey, it might just be him, and you should go and chill with Dave. He’s the home of witty banter. I managed to catch up with him over these cold winter nights, and talk about the usual stuff – smashing in vans, bongos, being gorgeous, warehouses and chiefing infinite refills from burger king, you know, stuff like that. Watch your backs…

The beginning is generally a good place to start, what made you first pick up a skateboard?

I think the first time was when I was about 13 I guess. Some mates of mine were heading down Rom skatepark on bikes and rollerblades. I didn’t have a bike or a pair of rollerblades so I found some old Toys-R-Us board in my shed and took that. Just so I could go and see this ‘ROM’ place. I got there tried to roll down a bank and probably received the first of many Rom inflicted grazes to come. I think that my first day skating at Rom kind of put me off, as after that I didn’t skate again until gone fourteen! That park was scary.

So at what point did you realise that you weren’t going to put that skateboard down again?

Second time round me and a mate were bored of playing football and basketball, so I decided to get my board out again and I was hooked. We’d take turns trying to ‘jump’ on it, I think we had seen someone do an ollie on that previous trip to Rom a while back – couldn’t believe it was possible – didn’t even know what it was called till a few weeks after we got the hang of it, ha! We basically skated round the local area for few months, the library two stair was the place to be. I think I got my first magazine, Thrasher, from Wham! in Lakeside. I realised what a proper skateboard was and got one for Christmas! I was well happy with that, a Black Label deck, Indy trucks and some abec seven bearings – I was really into the ‘abec7’ rating back then for some reason. Haha.

Weren’t we all? Haha. Essex isn’t exactly renowned for it’s wide array of skateable terrain, what sort of spots was you skating when you first started out?

I was living in Ockendon at this point. We basically just skated flat ground at the library. It had some really small curbs and couple of steps, it was amazing, cardboard boxes to ollie over and all sorts. After about six months my mates gave up, by then I had found the Lakeside car parks, which are about a 15 minute skate from my house. So no matter what the weather was like I was always down there. I even met my mate Dan Charley there, he was older than me, so I kind of learned a lot things from him to start off with. I started going back to Rom every weekend, couldn’t skate it at all but kept going back for some reason.

What exactly IS so special about Lakeside? I don’t even know and I somehow end up skating there at least 5 times a week.

I probably would have given up when my other mates did if I didn’t realise it was there. It helped me progress with learning tricks a lot. I met a few other skaters down there who were all older than me by a good few years. They all had cars and I ended up going skating with them down at this park in Sevenkings, nice, smooth floor and lots of different stuff to skate. I skated there any time I could, used to bunk the train all the way there from Ockendon if no one was driving. We had some really good sessions at the weekends with my mates, Paul, Lou, Sanger, Grant and Dan. It was rad skating there. I skated there for a good year and a bit, but if I weren’t there I was normally in those lakeside car parks skating the flat or just here and there.

Where did the name ‘Lakeside Ghost’ emerge from’? You don’t look or act like a ghost, surely ‘Lakeside Lurker’ would have worked for connotation and alliteration purposes alone.

Well, I suppose I used to skate there so much at first, I would be down there and I’d see some other skaters I didn’t know. I wasn’t exactly very confident with talking to people or anything like that, so I guess I would keep my distance and skate on the other side of the car park or the floor above. In that respect, I was always the kid hanging round in the shadows like a weirdo or a ‘ghost’. Because I was always there every time people skated, it must have seemed like I was haunting the place haha. I didn’t realise people were calling me that for ages until a while after. I’m not some sort of weirdo, honest!

How did you get involved with Clown?

I used to see Simon Skipp around now and then. I think Russell at Hoax had just started helping me out with boards and other stuff. He was a lifesaver as before I was just riding the most haggard setup. The same deck for months and months, a wheel falling off more or less every week. I think Skipp had seen me about few times skating down Rom maybe. I got talking to him about the MFI spot one time and that was probably the first time I spoke to him. I didn’t see him about for a while and randomly bumped into him at Romford train station one night and he just said he’d help me out with boards. I started skating with him a bit round Romford at weekends. A few months later, Kev Parrot came back from Australia and I went on a trip to Barcelona with Skipp, Kev, Bobby, Bailey, Dom, Henry, Tom Ball, James G and Ross McGouran. That was rad, everyone was killing it. I was still a bit intimidated skating with people who were all so damn good. It was fun though.

Clown were rad. Whatever happened with them?

I’m not really sure. I started getting proper Clown packages after the Barcelona trip for a few months and then it just sort of went a bit quiet. I think maybe the bloke that was supposed to be running it got more involved with his music promotions stuff or something. By then I think Benny Fairfax had already left, and Chris Oliver too, so it was a few things like that that meant it had come to an inevitable end. I was always really into Clown long before I started getting boards. Benny Fairfax was my favourite skater when I was younger. I was well happy to be involved, even if just for a little bit before it eventually went under.

I think the first time I met you was in the old Allied Carpets warehouse, practically an infamous skateboarding Mecca in its day. Tell us a couple of stories from there, namely the time you defended the face/faith with your wheely board?

Ah, the MFI Warehouse. That place was so good. Me and a couple of mates found it and got in there. It had a perfect laminate wooden floor, loads of wood around to build stuff, a ready made seven foot kicker, rails, metal edge boxes and manual pads. Someone even got the proper shop lights on. It was seriously a dream. We had this place for a whole winter. There was a Burger King over the road that you could get free refills at so we used to go in there and fill up a litre bottle for free any time we wanted. Things started getting a bit sketchy when some local louts found out about it and had a rave in there one night. We went there one day and the entire place was just soaked in beer, like an oil slick on the floor. It cleared up after a while though I think. They kept on coming back though and one day there was me and a few mates skating and some other younger kids. A few chavs started to try and smash the lights up, leaving loads of glass on the floor and that. We asked them to stop and they did. Well, at least until about ten more of them turned up and started carry on.

We decided it was time to leave because we would just get done in if we told them to stop. As we were all walking out the door, one of ’em started mouthing us off. I swung for him and missed. Haha. Next thing I know another one has ran from behind him, punched me and split my eye open, then all of them flooded out the door and started kicking me on the floor! Some random guy that was there with his girlfriend jumped on all of them, allowing me to get up. I saw the guy who had punched me and smacked him with my board! We all legged it as the guy just flopped – hard. Apparently he broke his jaw, and there was some blood and shit. He went to hospital and everything! After that I couldn’t really skate there as there were always people looking for me. I did go back there a couple of times though. It was ridiculous. They had ‘Dave’s Gonna Die‘ written all over the place! Right, that’s the last time I’m going to tell that story!

How long were they after you for? I’m fairly certain I overheard people looking for you a good few months after…

Well, apparently the guy’s older brother was some kind of wannabe hard nut that kneecapped people and stuff! I basically had to be careful not to go near Grays if I could help it, as, let’s face it; anyone with a skateboard stands out there anyway. Turns out they did beat up a few skaters up because they thought it was me or was involved with the fight. They were just idiots basically, pretty silly stuff. If I went skating down the Lakeside car parks on my own I was always a bit on edge. It’s all fine now though as this was a long time ago now.

