HEADS DENNIS BUSENITZ
H
OW IS IT LIVING IN
Newton, Kansas?
Boring. It's an endless search for skate
spots that don't exist.
What do you think of San Francisco?
Lots of skate spots, freaks, and gays. This
city has some of the gnarliest hills I've ever
seen. I'm pretty sure it's not the Bible Belt.
I heard that you're a welder. What's
your specialty?
I'm not a welder. I'm in welding school. I
prefer TIG welding. Lately I've been making
ledge boxes and flat bars so I can skate in the
flatland abyss.
So, do you pronounce your name
"Dennis Booze'N'Tits"?
Yes, except the first "T" in tits is silent.
AC/DC or Van Halen?
Metallica.
TRIED TO KICKFLIP THE LEAP OF FAITH
Swaztafari or Rastaka?
Swaztakai and I. No, just kidding. I hate
reggae and Nazis.
Are you now or have you ever been a
member of the Communist Party?
No. That whole idea of "everyone is as
good as everyone else" is bullshit. Where I
grew up in Munich, it was never communist.
When did you move back to the USA?
Three years ago, in 1997, when I was 15. I
moved straight to Kansas and had serious
culture shock. I went from two million people
to 12,000.
Do you think you'll ever live in
Germany again?
No, I like America better. I want to move to
California; there are a lot of skate spots here.
What trick do you think you'll never do?
Kickflip frontside boardslide 16-stair rails.
Do you think you'll go pro welding?
Yeah. It's not too hard, so I'll probably get a
model in a year or so.
Do you have Kansas pride?
I have no pride for that place at all.
I've only met a few people who actu-
ally like living there, and one of them
is my grandma.
What's your dream session?
Skating with my brothers and no kooks.
How many siblings do you have?
Four brothers and two sisters.
Do they all skate?
Three of my brothers do; the other one
rides a snowboard.
Did they teach you to skate?
No, I just followed them around. I was
six when they were 12. I just did whatever
they did.
Left to right: Stop sweatin' me.
Who says you can't teach a new
dog old tricks? One-foot in the
Excelsior. Eyes on the prize. Backside
tailslide bigspin at the best place he's
ever skated-the New Spot.
What's your favorite album?
Anything with Cliff Burton. I only listen to
the first three albums. If I had to choose, I'd
say Kill 'Em All.
What are your plans for this summer?
Skate and stay away from Kansas as much
as possible. Real invited me to tour with them
this summer, and that will be awesome.
So you ride for Real?
They put me on the team at the Tampa
Am contest.
Who else do you ride for?
Thunder, Spitfire, Emerica, Lucky, and
Ace's Skate Shop in Wichita.
Are you out of high school?
Yes. I just finished this last year.
Did you finish school in Germany or
America?
America. I only had eight months of school
left in Germany, but when I moved here I had
to go for two more years. That was the worst.
Why not?
Because they give me trouble on flat bars.
Plus, handrails are scary.
What's the most fun spot you've skated?
The New Spot in SF. Nothing in Kansas
is as fun.
What are your favorite tricks to do?
Backside Smith, backside tailslide, nollie
360° flips, any mini-ramp stuff.
What tricks are you working on
right now?
Frontside 180° to fakie 5-0 on this rail near
my house.
What do you do when you're not skating?
Jump on the trampoline, go to school, and
do homework.
What kind of homework do you have in
welding school?
Lots of math and blueprint reading.
What about welding mom's forks together?
No. I do all my welding at school.
What's the worst slam you took?
I was trying to ollie this 12-stair and then a
five-stair right after it. But when I landed the
12-stair I was leaning too far forward, and I
dove down the five-stair straight to my head.
I got knocked out.
Did you have to go to the hospital?
I guess. I don't remember because I had
temporary amnesia and a concussion. I don't
remember much until I was in the hospital.
What about the scars on your arm?
I was trying to kickflip the Leap of Faith,
but I landed primo and focused my arm. I got
one plate and seven screws.
How many times have you broken
that arm?
The left one twice, and the right one once.
I have to go now.
Jim Greco's getting kicked out of the
mag and he needs a ride home. He can't
walk. Interview's, over. -Jason Phares