What got you into skateboarding?
Skateboarding was always interesting every time I saw it, I remember seeing people at freedom plaza and thinking “I’m not a real skater until I can ollie up a curb.” Then, one day at a sleep over (When I was in sixth grade) my friend found his fantastic four skateboard (was not a promodel) and we both took turns skating it in the alleyway. So, I asked my mom for a skateboard of my own. Thankfully in the summer of 2006 my mom’s dad bought me a skateboard from Sears… Fast forward to me going to the national mall to play a soccer pickup game with some other members of the DC United support group “La Norte” (because our seats were always behind the north side of the goal post at RFK Stadium.). I had brought my skateboard with me and on the way home with my mom we walked past freedom plaza and I saw a guy named Larry and asked him to see what his board graphic was his board was just red lol. I showed him my board and he invited us to the skate shop he worked at in Georgetown called Kick ballers. At Kickballers I met Brian Tucci the legendary skateboarder from H street Skateboards and from then on, he would give me pointers on what tricks to learn and how to do them. It is funny cause now that I think about it… my friend from sixth grade had lived with his mom around the corner from H st northeast DC near Hechinger mall ha-ha. I saw the “Western Edition 3” skate video based out of San Francisco and told myself that “I’ve got to be able to skate both ways just in case I have to face the camera.” Mom bought Western Edition 3 and two other sk8 vids that day? Would have been the DVS vid “Skate More” which I highly recommend viewing by the way; Also, local legend Chris Hall’s Video Get familiar! By far, my favorite sk8 vid! Legend has it that “Get Familiar” started off as a debut video for my OG Darren Harper and quickly gained traction and gathered features from the likes of Brian Tucci, Jimmy Pelletier, Mark Gonzales, Bobby Worrest, and Daewon Song! Fast forward to my mom and myself meeting Darren Harper the hometown hero and him mentoring me… Then DGK was coming to Elite Boardshop in VA, so my mom took me to meet them! Darren was there and I met Stevie, Marcus McBride, and Lenny Rivas! My mom bought a size 8 Stevie Williams pro model board with size 52mm Spitfire wheels, red bearings, Venture Trucks and Jessup grip tape. I am not sure of the hardware though. Then after that, Mom and I took the train back to DC to catch a sk8 session at the bridge spot near Navy Yard metro station. ‘The journey has been so exciting!
What is your skate scene like in your city?
As a native washingtonian I have seen constant progress for the DC skate scene and the whole DMV area since 2006. There are at least Four different skate shops in the metropolitan area. We have like four different skate parks in DC alone! and skaters are mostly street skaters in DC! the local shops host public events to bless the community. it is impressive! But like Imagine pulling up to freedom to meet the homie and being asked if you can get some clips for a documentary premiering on showtime. Like wow. The locals love to skate and are friendly with each other.
What is you to go trick to start your sesh?
I love a good heelflip! I may do some pivots too. Ya knows. 360, 720… Or some good back 5050s on a round flat bar.
Do you feel skateboarding has changed your life? How?
It is by the grace of God that with skateboarding I was able to meet Jud Heald and go to Camp Royal to be a camp counselor, skate coach, worship leader and got to go white water rafting for the first time in 2020! Or the time that Jimmy Pelletier added me to the DC Wheels roster! It has been so fun skating in parades and doing demos and even the 47-mile skateathon fundraiser is so fun to look forward to!! I was a lil sheltered and homeschooled kid when I started skating, so skateboarding is my community! Always Skateboarding taught me that it is okay if it does not go as planned. as long as you don’t give up…
What pro skater inspires your skateboarding?
Darren shows me it is family first. Prod told me to stay motivated! Stevie!! The trailblazer!! Jimmy shows me that it is important to give back! Plus, I love them Florida boys Zion, Jamie, Tyson, Ish. All my homies that went pro before me! Thank you!! Keep hope alive
Do you prefer watching skate videos on social media or buying it? Why?
Well, In the words of Derrick Wilson. “Posting clips on Instagram is cool, but you still have to construct a street part. I’ve got to honor the code of the streets. There’s something about inner city skateboarding that blesses the heart! I see it as a rite of passage to build a skate video and represent what skateboarding means to you. So, I do love social media. but I still want to be able to support street skateboarding because that was my first discipline. If that means paying for skate videos, then so be it!
What is the gnarliest trick you have ever done? How did you feel when you landed it?
I remember doing heelflip back 5050 on the handrail in the pro course at spot for Necklace and Brian Schaefer… I was hyped cause they saw me trying it and then pooled their money together to motivate me. I came up 22 bucks that evening. Thanks guys.
Tell us little bit about your local skate shop & what they do for skateboard scene?
There are four different shops that frequent monthly I work at sPACYcLOUd which is a restaurant, and we do games of skate and have Thrasher nights. Then there are the good homies at Crushed Skate shop, and they host comps and do Nike sb raffles. Then Bethesda boards just built some new ramps to skate and made a stage for artists to perform! Also, we start our 47-mile skate-a-thon at Bethesda Boards every year. Then there’s Brackish Waters skate shop! Always looking out for the locals; We give shoes as prizes… We are hosting a competition at Charmcity skatepark in Baltimore on March 19th Tune in for more!
What is your daily routine before you go shred?
I wake up and pray and give thanks to God. Then I stretch and sip water. Get that daily Devotion in and eat some fruit! I’m checking social media to see who got clips! by now I’m already listening to new beats for inspire for songs If I’m not linking with a Filmer or hitting a specific sesh or demo then I may just hit a park to practice or go to Freedom Plaza.
Any inspiring words you want to tell the next generation of skaters?
Trust God. Love God. Love yourself. Skate for fun! Just love people; Don’t worry about trying to fit in. support your local. Set goals for yourself and be kind to yourself. Go skate!
