interviews
HEINSIGHT – RECOGNITION OF REALITIES AFTER ITS OCCURRENCE
I recently got to see some amazing pictures taken by a killer skateboard photographer Werner Lemprecht of Hein Kotze’ and I just had to catch up with him and see what makes him shred…
KDT: Hein Kotze’ can you tell us a little about yourself and your breakdown in the world of skateboarding?
HK: I guess it’s quite a cliché by now, but one day I saw a few of the older guys in my primary school flipping this huge (back then it seemed huge) 2-stair gap. I was super stoked, and used to sit there for hours even though nobody ever really landed it. After that day a few guys and me picked up a “Wasp” setup from Makro. This was the start of endless Fridays, running over into Saturdays, skating sessions. Nobody had cars, so we used to walk…and I mean WALK. Especially when Werner Lamprecht and me started skating together. Our regular Friday-spot (and closest) was about 4km from where we stayed (seemed like 100km, after having to climb a mountain of a street, to the top of one hill on your way back). Every single Friday we were in this guy’s yard skating the most perfect box and bank setup. Even after he had moved we would jump the gate and chill there the entire afternoon. Since then I couldn’t get over the feeling of landing a new trick, perfecting an old one, or getting excited over a new loading-bay filled with weeds that need cutting and surfaces in need of sweeping.
KDT: So, how was your summer? What did you get up to?
HK: It was EXCELLENT!
Had my first holiday for the entire year and caught up on some, really essential, habits; sleeping until 13h00, skating until 19h00, chilling with my girlfriend till 1 AM. Now that’s the life…ha-ha.
Oh yeah! We went to Margate for a week as well…that was rad.
We got some mad pics, made some new friends and forgot about the reality that is; “the working life”
Now that’s a holiday in its true form.
KDT: How do you manage to keep on top of your work when you spend so much time skating?
HK: My work IS skating…or anything that was influenced by it – if I look at it like that I will pretty much enjoy anything I do.
I must admit that 2009 was a mad-scramble of a year.
February I heard that my application for a bursary was denied, and thus ended my student life in one sentence. I had to find a job, had to start paying my own things etc. Crazy. I wanted to do photography.
I decided, as in skating, that it’s something you can pretty much learn by yourself (with some advice from others) - and thus started playing more with photography and design. Up to the point where, after only one year (and no qualification behind my name), my own business card says; photographer/graphic designer. And through it all skating has been one the main sources of new ideas/media/inspiration.
You’ll always find time to do what you like, as long as you on like what you do.
KDT: What’s the best way to go about becoming a good skateboarder?
HK: Depends on what your definition of “good” is I guess. To me it’s doing something as simple as a bs-180 off a ramp, landing it 100 times…and then, finally, landing it perfect. I’d like to think that a good skateboarder does it for himself.
KDT: What’s the best experience you’ve had while skateboarding?
HK: To many to count, to many stories to tell, to many great friends to mention all.
Recently: winning the game-of-skate at the Slip Skate Co launch event. It was the first contest I’ve ever entered, and I was surprisingly nervous. Me, Werner and two other guys were in the final. The game went on and JJ and me were the only survivors. That guy has got some mad style, and it was quite intimidating each time he made my tricks look effortless. We went on for, what seemed like, forever. The crowd was cheering each time someone set a mad trick, and freaked out even more when the opponent managed to equally nail it.
It was INSANE.
At the end I managed to land the most perfect nollie-bigspin-flip (one of those tricks you “have landed before”, but only hope to land as a last resort). Again JJ got insanely close to actually landing a trick you can see he has probably never tried before…but to no success. I was finally declared winner, and received my first “brand-new” deck in probably a year’s time. I was super stoked and equally brain-dead after planning what to do next every time JJ missed a set.
KDT: Your photography is awesome, what advice do you have about capturing that right moment?
HK: Again it’s about; if you’re doing what you love, it will come naturally.
Each moment is different, and each photo is opinion based. Werner and me will sometimes spend half an hour shooting a pic after finally agreeing on where we want it taken from, how the exposure must be etc. A very important thing is knowing your camera and lenses. Each one is different, and each one makes an image look different. In theory they must all work the same, but from my experience this is not the case at all. My settings/focal length etc. can be identical to Werner or Reuben’s, but you’ll still end up with three images that look completely different.
A TONY HAWK – SK8AFRICA EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Author: Kevin Du Toit a.k.a KDT
Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk recently went on an adventure to South Africa, where he journeyed to discover a skate park in the Valley of a 1000 Hills, Durban, a province of KwaZulu-Natal – the Kingdom of the Zulu.
Having Tony Hawk visit South Africa is always a big-deal, do any of you remember when TH came back in 1992 with then Powell Peralta skateboarder Ray Barbee? And also the opening of the park at Gateway, the year eludes me now but he was here with Riley, Mike V and some others (thanks for the reminder Byron Rode). I just had to catch up with Tony about the experience and what he thought of our stunning country?
Tony Hawk @ the LOOK Ahead Skate Park 1992, Sandton/Johannesburg South Africa
Early Life:
Anthony Frank “Birdman” Hawk (born May 12, 1968), better known as Tony Hawk, the professional skateboarder. Tony gained significant fame for completing the first 900 at the 1999 X-Games. Hawk was born in San Diego, California, to a retired U.S. Navy officer, Frank Hawk and his wife Nancy, a part-time business teacher. An older brother of Tony bought a used skateboard at the age of 8 and his father constructed a ramp in their backyard.
At the age of 11, he landed his first contest win and turned pro by the age of 14. He graduated from Torrey Pines High School in the North County Coastal area of San Diego, California.
KDT: Tony, what a pleasure to interview you, and thank you for visiting Sunny South Africa. How did it come about with the opportunity to head out to the wild side of skateboarding in South Africa?
TH: I am a member of the Laureus Academy and their Sport For Good Foundation. SFG supports charity projects around the world that focus on kids and sport. The Indigo Skate Camp fit right into our goals, and it is the first skateboarding-based project SFG has helped to fund. So they requested for me to come see it for myself, and I was excited to go
KDT: Dallas Olberholzer has created a dream play ground out of a rural landscape, did you have to see it to believe it?
TH: Absolutely. It is amazing to see these world-class ramps in the middle of a Zulu village. The kids love it.
Tony Hawk, Indigo Skate Camp 2009, Durban, South Africa
KDT: Where you able to visit and skate any other spots besides Indigo Skate Camp?
TH: Only the Wavehouse Skatepark in Durban, which I have been to a few times before. We did a demonstration on the vert ramp for the village kids.
KDT: You have pretty much seen the world, how does South Africa differentiate from the radical places you’ve skated?
TH: Besides the expansive countryside, there isn’t much difference in terms of skating. South Africa has a strong scene and the skaters are very enthusiastic whenever visiting pro’s make appearances.
KDT: What did you take away with you on this trip?
TH: That skating can be embraced by anyone; it doesn’t require money or social status. Dallas has given kids who may have never had the opportunity to skate a chance to follow their dreams.
KDT: You have set the presidence for the past, present and future of skateboarding, what is next for you?
TH: More skating, a new videogame (Tony Hawk: Ride), and more charity work.
KDT: You are an inspiration and have always kept it simple by just wanting to skateboard and have fun. What keeps you going, where does you passion come from?
TH: Skating continues to evolve and I love being part of it. My passion is to give anyone a chance to feel the excitement and understand what a positive influence skating can have on youth.
KDT: Do you have any last words for our SA readers?
TH: Follow your dreams; you will be happy in the end.
