When did you first start skateboarding?
When I was six years old. That's when I started
going to skateparks, but I skated before that just
on the streets. I went to Lakewood Skatepark.
My dad took me there because he knew I liked
skating. I wasn't into anything else, so when he
found out, he took me there.
Did you used to ride the bowls?
The Monster Bowl? That was towards the end.
At first they just had that little halfpipe.
You've always been into vert and bowl riding.
and then street. How did you advance?
My first sponsor was this company, Illusion,
would stick onto one thing, like lip tricks or airs.
Some skaters are real rad, but then again, if you
think about it, there was never really any skater
that was totally awesome at one thing and
looked okay at the other. If they're real good at
lip tricks, they probably did really lame airs. Then
they would say, "Aw, if you don't skate a pool,
you're a wimp, or whatever. And skaters now.
say, "If you don't skate switchstance, you're cut."
It's funny because it's just a matter of if you want
to put the time into it, that's all it is.
Do you put the time into it?
Well, I don't really want to. I've seen some
met a skater, it was more like, "Hey dude, you
skate?" I'd meet a dude on the street, go to his
house and we'd just build a ramp or something.
Now it's more like, "Oh, what do you do, what
tricks?" It's just trippy
Like you have to prove yourself?
Yeah, or just even to fit in. A long time ago, it
was more like you were a misfit or an outcast. It
was like, "You skate? Aw, me too, dude," and
you'd know you'd get shit from everyone. But
nowadays, it's more like you've got to look nice,
they're like little Websters or Gary Colemans.
Like that 60/40 commercial, "Give me this, give
with Rob Magii. Me and Jason Lee got spon- skaters who skate now, and I noticed people me that," that's what a lot of the skaters look
sored skating down at the Huntington
Pier. It was Action Sports.
Didn't Magii do the streetplants?
Yeah, he was cool. I used to hang out
with Jason back then, and we used to go
down to Huntington, to the Pier, because
it was big, and he went down there and
skated with us. And then by the end of
the day we were eating at Taco Bell and
he's all, "I've never skated with amateurs
that were better than me. Do you guys
want to get sponsored?" We were just
all, "Yeah."
So, from that sponsorship with him and
Action Sports, then what?
Then I wasn't sponsored for a while
because we stopped talking to him, and
then Eddie Gomez, this dude that lived
by me, got me on Epic.
How were the early days with Rocco?
It was cool. He would take us all to con-
tests and treated us real good.
You and Jeremy were like the OGs. And
Jef and Jesse too?
And Randy Colvin, Steve Robert and
Chris Branaugh. We were tight.
How did you hook up with Jeremy Klein?
I knew him before. It was funny because we
got sponsored the same week. I used to skate at
this place in Huntington Beach where they had
jump ramps and everything, and I met Jeremy
there. But then I found out he lived by me, and I
would always joke around with him and play
games. So then he knew pretty much that I was
a joker. Then I told him, "Hey, I got on SMA,"
and he goes, "No way." See, I didn't know that
he was sponsored by them either, so it was just
funny, we both got on at the same time. He just
thought that I was messing around because I'd
always mess around.
Who do you skate with currently?
that didn't look like they rode that way. I knew
people who would learn how to skate, then after
a while they go, "Man, I'm a goofy-footer," and
they would skate regular. So I think a lot of
skaters maybe they need to do that because
they look lame the other way.
like. Not knocking the midgets, but that's what I
see, just a bunch of little freaks.
Do you ever worry about fitting in?
Nah, that's what I was saying, because
that's why I like skating. It just changes. I
guess people are into it for different rea-
sons, but I was always into it because it
was something individual.
How has skating changed since back
when you were a sponsored am?
It's the same in a way. When I got into
skating, it was punk because it was all
urban or whatever. The backyard ramp
scene, a bunch of kids, or whatever. And
now it's the same, but now it's rap. And
there's more minority kids in it because
before, you wouldn't have money, or if
you stole wood, you'd get busted, so it
would be more white kids. Now because
it's so easy, there's more black kids, and
that's why probably rap's more in.
