"ONE HUNDRED PERCENT SKATEBOARDING"
Kickflip over the wall at Stockwell skatepark in England.
You were a little kid then.
Yeah, I was little. I just remember seeing
a couple of magazines from some older
guys. I don't remember the first Thrasher.
Do you remember anything that stuck
out about Thrasher? Any one thing that
had an impact on you?
That cover of Hackett skating a pool,
him just totally sprawled out on a
frontside layback grind in a pool, releasing
all the energy-rrahh!-just spread out.
When you think about all the places
you've been, and the people who have
told you skateboarding will never take
you anywhere, what do you think?
Where has it taken you?
It's taken me up and it's taken me
down-the full spectrum.
It's taken me places that I never thought
I'd ever go, but now that I've been there
it makes it pretty easy to look at the rest
of my life.
Yeah, and it makes it harder too because
you know a lot of things and it's hard to
fuckin' deal.
Before, you mentioned people raping
skateboarding; does skateboarding owe
anybody anything?
No it doesn't, because skateboarding is
what it is. Get on, ride your board, have a
good time, and if you're not doing that,
then get off.
Skating is forever. I'm glad I can see
things that very few people can see.
Me too. I just love it. I don't know what
I'd be doing in life without it; I don't really
know how else to live. It's kinda like that's
all I have.
If you could be remembered for one
thing as a skateboarder, what would
it be?
Somebody who skateboards and puts
all their energy and their whole life
into everything they do. One hundred
percent skateboarding.
A hundred percent, none of this
half bullshit?
No, 100 percent. Do what you're doin'
and be 100 percent committed to what
you're doing.
That's pretty heavy shit. What do you
think about all the new parks they're
building and the fact that a lot of
them suck because builders aren't.
listening to skaters?
I don't know; I'm into it. More parks,
more kids skating, just go off. Because I'm
going to be gone; I'll be dead, and fuck,
there'll be more skaters to skate. Right on.
Just keep skating.
-Jake Phelps