My Quickie Bullet ?’s
Last Trip You Went On: Las Vegas
A Place You’d Like To Visit: China
Hobby Besides Skating: Snowboarding
What Drink Do You Like: Coca Cola
Best Band or Artist: The Clash
Do You Like Competition: Sometimes
Last Time You Were Stoked: Playing with my daughter this morning
Last CD You Bought: CD’s? Do they make those anymore? The last album I bought on Itunes was White Rabbits
What Time Do You Get Up: Between 6 and 7am (thanks to Kady)
Favorite Magazine: Colors
Favorite Website: http://www.theonion.com
Reading Material: Nick Hornby
What Car You Driving: Jeep SRT8
Do You Have Any Animals: One Cat
Last Time You Were Mad: When the cat attacked my face
Newest Trick You Learned: Roast Beef 540
Favorite Quote: “There’s no birthday party for me here”
Best Movie Of All Time: Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Coolest Place to eat: Market Del Mar
Which Video Game Is For You: Tony Hawk: Ride (it was my idea)
Obstacle To Skate: Boom Boom Huckjam ramp
Favorite Trick: Backside Ollie
SLIP SKATEBOARDS – Changing The Face of Skating
Author: Kevin Du Toit
We just had to do a feature on Alwyn Van Niekerk, who has done the extra ordinary by following his dreams and making it happen – peeps come on, you need to get it and go for it, if Alwyn just did it then he should be a motivation for you. Read this interview because we can all learn from Alwyn who is also husband and father, co-founder of Slip skateboard company and to top it off a IT specialist – WOW, take that and shove-it 360.
Who is Alwyn; he got into skating in standard 6 when he bought a Pick ‘n Pay special for R55 on holiday in Umhlanga. 4 hours later he dropped in on a 6ft mini and tore his ankle ligaments to shreds, in his own words “something I’ve managed to do 4 times in total now.”
In standard 7 his parents moved to Pretoria from Bloemfontein and became really serious about skating, to the extent that his parents took him to a shrink, I bet some of you guys have been in his shoes, because he had absolutely no interest in anything else but skating. Alwyn “The skating scene in the early 90s was just brilliant; we were a big crowd and we pushed the envelope and skated each and every day. By the time I reached matric the local scene just died completely and I found myself to be the only skater in the neighborhood and ultimately life and studies just got me out of skating completely.”
About 8 years ago Alwyn bought himself a Powell Mini Logo with a fresh set of gullwing trucks, hey I had a set of those, and tried to resurrect his skating, but somehow his deck never really made it out of the garage with the occasional ollie or kickflip session being the only action it saw over the years. He always thought it somehow improper to sit in his corporate meetings with gravel in his hands and scabs and scars all over from skating as he was really into establishing his career at that stage.
THEN towards the end of last year he started spending more and more time in the garage on his Powell board doing all sorts of weird tricks, and after a 15 year break from skating he finally saw the light, and got back out on the street (which only lasted another 2 sessions) and his old skating buddy Vincent also back on his freestyle deck as well. So began his second stint of skating, and ultimately the series of events which led to the creation of Slip Skateboards.
Alwyn Van Niekerk; I’ve always been extremely passionate about skating though. It was, and still is, an extension of myself and my personality which allows me to set my own goals, achieve my own milestones and to be as insane or laid back as I want to be – no coach telling me what I had to do and no official practice times – I’ve always loved that aspect of skating.
KDT: That logo rocks, what is your current job title?
AvN: During office hours I am a security & Identity management consultant. At Slip Skateboards I’m officially the product manager.
KDT: The word Office Ours scares me, tell me more about when you were a skateboarder. Did you ever think you would work in the skate industry, or even starting your own company for that matter?
AvN: Skating as a kid it was obviously a dream to be sponsored, but I don’t think I ever thought I’d end up owning a skate co though.
KDT: What is a typical day-to-day duties around the Slip Co. for you guys?
AvN: At Slip a lot of effort goes into PR, so I’m always chatting to existing and potential clients, arranging sessions and keeping in touch with guys – I believe that is an extremely important aspect of our company. Like now, when we’re finalizing the next batch of products it’s complete and utter madness though. There’s so many things to pull together and finalize and decide on to get that order out and into production that it hardly leaves time for anything else.
KDT: How important is it that someone has a background in skateboarding to work at a skateboard company?
AvN: It’s vital. You have to understand the emotions behind skating, and you have to be out there skating with the guys to know what’s happening. Skateboarding is such an extension of one’s personality, and a complete lifestyle in itself that there’s no way that you can relate to skaters if you haven’t been there yourself.
KDT: What was the inspiration behind the graphics of your first line of decks?
AvN: Ha ha ha… Vincent was doing the designs for the first batch, and I said to him “dude, we HAVE to have skulls” and he went off and made it happen. We actually had a dude in Nelspruit who bought a deck just because it had the skull on.
KDT: Alwyn, how does it feel making the move to creating a brand skateboard company?
AvN: It’s unbelievable. It has been such an amazing experience from the very first moment we decided to create Slip, and it’s really just getting better by the day. The Slip community is growing, our product range will soon expand and the guys who are riding our products have nothing but good words for the quality of our products.
KDT: How does a skater buy gear from you?
AvN: They can contact us on info@slipskateboards.co.za, and depending where they are in the world we’ll either hook up with them, courier it out to them, or get them in touch with our resellers. Vincent actually drove out to Nelspruit once to get 3 decks to the dudes there, so believe me, we want to get our products out to the guys on the street where they need it most.
KDT: What are the basics of constructing a Slip Skateboard, from the plys to glue and molds?
AvN: You know, I spent a lot of time researching and crafting the best business model that would ensure we have superior quality products at affordable prices, and it became abundantly clear that we’d have to be stupid to try and do all of that ourselves.
We’ve been extremely fortunate to have established a relationship with an international factory that produces really solid quality products, and obviously they take care of all those aspects for us, allowing us to focus on the more relevant aspects of running Slip.
I know a lot of people find this business model strange, but the days of a skateboard company owning the entire production process from sourcing the wood, pressing the decks, to printing the graphics and everything in between really only exist in isolated cases still.
KDT: Ok a little more serious, what’s the deal with decks costing SO MUCH in South Africa?
AvN: I think a really big part of it is the long term market dominance by the established players, as well as the fact that there has been very little along the lines of serious competition in this space – and the guys that do bring the competition sooner or later realize that they too can ask the same prices for products and benefit from the same profit margin.
I remember the last pro deck I bought in 1993 cost R312 at the Toy Shop in Menlyn. Today, 16 years later I am selling the same quality deck, if not better, at R300 PLUS grip! If you look at the top brand decks in skate shops today going for up to R700 a deck then it really makes it difficult to understand how we can sell Slip completes at R650 if you cant even buy some of the decks for that kind of money in the shops.
KDT: How did you decide to take the stand to start a skate company?
AvN: I was on the phone with Vincent somewhere last November, and he was like, why don’t we start a skate co? It was quite funny he’d mention it though because I was already thinking this whole idea through in my head at that stage.
That was really the catylyst though. I did a ton of research and product R&D after that before we decided to actually commit to this. We had fantastic feedback from guys like Werner Lamprecht (I dig this skater), Reuben Els, and Hein Kotze during those R&D days who helped us to test the products and listen to our ideas. They really helped us to get back in touch with the skating scene again after our time off and provided really awesome feedback with regards to our products.
We quickly realized that we had a great quality product and that our business model had potential, so we took the plunge.
KDT: What is the best part about being a skateboard company founder?
AvN: Have you ever had 100 decks with your own logo on it in your lounge?
There’s actually a ton of cool things about it, like Vincent and I have a tradition where we print custom, once-off decks for our boys in each of the designs we do, and to me that’s something very special which would be almost impossible to do if you’re not in our shoes.
KDT: What is one draw back about being a company owner?
AvN: To be honest I haven’t run into any yet. It was a really big decision for me to start up a company, so I spent a lot of time going over and over all the details in my head, and running it past my wife – who’s been absolutely fantastic through this whole process. So ultimately once we got to the stage where Slip became a reality I was pretty well prepared for it mentally, and I think that’s a big factor in whether you see something as a drawback, or something that requires your attention to ensure it works out ok.
KDT: Who is down with the Slip Skateboards, and who is the Slip Skateboards down with?
