1.) You are one of the new crop of freestylers to emerge out of the resurrection of freestyle in the early 2000s. Tell us how you started, how you found freestyle and what kept you skating all these years.
I started skating in 94/95. My first Christmas complete had been sent from CCS with the wrong size wheels (width wise) and I figured out that I could do tricks from the side of my board because it sat perfectly flush. I discovered freestyle through the bargain bin at Blockbuster Video with those old Walker Skateboards “How to” videos. I also wore out the local copy of Gleaming The Cube and Thrashin on VHS.
- I still skate every single day- since 1995 I’ve maybe missed a total of 2 months without skating. I simply love skateboarding in all aspects- the culture, community, genres - all of it. I was one of the rare fortunate freestylers that made it a full time job through sponsors, traveling, speaking, demos, filming etc for over 20yrs now. From 2000 to this day I had been to every state in the US over and over again and a handful of countries as well. I worked with an amazing artist agency out of Nashville that handled all of my booking/travel/PR for a number of years. With all of that being said, freestyle skateboarding is my job and ministry. I enjoy skating everyday to stay dialed so that I can be consistent enough to perform solo for 30-45min. and land 97% of my tricks + it helps to keep off the dad bod too 😉 I’m thankful that through Skatechurch and All City here in Portland that I am still able to skate & serve in ministry for my job. It’s rad and humbling.
2.) My first introduction to you was through the legendary REVERSE freestyle dvd. You were featured along with Kevin Harris, Lynn Cooper and Lillis. Tell us about the experience filming for this and how you got on the team.
I love Lynn Cooper. He has been such a great friend to me over the years. I was stoked to be in this video with these legendary freestyle veterans. When this was filmed in 2002 I was the youngest Pro Freestyler of the time with some new tricks and good sponsors. I met these guys after I had gotten attention through a commercial/add in 411VM #45. in early 2001. That segment got the phone ringing and got me to my first freestyle contest up in New Jersey that AJ Kohn put on. Manna Skateboards turned me Pro and gave me a Pro Model after that. Reggie Barnes was also requesting to carry my board through Eastern Skate Supply as well. I am forever grateful to those guys.
From when I started in 1995 to May of 2001 I had never seen or skated in person with other freestylers before. So that contest was my intro to Lynn, Kevin and Lillis. I also met Tommy H, Terry and Keith Rena too. Mike Foster played a huge part in getting me to this NJ freestyle contest and introducing me to these guys as well. I truthfully don’t remember a whole lot about filming Flatlands except that it was fun and we only had a few days to film it. I was coming in from a heavy travel schedule and filming for another project in San Diego. I’d say that the Red Rocks Amphitheater section was the most memorable to me. It felt like hallowed ground to be able to skate there. I was so stoked and grateful to skate with my heros like Lynn and Kevin. I was also hyped that Rodney, Per, and others were in it as well. Btw…I didn’t know that it was on DVD - I only have the VHS.
3.) You have some unique tricks in your arsenal. You were also known for freestyling on elevated surface areas the size of a pencil eraser. What led to the development of this style?
Thanks man, that is funny…..Breakdancing is what I was influenced by the most in terms of skating in small areas. I always liked linking tricks and various combos. That was the appeal of freestyle skating for me- and still is. The elevated objects such as a Pepsi Machine came into play because my teammates and the guys that I skated with were always trying to push me to do new stuff with a risk factor. I asked Jud Heald (Pro Skater-teamate) to film me on top of a soda machine late one night doing some difficult combos- that clip was featured in “Livin It” as an Easter egg on the dvd. Feeling comfortable in those small spaces is what helped me to have a job doing demos and outreaches for so many years. When I go skate and demo all I need is 2 sheets of wood taped together to make my 8ft by 8ft square. This all turned into me creating a way to market and brand my style of freestyle so that I could be easily accessible at any venue/event around the world.
4.) You have managed to utilize your love of skateboarding to spread the word of Christ. Tell us more about this journey.
Thank you for asking this. I became a Christian and gave my life to the Lord when I had just turned 20. It was a Wednesday night in late June and I was going to end my life. I never went to church or even considered God up until the night that I had hit rock bottom. I drove myself to a church as a last resort to see if God was real or even cared about me. I went inside that church feeling mangled and messed up and I heard the life changing message about hope in Jesus. That night I gave my whole life to the Lord, which included skateboarding. I got on Manna Skateboards just 3 weeks after that night. I was on my first tour that fall traveling the country with a group of christian rock bands that were promoting a movie called (Extreme Days) and sharing Jesus with the masses. That is where it all started for me and I began to piece together that God had called me to use my skateboarding to shine and share His love with as many people as possible. I feel humbled, blessed and grateful to be where I am today. I am still imperfect and messed up even 20 + yrs later but the difference is that I have hope, joy and peace in my life.
5.) Everytime I turn around, there is a new board with your name on it. How many models have you released and what led to your decision to stick with a popsicle shape with no skids.
When I was coming up i didn’t even know that you could get a freestyle board or skids. I’ve never liked the old traditional freestyle board set-up, plus I already had it bad enough for being a Christian when I was coming into the skate scene. I would of really been hated on if I skated a freestyle set up. To keep it 100 - I wanted to have a job skating and be as relatable as possible especially in the early 00’s so I just stuck with what I knew. I felt that had respect for being a freestyler that skated a normal shaped/sized board for the time + I grew up skating freestyle on a 7.75 x 31.5 and I still do today. Side note - I’m a bigger dude at 6ft 3in. I tower over most freestylers so I’d feel like a kook on a smaller board anyway. I’m farther along in my years now and I don’t care what people skate on. I’m sincerely HYPED that freestyle skateboarding has blown up. So many kids have taken it to that next level. So rad!
I’ve had over 10 signature boards since 2001. I seem to get a new graphic every 2 yrs. My current board just released with Untitled Skateboards. It’s a fun one. It comes in all sizes though. I skate street on my 8.25 shape and 7.75 for freestyle.