‘Gorgeous Dave’. What’s the story behind that?

I think it’s been said that it first came about a couple of years ago. I went to Ipswich for some little comp thing with Skipp, Kev and Nigel. Munson was there and I think they were just shouting abuse at people skating and unfortunately they called me the G word. Since then it just stuck, I think Kev and Skipp are kind of responsible for keeping it going, Powley too, I don’t even know if he knew my actual name at first. It was just ‘gorgeous’. It can be embarrassing at times though – having an older, bald and slightly pervy man calling you gorgeous in front of strangers!

Haha! How did you get involved with Vans?

Well for a while I had been skating with Skipp and trying to film stuff with Kev Parrot quite a lot, kind of seeing if I could get hooked up again. One day Kev just mentioned that Powley was looking for a few flow riders for Vans and said he’d spoken to him about me. I think after he saw some footage, Powley gave me a call and said he’d help me out and that was that. I was well happy with that. Cheers Powley!

The UK Vans team are ripping right now, what’s it like skating with some of those beasts?

Yeah, everyone on there is so good, it’s really sound. I don’t know, I suppose it can be quite intimidating sometimes if you’re at a comp and everyone is skating at this whole other level. It kind of just messes with my head in those situations, like I would just choke. Just a confidence thing I guess. I should sort that out! I don’t know, I really prefer going street skating and seeing what you find and then skating that way. It’s a lot more fun to be out and about in a city or wherever rather than in a park trying to ‘perform’ for people. Don’t get me wrong its good to see people pushing it at comps and that but I’m just not that down with it myself. I think skating is about fun and I prefer skating things that aren’t purposefully built for skating. It’s fun skating with everyone though now and then. Tyreman’s a funny guy.

Who do you tend to skate with the most?

I skate with Skipp and other random people at weekends if I’m trying to shoot photos or whatever. Sometimes a local crew of us head down Dagenham skate park for a little cruise around, then in to London to skate black wallride tunnel and that general area lately. My older friends that I skated with when I was younger have all stopped skating due to work and other ‘grown-up’ duties. Lou and Paul do come out every so often though. Was out with Kev quite regularly but he’s been busy lately with other projects, so I’m just skating with whoever is about really, trying to film whenever I can. Usually different people are off work on different days during the week so I get to skate with someone different like Nigel Davies, and Tom Ball has been out a bit lately, which is good.

I often bumped into you ‘ghosting’ around Lakeside car parks by yourself, I know a few people who for some reason aren’t comfortable with skating alone. As long as you’re skating, it doesn’t matter right?

Yeah, sometimes I prefer skating on my own, especially down Lakeside, like if I think of a trick I really want to learn, I can just go down there and skate and I don’t have to think about anything else. Or if I get stressed out with anything or people are nagging at me I can go there and I know its going to be peaceful and quiet, just depends what mood you’re in I guess. Other times I prefer skating with friends, or just anyone who’s enjoying it.

How was Newquay?

Newquay was really good. I was still having trouble with my knee from when I smashed it in on the first day of the ‘Are We There Yet?‘ tour, so I couldn’t really skate. I tried a bit but after ten minutes or so the pain would kick in from where I was moving it about too much. In the end I was only there for a couple of days. Chris Oliver won I think, Kris Vile skated really well too, everyone did. We were staying at the beach trip hotel which was insane; you can skate on the dance floor and everything! There was a mini ramp in there too! It was good simply to chill on the beach and mill about watching the vert or mini ramp jams then have a little drink later on maybe. Ben Nordberg tricking me into dropping him off at his house in Bath on my way back to London was a bit of a nightmare though. Getting lost in Bumpkin land by myself afterwards with no money, any sense of direction, and then missing the M25 turnoff and heading straight through central London, getting seriously lost whilst my petrol was running out, I just about made it home!

Didn’t you get chucked out a club at one point for playing the bongo on someone’s head? Or was that Kris?

Haha, that was on the Neue, ‘Ride With Us‘ tour, which was a right laugh. We went to some terrible club one night. Well, the club was ok-ish if not a bit empty and a little bit chavvy maybe. We were just having a laugh like you do, I think bongos might have been involved maybe and then next thing I know I’m getting dragged to the back door in a headlock by a bouncer, Tyreman too! Turns out the bouncer thought that I had poured a pint over someone or something; Ollie had tried to sort it out with the bouncer and got kicked out as well! So we’re outside feeling pretty pissed off and bemused, and I think we may have stupidly taken some aggression out on a nearby van. We decided that it must have been was bouncer’s because it was black and A-Team looking.

As we were walking round the front of the club to go home some bouncers grabbed us and got us in arm locks, again. I seriously thought they were gonna kick the shit out of us. They said they had seen us kicking the van on the CCTV and the police were on there way. We just denied everything. So they take us round the front and try and take us inside. All the time the bouncer was telling me they’re gonna kick me in inside the club somewhere. Crapping it! I spotted some of our group and shouted to them to talk to the bouncers. I think someone called Powley and he turned up when the police did and managed to talk sense to them. Meanwhile Ollie had escaped the bouncers only to be kicked in by three scousers on his way back to the hotel! I don’t think bouncers in Newquay particularly like outsiders.

You got a shockingly high nollie flip into a bank captured on that trip. And I’ve seen you switch flip with some sort of demon pop. What’s with those regular flips mate?

Yeah, I don’t know really, I just seem to be able to do some switch things easier than regular. Just swings and roundabouts I guess, its probably just a case of if you can do it just as good or better switch your not gonna do it regular are you? And my kickflops (that’s gotta be typo of the century!) are different every day! Nollie stuff has always been my favourite.

Tell us the story behind the photos you’ve got for this interview.

The ollie is just an ollie that hurt my legs. The nollie bigflip manny is down the road from my house, haven’t really got another manny-bank-pad spot. Not sure if it’s legit or not, bit small, ha ha. Nice metal legs landing! And I just learned frontside wallrides a little while ago and I’m well into them, I know it’s ABD switch at this spot but who cares? I like the photo and it’s my favourite trick right now.

You were at the last Crossfire Southbank Jam yeah? How was it?

I made it to the Southbank Jam. Did Vile win every thing? That one was fun to watch the kids killing themselves, ha ha! And the two forty year olds in the thick of the product toss was hilarious. Proper grappling for the stickers amongst the kids. They looked really stoked as they walked away with an extra small tee shirt between them. I was stuck in Ockendon for the Christmas one because of the trains. I’ve been to a couple though and they’re always good fun, more of a jam vibe and being at Bay Sixty6 there’s a lot more room and more obstacles obviously, so it doesn’t seem as hectic. The one after the park revamp was good fun.

What have you got in store for this year then?