AvN: There’s a lot of excitement around what we do in all the skaters I deal with, and each and everyone of our clients have nothing but praise about our products, which is really unbelievable.
Slip’s down with all skaters. Young or old, good or bad – we don’t care, we want to skate with you and we want you to benefit from riding a top quality deck that you can actually afford. Slip’s mission is ultimately to improve the SA skating scene by providing good quality products at affordable prices.
KDT: Does Slip Skateboards have any sponsored skaters?
AvN: Right now we don’t. We have an unofficial crew of skaters that consists of guys like Werner Lamprecht, Hein Kotze, and Jason Greene who are really the guys that we respect and that’s stuck with us and that helped us in some way or another to get Slip off the ground, and they all shred something unbelievable.
KDT: Any plans for a full video, that seems the norm these days?
AvN: We’ll definitely start doing some footage with the next product range and who knows, it might just become a full length vid…
KDT: If a kid is looking to get sponsored what he or she do?
AvN: It’s interesting that I get asked that almost immediately when people realize I own a skate co. It’s definitely the perceived utopia as far as making a career out of skating, but I don’t think that the kids always realize that if you become sponsored then skating stops being just about fun and it becomes a job, because if a company is going to invest time and effort in you as a skater it’s ultimately going to come back to money in some way or another.
There’s a lot of really, really good skaters out there, but I think a lot of guys reckon if they can bomb one big trick every now and again that it’s good enough to get their own signature deck and a payslip from it.
If you’re really good and consistent then get yourself some really good quality footage and get it out to the companies, both local and international. With the internet nowadays and apps like Facebook it’s extremely easy for people to start marketing themselves and getting all the right people to take notice of them, don’t think just because you cant go skate in a comp in the USA that you can’t reach those companies…
KDT: Now you didn’t hear if from me, but the word on the street is you guys are working on new designs and branding behind-closed-doors. I know you need to keep it hush-hush confidential but is there anyway you could reveal something of the serious campaign you and your team are working on for later this year?
AvN: I am super stoked about the work we’ve been doing on our next batch of products. You know we’ve gotten a lot of feedback from our clients and we’ve formulated that into something quite unique, and based on the feedback from the few people who’s seen it we’re definitely onto something big here.
We hooked up with Hein Kotze to do our designs for us, and he is really just unbelievably creative. His designs are way out there and along with the fact that he’s a passionate skater himself he really managed to capture what Slip’s all about and what looks great on products in his designs. We really cant wait to get our hands on this new range and to get it out there to the skaters.
Keep your eyes open – if you spot a seriously great looking deck somewhere and it’s all black & white you can bet your newest pair of skate shoes on it that it’s a Slip deck!
KDT: Slip Skateboards has a pretty serious history behind it. It started as a company to make things happen in a tough environment like SA, what do you plan on bringing to the table?
AvN: Good, solid quality products that people can afford – plain and simple…
We believe that if we get more people skating better quality decks that the level of skating will ultimately improve. How many times do skaters hold back on doing big tricks because they don’t have R600 to buy a new deck if they stomp it in half when they land that 6 stair set?
I met a dude at Boogaloos in Monte Casino a while ago, he had his brand new deck 2 days and stomped the nose right off. He was dead keen to get a Slip deck, but his folks won’t give him money anytime soon because he just destroyed a R450 deck in 2 days. I know what its like to sit for 2 months without a deck because you don’t have the cash and it sucks. Hopefully we can help to keep people on decks for longer and get them back on decks sooner.
We’re also trying to get involved in some serious grassroots development as well. Where I live in Midrand there’s just absolutely no real facilities for skaters and one of my resellers, Kerin Verster is a pastor at our church/school and he’s just managed to raise enough funds to build a brand new 4ft mini ramp. Along with some rails and a funbox (the old Slip box) we now have the facililties to allow kids to go skate in a controlled environment and we can see them make progress from one session to the next. Kerin’s also started the Slip skate club at the school and during break on Wednesdays and Fridays the kids take out all the equipment and have a session during school time – which is really just unbelievably cool!
The grassroots development aspect is really something very close to my heart. I always remember how I benefitted from getting exposure to good quality skaters when I was a kid, and if we can help these kids in a similar manner to achieve their goals and realize some new ones along the way then I think we’ve achieved something very special.
KDT: What’s your advice to kids that want to work in skateboarding?
AvN: Skating in SA is a very tight industry – you have to bring something unique to the table and know as much as you can about the business aspects of it and you’ll stand a good chance. Just because a market seems filled with establish players it doesn’t mean there isn’t anymore space – it just means you’re going to have to work harder to succeed.
KDT: Any last words about Slip Skateboards?
AvN: I truly believe we’re on to something good with Slip. There’s a growing community out there which reinforces that belief and with the support of that community, and all the really amazing people that helped Slip in some way or another up to this point (especially my amazing and supportive wife) I think ultimately we will succeed in our mission – to improve the SA skating scene by providing quality products to the people at affordable prices.
Alwyn here are some quick questions we always like to ask:
Last Trip You Were On: Pilansberg nature reserve with my family.
Place To Visit: Umhlanga
Hobby besides Skating: Photography
Drink: Double Jack Daniels on the rocks, red wine, Monster
Band/Artist: Disturbed, Probot, Motorhead, Interpol, and anything with Dave Grohl in it
Competition: Is a good thing.
Last Time You Were Stoked: When my boy smiled at me this morning when he saw me.
Last CD You Bought: People still buy CDs?
Time To Wake Up: 05:00AM
Breakfast: Jungle oats, golden syrup with some Corn Flakes
Last Person You Were With: My boy
Magazine: Transworld
Website: www.theberrics.com
Last Thing You Read: The original Dracula by Bram Stoker
Car: Toyota Corolla
Animal: Labradors, Oscars
Last Time You Were Mad: Had to be in traffic somewhere…
Last New Trick You Learned: FS 50-50 grind to tailslide
Quotes: “I’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse”
Movie: Full Metal Jacket
Place to eat: Pappachinos
Video Game: EA’s Skate
Obstacle To Skate: Pools, they scare the crap out of me but I absolutely love them
Trick: Impossible
http://www.slipskateboards.co.za
Cell: 082 376 8008
We dont have an address…
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Slip-Skateboards/132222354408
MARKUS MUSELER – A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH.
Markus Museler of Old School Productions
I had fun interviewing Markus Museler, a radical dude who runs OLD SCHOOL PRODUCTIONS a.k.a OSP. Markus’s ‘feel the rush’ passion for outdoor sports has led him to create one of South Africa’s coolest companies, his vision and driving force has made him a force to be reckoned with. OSP is an EXTREME events based company established 3 years ago with a focus on extreme action sports and the aim of looking to bring something different to our audience..! OSP brings South Africa the best and latest special planned events, making sure your event schedule never gets Stale..! Old School Productions set up events all over the Western Cape…and national areas.
What is Extreme Sports:
It’s the desire to test yourself in a challenging physical activity. Certain sports were being called “Outlaw Sports” due to the fact that they are considered too dangerous. They included such things as skateboarding and snowboarding. A subculture setting began and these sports were generally youth orientated and were marked by alternative clothing styles, which has set the standard for most clothing styles to date.
In many of these sports, individual heroes emerged. In fact, many of the sports got their start by having some very talented leaders who demonstrated skills and stunts that their followers tried to emulate. The introduction of the X Games and ESPN’s use of the term did not begin Extreme Sports. If anything, it simply brought it to the attention of the public and made it a bit more commercial and controlled. To read more please go to http://www.extremesportscompanies.com/history-extreme-sports
Now South Africa has it’s own extreme planned events company ‘OSP’ that has set the standard after the huge success of SUMMER X. OSP set the mark for extraordinary events production, bringing various events to SA which the public have been starved of in recent years..! Markus and his team at OSP have set the bench mark for new ideas..! Let’s take a trip into the mind of Markus Museler…
Here is a brief synopsis on Markus’s backstory; Originally he’s from Durban, growing up there and going to school in Kloof, Thomas More College. After school Markus pursued a Sports and Events Management course at Damelin, and after a 4 year Sports Management Degree is when he found his purpose in life.
