52
So, where are you from?
I was born in Marin in the SF Bay Area,
then moved to Kauai, Hawaii, when I was
an infant because my parents wanted to
get away from the daily rat race.
How was it living there?
Boring. For me it was the best place to
spend the first twelve years of my life. It's
a great en
it environment for a kid to play soc
cer, BMX or surf, but I just grew out of it
When did you return to California?
After
er sixth grade. By 1
y that time my par-
ents had separated. My mom wanted mo
to live with my dad in Grass Valley
because she thought I might get a better
education in California.
Well, did you?
Oh, definitely, no question. I was no A
student, but I learned more here than 1
ever would have in the Hawaiian educa
tion system. I did junior high in GV then
went to Santa Cruz for high school.
How did you get into skating?
The summer I made the move back
over here I made some friends who were
skaters a couple years older then me and
I'd borrow their boards all the time. I just
found skating to be one of the few things
in my life that makes me feel really good
inside. I don't question it or overanalyze
it like everything else in my life. I skate
for the feeling of accomplishment, a way
to vent frustration and the challenge. I
feal the most alive when I'm skating and
having a good time with my friends.
How do you feel about all the politics
involved in skateboarding?
It's fucked up. It's the dregs of skate.
boarding, the absolute lowest point of
something that's meant to be fun and
pure. It's sad how if you ride for certain
RAGE
BUS
STOP
PA.COM
He saw it, he painted it, he noseslid it. Jaya Bonderov (top), Pacific Heights, SF.
Switchstance 360 doubleflip (sequence) on the little bank at Fort Miley.
companies you're either "cool" or "cut"
or you'll get coverage in certain publica
tions or not. In my opinion, this type of
shit has no place in skateboarding.
But won't that always be there?
Of course, there will always be some
one trying to monopolize on skating.
What do when you're not skating?
Listen to music, go to used record
stores, trade my old music for stuff I
don't have. I also like to watch good
movies, hang out with my friends, go to
shows, whatever's going on.
Do you want to thank anyone?
I'd like to thank my parents for being
so supportive in whatever I choose to do,
my friends for being there, NHS, Venture,
Airwalk, Joel Gomez from Sessions and
the Skateworks family.
Buy Race Wheels so Eric can get a bus pass. Call for info 415 822-7141