Well skating as much as possible, and hopefully not getting injured at all! Not being in Ockendon too much if I can help it, only to build my top secret bowl spot near my house. Hopefully going away with Vans, going Newquay again at some point, possibly doing something with Santa Cruz and shooting photos and filming as much as I can for a section in Andy Evans‘ next video. Learning some carpentry skills and traveling back and forth to Oxford to see my girlfriend at Uni. Basically just having fun skating.

Drop those shout outs…

Yeah, basically just thanks to everyone who’s ever helped me out, Powley at VANS, Jerome@Shiner for the Santa Cruz and Krux, Zac at SS20. Massive thank you to Simon Skipp for helping me out for the past few years. Kevin Parrot, Russel Cowling for the Hoax stuff back then, Styley, Andy Belson, B-Town Nick, Macy Peach, Dagenham Skatepark, Emily Putz, Lou and Paul for helping me out with things, Grant, Ryan Vear and everyone, Nigel Davies, Dan Charley, Chadwell Heath Dan and Sanger for being hilarious. Just anyone one I’ve ever had fun skating with.

Portraits by Zac
Skate shot courtesy of Seu Trinh

Sometimes the good guys just stick out like sore thumbs and Lewis Marnell is one such character. In fact, this interview was not even scheduled, Lewis decided to turn up to the Crossfire office to say hello whilst in town on the Nike ‘Nothing But The Truth‘ promo trip and left us with an insight on how spiders, close encounters with death and skateboarding has shaped his life, and all to the tunes of Roots reggae. Zac interviews off the cuff with a word association game over a cup of PG Tips…

How are you Lewis, been a while?

I’m very good thank you!

Good shit, worldwide Nike tour?

Yeah, we are travelling around the world right now premiering the Nike SB video ‘‘Nothing but the Truth’. We’ve been to LA, Portland, Canada, Australia, Barcelona and now London and a couple of other people have gone to Shang Hai, Brazil and Moscow, but I didn’t do those, they were sketchy countries for me.

Can’t get in? [laughs]

[laughs] A little dodgy for my liking

Right, we have a word association game to play, we have a few words to get through. Let’s fire through them. I will say a word and you have to relate a story to it. First one, Skateboarding…

Skateboarding, well, to me it is everything. It’s what I do, it’s what I’ve always done and hopefully it’s what I always will be doing!

School….

School, erm, never really liked it, never really got into it, never was really good at it, so I dropped out and focused on skateboarding.

Do you regret falling out of school?

I actually do wish that I just did it, straight up and got it out of the way. I ended up just dropping out. I went to a bunch of schools and was always behind. It became really repetitive, go to year 10, drop out, start year 10 again, drop out.

Nike…

That’s my shoe sponsor, they help me do what I like to do and what I want to do with skateboarding. I get to travel the world and do my thing. I’m psyched to be able to do what I do. We’ve been working on this video for like 3 years so I am pretty psyched to see it all come together and be out there y’know, because you’re sitting around for so long, like ‘where’s this footage‘. There are all the tricks you forget about and stuff and it all comes together and it’s sick.

Almost…

Almost, that is my board sponsor. Yeah they are cool. I am comfortable there, they are a good company, good team, nice dudes.

What did you think of the ‘Meanwhile Gap Jam’ we threw back in September?

Yeah it was cool. I had never been to one before so it was fun, everyone played skate. That’s my kind of thing, hang out, play skate and hang out with the homies all day. It was a good session, pie eating contest! Tory took it away. 10 pies I think he ate? I think he had a bit of ‘inspiration‘ before he ate them [laughs] he got the munchies a bit!

Melbourne…

Melbourne is the place to be. If you haven’t been there, get there! It’s got good skate spots, good vibes, good people, good parties, and good food. Go see it, it’s my hometown. Love it.

Girls…

Girls. Good for the guys? Yeah I have a girlfriend.

Do you miss her when you’re on tour?

I do extremely, but I have to go on tour, otherwise I would be stuck in an office doing some other crazy silly job. She misses me and I miss her when I’m tour. That’s what happens I guess when you’re in a relationship.

Here we go, kick flips…

I can do ’em, but I just don’t have them. Know what I mean? It just doesn’t feel like the way everyone else does them? Y’know when they do them and it’s like ‘Damn, that’s a sick kick flip!‘ and then I’ll try it and I’m like ‘Naaa!‘ I wish I had the flare, where it is just casual and cool and feels good and nice.

Ok, Truth…

The new Nike video is called ‘‘Nothing But The Truth’‘. That’s some truth.

Lies…

I’ve lied. Usually to get myself out of trouble. I’ve felt pretty good about lying before!

Anything you want to get out on this interview? Biggest regret?

Biggest regret. I don’t think I have one. I would just say don’t lie, because once you start, you can’t stop and you are constantly covering up and it ends up being worse than it was when you started!

Achievement…

Once I do this tour it will feel like an achievement, because it has been full of highs and lows.

Tell me the highs…

The highs are the good times, the partying, the fun, the skating, and the chilling with the homies. The low’s are the jet lag, the tiredness, customs, trouble with travelling, security and all of that. So after this whole thing is done it will feel like an achievement. We will have achieved something on this tour.

There is a huge amount of people on this tour, so let’s throw in Friends…

Everyone man, that’s the thing with Nike, everyone is super cool. Everyone is cool, there is nobody I couldn’t hang out with.

Who is the most entertaining?

Everyone is entertaining in their own little way. Diverse. Everyone is different in their own little way. Omar Salazar, man, he is the dude I will never get sick of. He’s always got something to say and he is always doing something crazy. Yeah, he’s funny. Oh, I gotta throw Chet Childress in there too.

I was waiting for that! [laughs]

Oh my god. I’ll leave it at that. He is good value to listen to if you get the chance.

Next, ‘Bullet’…

Bullet, the man. I met him in Sweden in ’96, maybe ’97? We had both just moved out there, we’ve just kept in contact since then, so yeah, a good ten years.

Did Bullet teach you all of his womanizing skills?

Damn, maybe that’s where I picked them up from? [laughs]. Yeah maybe, got me a couple of pointers when I was a kid!

Sweden…

Sweden, I moved to Sweden in ’96. My dad is Swedish, he moved over there from Australia, lived there for 6 months and after 6 months he asked me if I wanted to come out there and live there for a bit. It was only supposed to be a year but it ended up being 7. I ended up staying there for a while, did some school, did some skating, and tried the Swedish food. It was good.

London…

London. London’s tight. It gets better every time I come out here I think. You meet more people, more connections, and more things to do. It makes it great.

Favorite spot in London?

I don’t know, I never really got to skate that much when I’ve been in London to tell you the truth. I don’t have a favorite as of yet.

Skate travel…

Lately, that’s pretty much been my life. I’ve been travelling a lot y’know. I go home, I’m home for like 2 weeks and then I’m back out on tour again for a month and a half and then home for 2 and then out again for a month, so it’s always back and forwards travelling, but it’s good, it’s great, I love it.

When you look at the itinerary it there any country that you’re like ‘Damn yes!’