Seeing he loved something different in Sports and Extreme sports as well as being outdoors as often as possible, he headed to Cape Town after school and that’s where he’s been living for the past 9 years. Markus “I made CT my home and that’s where I knew I wanted to establish my business OSP.” His entire life he’s been into something different like main stream popular culture and alternative sports like BMX and his favorite No.1 Freestyle Jet sking, finally a class that represented his style and personality.
Markus “Cape Town is the place to be in SA and hopefully I’ll be here for a while to come and reach my goals in life and grow the awareness of extreme sports through Old School Productions.”
OLD SCHOOL PRODUCTIONS
DIRT — WATER — AIR — WOOD — METAL – MUSIC
KDT: Markus, what is the cool logo of OSP resemble?
MM: The logo was put together with the aim to make it distinct and recognizable. The OSP for the company name Old School Productions and the Chopper cross for the hardcore Xtreme aspect of OSP and the wings resemble the Freedom of events and action sports as well as the air that all the disciplines create. Then the Black & white are just colors that I’m amped on..
KDT: OSP to me has one of the coolest websites out there and very Web 2.0 – I like the black graphics as the background. Who did your site and what kind of involvement went into it?
MM: Yeah the site is pretty SICK, getting stoked on it all, not quite finished yet but getting their. A team rider and good mate Marc ‘Chippy’ van Niekerk, 1 of South Africa’s top Skaters built and designed the site and the logo. He has his own Company called DataRocket. He’s a styler man trying to keep the site fresh and updated all the time. Marc gives the site the look and feel of what I want and the vision and mission of what OSP stands for. Having info and Loads of event pics on the site is a must so the peeps can see what’s going on if they miss an event!
KDT: What made you get into extreme sports lifestyle?
MM: All my life I’ve been actively involved in Extreme sports, doing loads of BMX and Freestyle Jet sking as a kid. And lately MX and loads of Freestyle JS and all other adrenalin pumping sports! It’s a lifestyle whereby you can do your own thing and it constantly keeps pushing you.
KDT: A company like OSP needs a mindset like yours, doing your own thing. How would you describe your company culture?
MM: The company culture is all about trying to LIVE THE DREAM… not having to work that 8-5 job and answering to anyone besides yourself. Having the time of your life but still making a living from it all.
Laid back…
KDT: You have this out-of-the-box thinking, what is your vision for OSP over the next two to three years?
MM: OSP vision in the next few years is just to grow into the biggest and best action sports and Extreme Events Company in SA! Bringing mind blowing and unique planned events to SA which haven’t been seen yet. As well as building up the OSP lifestyle Brand-and-Team and just KICKIN @#% man…
KDT: What major challenges are you currently facing as a the man behind OSP?
MM: I suppose a few of the bigger challenges would be getting the really big sponsors to back Extreme sports and put in bigger cash sponsorships into the events and not just into the SA mainline sports. Another one would be to try restrain myself from being on my jet ski all day and not in the office. Haha
We’re getting there..
KDT: Dude, you pull some serious air on your jet-ski. OSP reaches for the stars I’m guessing, what makes OSP better than your competitors?
MM: Well I think I’ve set a bench mark for new and unique events, also made really great relations with both Sponsors and with the Action sports athletes! I think I’ve got a niche market in the Western Cape, getting great cash prize money at events always helps. Also Livin the Concept!!!
KDT: Who do you consider your customers to be, just action sports people or a wider variety?
MM: My database and clientele are a wide spectrum of the people in SA. We try to make event venues really accessible to all as well as the admission fee to the shows affordable to the general public. We get youngsters and their parents at the events because we try to cater to all their needs. But mainly your 13-35 year olds are still the bulk of the attendance… Different events cater to different clients.
KDT: Markus, you’ve been at this game long enough, in your opinion what are the most important skills and attributes to be at the forefront of extreme sports?
MM: We see people jumping off cliffs, BMX riders clearing 90 foot gaps and skaters doing tricks that sometimes aren’t even imaginable? Constantly keeping things at the events new and fresh. Keeping people guessing or having the right venues at the right time of the year. Making sure that you stay innovative and get all the top athletes at the events to ensure a top level show. Great music and beers – always help.
KDT: You are an innovator, motivator and have high expectations, what is your management style like?
MM: I think I’m a great operator and organizer / planner. I try and keep things constantly relaxed and chilled. It’s all about preparing, preparing, preparing and I give myself enough time to organize things properly and make sure sponsors and clients are happy. I get done what needs to be done! I think I’m a cool boss to work for and I do pay well for a job well.
KDT: Explain to us what your preferred method of communicating with your team is to pull off one of these events?
MM: I usually do most of the event and work myself and then get my guys in just before the events to help out and manage certain sections on the day-to-day activities like the bars, Xtreme sections, bands etc. I meet with the guys and make sure we are all on the same page. And as long as we are having fun and the guys know the drill which is awesome for piece-of-mind, we all have a great time.
KDT: Tell us about your sponsored rider MALCOLM PETERS, and how you came about signing him to OSP?
MM: Malcolm, he has been riding my events since the start and KILLS it every time on his BMX, winning most of the comps he enters and puts on a mad show when we do demos etc.! We really dig his vibe and style and approached him telling him all about Old School Productions and that we’d like him to represent OSP. He gets it, he really does and I’m stoked on him as a person and rider. Malcolm amazes crowds all over SA, there isn’t a trick he can’t do. Oh yeah, and he just won the FOX PRO/AM comp in DBN last week.
KDT: How does anyone get sponsored by OSP, what is it you are looking for in someone?
MM: Seeing I’m involved in all aspects of Extreme sports events and the passion and discipline it takes, I’m trying to sign a rider from each sport. I look for guys with the same vibe and ethos as myself and OSP as well as if they RIP IT! Currently on the team:
Got Malcolm- BMX.
Marc Van Niekerk- skate
Ryan Franklin –Downhill/dirt MTB
Andrew Guess – Trial MTB
Myself – freestyle Jet Ski
KDT: So what’s coming up – are there any new events OSP is planning before the end of 2009?
MM: Yeah, we have a few events still coming up before the end of the year. A big one is Urban FMX which is a FMX freestyle demo show in the Cape Town Cbd at night, which will be the first of its kind in SA in November 09. Stoked on this one, mind blowing. There are also various Demo and Expo’s all over SA in conjunction with the new Nivea mens range.
Jet Ski X freestyle competition
Zimfest which is a weekend music festival we do annually
Hopefully another X Fest event before the end of the year, see if time allows!
KDT: Markus, do you any last words for readers that you would like to share?
MM: Finally this was awesome to do and get the word out in the Extreme action scene. Hopefully next time we speak I’ll be the biggest events guy in SA and OSP will be where I envision the brand!!! Hopefully kids out there get back on there bikes and boards and keep styling and look out for the next OSP event and we hope to see you there.
Here are some quick questions:
Last Trip You Were On: The Drive to the gym.!
Place To Visit: Swakopmund Namibia as well as Munich Oktoberfest!
Hobbies: Freestyle Jet- Sking..nothing better than playing in the Surf
Drink: Monster Energy and an Ice cold Hansa Beer
Band/Artist: Lincin Park @ the moment/ Crazy Young Lad
Competition: The One and Only X Games / all the events OSP does/
Last Time You Were Stoked: Watchin SA pump Aus in Rugby
Last CD You Bought: Monster Hits Vol. / No 399
Time To Wake Up: When the waves are cooking.!
Breakfast: Steak TarTar
Last Person You Were With: My Girlfriend.
