1. I have so many memories of when I first start-
ed, but the first thing I remember is standing on a
board. It was my cousin's, and he and my brother
would push me down the street, and I didn't know.
how to stop, so I'd just keep going until I'd hit
curbs or garbage cans and slam. It was the
funnest thing I ever experienced, and I couldn't
stop thinking about it.
2. I'm not sure how it changed my life, because I
started when I was 10 years old. So, since then, it
has been my life. But I suppose I don't know how
my life would be if I never started skating. All I
know is I wouldn't have had the great life of fun,
travelling, money with no 9 to 5 job, meeting cool
people, and just skateboarding, period. Who
knows how my life would be without skating?
3. It's different for different people. Just doing
your own thing and versatility.
4. There are so many different skaters for so
many different reasons. But I'll try to name a few:
Mark Gonzales, Tony Hawk, Tommy Guerrero,
Jason Lee, Shawn Sheffey, Rick Howard, Guy
Mariano, Danny Way, Henry Sanchez, Tim Gavin,
Jovontae Turner, Dan Drehobl, Colin McKay, Eric
Koston... They're my personal greats, because
they've done their own thing-original styles, tricks
and ways of skating. They are just original!
5. If it's scary, I don't do it, because I can't have
fear in the back of my mind. I get over the fear
before I do it. Sorry.
6. I know where I would like pro skateboarding
to head. I'd like to see so-called pros be
original-trick and style-wise-more progression,
and definitely no more illusion flips: the new pres-
sure flips that don't even flip; the so-called hard-
flip. It wouldn't even be that bad if they named it
something else. Other than that, who knows where
it's going? Actually, who cares? Just keep skating
and have fun and don't worry about it, 'cause
that's when you make a turn for the worse.
mike
CARROLL
Below: He makes it Look so easy, switch tailsLiDe to fakie at MINI HUBBа. PHOTOS MORfORD.