Yeah, that happens a bunch. I mean most of the places we go have a particular place that has the good spots, the good people and the good places to chill and the fun places , but at the same time, you get those places that are like ‘No, really?’. It’s a bit vice versa!

Tunes…

Reggae, like Roots. I mean I like a lot of different people. Bob of course, Sizzler, Garnet Silk, Voodoo Lantern, Capleton. I mean, I’m just reeling stuff off. There are so many more, but the list would just blow up!

Ok, Weed…

Yeah! The holy herb it’s good y’know. Keeps me sane. It is definitely something that gets me inspired at times.

Any crazy weed stories?

Only happens when you eat it [laughs]

Ok, Spiders…

Ah, I was at the Volcom team house which was a house the teams stayed in which was eventually going to get torn down, so they got to do whatever they wanted with the house. So everyone is living there, it was cool, everyone comes in and out as they please throughout the year. Anyway, I was staying there and I was sitting by the computer and I had the front door open. It was kind of hot, I needed a bit of a breeze. I am sitting there in just shorts and I feel this breeze on my leg and I’m like ‘Whatever‘. I then felt it up on my thigh too, so I lift up the shorts and I see a spider sitting on my leg and I’m like ‘Whoa!‘ freaking out. I slapped this spider off of my leg and managed to kill it at the same time, which is probably a good thing because I’m not too into spiders. That made me freak out, so I was worried about spiders the rest of the time I was there. The day after, I woke up and put my pants on and I see this bug which was like 15cm.

That thing looks ridiculous!

It looked like a mix between an ant, a wasp and a grasshopper and it was nasty! I didn’t know what it was and there was only me and Andrew Mapstone at the house. I managed to wrap it up in the pants and I’m screaming ‘Whoa whoa whoa, Andrew, come and look at this!‘ so he comes and we are just standing there with this mutant bug trapped in my pants! Later Steve comes home and I am telling him about all these crazy bugs he has in the house and he is like ‘Yeah, that is harmless, it’s just a potato bug, but I guess if you’ve never seen one before, it’s pretty scary‘. Anyway, the day after that I’m sitting playing video games by the TV, same house, same scenario, shorts on, chilling. I felt something on my thigh, but I didn’t think much of it, I just figured it was my shorts moving around or whatever, but then I felt something on my balls, so I’m like giving them a bit of an itch and then I feel it on my other thigh so I lift up my shorts and it was another spider, which I killed. So I pretty much had the thing crawl all over my balls! Maybe it’s because I’m a warm blooded person, they are attracted to the heat or something?!

Or you’ve just got nice balls?!

[Laughs] Yeah, maybe it’s just like fuzzy and warm and nice.

Hairdo’s…

Erm, I’ve pretty much just had a shaved head, or something out of control.

What’s under the hat?

A hair do. It’s just what it does!

Oh there are some dreads in there…

Yeah, the dread do. I don’t look after them, they just kind of happen and then my girlfriend maintains the rest of it.

Do they get washed?

Yeah, they get washed a lot. Couple of times a week, just normal hair shampoo. The works! Although, no conditioner.

Alcohol…

That’s my no no. I had to cut the alcohol out of my diet. I’m diabetic y’see. One of my best mates Dustin Dollin called me one night and was like ‘Hey Lewis, you should come out, meet us for some drinks and we’ll party‘. Met up with him in the city at this place called Pony Bar in Melbourne, little place where everybody knows each other. I went there hung out, not long at all. Maybe like 4 hours. I had maybe 6 beers, didn’t really get drunk, went home and woke up in the morning. Went to have a sip of water and as soon as I swallowed it, I just started throwing up! Anytime I tried to eat or drink I would just throw up. I did that for 2 days and then went to the doctor who sent me to the emergency room. That’s when I had to quit drinking because I nearly died.

Death…there’s a subject.

Hmmm, I’ve dodged it a lot of times. It’s been real close, but I am glad that I’m not there yet. I mean there was the drinking that nearly killed me and driving around with people who have thought the lights were green. Here’s another story with Dustin Dollin actually. We were driving around trying to find a skate spot and we are crossing over a freeway which is what, 6-8 lanes? He is looking at the map trying to figure out where we are going and we are at a red light. He throws the map at me and then assumes the light is green and just starts driving across the freeway. There are cars dashing around us and somehow we managed to make a clean line across through all these cars. We dodged death only just!

What else?…erm, when I was younger living in Sweden, me and a couple of my homies decided to go on a little adventure, eat some shrooms and run through the forest. Then we found this cliff which we decided to climb and it was above a pretty big freeway, but we are scaling this thing and I try to grab this rock so I could climb further, I somehow managed to miss it, I couldn’t grab it and I started falling. I lost all my grip and fell off the wall. Anyway, as I’m leaning back I am thinking, that’s it, I’m a goner and I hear my friend Peter say ‘I gotcha!‘. He was climbing up the wall right behind me and he grabbed me as I fell and pushed me back up against the wall and was all calm and just said ‘There you go‘..

Lucky sod…

Yes! Thank you Peter you are the man!! But yeah, they are the main ones!

Lewis lives to tell the tale, thanks for coming dropping in, anyone you want to thank?

Yeah, friends, family, Crossfire, sponsors – Nike, Volcom, Almost, Thunder, Spitfire…I think that’s it.

The headaches from the Lakai Fully Flared premiere after party had just about subsided and Moose managed to get himself over to meet a small but elite section of the team to ask them about games of Skate, waxed ladies, and steroid injections.

Welcome to Crossfire Mike Carroll, Brandon Biebel, Mike Mo and Rob Welsh. I have 3 or 4 questions for each of you, but if you want, you can choose which one you want to nominate to someone else…

MC – No peeking?

No, no peeking. So, first off, Mike Carroll, how does filming for Fully Flared compare to filming for Questionable or Virtual Reality?

MC – Can I nominate some one? For me it is comparable to filming for Virtual Reality. Filming for Questionable was more of a fun innocent experience, I didn’t know I was filming for a video. This one, I realised I was doing it for a video, there was a little more stress involved.

BB – Mike Carroll is the king, straight up. He doesn’t have to film for no video. All he has to do is skate and do what he does. If there is a camera around he is gonna look good and handle his business. If you ask him if there is any pressure or anything about filming for a video, c’mon bro, this is Mike Carroll, do your research man. He ain’t go no problems. He just skates, goes out, does his thing.

MC – [To BB] – You know that raise you were asking for? You got it!

BB – [To MC] – Thanks man! [laughs]

Why aren’t Lakai pushing ‘Mini Me’ teams? Kids Teams, like other brands.

BB – Why aren’t they? Because Lakai is Lakai. Lakai is 100 % skateboarding. They don’t need to. They have the cream of the crop, there is like 19 dudes. There’s no need for fucking mini boards and shit like that. Right Mike?

MM – They aren’t opposed to it, they’re just not trying to.

BB – Nyjah doesn’t ride for Lakai dude, know what I’m saying?

MM – We just out anyone on the team that we think will fit, not because of they are mini…miniest…ness

When is it right to retire?