Magazine: Locally Whipped. Promoting SA alternative sports
Website: Old school Productions / SK8 Africa – Obviously / 2oceans vibe.co.za
Last Thing You Read: Sept issue of Locally Whipped Mag
Car: My Colt 3.0l Club cab truck
Animal: Dog – My little Dachund Schnapps
Last Time You Were Mad: Always keep a smile
Last New Trick You Learned: Superman to Heelclicker / No Foot can to opposite no foot can
Movie: Any Romantic comedies.. hahaha
Place to eat: Sauls Saloon Sushi bar
Trick: Superman Seat-grab for myself / Double flip whips look insane.
So you pretty much got it all from Markus, whether you are looking for a full-service event planner, special event management, concert producer, sporting event, or someone to manage your corporate seminar, OSP can assist you in creating your next unforgettable one-of-a-kind event.
OSP can conceptualize, design, manage, and execute events that host anywhere from a 10 person corporate weekend, to a capacity concert, and everything in between. Each event is designed to your specific goals, budget, and brand philosophy.
Please feel free to contact Markus Museler personally, this guy truly rocks and is the easiest person to approach. Hit him up at the following:
Mobile: + 27 (0) 83-655-3176
Office/Fax: 021-462-4256
Email: markus@oldschoolproductions.co.za
markus1osp@hotmail.com
http://www.oldschoolproductions.co.za
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5307038223&ref=ts
Feel The Rush; Markus Museler.
WERNER LAMPRECHT – SHOOT to SKATE
Author: Kevin Du Toit
My SA peeps, there is a lot I’d like to say about my interview with Werner but I want this young dynamic persona to tell you himself about his passion and how Mr. Lamprecht gets his motivation. Werner is much like a filmmaker where his still pictures are telling a story and he truly seems to have captured the art of photography. So let’s begin.
KDT: Werner, please give us a quick synopsis/back story of who Werner Lamprecht, is and how it seems you’ve been shooting pictures for ever right:
WL: I’m 21 going on 22, I’ve been skating and taking photos for 9 going on 10 years. I love what I do and won’t stop for anything! Skateboarding has shaped my life and I’ll always be thankful for that!
KDT: Your pictures could easily be any pro photographer, what got you into shooting photos?
WL: I’ve always had an interest in photography. I do however believe that my interest in skate photography came after opening my first Blunt Magazine back in like 2000! Guys like Barry Tuck, Pablo Ponzone and Brett Thompsett really had the best pictures out there and really inspired me!
KDT: What got you into skating?
WL: This might sound weird, but I think I was meant to skate! Thanks to my dad I got my first board at age four. I still have a VHS tape of me standing on and pushing my fish tail board down a Kempton Park hill at age four!
Thanks to two of my very old friends, Eduard Malan and Thys Lötter, I popped my first ollie at our leaders camp at the end of 1999 on one of their boards which they brought along. Since then it has never stopped!
KDT: Yeah, skating is something you either have or you don’t. Would you give a brief walk through your work flow?
WL: I don’t really have a proper flow going at the moment because I work a 8 to 5 job from Monday to Friday and then I usually do my skating and photo shoots on weekends. If someone needs to get pictures taken, they’ll call me and I’ll organize a shoot on the weekend.
KDT: Werner, are you a self taught photographer or did you have a mentor that showed you the ropes?
WL: Well, my dad’s always been into photography. I think I just inherited his skill. I got my first “point and shoot” camera at age 12 and shot anything I could. If it looked good, I shot it! I kept on shooting pics with that camera until like age 17 when I got my first introduction to an SLR camera. I received a Pentax K1000 film SLR camera from Deon Fourie’s mom as a gift after she had seen some of my pics. I taught myself all about focus points, aperture and shutter speeds with that camera.
KDT: What does it take to be a good skateboard photographer?
WL: To me there are a couple of things that will make you a good skate photographer.
1 – make sure you have a good angle! The better your angle, the better your photo.
2 – make sure you have good lighting available. If you are shooting in the day, make sure you shoot with the sun behind you and if at night, make sure you have sufficient lighting set up.
3 – make sure to take the picture at the correct moment. Rather wait an extra 2 or 3 milliseconds when taking pics of flip tricks just to make sure you get the best shot. It always looks good to see the actual pop involved in a trick.
4 – make sure to take the picture from such an angle that you can see the rider’s face. No one likes looking at a photo where you don’t know who it is. You also get some funny facial expression from time to time!
5 – make sure your focus is correct. To be completely sure you have perfect focus, maybe ask the person you are shooting to stand in the position he will be when popping a trick. That way you can get correct focus with the lens.
6 – one should really have a feel for the trick that’s being done. Knowing what the rider is doing will assist in getting that perfect moment of the trick being done.
6 – having a good quality camera and lens also helps! haha
KDT: NICE! Awesome advice. Who are some of your heroes outside of skating?
WL: My Mom! She has been through a lot throughout her life and she has really taught me about being persistent and enduring when life gets you down! For that I am very thankful!
KDT: When was the defining moment when you knew that it was time to go digital instead of film, or was it a gradual transition?
WL: I’d say it was the day that I bought my Digital SLR camera. After I took my first pics with that camera I knew that things would change for the better. In a way I would say that it was something that came gradually as I had perfected my techniques with the film SLR camera, so going over to digital just made it so much easier to get the perfect shots.
KDT: There are times when everyone is telling me that a picture is good, but I am not satisfied with it. How do you know that a photo is really good?
WL: For this question I am quoting a close friend, Alwyn Van Niekerk. He has told me that a picture can be called a really good picture when it has the effect of making the viewer look at it over and over and over again.
KDT: Good one Alwyn Van Niekerk. You have many creative outlets… which do you get the greatest satisfaction from?
WL: It is mostly my photography. I get the best satisfaction out of seeing someone looking at one of my pictures and giving positive feedback and comments.
KDT: What is your fav camera body right now?
WL: I actually don’t have any other cameras than my Pentax K1000 and my Canon 350d. So the obviously choice would be the digital 350d. If I had the choice to choose a camera right now I’d have to say the Nikon D3X. That is one beast of a camera!
KDT: Which one item of equipment would you say is the most important to you?
WL: The obvious choice would be my camera. My cell phone is also in there as well as my PC and iPod.
KDT: What is Werner Lamprecht doing to pay bills now?
WL: I have been working as a hardware sales consultant at Sahara Computers since I finished school. I basically sell computers during the week as a full time job. I also recently started reselling Slip Skateboards. It’s a venture by two of my friends coming out of Kyalami to help the South African scene out with good quality product at a fraction of the price that one would expect to find in the shops. It’s just started off recently but the brand is doing good.
KDT: Would you say that South Africa is now the forefront of skateboarding?
WL: I wouldn’t say forefront, but we are definitely getting there! The skate scene in our country has really progressed tremendously over the last 10 years and it can only get better from here on onwards.
KDT: Who do you feel are some of the most under rated skateboarders out there right now?
WL: Locally – Both the Van Staden Brothers, Joubert and Jansen! These dudes are serious about skating and they really know how to put stuff down! Both have good style, good approaches and big bags of consistent tricks! They really make me want to skate more and better! I’d also say Charl “Skippy” Steyn! This dude is so technical it’s not even funny! Some people will go out trying to pull off hammers or complex technical tricks. Charl will go out and combine those two elements to provide seriously sick technical hammers!
Internationally – A kid called Nick Mullins. Do yourself a favor and go and search him on Youtube. This kid has sick style and big tricks. It is quite sad, but he is currently in the hospital with a viral infection and unable to skate.
KDT: Glad to see you are advocate of Nick Mullins. What is the ONE lasting impression you want to leave in your photos?
WL: I’d love to capture the essence of the era we are currently in when it comes to the skating and the skaters out there at the moment. I want people to look at my pics one day and say “Damn, look at what was being done back then”.
KDT: That is kind of why I wanted to interview you. You have that universal appeal when you capture an image. It’s all about getting it right at the moment of making an impact when catching that magic shot. Are you going to do galleries of your work?