What do you think the future holds for
skateboarding?
Just fun. If it's no fun, no more skating.
What are your future plans?
Just finish school.
What kind of classes are you taking
right now in school?
A lot of black studies courses because that's
what I major in. That's about it, just finish school,
and keep skating.
How have your parents been?
They've always been supportive, but they're
So you like to just skate whatever comes nat both educators, so school was always important.
ural to you?
Yeah, but I don't dis switchstance, it's rad.
What skaters do you look up to?
None. I don't like any of the vert skaters that
skate now at all. Why do you need to skate in
jeans? You know how Micke Alba used to warm
up and then slider, or how Christian would
Jeremy a little bit, Larry and just the kids by always do those little slides? That's what all the
my house.
tricks they do look like to me, but just a little
Do you ever feel like you have to keep up higher up, but it ain't out or nothing.
with skateboarding?
No, I don't feel like that, because what's there
to keep up to? I think switchstance is rad, but it's
kind of like how skaters back a long time ago
Do you ever feel burnt-out on skating?
No, not really. Because when I started skating.
I just liked it, and then after a while, I got into
BMX, then it came back in. And back then, if you
Are they pretty proud of you now?
Yeah, I think so. Those are the only people I
ever wanted to impress.
What other interests do you have besides
skateboarding?
I like just drawing and reading or playing the
piano, going to the beach, surf and sun, whatev
er, everything. But I never really have time to do
any of it because I've got to go to school.
Where are you going to school at?
Cal State Long Beach.
How old are you?
Twenty-three.
So, what's up with the hair?
I don't know, I've had a shaved head ever
since junior high school because my dad would
pretty much cut my hair every week, and I didn't
really think anything of it, because he liked to
cut hair. Then I remember once I wanted to grow
it out, and he was like, "You can't wear hair like
that," so then I had to wait until I got out of
school, or got out of my parent's house.
Because you rarely see black people with long
hair nowadays.
When I had a shaved head, fros were popular,
and then when I started growing my hair out,
shaved heads came in. I think it's sad how much
people trip out on that because they don't see it
so much. I guess if you're black, you've got to
because you're already twenty-five cents short.
And even if you're dressed in a suit, someone
might not see you as a human being, so I guess.
you've got to dress your best. And I know that,
but I'm in a profession where I can look the way
I want, so I'm just thankful for right now. Maybe
later on I'll have to get a suit or whatever.
Ran into any skate harassment lately?
Yeah, I always have. But I get more pissed now
because they ask me, "Aren't you a little too old
to skate?" And I wonder if they stop a crackhead
and go, "Aren't you a little too old to be doing
crack?" I don't see what's so strange. Dudes sit
and watch TV, and they're glued to the football
game, and they can't even get off the couch,
and no one questions that. But they question
someone outside exercising, doing something.
they like. But I don't really even care, I don't trip.
I never get smart with them or nothing like that,
because you can't win. It's like in school. You've
got to realize, you can say, "Screw you," but the
teacher will fail you. They have those little grade
books, so you've got to just be mellow, catch
them on the creep.
Where have you travelled to?
Nowhere in the last year, but I've been to
Germany, Sweden, Finland, France, England,
and just around the States and Hawaii. I'm just
thankful that I can still skate, and that things are
going good for me.
Did you ever think that skateboarding would
get you this far?
Not really. I had hoped so.
What's the music that you like to listen to
mainly when you skate?
Sometimes The Misfits, or Black Flag or Public
Enemy, just fast stuff. I used to like Rush, Steely
Dan, just different stuff. It's depends, really,
whatever mood I'm in.
Do you have any words of advice?
Just be into it for yourself. But you can't really
tell the kids that because they get into it for their
own reasons.
Previous spread: Pump the bump and fly to the street,
kickflip with gusto. This spread, clockwise from top:
In flight and carefree. Concrete awaits a frontside kick-
flip by the man in the cap. "Damn, I'm tired."
42 THRASHER