RW – When Mike Mo tells me to. I’ve talked to him about it alot. I tell him all the time that if I start to become delusional, which I sometimes feel I am, that he should tell me. So the right time is when Mike Mo tells me.

Last one…what trick can’t you do?

BB – Switch back heel flip, I do not fuck with it. I cannot do that trick and I don’t plan on doing it any time soon. I could if I wanted to though, but I don’t want to.

MC – I can’t do varial flips. I hate varial flips, that’s why I don’t do them.

BB – RW can do every trick there is, he is modest. He is fucking modest.

Rob, has the pressure of filming increased your smoking habit?

RW – I quit smoking 4 months ago. I quit because I felt like a pile…

MC – A pile of what?

RW – A pile of shit. I knew it would be stressful, so I thought I should handle it right now.

BB – Rob Welsh had been smoking lot. He is real good at smoking cigarettes, he smokes a lot. Smoking made him real lazy, it’s the worst thing for you. I’m proud of him.

RW – By no means am I in the clear though…4 months no cigarettes. I put a patch on and then I thought, you know what, if I went into a coma and the patch was left on…I would wake up a smoker. So I was like fuck it, I’ve gotta get this thing off me!

What would you throw at Biebel in a manny battle?

RW – I wouldn’t even try, I don’t show up at competitions because of this guy! [laughs]

BB – Welsh can do them all

Is skateboarding a science or an art?

MM – I think it’s the science of art [laughs] Skateboarding is skateboarding man. You get what you put into it. You could compare skateboarding to something like dancing, it’s the same. It’s an art.

RW – I think Mike dances beautifully on his board.

Mike Mo. Mo money, mo problems?

MM – I’ve got no money so I ain’t got no problems. More money, more problems. Sometimes money can solve a problem. You get your phone bill…it’s a problem! You solve it by paying the bill with money.

Do you feel robbed by Nyjah at the ES Game of skate?

MM – No, because he does gay-ass varial flips.

BB – Let me tell you one thing, Mike Mo is Mike Mo and Nyjah is Nyjah. But Nyjah will never ever ever ever have a thing on my man Mike Mo. OK? He better get on steroids and inject that shit into his calves! I’ll beat the shit out of his dad, straight up. Comparing Mike Mo to Nyjah is disrespectful to Mike Mo!

Mike, do you and P-Rod exchange trick tips?

MM – No, we just play SKATE alot. Basically we do like treflip skating. You just keep doing them. Whoever misses it gets a letter (S-K-A-T-E). Sometimes we do an ollie like 50 times in a row and no one gets a letter!

RW – I don’t know if I approve of that game, but yeah, it sounds cool.

[BB disappears….]

[Mike Carroll answering for Biebel]
How much handle rail footage do you have stashed away?

MC – I put it all in my part. Biebel has a bit stashed away.

I think you should answer the question in his style as well….

MC – I can’t do it. I’m not a good actor.

Ok…Instead of Fully Flared, why not Totally Tight?

[laughs]

MC – Haha, totally tight…we are totally tight! That’s going to be the name of our next tour. Totally Tight Tour….triple T.[To Crossfire] You should get a nickel every time somebody says that….

BB – Totally Tight is cool too, but Fully Flared works for this video. It’s cool man. Lakai, Fully Flared.

What helps better with patience. Manuals or Fishing?

MC – Manuals are the worst thing in the world to do. I swear to god. Being stuck on a manual is the worst thing. I fucking hate it. Fishing is better.

Is that BB answer then? Is that what he would say?

MC – Oh yeah, for sure….I mean, no one wants to film manuals, you flip your board…land on two wheels…maybe.

Biebel, where should wax not be applied?

BB – I’m a fan of wax man, if it helps you grind or slide more frequently or grind further, then wax shit up.

What about waxed ladies?

BB – Yeah, waxed ladies, that probably the best kind of wax. Get them, get them all. I’ve got a girlfriend dude, this is European shit.

That’s it then, anything you want to say about the video?

BB – Totally Tight.

Click here to visit the Lakai London Premiere Gallery feature. Go to www.lakai.com and look out for ‘Fully Flared’ in your local skater owned shop…

Chet Childress, the crooked arm ripper from Nike and Black Label managed to squeeze in an interview literally moments before legging it over to the Nike video premiere recently. Moose talks to him about beers, albinos, Michael Jordan and living the dream.

Words: Moose
Photos: Big thanks to Jon Humphries

Chet Childress, Welcome to Crossfire, how’re you doing?

Good man, thanks for having me here

Are you enjoying today?

It’s weird, I’m a skateboarder, all this crazy media bullshit really isn’t me but it’s a good experience you know what I’m saying? It is what it is, sometimes you gotta work. 2 weeks out of the year I guess I gotta work. It’s cool talking to people and coverage is awesome.

The rest of the time you just get to skate, as your job.

Yeah, I just get to ride my board on the street in traffic

Proper questions time..How did you hook up with Nike?

It was a collaboration of them looking for riders and going for some different styles other than pain and just lottery ticket shit man. You know, I got a good scratch card and it worked.

What were your first skate shoes ever?

First skate shoes ever? Converse, Chuck Taylor’s. I come from a pretty poor family, thats all my mom could afford.

The cheap ones are always the best ones though….

Yeah, you can feel your board. Duck tape on ’em the second or third day!

Growing up as a kid, did you ever think skating would take you this far?

Hell no. I thought by now I would be working a job. I never thought I would be 32 sitting six stories up in some fancy building, giving you some fucking interview! I knew I was going to skate for life. The day I started skating I knew it was fucking on until I die, you know what I mean, but it was like I never knew life was going to get this good. I always used to look at the magazines and think “I’d like to do that, that’d be cool” but I never thought I would be doing it!

Is your crooked arm a skate injury?

No, I was born like that. Two bones fused together into one

Does it help or hinder you in life?

Oh it helps man, it’s something to fucking crack on. Jokes baby jokes!

Anything else crooked?

Cock. It goes long. It goes up in girls guts. Deep yo deep.

If you had to take Michael Jordan on a trip, where would you take him?

We’d go to Spain and smoke hash on the beach.

Do you think you could get more air than him?

More air than Jordan? Oh man, black people can jump hella high. You know what I’m saying, black people got pop! Thats hard to beat.

How long have you been filming for the video?

2 years. 2 years of derelict living, you know what I’m saying?. It’s kinda hard because I skate different spots than alot of the dudes, so alot of the time I’m waiting around twiddling my fucking fingers thinking “Is it my go now? Is it my turn? Can I film?”

What was the hardest part to film? The hardest trick?

Waking up

Did you have any surprises on Nike’s behalf with regards to making the video?

Yeah I had alot of surprises, Nike blew my mind. Travelling the world, the way I live. It’s all just mind blowing shit man you know? I never seriously knew life could be this sick. Travelling the world, drinking champagne, staying at hip hotels, eating good food, hanging out with my friends. I’m telling you, it’s like the best college degree you can get.

