HEADS OOO JAY
0000
W
HAT'S YOUR FIRST
memory of skate-
boarding?
Back in '84 my parents
got me and my brother some Nash board
that was fully loaded with saw blades cut in
the grip tape, hot-pink wheels, and a nose-
bone. I was stoked; it was my first board
ever. I tic-tacked and turned 360's in the
garage all night long.
Do people ever pick on you for pushing
mongo? Do you ever drop Bill Danforth's
name to make a mongo explanation?
Hardly ever, really. Some people give me
props. I can push both but I still feel I get more
oomph going mongo. I'll have to remember
Danforth's got my back.
MOODY
stoked regardless.
When are you going to get a haircut?
That's a good one. When it's as long as the
guys' in those old kung fu flicks. When I was
little I believed I was a kung fu master.
Skate Superstars or Ohio Skateout?
I think Superstars has Hosoi in it. I could
watch him skate for hours without blinking.
Daewon or Alan Petersen?
That's a toughie. Daewon's brown but AP
does the gnarliest pop floater tricks. I defi-
nitely prefer that more, so AP
Jay, have you seen any movie stars?
Well, one night at LuLu I valeted for the
bassist of Metallica. It was funny; he was with
this yuppie chick but I still gave a nod and he
returned it with the old heavy-metal rock star.
PUSHES MONGO
Speaking of heroes, when you go back
to NC are you going to be the home-
town hero and get all the girls just like
in the movies?
Hero or not, I get all the girls. But I'm pretty
sure I've got the right one picked out.
What's the difference in skateboarding
between NC and SF?
Well, here in SF there is a ton of street
stuff and hills, and back home I skated
maybe 20% street and 80% parks. So the
biggest difference is that I go through
boards thrice as fast. But I especially love to
hit the concrete parks.
Do you think growing up in NC and
riding ghetto fabulous equipment
and ramps made you appreciate the
Left to right:
Dirt-style 50-50. Moody
blues. Years of park skat-
ing prepared Jay for this
mini-ramp frontside flip.
Gettin' up on them rails
with a nosegrind.
So, I heard you have a job as a valet
at nice restaurants. How does that
treat you?
The pay is pretty good, but sometimes these
crazy bums will lurk around the lot or try to
steal money out the back. Most of the time
they'll leave peacefully when you kick 'em out,
but sometimes they'll charge you or point their
finger in their pocket at you and act like
they're strapped. I guess you could say it's a
lot different from washing cars back home.
Since you're brown, do you know karate?
That's a question you won't know the answer
to until it's too late.
Have you ever seen the movie North
Shore? Did you relate more to Rick Cain
or some of the Asian surfers who didn't
get enough credit for shredding?
I feel I can relate to both sides, but as
long as you're having fun you should be
half-nod and smirk.
California, beaches, babes, suntan,
everything is cement. Is it all it's cracked.
up to be? The myth?
Oh definitely, if you consider bums, crack-
heads, three weeks of straight cold and rain,
plus the occasional bad-luck streak. On the
other hand, there are so many down to earth
skaters here that the vibe totally makes up for
that end of the deal.
Have you skated with any of your influ-
ences? And was the person a real poopy-
pants or were they down to earth?
To tell you the truth, I've met a lot of them
and been stoked on all of 'em, but I haven't
skated with them. I don't wanna get mushy,
but we go back so far that you're one of the
biggest influences that made me get where I
am today. Actually, yes, I think you've pooped
your pants before.
West Coast?
You see, I appreciate the West Coast, but the
ghetto booty is so much more fun.
Why do you like benihanas so much?
Don't you know I'm over that trick, bro?
just like to bust that out for da people because
that's on my first try and land list.
Where would you like to take your skate-
boarding?
As far as I can. I definitely want to go on tour
and do demos for the kids.
Now say your thank yous.
Of course my mom and dad are first on the
list. Bobby Webb at Axion, Joe P from Ezekiel
Mic-E from Spitfire and Thunder, Mike from
Halos, Johnny Roughneck, Matt P with I Path,
my brother Jerry for showing me what skating
was all about at an early age, my girl Erica for
five years of support, and God.
-Jackson Taylor