What got you into skateboarding?
When I was 5 years old, I was looking for a new game at GameStop and my dad suggested Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2. I was amazed by the culture of skateboarding and how it was this whole new world I knew nothing about, and I wanted in! I wound up getting my first skateboard a few months later.
What is your skate scene like in your city?
I grew up in Massachusetts so where I currently live in Huntington Beach the skate scene is certainly a lot bigger! On the East Coast, there is a similar feel to the community, it has fewer skateboarders than out here, and you cannot skate outside all year round. Here in California, the weather allows you to be able to skate outside almost every single day, tons of street spots are around, and you are constantly running into professionals at the local Vans Park.
What is your go-to trick to start your sesh?
I like to start off with a wallie as the trick comes very naturally to me. It is a trick I feel confident in and is a good way to wake up my legs for whatever I want to try next.
Do you feel skateboarding has changed your life? How?
Skateboarding has changed my life as my life revolves around it. Just about all my friend’s skateboard and a lot of them followed me out here from back home! I moved out here to follow my dreams of working in the action sports industry. Currently, I am an Assistant Store Manager at the Vans in HB. My second job is making professional wooden fingerboards for my company Devise that I started back in 2012. When I am not doing either of those I am out skateboarding!
What pro skater inspires your skateboarding?
Wes Kremer is one of the first that comes to mind. I am inspired by how he is an all-terrain skateboarder with how he skates street, transition, and is highly creative with his footage. I was able to meet him a few times when I worked for DC Shoes and his outlook on life is incredibly positive and inspirational!
Do you prefer watching skate videos on social media or buying it? Why?
Social media is an awesome platform that helps progress the industry and makes it easily accessible, but I prefer going to a local skate shop and buying a skate DVD. Skate videos are a lot less common these days. I understand why: they are expensive and can take years to make. But there is an art and history to it that you will not find on social media and I love to support that by buying skate videos. I created my own full-length skate video A New Beginning in 2012 and have been a part of four other films. It is an incredibly special part of skateboarding to me
What is the gnarliest trick you have ever done? How did you feel when you landed it?
The gnarliest trick I have ever done was an FS 5050 down this 12-stair rail against the wall in Santa Ana. It is the biggest handrail I have ever skated, so I rolled up to it for about a half-hour before I made my first attempt. The rail had a noticeably short kink at the end, which took me over an hour to ride away from successfully. My hip was purple for a whole month after that, so I was very relieved to walk away from that one!
Tell us a little bit about your local skate shop & what they do for the skateboard scene?
Jokers Skate Shop has been around since 2006 and in my opinion, is the best skate shop here in SoCal! They are very welcoming and have a lot of skate history to teach from the roots of skateboarding all the way to what is just come out. I spent countless hours watching skate videos there growing up and they have tons of old classic skate magazines now too! They also host biannual skate jams at the Edison Rec Center for Halloween and Go Skate Day. It is a great spot for anyone!
What is your daily routine before you go shred?
I make sure to eat a good breakfast, which for me usually means fruit and coffee. Afterward, I spend at least 5-10 minutes of stretching. I never leave without saying goodbye to my cat Pinquito. He is a 12-year-old rescue who likes to know where I am going. Lastly, I go and pick up my friends before we hit some spots
Any inspiring words you want to tell the next generation of skaters?
Always do whatever you can to support your local skate shop. Keep skateboard films and premieres alive. Lastly, you found skateboarding because it was fun. Never lose that initial stoke that made you the skater you are today!
