Who do you skate with?
When I'm home I like to
skate with Guy, Hency and
whoever is around at the
time, but I don't like to wait
around so I'll often go off on
my own. I like to do my own
thing, but I enjoy skating
with those guys. When I'm
away I like to skate with
young Carroll and Sean.
What beliefs do you have?
Just real things and being
true to myself.
What music do you like?
I enjoy listening to classics
like the Beatles, Elton John,
and some hip hop, like Del
Tha Funkee Homosapien.
What do you like to do
besides skateboarding?
I like to go on road trips,
do different things, and if
fishing is available, I defi-
nitely like to get into that. I
also like reading and enjoy
entertainment.
What bothers you?
People that eat sweet
potatoes with a straight face
and pretend they enjoy it.
What makes you happy?
Being with my family.
Do you think skating has
gotten too competitive?
Yes, primarily on the busi
ness side.
What are the advantages
of being a pro skater?
Being able to sleep in,
being able to travel around
free of expense and being
pimped by your sponsor.
How do you feel being in
the spotlight as a pro?
"I'm not a role model,
parents should be the role
model," as Charles Barkley
would say. I feel sometimes
that I have a responsibility at
demos to at least be kind.
Generally, I don't have a
problem with anyone, but if
someone goes out of their
way to give me a hard time
then in return it's no prob
lem for me to return the
favor right back.
Who do you respect?
I respect Charles Barkley
because he doesn't give a
shit about the media and
he's a person just like any-
body else and he'll come
right out and say it. As far
as those with skating abili-
ties that would have to be
Mike Carroll, Guy Mariano
and Salman Agah, although
I rarely see him.
Do you find yourself sign
ing autographs these days?
Internationally I do, like
in Japan and overseas, but
at most demos in the States
kids just want to see you
skate. It's weird because
nowadays they'll want to
see you skate but they won't
give any response. Some
times they just sit there.
What's your most memo
rable tour story?
Last summer I went on a
European tour with Danny,
Colin and Mike, and we'd
egg everyone in sight. In
England, this distributor kid
who wanted to be down
threw an egg and ended up
hitting this innocent young
girl straight in the face and
she had to go to the hospi
tal. The cops were after us
through three cities. We'd
check into a hotel, stay the
night and they'd just miss us
come check-out time. They
would call ahead to the next
city and miss us each time. It
doesn't pay to be down.
What was the last bad
thing that was good?
When I was fourteen, one
of my buddies said he'd
found an ID filled with little
hits of acid. I didn't believe
it because at the time I was
so young and I had no idea
what acid looked like. He
handed me some and the
next day in school I was pick-
ing my teeth with it and next
thing I know, the teacher
was eight feet tall. Every
thing was weird, I was hallu
cinating and I couldn't see
straight. Hours went by and
I was still a mess. I never did
drugs thereafter because
that really freaked me out.
What's wrong in the world?
I think the media is fucked
because it exposes people
to things that they are so
unaware of. For instance
they report on carjackings,
graffiti, or other violence,
and it gives people in other
areas ideas to commit those
same crimes. People catch
onto things easily when they
are shown on television,
Who'd you like to thank?
My family for their sup-
port. They've been behind
me the whole way.
42 T
An innovator and a gentleman,
Superfly (left) rolls an inside heelflip at a
Gardena schoolyard. Despite his modern
mastery, Rick (above) believes tricks
don't have to be technical to be fun.
43