crossfire interview – Caught in the Crossfire

Interview by James Brewer – Portrait by Tim Borrow – Thanks to Tom Gillespie for Ryan’s full Gnargore section.

The Black Country’s most notorious crew; Gnargore released their latest scene video ‘Kickflip and Friends‘ this month, so to commemorate this massive moment in skateboarding history James Brewer sat down with A Third Foot flo-rida (boots with the fur?) Ryan Price who has been going hard in the proverbial paint for this latest visual offering.

Ryan’s a humble lad, always really grateful for any praise he gets, but once you get to know him he is a classic pisstaker and can spend a full day picking his target and trying to break them down. He hasn’t always been like this. When I first met him at a comp at Worcester’s Perdiswell skatepark, I saw a kid who was silent and about 5ft 4″ with massive, curly hair doing early grabs. Unlike most kids though he was set up with an 8″ Creature board and Indy’s which was a refreshing change from the Wet Willy/Grind King combo I had become so used to seeing. Watching him skate impressed me for a kid of his age, carving round the bowl. It was great to see. Since that day he hasn’t stopped impressing me, and in 2011 he was finally noticed by some of his peers and the flow started.

I called Ryan up a week before the Gnargore premiere while he was on a trip in Bristol and decided to bombard him with questions to see how he’d react (he’s not so good in these situations). So here it is the result of talking to a sometimes socially awkward, yet brilliantly talented Ryan Price.

Hey up Ryan, how’s life?

I’m good thanks. I’ve just been skating loads out and about in Bristol, skating some streets and a mini ramp.

So before we get too ahead of ourselves, give me the standard issue intro.

My name’s Ryan Price, I’m 18, I’m from Stourport in Worcestershire and I ride for A Third Foot.

For a kid from a relatively unknown town that is predominantly known locally for being a bit of a ‘fairground town’ how did you even start skateboarding?

Erm, I’m not sure. There was a mini ramp down the road from my house, so I had a go and stuck to it. I looked up to Luke Kindon who was a few years older than me in my town. These days we’re good mates and now we both ride for A Third Foot, it’s rad!

Stourport’s got a bit of a reputation as a pikey town, sometimes we like to wind you up and say we can see the pikey coming out in you. Have you ever had any trouble with the gypsies?

I never had much trouble as I grew up with them, scraps here and there though. Once I was outside the chippy, this gypsy grabbed me round the neck and I dropped my chips. So he felt bad, gave me a pound to get some more. I got some, then he wanted his money back! Haha! That’s about the worst of it though, it’s not so bad.

Every wall is there for the ride. Photo by Tim Borrow.

When you first started out you seemed to totally skip the ‘grom’ stage and just went straight at it will 8″+ boards and a need for speed instead of ledge dancing. What inspired you to be like that?

The first video I saw was the Creature video that was double disk; Born Dead and Black Metal that came with Sidewalk. So I always just skated ramp. Skating fast is something that never scares me, it’s easier to bail out at speed. Going slow is way scarier. When I skate street going fast is easier. Like when your going fast you can just fly out of it and not hurt yourself.

Not long after there was a Facebook petition for you to be ‘on Gnargore’?

Yeah I was real stoked on that. That was Joel who was on Gnargore set that up, and it was amazing. So after that I started going out filming with them and after that filmed a part for Wizard Council.

For those who don’t know (how dare you!) what is Gnargore?

It’s a bunch of mates who skate and make videos. I love it. It means a lot to me – skating with my best mates and having a laugh.

What’s your favourite memory of being a member of Gnargore.

Making Denning sour. Just ripping it into him. About how/when we get to a spot he sits in his car, turns his heaters on and smokes weed instead of skating. Haha! It’s just banter though, all a good laugh! Haha!

You had the opening section in the last Gnargore video ‘Wizard Council’ was that you first part?

Yeah that was my first part. It was fun. I didn’t really have an idea of how I wanted it to look, I just filmed anything and everything. Dan Jordan pretty much choreographed my section, down to the point I’ve even got clips with his leather jacket and bandana on!

Mind the Gap. Ph: Tim Borrow

How has filming been for the latest video Kickflip and Friends? From a slight insider view I think there has been a bit more pressure as everyone wanted to step up a gear.

It’s been similar to the last one. I’m more stoked on my footage for this part though. We just head out every Sunday and listen to Dan Jordan moan until we do something and even then he’ll say it’s shit. It’s fun!

Midway through filming you got on A Third Foot, how did that happen?

Erm, it was mainly from Luke Kindon, Tom Gillespie and Dan Jordan filming me and taking it in to show Ken. I used to go in and buy boards direct, then one day I went in to get one and Ken said they were gonna start flowing me boards. I was so stoked. I went skating straight after and then off to the pub to celebrate.

Ryan also loves picking his nose. Photo thanks to Matt Thomas.

I heard a story not so long ago about you punching a pigeon mid flight? Care to discuss that at all?

