When we got beat, I didn't give
a shit, and I could see that it
was because I didn't have pas-
sion for it. It didn't bring out
the best in me. In skating,
there's a passion that I've
found. I love it so much, and
I'm positive about it; you just
bring the best out in yourself,
and everyone has the potential
to be as good as they can be. I
stress sometimes, but that's
because I love the fact that I'm
pushing myself. If you find
skating at the age that I found
it, it's like a vehicle. You learn
a lot about yourself and expe-
rience more. You go over
everything, and you find out
more about what's going on,
because you're in such deep
thought and focused.
What type of skating do
you follow?
I appreciate all types of
skating-people who skate.
skate
rails, people who
blocks. I'd love to go into
freestyle, with the full pads
and your balls hanging out of
some little pink shorts. I
appreciate seeing guys at
Burnside just killing it. I'll
see guys skating a bump to
hydrant all of it is amazing.
deserves
Everything
amount of respect as long as
it's skateboarding. As long as
it's positive, there needs to
be a lot more of it.
an
Is there anything in skate-
boarding that you don't like?
A company where the owner
has a lot of money and he just
do shit.
pays people to
Sometimes the guy won't know
what's going on, so everything's
mixed up in there, and the
wrong things are getting the
wrong attention.
76 THRASHER
What's an example?
Say there's a skater who's
pro and doing well. If a com-
pany is paying him not what
he deserves, but what he's sat-
isfied with, that's fucked up.
Because when another compa-
ny comes along and offers him
more, the first company is
pissed, but they shouldn't be.
Someone should be paid what
they're worth, and if they
don't know what they're
worth, then it's up to them to
find out. Companies should be
on their shit.
Do you think companies
are often dishonest with
their riders?
Sure they are; it's their business
to fuck people over. But for us
everything is awesome because
of Jay. Jay is the best thing in
skating for me.
Are there some skaters
whose personality is so
good that they should still
be pro even if they're not
skating so hard?
Skating has become such a
business that a company will
keep them around if they sell
boards, like that's all that mat-
ters. I want to think of skating
as fun, because it is. Going out
and making myself do a trick
is fun; skating for hours and
hours just doing all the tricks
that I want to do is fun. But
half of it is a job as well; you
have to have priorities. As long
as you keep them in your head,
and try to accomplish them,
then you're going to be doing
well for yourself and having
fun as well. I skate all the time.
I skate Quinton park all day,
go skate Vans, then go skate
spots as much as I can; that's
when I do stuff, like take a
photographer. You've got to
make yourself do it.
When do you turn pro?
I'm not sure, but I know that
at Taco Bell just putting
in a bag all day. You sho
just weather along,
high, and go for your
d love to go into freestyle,
with the full pads
nd your balls hanging
I want to keep pushing myself enjoy yourself, and kut of some.
right now, and I feel like I'm
doing well. In a few months if
keeps going well, then I want
to do it. I know I could;
Birdhouse says we'll do it.
When everything is going right
and I feel the right vibe inside,
then I'm going to tell them.
They're willing to listen to me,
and then we'll make a decision.
That's the way.
What do you think is most
important in life?
People should try to do
something positive and have
a good time, and they won't
be lame or bitter about
things. That's hard, because
'people have to go and work
doing the things you enj
and try to apply them
getting a good job. It's y
life so you might as
enjoy it, and not just sit
your ass and take
comes. I'd like to thank
family especially for be
W
and every
ittle pink shorts"
the best, most import Above: Like a So-Cal superstar,
thing in the world to me. Sumner switch 180° nosegrinds
friends, skateboarding, the wall at Venice Beach, There was
a time when the sun never set on
the British Empire, but WWI
signalled the end of imperialism
and England's mighty reign, sort of
like this kickflip frontside slider
signals the end of Sumner's interview.
sponsors,
who's positive and trying
have fun. To all the
kids out there who
bummed and pissed
remember that if you di
have bad times, you coul
have good ones.
77