How far do you reckon you can push the Nike tab?

Pretty damn far. As far as my crooked arm can sign!

Would you consider ‘Nothing But The Truth‘ a skate video or a movie? Are you a film star or a skater?

Man, I’m a skateboarder. We’ll see, you tell me at the end of the night. You decide.

What if Steven Spielberg rings?!

Hey man, if some people want to put me in Hollywood and give me a bunch of money to be me, then I’m down fool. Get a regular job? Fuck that, you know what I’m saying? If I can get paid to be an idiot then I’m in!

How many boards can you chop in half with your hand?

Erm? None. I’m a pretty soft individual.

Yeah? You look pretty hard man?

I’ll try. I don’t know man, I’m a lover not a fighter dude.

Where did the name Ludacrooks come from?

I made it up man. Ludacris, you know, hiphop? I always get given a new name every couple of years and that one just kinda stuck. I was like yo Ludacrooks, that sounds neat.

Why are the birds you draw always beer cans?

I don’t know, it’s just something like, beer cans with wings seems pretty cool. It’s just my little character y’know.

Booze makes you fly then?

Booze makes you fly, I don’t know, I just got A.D.D. I can only draw certain lines and those lines seem to work.

Which beer makes you fly? Branding time, go on, plug it….

Corona, I’m albino Mexican so I prefer Mexican beer. Anything with lime and salt doggy.

What’s your favourite part in the video?

Omar Salazar. He skates good! He skates fast and furious. He is crazy.

What’s next then for you?

Erm?….Try to grow up, try and get my life together, try to straighten up. Film for this next Black Label video. Live life, grow old. Maybe learn how to surf some big ass waves?

Black Label, Jason Adams, back on. How do you feel?

Happy, I always knew he was coming back. He had to go away, spice it up a little. There is always time to leave home, but you’ll always come back.

Last thing, your part in the video, are you happy with it?

Fuck yeah, because Nike gave me a chance to be me. They gave me 100% and they let me edit my part and they don’t give me no rules. They let me be me every day of my life. They let me be in a team with all of these guys, Brian Anderson…are you fucking kidding me? Lottery ticket shit.

Alright man, any last shout outs?

Shout out to the world man, skate dudes I love you. You skaters are the sickest individuals. Without all you skaters I would be working at Maccy D. Just remember, skate, be yourself and have fun. Don’t be a fucking jock. Keep skating out of the Olympics and all this contest ESPN bullshit. Peace.

Nike SB and Girl Skateboards rider and all-round nice bloke Brian Anderson has been at the forefront of the skate scene for years. He managed to take some time out of his busy schedule recently during the London premiere of Nothing But The Truth to talk to Moose about art, tattoos, politics, Amy Winehouse, culinary careers and much more.

Photos: big thanks to Jon Humphries for the majority of these great shots and sequence and Moose for portrait and deckchair steez. Words and interview by Moose.

So, Brian Anderson, welcome to Crossfire, how are you doing?

Very good thanks. I’m glad I could do this interview!

No worries, how’s London treating you?

It’s fine; it’s been good weather. I actually really like it here, it’s a little expensive, but I really like the old buildings and stuff. I’ve been here quite a few times so it’s comfortable.

You used to ride for Savier, which was a Nike sub company. What was that like?

It was nice at first, it was fun to build to the team. Brad Staba and I got Tim O’ Connor and Stephan Janoski, and we just had bad communication with the owner and designers after a while and it became difficult to maintain the direction that we wanted, so we, Brad and I, ended up leaving and then shortly after Tim and Stephan left, then I think it just fell apart unfortunately for them. In the end we didn’t really get along so, I didn’t mind. And then I didn’t have a sponsor and then Nike approached me.

Did you know Nike were getting ready to make a full skate team?

I knew some of the guys on the team already, I knew Reese, Chet and Richard Mulder, and Daniel Shimizu, Gino, maybe a couple of other people, I don’t remember exactly who was on at the time. Oh, Todd [Jordan] and Supa– God, they already had quite a few people when they picked me. So yeah, I was happy because I knew the people that run the skateboard part are skaters, so I knew it wasn’t gonna be like this corporate people I had to answer to. I know them and they skate so it’s comfortable.

You don’t see Nike as this corporate image then?

Yeah, sure I do in some ways, but I don’t because I’m behind the scenes and when I go up to Nike, the skateboarding part is in its own little corner. It’s still in this huge Nike corporation, but I mean, Vans is pretty corporate too nowadays, you know. I mean, I would feel bad but I know that my friends who have their own company, like Lakai, they’re doing really well so, it doesn’t make me feel that horrible because my friends are still doing really good doing more ‘core’ skateboard stuff I guess people would call it.

Why do think Nike seem to get hated, when they’re doing the same kind of thing as Vans?

Because it’s Nike. It wasn’t born out of skateboarding, you know. Vans was born out of skateboarding so it’s more core skate culture affiliated. Yeah, its weird, sometimes I think about it. I ride for other companies that are pretty core, and I’ll always support them. I feel ok because I have balanced sponsors.

Do you think there’s a place for you on the basketball team?

Ha, I don’t think my ankles will allow that!

Nothing But The Truth- how long has it been in the making?

I think about 3 years, maybe longer. I went on a lot of trips but in the beginning we went on trips with a lot of people but it’s harder for me to get stuff done. Towards the end we had smaller trips – like 3 or 4 guys- and that’s when I got the most productive. And then I got hurt at the end so I only have like 2 minutes, and I have Gino at the end of my part so that makes me feel comfortable.

How does travelling with Nike differ from other team tours?

When we go international we get a business class ticket, which is really nice after going on tour for 10 years. But once we’re doing our everyday filming it’s exactly the same as most of my other companies for the most part. We get in a van in the US and drive around sometimes, you know, drive from California.

The best way to do it! Who’s idea was it to have skaters act in the movie?

Well they wanted to do something at Nike, so they decided to hire some directors that were really creative and weren’t gonna do something corny. They knew we wanted to do something comfortable for us. They didn’t really tell us a lot about what we were going to do, we didn’t really have to act, we just got there and they said, “Ok, this is the situation, just be yourself”, so it wasn’t really that uncomfortable. It was just a lot of anticipation, it unfolded well and they edited it pretty well.

So you weren’t going to get Spike Jonze involved?

No, (laughs) I think he’s going to stay over at Girl. I don’t think Rick Howard would be too happy about that! (laughs)

Where did you draw the line with the scenario ideas?

Actually they just wanted us to be ourselves. For me, they originally had the idea that my tattoos would disappear when I wake up in the morning, and then they decided to do it where I would disappear because I do that a lot, I don’t like big dinners and stuff. But we didn’t use all my footage because some of it came out kind of grainy, but what we used is fine. Mine’s kind of short but I’m happy.

Are you happy with your part though?

Yeeeah, I wish it was longer but I’m happy with it. I’m proud of it.

Any funny incidents happen while filming?

