DONNY
BARLEY
INterview and Photos
By Michael BurNETT
hE FOLLOWING
FEATURE
ON DONNY Barley is Not a
CONVENCIONA iNcerview. The
accompanying phocos are Neicher
a re-run of Nor a teaser for a video sOON TO COME.
In fact, No video camera was involved in any of
chis. It is Noc "The Impossible Dream." Racher, che
following pages and phocos are a fly-on-the-wall
style sampling of five days of skacing sandwiched
between a grueling Australian cour and che
scarc of the summer CONTESTs. Compare che
resulcs wich your Next week of skating.
HEN DID YOU MEET THE PACKAGE?
In 1988, 1989 maybe. He's a guy who has been around since
skating started. He's this crazy, raging fella who skates and
runs the shop Water Brothers and the park Skater Island. He's a
legend, never one to turn away a skater in need or a party.
But what's unusual about him as a skater?
He's just a character. He's got so many stories.
What about the fact that he's 50 fuckin' years old?
Oh yeah, and he's 48. He tells stories and refers to himself: "So, The
Package..." He's great. He lives life like he's 18. It's cool to see a guy who
can capture life in its purest form. He's like a little kid, but at the same time
he handles his business. He runs the shop, he runs the park, he runs the
whole show, basically.
A favorite in this summer's X-Games long jump event,
Donny trains by blasting a 20-foot grass gap.
D
60 THRASHER