What does a perfect day consist of?
Getting up early, going skating, and making
everything you try. And shooting photos of it
and filming. I mean, that's a perfect profes-
sional day. Just a normal day, the best thing is
to get up and go with your friends to a
skatepark and have a full day of skating. Then
you get home at night and think of all the
things you did. Try and do it like when you
were young, just genuine times, having fun
with your skateboard.
What about a perfect life?
Being content with where you are the way
you make money, the friends you have. Your
life is what you make of it.
Why was your part in Misled Youth
so short?
Confidence problems. After my ankle broke,
I lost a lot of drive. It was hard to get started.
for that video, because I was dealing with my
confidence. By the time I broke back through
as far as confidence went, it was too late to
really get much.
Was there a defining moment when you
got your confidence back?
No, one thing just led to another. With rails,
I built up from smaller rails until it got easier.
It was a definite battle. There were times I
wasn't sure if I would get it back.
Did you ever think about just quitting?
Yeah, I thought about just packing up and
going back to Oz. I was definitely going to give
it a chance, though, because giving up was the
last thing I wanted to do. I thought, for a while,
that there was a possibility that I wasn't going
to be able to get it back together. Luckily, it all
came back to me.
Are you a follower of any religion?
No, not really.
Why do you wear all black a lot?
Why? Do you think black's evil or something?
No. It's just a question.
I don't know. I've just always liked black for
some reason. I don't think at home, "Oh, I'll
wear black today," but I just like it. Also, you
don't get as dirty. If you wear a white shirt and
you fall down you've got constant stains. I do it
for laundry purposes; it's much easier to clean.
64 THRASHER
Who are some of your favorite
skaters now?
I like John Cardiel. He's great.
What are some of your favorite bands?
There's Black Sabbath, that's for sure.
What do you like about them?
Well, Black Sabbath is Black Sabbath.
When I go skating, I try and listen to
music that hypes me up. No one wants to
go skating and listen to easy listening or
soft music. I like to have something that I
can churn over in my head. Faster music
is good to skate to. Metallica. Led
Zeppelin, Hendrix. And AC/DC. How
could I forget that one?
What's that one rap song you like?
"My Mind's Playing Tricks On Me."
That's a good one. Do you know anyone
who's close personal friends with
Mötley Crüe?
Yeah. I guess Erik Ellington is friends with
Nikki Sixx and they hang out all the time.
Apparently they're the best of pals.
What's Erik Ellington's problem?
I don't know. He's got a lot of problems.
You've got a lot of problems, Erik. He just
likes to live the rock star lifestyle, but he's
not a rock star, he's a bloody skateboarder.
And someone needs to tell him before it's
too late.
Who would be your choice for Skater Of
The Year?
Brian Anderson. He was my choice even
before I found out he was going to get it. I
knew he would get it. There was no one else
who deserved it.
ว
Opposite: A lightning-quick backyard backside D.
Matt's an ATV, unashamed. Above: Corkscrew
Indy 360 at the last session at Damon's ramp.