WL: I’d like to do an exhibition of my work someday. Right now I don’t think it’s the right time to do something like that though. I’d rather wait another couple of years and build up a proper reputation for myself. That way an exhibition will make a bit more sence.
KDT: If anyone was to ask you how to capture that moment with your lense, what advice do you have for them?
WL: I’d say that they will have to go back to the “What does it take to be a good skateboard photographer?” question! Haha.
Here are some quick questions we got out of Werner and wanted to share with you:
Last Trip You Were On – I went on a trip to Mpumalanga about a month ago. It wasn’t for skating though. Strictly business!
Place To Visit – 1st Cape Town and 2nd Centurion!
Hobby besides Skating – Fishing, Photography, Music.
Drink – Double Southern Comfort with single lime and lemonade.
Band/Artist – for chilling out: JACK JOHNSON! , Matt Costa, The Killers, Interpol, Coldplay and then the Hip-Hop: Jay-Z, Notorious B.I.G., Busta Rhymes, The Game, Obie Trice and the list goes on!
Competition – Good!
Last Time You Were Stoked – Every time I go skate!
Last CD You Bought – Jay-Z’s American Gangster
Time To Wake Up - 5:00 AM
Breakfast – Wimpy?
Last Person You Were With - My Mom
Magazine - Blunt (RIP) , Session , Thrasher and Transworld.
Website – www.theberrics.com
Last Thing You Read – an e-mail.
Car – I drive a Citi Golf , I’d like a Golf 5 GTI.
Animal - Cat
Last Time You Were Mad - Today at work!
Last New Trick You Learned – I got two new tricks. On Flat I’ve learned Pop Shuvit Underflips and on a ledge I’ve learned Fs 50-50 540 Bigspins out.
Quotes – “skateboarding is ideas put into action, if you can think of something you can pretty much do it on a skateboard” Marc Johnson
Movie – Pursuit of Happiness, The Hangover, American Gangster, The Number 23.
Place to eat – Kauai health bars.
Video Game – the original THPS 2!
Obstacle To Skate – The Gateway loading docks in Centurion, the Centurion Ditches and Skinner in Pretoria.
Trick – Smith Grinds and then my own Fakie Heelflip Sex Change (body varial).
Favorite Angle to shoot – Side angles always works for me!
BRONIC BEDNAREK – WICKHEAD
Posted by: Kevin Du Toit
Recently I’ve been fortunate enough to go to a few gigs in Los Angeles where my favorite South African band WICKHEAD have been playing. Bronic Bednarek Lead vocals of WICKHEAD, a driven, passionate alternative rock band that hails from the beautiful yet volatile city of Johannesburg, South Africa. Against all odds they have risen through a challenging time of violent crime, social change and cultural alienation in an evolving country.
It’s a typical sunny day in So Cal and I am sitting with Bronic Bednarek, who you all know as the Lead Vocalist of the kick ass South African band “Wickhead” which by the way is my families favorite South African band, who have moved to Hollywood, California. Bronic has been busy doing a solo album as well and that is why WE HAD to catch up with him in his Studio City pad. This by the way is also my first interview ever and being a fan of WickHead I couldn’t wait to get into it with him, so here we go…
KDT156: What made you leave the comfort of your family, fans and SA to hit the streets of Hollywood?
BRONIC: Passion, Ambition, Ego, Courage, Reaching for a dream.
KDT156: Bronic, you seem like an organic person, natural and passionate about your craft, tells us more about where you are right now on your journey?
BRONIC: I’ve evolved so much -- thank goodness! The fire of relocation will smelt anyone into a new being if they don’t give up or return to the history/culture from where they came.
We all sacrificed a lot to reach for our dreams, and I can’t speak for the other guys, but I know part of it was Passion to reach for a dream and the other part was ego/want/need. That last part of me unfortunately destroyed the relationship I left behind in SA -- breaking something I couldn’t fix changed me. I’ve stopped drinking (we were all self medicating to some degree to deal with the pressure), stopped smoking, I’m taking a break from relationships and sex, I’m meditating alot, doing alot Yoga and Pranayama/kundalini and eating really healthy.
In short I’ve found a new peace and joy in my life that I can take with me anywhere.
None of this growth would have been possible or this deep had we not risked it all and flown to LA.
KDT156: Are you currently in a band and if so what’s the name of your band? What’s the origin of that name?
BRONIC: Obviously Wickhead’s still going (we’re just taking a break), I’m doing solo acoustic stuff under my name ‘Bronic’, I’m touring with a metal band called ‘Eminent’ -- we’re doing a 2 month national US tour, I’m writing a modern, edgy, dance musical and I’m writing Mantra Dance music for one of my teachers Atma Ananda. Keeping busy 
KDT156: NICE! Can you list the name, age, school, and respective instrument of each band member?
BRONIC: Bronic Bednarek, 33, Sandringham High School/Crawford College, Vox
Mark Van Heerden, 28, …, Guitar and Backing Vox
Randall Knight, 28, Bryanston High, Guitar Backing Vox
Jay Hart, 29, …, Bass
KJ Forde, 21, Bryanston High, Drums
KDT156: Mark Van Heerden is a good friend of mine and he just got married and lives in Long Beach, we’re very happy for him. So how long have you all known each other and how did you meet?
BRONIC: I met Mark in January 2000 so 9 years. I taught Sound engineering for 2 days before I changed jobs and flew to France -- during the first day we met and hit it off and started jamming together. He had just moved up from Pietermaritzburg with Jason Meintjes (Previous Bassist) and Louis Enslin (Sound Engineer).
Mark Van Heerden, Bronic Bednarek, KJ Forde and Jay Hart.
KDT156: What genre of music do you consider your work to be? Coming from South Africa and now residing in LA, who are your major influences?
BRONIC: Hard Rock, Deftones, Lost Prophets, The Used, Sevendust, Incubus, Korn.
KDT156: When did you form your band and what inspired you to make music together?
BRONIC: I had a beautiful crazy girlfriend who got me back into heavy music and when I met Mark he said he liked Hed(PE) -- I was amazed he even knew who they were back then and wanted to get the album he had, I said ” I’ve never screamed before but I’ll give it a try!”
KDT156: Do you have a record label? Are you a member of any music organizations?
BRONIC: Nope -- we’re independent at present.
KDT156: What can you tell me about your instruments? (i.e., Are you subject to brand loyalty or will you play with whatever’s available? What made you choose the instruments you have now? Was it cost or was it a style/model/brand/color preference?
BRONIC: I always want the best sound quality so I use a shure Beta 87a Wireless Handheld Condenser Microphone. Mark Loves Fender and Yamaha, You’ll have to ask the other guys about their gear fetishes
KDT156: Where have you performed? What are your favorite and least favorite venues? Do you have any upcoming shows?
BRONIC: LA, San Francisco, Phoenix, portland, Atlanta, London, All over SA. Whisky a Go Go was great to and for us and has so much History! Oregon was great!
KDT156: Which songs do you perform most frequently? Do you ever play any covers? Do you have a set play list?
BRONIC: We play all the songs on our latest album most. We bounce between a few set lists but wanna keep it fresh for the fans alot of the time. We’ve played a few covers but change them up alot. We did Thriller last Halloween and Amazing Grace is on our album.
KDT156: Do you write your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs? Do you think these topics will change over time?
BRONIC: We all write the music together and I come up with the melody, lyrics and concept. all our songs are real, honest and come from some visceral truth that has been experienced even if expressed through a story or poetry. I think after broadening my writing field I would focus alot more on concepts running through an entire album. It began with writing a story for the musical I’m currently completing. I applied that to Eminent’s “Death of the Pilgrim” A journney of self discovery and transcendence.
KDT156: Bronic, briefly describe the music-making process to those who want to come to Hollywood or just get into the music industry?
BRONIC: You gotta love it, treat it like a real job, work hard, take risks and don’t put too much pressure on yourself. You need to grow beyond your mind and what you know in order to boldly go where few do, Be it, feel it, live it.