I went to the Churchdown comp and won £75, but Tom Carr had drove me and broke his foot so he couldn’t take me back. So I just went to Bristol and hung out with those guys and celebrated. The night was nuts. We ended up at some club, we were all drunk and rowdy, some bloke tried to start a fight with us all of us for no real reason, then we were heading back and decided to drop sand bags and rocks on an empty tramps tent from a bridge. When we got back into Andy’s flat, we were in the hallway and this pigeon was flying around. We were chasing it and as it flew towards me, I just punched the air and it happened to clock him out, stone cold on the floor. I was really sad. I didn’t wanna kill it. I like animals so it was pure coincidence.

So what’s next for Ryan Price? Is there anyone out there you want to thank?

I dunno, I’m just gonna keep skateboarding. Once the Gnargore part is out there’s talk of an A Third Foot video, so i’ll film a part for that. Big thanks to Gnargore, A Third Foot, Luke Kindon, Tom Carr, NOT DAN JORDAN, Ideal Skateshop, Parslow, Tribe Night Club, that’s it I think.

Gnargore’s brand new DVD ‘Kickflip and Friends‘ is out now and available to pick up for £5 from gnargore.bigcartel.com Watch Ryan’s full section from it here and pick one up.

To embed this video on Facebook, copy and paste this link: http://bcove.me/jrndmuoc

Every year, this guys turns up at our Crossfire events, rips beyond belief and leaves with a smile on his face at the end of the day with some free stuff. This has gone on now for about 4 years in a row, so we decided to check in with Manuel Lopez this month and find out exactly who he is.

Photos: Jamie Harold
Video: Filmed and edited by Josh Clarke

Let’s kick this off with this slam that opens this edit of yourself and friends below, you took a good one there!

This happened when I went to Geneva with Josh Clarke to chill out with some friends and film. We went to this new spot that no one had skated. It was a flat hubba with 7 foot drop after. I went for a back 5-0 and it for a first try, it grinded alright. Then I went for a line to film and do a back 5-0 at the end. The only problem was that there was a big chip in the ledge that I hooked up on. So I went flying and landed on my arm, ribs and face and was winded! When I was in the air, it felt like this has already happened and I could have sworn I dreamt about it. My chin didn’t stop bleeding, but after a day it closed up on its own and was gone within 2 weeks. It was definitely the gnarliest slam I have ever taken!

How often do you bail out of tricks in that fashion, are you foot to the pedal in general, or are you a bit more concise about your approach to tricks at speed?

I take a lot of nasty slams unfortunately, but never bad enough to break something. I have been really lucky so far. I’m not afraid of going fast at all though. I knew I was going too slow, but for some reason I went for it anyway. Oh, and I’m learning to do the signature Daryl Dominguez Ninja Roll out of every bail to bounce back up without getting hurt too!

You have always showed up at the Crossfire events and got amongst it in the pro jam. If you were to create your own skate event, what would you roll out for everyone?

I would organise a best trick on the hip to hubba because no one ever skates that. Or, I would create a new obstacle that no one has ever seen or skated before- it would have to be something gnarly like a big ass driveway gap into a handrail or hubba. It would be good to see a best trick event at the Ladbroke grove 10-set or see who can get the best line at St. Paul’s Nightrider 6 and 5 set – obviously I would skate in it too!

So, you’re definitely not one of those skaters who think that comps and jams suck then?

Nah…I like to participate, but I don’t care if I win or lose. I love the hype you get and it’s an opportunity to try crazy shit.

Should Bay Sixty 6 Skatepark close down to become a garden centre?

NO WAY!

What does that skatepark bring to your local London skate community?

Well, it’s the place where I met other skaters that have sponsors and skaters that don’t and it’s a fun place to chill and try new stuff. I love cruising around in that park and having a session on certain parts of the park.

What about tunes, what music stokes you?

I’m a really big Biggie fan so all his music and anything that sets the mood for the trick you’re trying. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Kid Cudi, Jimi Hendrix, AC/DC – just anything that pumps me up. I love listening to chilled out music too, but not when I’m skating. It all depends on my mood really. I’ll listen and give a chance to just about anything no matter what genre and if I like it I will put that shit on my iPod and jam out.

I have never understood people who skate and listen to music as I believe that grinding andsliding is part of the music of skateboarding, do you miss it when you skate with your cans on?

I only listen to music in skate parks and when I’m filming a line, but when I’m going for something bigger I need to concentrate more. I don’t use headphones that block out the sound, so I can hear everything. I hate it when I can’t hear the pop of my board.

So, you have traveled a fair bit. How many countries have you lived in?

I’ve lived in 4 different countries, skated in 3. I was born and raised in Canada then I moved to Hong Kong for 2 years. That’s where I started skating. Then I lived in Geneva, Switzerland for 4 years- where skateboarding really happened for me. I then moved to London and fell in love with the skate scene here so I’ve got no plans to go anywhere anytime soon.

