MATT MUMFORD
W
HAT WAS THE FIRST ISSUE OF
Thrasher you ever saw?
Oh shit. I really can't remember the very first
one I ever saw. An early one that stands out in
my mind was one of the very first issues they
had a tattoo article in. They had the Godoy
brothers, Jason Jessee, and all of them. That
was probably the first one.
What was your first photo in Thrasher?
Your interview?
No. I had a shitty little photo taken on a
tour, when I rode for Invisible. I had a photo
in Alabama at a little mock-up demo. Some
random person sent it in and it got in the
mag somehow-almost like Poser of the
Month or something.
Is Thrasher's message of skate and destroy
still relevant?
It has a lot to do with the attitudes the very
first skaters took. Skate and destroy, to me,
means go out, find anything, and skate it.
That's initially what it was all about. They're
keeping the dream alive. I don't think kids.
really do that these days. They just try and find
out about spots and go there. I don't think they
get out the door, get on their board, and just go
skate whatever they come across. When you do
that is when you have the most fun. You come
across the most random stuff and you end up
having the best time on it.
check when he left?
Yeah, I was the first one to figure that one
out. I got in there right before it happened
and said I wanted his check. So, I guess in
a sense, I might be glad he's gone. No, I'm
just kidding. I love Jim. I wish him the best
of luck.
What do you think when you see dipshits
(i.e. non-skaters) out in the world or on TV
wearing Zero gear?
I don't really think about it. I just
think, "Great, the stuff's selling." You
know? I'm sure half the dipshits wearing
the stuff don't know what it is. They
probably think they got some Smashing.
Pumpkins sign or some shit. They
bought the wrong gear. I'll just give them
incriminating shit. Last time I got in trouble
when you asked me about Erik, because I for-
got to say that I was joking.
About Erik being a rock star?
Yeah. I mean, he is a rock star, but he doesn't
have that big of a problem. Not in his own
eyes, anyway.
Is it hard for you to find pants that you like?
Pants? A pair of strides? Yeah. It is kind of
hard to find a good pair of strides.
Wait, what are strides?
Jeans, pants. But once you find a good
pair, that's it. You find your pants, at the
bloody thrift store or wherever, and you
find out your size and you buy multiple
pairs of them. I make a note where the store
is and I go back again and again. Because
What's some ridiculous shit you've bought
with your shoe money?
Oh man. I bought a pair of shades. I'm not
too happy with them.
Some Anarchy Eyewear?
Yeah, I threw down 70 bucks, and as soon
as I got outside the shop I realized I had
made a mistake. But by that time, it was too
late. I had the salesman sweating over
whether I was going to make a purchase or
not. And then I finally did and I realized I'm
not an eyewear man.
Do you have an Internet sponsor yet?
No, but I got a computer. I don't know how
to use it, though.
What do you look at on the Internet?
I like to look at the sites with all the old
Big frontside feeble.
ZERO
Are there more skaters in Australia who are
into skating for skating's sake?
Definitely. I don't think kids in Australia
really think, "I've got to get sponsored and
be pro," because it seems so far away. It.
doesn't seem like it's even possible, so
they're more concerned with having fun and
skating fun stuff. Plus, with all the parks,
they have plenty of fun stuff to skate. There
are still kids out there who want to be spon-
sored, but they're fewer. For most kids, it's
just a far-off dream.
Are you glad Jim's off the team, finally?
Greco? No, I'm not glad at all. Jim's great. I
loved having Jim on the team.
'Did the other team riders get to divvy up his
"GO OUT, FIND ANYTHING, AND SKATE IT"
one glance and that'll be it. I can't look at
them again.
What was you initial reaction when you
found out The Mule got hitched?
I thought he was crazy. But I kind of already.
knew he was crazy, so whatever. I'm very
happy for him. It's great.
If they had had a traditional marriage.
and the minister had said the part.
about, "If anyone knows why this man
and this woman should not be wed,
speak now or forever hold your peace,"
would you have said something?
See, now you're trying to get me to say
there is not a skate company on the planet
that can produce a decent pair of strides. I
haven't found one yet.
I've noticed as skaters grow up, they've been
getting interested in other things like fashion
or partying. Have you found any new things
you're interested in?
Yeah. I've become very interested in
skateboarding.
A newfound love?
Yeah.
So we should probably talk about the tricks
you're working on.
Just slappies. Slappies and board skidders.
boards from the '80s for sale. I saw a
Vision Lee Ralph I have my eye on. I'd like.
to get that and a Gator. Maybe an old
Jason Jessee too.
Where do you want to be when Thrasher
turns 30?
Shit, I don't know. Sitting on the beach with
a cold one, I reckon.
Here or in Australia?
I don't know. Wherever I find my fortune.
Will you still be skating?
Ah, for sure. I'll be slashing a pool. I'll be a
pool skater for sure..
-Michael Burnett