KDT156: What are your rehearsals generally like? Do you have a set time each week in which you practice or are rehearsals more spontaneous?
BRONIC: Our rehearsals are very tight and necessary. More preparation = less mind = more magic.
KDT156: How has your music evolved since you first began playing music together?
BRONIC: I think I/We started off with heart and soul only, when things don’t go as expected or you have less play than imagined you recreate the wheel a few times. We may have overthought a few songs and directions but it all goes into the pot of experience. I think getting the balance between beautiful art and indulgence is a fine line but needs knowing.
KDT156: What has been your biggest challenge as a band and how have you been able to overcome that challenge?
BRONIC: Staying together through financial challenges and relocation to the states.
KDT156: What’s your ultimate direction for your band and are you seeking fame and fortune?
BRONIC: I’ve relinquished control and moved into the “Surfer’s role” instead of trying to make the wave, be the wave or fight the wave I have chosen to ride the wave as beautifully and amazingly as possible. So after having been a bit of a Hitler in the writing process I’m leaving the music side to the band and I’ll ride that musical wave with lyrics, melody and concept. Think it may work a little smoother for everyone involved -- even the audience!!
KDT156: What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?
BRONIC: Do it!
KDT156: How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?
BRONIC: Myspace, Facebook, YouTube and iTunes Plus the www.wickhead.net site.
KDT156: Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?
BRONIC: The Andrus’!! Thank you! Kev Du toit -- you’ve been great. The staff and sound crew at The Whisky! Stephanie and all our other fans and friends!!! Thank you to EVERYONE!! Thank you!!!
KDT156: Any last words Mr. Bednarek?
BRONIC: Namaste -- The Light in me bows to the Light in you.
DANNY WAY – BIGGER & BETTER
Just because Danny Way’s out of Big Air doesn’t mean he’s done.
Courtesy X Games 3D: The Movie
Danny wants to keep prgressing beyond anywhere he’s been before.
When you watch something like Danny Way’s dramatic slam at X Games 14, it’s not hard to see why some people call him skateboarding’s Evel Knievel. Way has been pro for almost 20 years and spent the first half of it competing like any other skater. But over the last 10 years his name became synonymous with large ramps and record-breaking stunts. First was the Super Ramp and his bomb drop from a helicopter. Then came the Mega Ramp and his jump over the Great Wall Of China. Then the drop in from the Hard Rock sign in Las Vegas, and on and on.
Way was instrumental in bringing the MegaRamp to the X Games in 2004, going on to win the event three times. But on Friday, Way announced he’s opting out of the Big Air at XG15 to focus on the Rail Jam that he’s convinced X Games to hold on this year’s Mega. He says the move will allow him to focus on what he loves most: innovation and progression. “My mindset with skateboarding, from a little kid until now,” Way told ESPN Skateboarding, “was always, ‘What’s next?’ You know, looking to the future. What drives me is progression.”
The MegaRamp was first seen in Way’s closing segment for the 2004 “DC Video,” and Big Air has since become a staple of the X Games. In Way’s eyes it now stands on its own. “The MegaRamp was a part of the progression. I skated that out in the desert and knew it had a life of it’s own beyond just myself in a video part. To see it in the X Games, it’s at a point where I feel that with or without me it’s a genre in skateboarding.”
“Bob [Burnquist], Jake [Brown], and Pierre [Luc Gagnon]—those were the guys that I felt would be caught up to speed and be competitive real quickly and you look at the results and they have done the best,” Way said. “Creating a genre like this within our sport and seeing it stand on its own, was amazing for me.”
Way seems content with what he has done in the Big Air event. He will continue to be instrumental in the Big Air and all other MegaRamp events, whether through his MegaRamp company, which he part-owns along with Bob Burnquist or as a commentator alongside Tony Hawk at this year’s broadcast. But he wants to look to the future.
Courtesy X Games 3D: The Movie
Danny takes a spin on Bob Burnquist’s backyard monstrosity.
Way stressed that he’s not “backing out” of Big Air; rather, he feels he’s returning to where he’s most comfortable: skateboarding’s cutting edge. And for him, that’s now the Rail Jam. The event will take place on the MegaRamp, with a rainbow rail placed to span the gap of the initial jump. “I did the rail five years ago and it’s taken five years to get the rail in the X Games. This year will be the first year and it is important. My sole purpose for skating Mega was not to prove myself above or beyond anyone else. It was driven by pushing myself and now I feel the next thing is the Rail Jam.”
Recently, Lizard King, Ryan Sheckler, and Pat Duffy all stepped to the MegaRamp and landed the gap. However, Lizard King and Sheckler slid out before the vert quarterpipe and Duffy tried but failed to skate the vert ramp, breaking his tibia in the process. Way feels their ability to pull the gap suggests a possible merging of the Mega with street elements and different kinds of vert elements.
“Lizard, Sheckler, and Duffy had the same issue—they all aired the gap but jumped off at the quarterpipe because they don’t know how to skate vert. All the street guys want to jump the gap, but they don’t have the skill set to skate the quarterpipe. So, my mindset is, ‘How do I create the event to get all of those guys involved?” says Way.
Way’s answer is something he’s calling “The Hawaii Project.” Located on a piece of property he purchased in Hawaii, Way is circumspect on any details of the Project since it’s still in the planning stages. But the gist is a giant MegaRamp course with street and pool elements—huge jumps and huge hips. “I have this really crazy plan that I’m going to start working on. It’s a new kind of structure—I think there are so many other things on the MegaRamp scale that are possible.”
Plz visit Josh Brooks blog and view the original interview @: http://espn.go.com/action/skateboarding/blog?post=4340201
TERRY KENNEDY INTERVIEW
Terry Kennedy didn’t really skate contests until last year’s Maloof Money Cup, so it’s proof that this contest does it right. Listen as he talks about Sylmar, Lamborginis and his pick for top three.
Adam Salo
Terry Kenney nosebluntslide.
So, the street course has a bunch of recreated spots from Barcelona and Rincon…
San Francisco—Pier 7, 3-up-3-down…Rincon—San Diego…picnic table, probably any old high school…
If you could make one spot to skate, what would you remake? Like, your favorite skate spot.
Sylmar rails.
Pacoima’s got those now, right?
Yeah.
Who’s skating good out there?
Ah, Sierra Fellers…yep…Kevin Long. I like Heath Kirchart. That’s my favorite skater, right there (for the rest of the interview, click read more).
He’s always killing it, huh?
Yeah.
Let’s say you won the hundred grand and you had to spend it all in one day, like Brewster’s Millions , what would you spend it on?
Oh, a Lamborgini.
A Lamborgini?
Yeah.
Is that a hundred grand?
You could probably get a used one for that.
How much is a new Lamborgini?
360 [thousand] to 150. Normal it’s like 150 and supped up, it’s like 360.
Damn, I can see you’ve been shopping around for it.
[Laughs] Yeah.
It’s like “Eventually…eventually.”
That’s right.
“A few more paychecks…”
Exactly. Easily, if I had the chance, I would.
So, what do you think about the competition in general?
I think it’s dope. You see dudes who never skate contests—they’re here. I mean, look at me. I don’t really skate contests, but I’m here. I started skating contests here [at Maloof] last year. I mean, I don’t really skate contests, but I’m like, might as well.
Do you think it’s a money thing or…
I think it’s like…last year Rob Dyrdek and Reynolds built the course. This year, it wasGeoff Rowley, so they have skater input. The forum is right.
It’s just a bunch of dudes sessioning together.
The people who are involved with it completely know about skating, top to bottom.
It’s like the Maloofs put the money in and everyone else takes care of the skating.
Yeah, exactly.
Who would you bet on for top three?
Ummmm, Chaz…Sheckler…Chris Cole.
You think those are top there?
Yeah.
Some rearrangement of those three?
Oh yeah.
