MIKE
YOUSSEFPOUR
START
WITH VERT.
THAT'S THE
MOST
IMPORTANT
42 THRASHER MAGAZINE
THING.
After seven years of hardcore skating.
this nineteen-year-old Del Mar, CA ramp
ripper is ready to rock the pro ranks.
Naughty Thrash man John Dettman caught
up with Mike recently and gave him the
third degree treatment...
Who got you into skating?
My cousin Paul. He was younger than
me and he skated. Then my friends Doug
and Derek started skating too and we really
got into it.
How do you set up your board?
I always put an HF sticker on my
skateboard. Those are my girlfriend's
initials. I feel like I won't be able to skate
without it. And I always put a Jason Jessee
and a Chris Miller graphic on my
skateboard or I can't skate to my fullest.
Who do you like to skate with?
I like skating with the locals in Carlsbad:
Derek Williams, Jordan Richter, Shawn
Andres, all the locals.
Do you have any superstitions?
If I see a penny on the ground I have to
flip it over; it has to be heads up.
Are your parents supportive of your
skating?
Yeah. My dad goes to all the local
contests. My mom would rather have me
go to college, but she acts like she's
supportive because she's my mom.
What vert tricks are you working on?
I like doing air-to-fakies. I like to push
that, go higher. I like hitting my tail a lot.
too. It feels good to go 'whack' with your
tail. When I get angry I do that and it makes
me feel better.
Is life different now that you're pro?
Things aren't any different. I'm still the
same person. I'm stoked that I get paid
now. I'm putting all my effort into it, I'm
getting paid for it, so it's my job. It's good.
Is your body in good shape?
Yeah. I don't smoke, I don't do anything.
I'm starting to build up some endurance.
What do you do besides skate?
I hang out with my girlfriend a lot. She
goes to school and works, so when she's
not in that and I'm not skating we're with
each other. I don't do much else besides
skate. I don't go to school, I just wake up
and I lie in my room. I like watching movies
on HBO at night sometimes.
What non-skaters do you admire?
I like Al Bundy. He's funny. Angus Young.
Bon Scott. The only band I like is AC/DC,
because all other bands only have a few
good songs, but anything with Bon Scott I
can enjoy. I only have AC/DC albums. I
have a Saturday Night Fever album too.
Are you going to the top?
I don't know; I just want to do well. I want
to feel like I am skating my best.
What do you think of the world
situation?
I know nothing of it. I know that people
should stop using spray deodorant
because it's ruining our ozone layer. I'm not
into all this peace-type stuff.
Any closing comments?
Start with vert. That's the most important.
thing. Not that the other stuff isn't
important, but vert is the best. That's what
keeps me skating.
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