10qs: Brayden Ball

 

 

What got you into skateboarding?

 What got me into skating was my uncle. He started skating in the 90’s and early 2000’s and I saw him skating flat at something as a kid and told my dad I wanted to start skating.

What is your skate scene like in your city?

The skating scene in my city is somewhat small. We had a big scene back in the 90’s and we had an old park that got torn down. Later on, we got a prefab metal park that became our local. Where I’m from, there’s a lot of BMX and scooters. Not much for skating though. I have a couple of friends I still skate with, but nobody is really down to skating now that are older.

What is you to go trick to start your sesh?

 It really depends on what I am skating. Ledges and rails start with a boardslide or a 50-50. Flat sessions either start with a fakie big spin or just a standard kick-flip.

Do you feel skateboarding has changed your life? How?

Skating has definitely changed my life. I was skating consistently from 6^th grade to 9^th grade and then started going down a dark path and once I got mentally better, I started skating again. Skating has taught me a lot of things like patience and persistence.

What pro skater inspires your skateboarding?

This is a hard question because there are so many pros I look up to. If I had to pick one, it would be Collin Provost. My first board was one of his pro models. He really shreds anything and his parts are amazing. My main inspiration as of right now though has to be my friend Casper. He skates for Life, a brand that handmade their boards in Muncie, Indiana. Being from Indiana and skating, you get to know everybody fast because there isn’t this huge skate scene here.

 

 

 

Do you prefer watching skate videos on social media or buying it? Why?

 I do not have a local skate shop to its unfortunately online for me. I used to watch Baker 3 a lot because the skating is just so good for its time. I always like physical copies though, music, skating, just everything.

What is the gnarliest trick you have ever done? How did you feel when you landed it?

The gnarliest? Probably when I learned kickflip front feeble. I was trying kickflip front 50’s that whole day. I ended up catching the flip and locking it into a feeble and I was so stoked., my grip tape after that day was not tough.

Tell us a little bit about your local skate shop & what they do for skateboard scene?

My town doesn’t have a local shop but a bigger city nearby has one. I got my first board there and it is such a welcoming environment. The Life shop in Muncie is sick too. You can watch Sam and Casper press and cut boards, buy some goodies and skate the bowl.

What is your daily routine before you go shred?

Before I go out, I like to use the restroom, eat and stretch. Stretching is super important but so overlooked. It really makes a difference in performance. You’re less likely to get hurt when stretching and if it lets me go all day and feel good then I’m for it.

Any inspiring words you want to tell the next generation of skaters?

My words to the next generation of skaters would be focus on yourself. I really went down a dark path with mental health and addiction. If you focus on yourself and your physical and mental health, your life will be so much more fulfilling