13
LIFEGA
BEACH
Skate At
Your Own Ris
HOT
SHOES
All-around slash demon Wade Speyer has stormed out of his
hometown, Danville, California, to make a big impression in his
first pro season. Whether in the street, pool, mini or vert, Wade
skates with speed and power, and his lip work is legendary.
K.T. recently managed to take a peek at Wade's World...
What's the average day in the life of
Wade Speyer?
Wake up, take a shower, go to school,
either go to work at The Bullpen, a
skate/sport shop, or go to the warehouse
and skate till 9:00, then go home, do my
homework and go to bed.
How are you doing in school?
Pretty good, C's and B's.
What skaters do you look up to?
I liked watching videos of Jeff Phillips
and Chris Miller. Dave Warne is a Danville
local who rips.
Who do you skate with?
Kendall, Corey O'Brien, Caballero, Ross
Goodman and the guys at the San Jose
warehouse. Dave Scurale, Dave Warne,
John Harris and Ray Dillon in Danville.
When did you first start skating?
This older guy I used to hang out with let
me ride his banana board. Another guy,
Brian Cooper, used to leave his
skateboard behind his garage. I'd go there,
get it, ride it in my court and then take it
back. I was in the second grade at the time.
Are you working on any tricks now?
Melanchollies, feeble-to-fakies, ping
pongs over the spine to shuffle. Mainly I
just try to go fast. I'll have four or five tricks
that I know I'm going to do and then from
there I'll make up something.
Do you ever burn yourself out skating?
Yes, lots of times. Like on tour when I
wake up early, look at my watch, then listen
to James (Muir) going, "It's time to take
showers and go eat," and we're still sitting
in bed all sore from the day before.
SPEYER
How has your rookie year on the pro
tour been so far?
It's fun, I like it. Everyone that was in the
amateur thing last year are all pro now, so
it's not like it seems any different, aside
from skating with Christian and Chris
(Miller) and everyone-that's different.
What's your favorite type of skating?
Vert. On the road I like Phillips'
skatepark-the bowl is rad. At home I
usually skate the warehouse. I learn new
tricks on the mini-ramp and then try to learn
them on vert. I feel sort of schleppy since I
broke my leg after Texas. I broke it at
Bryce's ramp, stepping off my board in the
flatbottom. Now I'm re-learning some tricks
all over again.
Do you like contests?
Contests are rad. Right before my run I
feel all funny, a tingly feeling, then once I
drop in and everyone's yelling I feel good.
You don't hear the music anymore. When
you make your whole run you're stoked.
Sometimes I'll do more hairball stuff just
practicing than I will in a contest.
What's the gnarliest thing you have ever
pulled off in skateboarding?
In San Ramon I ollied from parking lot to
parking lot-that was pretty far. Over a
bush in the rain in the dark. I slid out onto
my butt then hit a curb.
Describe what skating feels like to you.
Skating feels rad because you can get
all crazy on a skateboard and no one tells
you, "No, you can't do that," you just do it.
There isn't any set way you have to skate,
no standards.
I JUST
TRY
TO GO
FAST.