Just watching Omar of course is always entertaining. It’s cool, a lot of these guys are my close friends, so we just had the regular times that we do, you know? Just joking around…

In the trailer, there’s that backside flip out into the car.

Oh yeah! That was in Shanghai.

They don’t stop for anyone there!

That was scary, I didn’t see it coming and everyone was yelling at me, “Brian! Stop! Stop! Stop!” and I didn’t hear them. So yeah, I nearly got really hurt or killed!

What’s been you favourite Nike shoe and why? You into the Air Jordans?

You know I didn’t really wear Nikes before I was sponsored by them. When I was a kid sometimes but right now, probably my favourite shoe is the Blazer high. I like it because it’s a thin sole, it doesn’t have the popular Vans stripe that every shoe has nowadays, which is fine. It also hurts my feet but all thin shoes hurt. But I like the Blazer the most because it’s good for manuals and flip tricks.

Do you think Nike with their industry influence could bring back the lace-saver?

I hope not! Maybe they could have an optional one you could install if you want to.

Will we ever see some of your artwork on the limited editions?

Yeah, I think so. I think that’s something we’re working on in the next year actually. Probably I would prefer more just on the insole, you know, because I like the outside of the shoe to look clean, unless it was something tonal, like grey on black- something that’s not so loud. That’s just my personal aesthetic preference.

What are your influences art-wise, or in life in general?

As far as art when I was younger I always liked the graffiti style of Keith Haring– pop stuff. I dunno man, I hate to say it but just real common people. Not common, but just… I wasn’t exposed to much so I have to say stuff like Warhol and stuff. I don’t really study art so much, I just learned about mainstream people. Also, the only other person that comes to my head is Georgia O’Keeffe, I always liked her flower paintings. And I was always inspired by skateboarding like Ethan Fowler, Mark Gonzales, Ben Shroeder’s one of my big idols, so probably mostly Mark and Ben, but nowadays Nick Trepasso.

What are your favourite countries that you’ve been to?

On this tour, Shanghai was really fun. Barcelona was the best because got to skate there, it was warm weather. I love that place, I know the town very well so I don’t need any maps. The train is very easy, so on this tour that was my favourite. In the past, I loved going to Japan, Australia was another favourite place. You know I’ll tell you what I really miss is going on trains all summer long to four or five contests, maybe five years ago. That was so fun and it’s lost, it’s gone now, you know like, Lausanne, Montpellier, and Gemeente, Radlands in Northampton. That whole contest was so fun to just get on the train every five days and go to a new country. I miss that, those were my best memories.

What’s your worst injury you’re ever had?

Real simple things that just, I mean, I have to go knock on wood because I’m real superstitious, hold on… (Brian gets up to touch wall). Recently, I folded my ankle five hours after I got to Paris to do a European tour, and I couldn’t skate for three months. That was in May, almost six months ago now. That was kind of the worst as far as like, it just drained me not being able to skate, it was really depressing.

That’s frustrating.

Yeah, but I just tried to go to the gym and take a lot of vitamins and drink water… and whiskey too.

Are you a bit of a health freak?

(Lights up cigarette) No, I wouldn’t say so. I balance it out. I started smoking these, they don’t have any drugs in them, they’re just straight tobacco. I try to balance it out, but I think I’m pretty good at rebuilding cells after all the damage that I do considering. I’m kind of a primitive person in some ways, in my brain.

Don’t you find it weird that skaters seem to recover quicker than other people?

Yeah, I think it’s just you’re so used to pain. I don’t know, I’ve probably broken and kept skating, and if I got a full body X-ray I’d be really surprised!

Like breaking wrists, carrying on skating, taking a month to get it checked out and finding out it is actually broken!

Yeah! (laughs) I broke it three months ago!

Did you ever think you would be a professional skateboarder?

I didn’t plan on it. I was going to go to a culinary school after I graduated from high school. I went to California with my friends and then I went back to Connecticut where I grew up. My friends in California said, “You should come back out and try and skate! Take some pictures and see what happens”. I said ok, sure. So I went back out, and I ended up skating with Ed Templeton and the rest of the Toy Machine team. Then a couple of months later I sent them a video, and they put me on the team! So it sort of just unfolded.

Lucky break!

Yeah, mostly because of Donny Barley. Actually, completely because of him because he took me to skate wit the Toy Machine team. Ed Templeton was my favourite skater when I was a kid, so I was so psyched to skate with them.

What did you do at college?

I didn’t go. I went to go look at the campus, and I was going to go to culinary school because I used to cook for a long time just in this one restaurant. So I only really learned how to cook really fast, I didn’t learn many techniques or anything, I just learnt how to put a lot of food out and not lose your shit.

Yeah, I’ve done that before!

Yeah, so I really thought I was going to do that. I’m still interested in it.

So possibly going back to chef school then?

Maybe! I think maybe more graphic design or something, like trying to work in skateboarding. Maybe just charity, like just trying to help homeless people or drug addicts or something, you know. Maybe in another country, I don’t know yet, I’ll see what happens.

The drug addicts and homeless thing, you get to see that a lot through skating. Have you seen any really horrible things that have shocked you?

Um, yeah. I live in San Francisco, I’ve seen dead homeless people being covered up by police with a sheet in the morning, and seeing people just… fucking everything we’ve all seen as skateboarders, you know, people shooting drugs in their arm while your skating, they’re like right next to you. Almost falling off your skateboard and landing a foot away from a needle, you see it a lot. Yeah, just everything you see more sketchy stuff. You see people get hit by cars, all kinds of stuff in the city. But you know, that’s part of life I guess.

Last time we interviewed you we asked what you thought of the current state of American politics – you said you declared a preference for Nader. Who gets your vote in 2008?

Erm… John Stewart. (laughs) He’s not running, but he’s my favourite! It’s so hard to say right now, there’s nobody I really care for. I thought I was going to be excited about Hilary Clinton, but she really seems pretty fake right now. She answers her questions with laughter when she’s intimidated, and err, I don’t know who to trust just yet. I guess I’ll decide in the last few months, I have to really look into it in the next year.

Do feel skateboarders should be more interested in politics?

Yeah, it would be nice. I definitely understand why not- a lot of kids that skateboard, maybe half of them, I don’t know the percentage, probably come from a bad home or something and they’re not stimulated or aware. But that’s the cool thing about taking care of some of the young kids that come into it, you know. That’s the really cool thing about Girl, we have some younger kids and they go on tour with us and I feel real happy with the way we treat them, and keep them comfortable and grounded. That’s why we choose the people we do too, you know. We have this kid Sean Malto who’s just a really nice kid, and Mike Mo. So yeah, it would be nice if people cared a little more, but I guess that people in rock ‘n’ roll don’t give a shit, and art and all kinds of genres. I just hope for the best, man.

You mentioned Sean Malto; he’s absolutely exploding right now. He blew the kids away at the Southbank Girl demo. Is there anyone else coming up right now, or is Sean the man?