London can certainly have that affect on people. So what happens with sponsors if you travel so much?

My sponsors at the moment are based in Geneva. Right now I’m riding for a skate shop called Doodah, it’s the biggest skateshop in Switzerland and I’ve been on them since I was 15, so for over 3 years now. I also ride for Matix Switzerland and I get flowed Thunder Trucks and Spitfire Wheels. I used to ride for Adio but then the whole team went down the drain. The European team got kicked a lot sooner than the pro team, so I had my last order last July.

So how does skating in London compare to skating in the other places you’ve lived?

Well, I came from 2 places that had the most perfect and cleanest spots. Hong Kong is all marble. Security can be tight there but at some places they don’t really care and the pavements are really smooth in Geneva. There are a couple of grimy spots but most of them are absolutely perfect. Nobody hassles you for skating- it’s one of the best places in the world to skate, but nobody knows it.

London has a larger variety of spots. Especially a lot of stairs, which I need to work on haha! There are not that many handrails, and the ones that are here are pretty gnarly so it feels really good when you get a trick on them. It sucks that the most perfect spots have the most tight security in the city, like Liverpool St and Cabot Square in Canary Wharf.

By the looks of what people have seen of you online you have built up a pretty tight crew. Who do you usually skate with on a weekly basis?

I usually skate with Daryl Dominguez, Evan Knight, Jamal Bendriss and of course Josh Clarke is always around to film it all. Whenever I go back to Geneva (which is usually every couple of months) I skate with the homies over there.

So how long have you been working on this Fresh Blood?

I was asked to do it about a month ago but I included a bit of old footage which I filmed over the summer holidays. One of the days I was out with a photographer so I banged out 3 NBD’s in about 2 hours which gave me the confidence to front smith that High Street Kensington rail in 3 tries.

What’s the story behind that?

I’d seen the rail before in footy, so warmed up on the 8 stair rail on the other side (that isn’t a bust) and got a front board on that. As soon as I landed that, we took all the equipment straight to the 12 and when I got up there I didn’t realize how high the rail really was, so I went for it and jumped and ran onto the rail. Then the second try I popped too much and went into lip slide and went straight to my heels, but I had to do it that day or I wouldn’t have done it on another.

When I was up there the security guard came out and starting tripping out, shouting at me ‘Don’t go! I’m calling the Police!”, so I just told him ‘No, I got this!’ – put down my board, rolled up to it, popped and locked into the smith pretty early in the rail and rolled away. There were a bunch of pedestrians watching so when I landed it they all congratulated me and we just grabbed the equipment and got the hell out of there!

You just won a best trick comp recently at an event that Gonz was at, stoked on that?

Yeah. I just went down to watch, not compete, and then there was a best trick contest for everyone to participate in. I waited till the last 5 min and they gave everyone 5 tries and still no one landed anything on the main obstacle, so on my 3rd try I pulled away with a 5-0 Varial Flip out. To be honest I was just lucky that no one landed anything. Haha!

What came in the package, a tent on the beach?!

Yeah, 3 nights! I stayed in a hotel and I got a pair of shoes and some clothes. The trip went really well and it was a lot of fun because my girlfriend came along but I wasn’t skating too good and just kept eating shit and taking out my shins and knees and ankles! I was at the Amsterdam AM contest about a week before Barcelona and met the Minor Media guys from the Berrics, Steven Webb and Clint Peterson, so we all went out filming together when we arrived in Barcelona, then flew back to Geneva for some more filming and visit friends. Great trip.

Knowing the street riots in London are a major talking point this week, what do you think of the British youth uprising?

The riots are complete bullshit! Haha! People think that skaters are scum and up to no good- look at these hooligans! It has just a reason to steal stuff and get away with it while the Police stand there and do nothing!

Have you seen this type of reaction in the other countries you have lived in?

Yeah, this stuff happens all the time. It’s the second time I have been in the City where it’s kicking off, but it has never lasted this long.

If you were the Prime Minister, how would you tackle the problem the Police have on their hands this week?

Honestly, the Police need to start growing some balls and take these kids out because they are now hurting innocent people and ruining businesses and peoples homes. I’m not saying kill them of course, but they need to take them out and put them all behind bars! If this keeps going on more people are going to keep getting hurt and lose what they have worked hard for.

let’s wrap this up. What plans do you have for the future?

I finished school at the end of May so i’m now able to really focus on skateboarding. I hope to get hooked up in the UK and transfer into the Matix UK team from the Swiss team, because I think that it will definitely push me to progress even more. I’m working on 2 video parts at the moment. One of them with the company Cesarprod and the other, an independent film that Josh has just started working on that Daryl Dominguez, Kyron Davis, Luka Pinto, and many more will be in. Look out for that soon.

Any last words?

I’d like to give a shout out to all the homies and the chickas. You know who you are ;)