HEADS MARK APPLEYARD
H
GOES TO SCHOOL WITH JOCKS AND WHORES
OW OLD ARE YOU?
Seventeen.
This is a school day. How
come you're not at school?
I took a week off to come to the Circa Skate Jam
and finish up this Alphanumeric ad campaign.
So, are your teachers pretty flexible
about time off?
I tell 'em what I do. I tell 'em I skate and I
show them pictures in the magazines so they
know I'm not just, like, sleeping in. But every-
time I go they're like, "Oh, you're on thin ice."
Do you graduate soon?
Hopefully. I should graduate in a couple
of weeks.
Are doing anything special for graduation?
No. I already missed my prom, too, 'cause I
back in the day. He still is amazing.
What happened in Tampa?
What do you mean?
You choked!
Oh, I see how it is! I guess I just got nervous.
We were the only 15 people skating in the
finals. It's hard to skate with people watching.
Were you bummed you didn't win?
No, I didn't care. I wasn't bummed at all..
How's your life now compared to your
life two years ago?
Much better. I get to travel. I get free every-
thing-free boards, free clothes. I just started
to get paid last month, too.
What are you gonna do with your
first paycheck?
I don't know. I'm gonna move out soon, so
Kids can be so cruel. Have you met any
celebrities since you came out to California?
I skated with Muska the other day.
Do you feel like Habitat is the future
of skating?
They have a strong team now and they will
have a strong team in the future because they
have young riders. That's what they have
planned. They have their shit together.
Why nollie flips?
Why not? That's my favorite.
What was the first skate video you ever saw?
I'd have to say Love Child.
What's your favorite skate video?
Misled Youth or Mouse.
What do you think of vert skating?
It's sick and I respect it, but I think of it as a
Left to right: Muska-powered
kickflip behind bars. Coolin' in Cali.
Mark nose best. Noseslide at the
super secret spot part deux.
didn't want to go, because I don't like many
people at my school.
What's your school like?
There aren't any skaters really. It's just, like,
a bunch of jocks and whores, really.
Are you the guys that are super hard on
the security guards?
Nah.
Because I've seen some gnarly footage.
That was fake, the footage you saw, if it was
the stuff on 411. Nah, we're just like every-
body else.
Have you ever manhandled security?
No, but I've been manhandled before. I got
arrested in Toronto for skating.
Who were some of your Toronto idols
growing up? Weiss?
Nah, Bokma. Justin Bokma was the guy. I
was scared of him. He was so big and he'd get
angry and throw his board. He was amazing
I should save 'em to buy beds and furniture.
Why did you quit Birdhouse?
Oh shit. I was getting all these offers from
other companies, and I really wasn't psyched
'cause the team manager and I didn't really
get along that well. I asked for a little bit of
money to live, and the team manager just
laughed at me. So I thought, "I don't need this.
I'm out of here."
Well, no one likes to be laughed at, that's
for sure. Are Canadians becoming the
new Brazilians?
Why do you say that?
Like skate juggernauts, ready to take over?
I don't know. There's a lot of Brazilians com-
ing up, and a lot of Canadians too. I guess it's
just people going for their dreams.
Do you know the roots of your last name?
No. Everybody asks me, though. I get called
everything: Applecakes, Applesauce.
whole different sport almost.
What's one trick you think you'll never
be able to do?
McTwists down five stairs.
Gnarliest slam you ever took?
I tried to grind this rail going down a double
set. I flipped out and landed with my back on
the edge of a stair. That sucked.
Favorite skate spot?
Commerce Court in Toronto, because they
have everything and it's sooooo smooth.
Favorite skatetown?
I haven't been to many places but either LA
or TO. There are some spots in LA that must
be made for skateboarding.
Why is Canada so clean?
Way smaller population, and we hardly have
any homeless in Canada. Maybe it's because
we have a lot of garbage men.
-Michael Burnett