I think, and I’m not just saying this because he skates for Girl, but I think he’s the best right now. He’s really gifted and he’s so humble. He’s just such a really well balanced kid, so I’m really happy for him. Mike Mo too, you know, but Sean can skate transition and stuff a little more, so he’s super well rounded. But Mike Mo- he’s on another level. Aside from people like that that are on my teams, I really like Nick Trepasso- I can’t say enough. He’s my favourite; I hope he keeps going with what he is. And I’m really proud of Omar [Salazar] too. Omar got hurt, he left Foundation, or they kicked him off, and I’m just so proud of him because I think Alien Workshop is a great company, so I’m excited he gets to be with Heath [Kirchart] and Anthony Van Engelen and all, it’s amazing. And also because Habitat’s in there, it’s cool, he gets to be with Stefan [Janoski].

So you’re looking forward to the Habitat video as well?

Yeah, definitely, and I would really like to compliment them on their advertising. It’s so clean- I don’t get too excited about a lot of other skateboard companies, so I’m really excited to see it. Recently I was influenced by a Fred Gall interview because he had a lot of problems, you know, and I’m excited to see his skateboarding because I was amazed by him when I was a kid and now he’s skateboarding a lot again, and he’s cleaning his life up. I love all those guys, they’re so sick- Silas, Danny Garcia, Tim O’Connor, so I’m really looking forward to their video. Kerry Getz is an old friend of mine, so yeah.

The Nike video has obviously taken up a lot of your time recently. Have you got any other projects lined up, or are you going to take a break?

Skate. Mental. I’m trying to film a full part, I’m gonna help Brad [Staba]. I’m still going to skate for Girl but I want to have a full video part, and me and Brad are gonna make a Skate Mental video. We already filmed some skits and stuff, so that’ll be cool because Reese [Forbes] will be in it, and Mike Carroll and Howard and everybody’s excited about it so I think there’ll be other tricks in it too from guys on Girl and Chocolate, so the focus will be Skate Mental but there’ll be a big Girl/Chocolate family part in there too I think, so it should be a really fine video. We’re probably gonna do whatever the fuck we want and not worry about rights, and not make it so huge so maybe we’ll just use some really good songs I think! (laughs)

Choose your own songs?

Yeah, I got to do that with Nike actually. I worked on a song with Mark Mothersbaugh, but I was only there for a day and it’s just too quick to make a tune. It ended up not working out but they used it for another section in the video, but fortunately with our incredibly generous budget they were able to buy the rights to some really good music for the video, so that is so crucial to the mood and feel, so I’m really happy with the music we got.

Is music another passion for you? Who are your favourite bands at the moment?

Lately, rollerskating 80’s music a lot, I love that stuff, and Sheila E, I’ve been listening to her a little bit. I’ve been listening to The Strokes a lot again because they’re no longer a band and not popular, so I like to hear it. I wish I didn’t have to hear Amy Winehouse every time I went to the bar, that gets on my nerves! But I think that girl’s really talented too, it’s such a bummer when music gets blown up right away so quick. I was watching a programme last night and they were talking about when you start off at the top there’s almost nowhere else to go but down, so it’s hard to make a second record. I’ve been listening to Neil Young ‘On The Beach’ a lot lately. It recently came out on disc; it was only on record before, it’s an excellent album. Oh jeez, I don’t know, Stevie Nicks, of course from Fleetwood Mac. Oh yeah! I have this Stevie Nicks tattoo (rolls up his sleeve to show portrait tattoo)

No way!

Yeah, “Gold Dust Woman”! Fuck man, I don’t know, Def Leppard, Nas, Wu-Tang and Lil’ Wayne, I could listen to endless Lil’ Wayne all day, he’s my favourite.

(A waitress walks up asking if we want any wine)

Do you drink at all?

A lot! That’s why I’m not drinking these past three days because this whole trip we’ve been drinking on the airplane so we can sleep, and after Barcelona I woke up and decided to try and just take a break. So, it’s been three days now!

Barcelona does that to me too. Every time I’ve gone there, it’s just been a haze of booze and skating!

Yeah! And it’s good because you skate good! I wake up every day and skate all the booze out, and sweat and drink water.

It’s the only way to cure a hangover

Yeah! (laughs) But once 7 o’clock comes and the street beers come out, you’re just drinking Estrella’s then a whole other session of skating starts at Macba.

I love it there when guys come round selling you cans of beer for a Euro, you don’t even have to go anywhere to get it!

Like when you get out the club that happens too!

Anyway, tattoos. Have they always been a big part of your life? Where was your first tattoo and what was it?

My first tattoo is a cross on my right ankle when me and like five friends all did it when we were like 15 because we knew our parents wouldn’t see it because we could cover it with our sock! (laughs) And then my second one… I’m not gonna go through them all but I’ll tell you the second one (laughs)… the second one is cool too. Me and my friends used to do tattoos on each other while we watched Saturday Night Live, and I was gonna do The Clash. So one weekend we did ‘The’ and we did a little asterisk, and the next weekend I was like “What if I don’t like The Clash when I’m 50?” So, I said, “Just make it say ‘The End'”. I think I always wanted them because when I was a kid I was really into The Stray Cats, and that’s how I became fascinated by the whole sailor jerry style tattoos. They had someone help them with their image, that’s why they got all those tattoos I think, that rockabilly sailor style. And I think my grandfather had a few, they feel comfortable to me. I feel like if I didn’t have them, I would want them, so no regrets. I have a couple of messy ones that need to be touched up but other than that. I’m working on my whole back in the next year, that’s gonna be fun with a good friend of mine.

Hours and hours!

Yeah, I think it takes about 20 hours, more than that.

Going back to the pain thing; are tattoos that much of a pain?

Yeah, they hurt! I mean, on your… yeah, they hurt still. More than skating sometimes, because when you get hurt on your skateboard it’s quick then you walk away, but when you get a tattoo it’s pain for 3 hours straight. It still hurts, I don’t like to take pills but I did recently for one tattoo I took a pill, it was a little better. But there’s no way around it, they always hurt.

Have you got any you regret?

Not what the actual tattoo is, but just the artist that did them. Like one of my first ones, he did a messy job but I can get it touched up. Other than that, no, I’ve been really lucky. My friends Jeff Whitehead and Jim Lehigh did amazing work so I’m really happy.

The video premiere tonight; it’s a big event. Are you expecting a good reaction?

Yeah, I’m excited about it. It’s been interesting being in other countries and stuff with different languages being on screen and subtitles. It’s totally fun, don’t get me wrong, it hasn’t been any problem or anything but this will also be interesting. I think also just walking around after and eavesdropping and hearing people’s thoughts. It’s kind of long and stuff, but it’s a big team so. But the skating’s really good and I’m proud of it, I hope everybody likes it!

Any last shout outs, or hellos you want to say to people?

Everybody here that’s helped organise this. I know it take s a lot of work, a lot of emails, a lot phone calls and I’m sure Seb’s been real busy. And everyone at Nike and all the skaters for supporting it. It’s been great, I hope everyone likes it.