PAUL RODRIGUEZ INTERVIEWS – X GAMES 15
Herman JimenezP-Rod’s been in his TF, committing switch tre flips to memory, among other things.
So you got a new shoe coming out with a commercial that features some celebrities. Can you tell me a little bit about it?
There will be some very special guests in the extended version, dropping on July 31st on the Nike site. But, Ice Cube is currently featured in the commercial, so it was great being on set. I felt like I was able to experience the best of both worlds, because I was able to dabble in some acting and skate, as well as experience the nice catered lifestyle of an actor…But, to be able to rub shoulders with a guy like Ice Cube—he’s a legend man. Iit was great. I was feeling really surreal on the set, ’cause I was like, “Man, skateboarding brought me here, sitting in this low rider withIce Cube, talking to him.” It’s great, man.
And, of course, we have Theotis [Beasley], our boy on Nike, and Shane O’Neill have a little cameo there. It’s basically like a music video. With “Today was a Good Day” as the song, it’s so perfect, you know, because in the commercial, mysteriously the gate’s open at schools where I normally have to climb the fence. There’s no one to kick you out and the consequences of that are that I’m able to land tricks that I was very excited about—you know—the skater’s version of the perfect day.
Along with the P-Rod 3, you’ve got a shoe—the 2.5—coming out?
The 2.5 is basically a version of my second shoe. It’s gonna be like a vulcanized, but it’s not—it’s called a cold-wrap cement, which is a lighter, more eco-friendly version of vulcanized. I’m really stoked on it. I just want to reach all the skaters out there. It will be more like a price-point shoe—not as expensive as my pro shoe. It’s really thinned down.
[Rainbow, Paul's girlfriend tip-toes in the room]
So, you just came out with Street Dreams, a movie about skateboarding. How many of the experiences in the movie are things that you experienced growing up wanting to skateboard?
Um, I did have conflicts at school when I was younger. It’s not that I was dumb or anything, I just didn’t apply myself at school, because, as far as I was concerned, the minute I started skateboarding, that was it—I wanted to be a pro skater. Not that I would promote that kids not pay attention at school, but, as far as I knew, this was gonna be my career. So, you know, that part of the film definitely applied to me. I gave every bit of attention to skateboarding and, in turn, it caused me to have conflicts with teachers and parents, because the teachers would call my parents saying, “Paul is literally doing nothing.” I was just sitting there and existing in class. My mother to get on my case about it and I’d be like, “Mom, trust me. I promise you that one day this will work out—I’m not just being a loser. I’m working very hard, but school just isn’t what it’s gonna be.” In that aspect, I lived those scenarios.
What did your dad think?
My mom was very supportive of my skating, but she just wasn’t supportive of my grades [Laughs]. There’s nothing to get twisted—my mom was definitely all good with me skating, but she, as a parent, had to be a parent and be like, “Look, son, I need you to do well in school.” My dad wasn’t unsupportive about skateboarding, he was just naïve about it. He didn’t realize it was something you could actually do for a living.
It’s a funny parallel, considering some people would say, “Really? You’re gonna grow up and be a comedian? That’s crazy.”
I used that exact same argument on him—exact same—and he couldn’t say anything. Not only was the comedian part hard to break into, but he came straight from Mexico. My family’s straight from Mexico. They emigrated here. They were dirt poor farmers, you know? He grew up in Compton. For him to come and tell my grandparents, “All right, I’m gonna become a comedian!” Probably, they were like, “A comedian? You really think you can act like a goof and that’s gonna be it?” So, it was passed on in the genes, I guess, that drive to go for your dreams. Once I made it into the Tony Hawk pro skater game, he was like, “Oh, all right!”
Your family is all originally from Mexico. So, that means you’re second generation then?
Well, on my dad’s side, he was straight from Mexico—born in Mexico—and he was brought here as a young kid. But, my mom’s side, she’s second generation. Like two and a half generation.
So, when you were growing up, did you speak Spanish in your household?
No, unfortunately, on my mom’s side, since they were here Americanized more, they kept Spanish on the D.L. My mom doesn’t speak Spanish. In a way, I got screwed on that aspect, because I lived with my mother.
It’s kind of odd, because you are such a role model for a lot of the Latino kids in the Los Angeles area that have picked up skateboards in a way that a lot of inner city kids did with basketball years ago. It’s like a way out for them and you’re kind of a role model.
Yeah, exactly. At first, I was, like, I’m gonna keep this under wraps that I didn’t know Spanish. But, as I grew up, I realized that half the kids from East LA don’t know it either.
I was like, “Wow, so you guys don’t know Spanish either? What a load off my chest.” I wasn’t alone. Obviously, I’m very proud of my culture and heritage. Unfortunately, it’s not my fault.
At the same time, to be a Latin American, who sets a positive example for these kids is a big honor to me. It’s not something I grew up realizing. I didn’t realize it until after I started getting recognition and people started saying that to me, like, “You’re out there doing something positive for the Latino culture and making us proud.” It just started hitting me once people pointed it out. It’s not something that you realize at 12, 13 years old. At this point, I take it very seriously.
Going back to the acting, was that always something you saw yourself doing?
Those particular circumstances between “Street Dreams” and another film I did that’s set to come out, “Vicious Circle”—I was randomly approached to do both of those. But, acting has been something I’ve been around my whole life—it’s always been something that I was interested in doing. But, as soon as skateboarding crossed my path, there was nothing I could do about it.
I had been around my dad—he got me into a Pepsi commercial when I was younger and we filmed a pilot for the WB for a sitcom back in ‘98. But, it had all been through my dad, with his connections and his partners, and I didn’t want to just be handed this thing. Skateboarding happened to come across my path and it was a way to carve out my own pathway. No matter how funny my dad is or who he knows, there was no way that he could hand me a career in skating—if I couldn’t skate, I couldn’t skate. Now, that’s why I feel okay with going into the acting world, because I know, within myself, that I was able to make it with my own merit.
As far as your dad’s career, what is his favorite movie or stand-up he’s done?
You know how a skater can be driving in a car and in the corner of your eye you see a rail or a set of stairs? The average person doesn’t see that stuff. That’s how my dad is with jokes. He’s always a comedian, through and through. So it’s cool to see what he’s done. There are so many favorites. There was this series Hardball back in the day that I liked a lot. I got to go on the set of that show and I like the memories from that. And then, of course, Born in East LA. DC Cab ,Latin Kings of Comedy , his stand-up comedy—I love. More recently, he did a film with Clint Eastwood called Blood Work—that was about five years ago. Then, there was the World’s Fastest Indian that he did with Anthony Hopkins. That was really cool. I was stoked to see him in that. He’s been moving into some more serious acting roles with award-winning actors, likeClint Eastwood and Anthony Hopkins.
So, you recently became a dad yourself. What’s harder, skating or being a dad?
Skating, for sure. Being a dad is easy. It’s fun for me.
Is that what you think, too? Since you’re the mom, you might see it a little bit differently. Do you think skating or being a dad is harder for him?
Rainbow: Are you a dad?
No, not at all.
Rainbow: I just wanted to know. Because, if you have become a parent, you find out it’s the easiest thing in the world. It’s just the greatest experience ever.
Paul: Yeah, this primal instinct takes over, because beforehand, you may think like, “Ah man, the diapers…it’s gonna suck,” but as soon as this kid is in front of your eyes, it just melts your heart and they have a little poopy diaper—you just change it. It’s not a big problem, like you thought in the beginning. For instance, today, before we came, I took a shower—I brought her in, rubbed her little head, washed her, dried her off and put her in her dress. It’s just the funnest thing, because the whole time the little things she’s doing: moving around, laughing, kicking. There’s no, like, “Ah, I can’t do this,” you just do. When she’s hungry, you make the bottle—you just do—and on and on. So, being a skater’s definitely harder, because you have to put in way more time to get that same satisfaction.
This being an interview with ESPN, who do you see as doing well in this year’s X Games—X Games 15?
I think the usuals will do well, for sure. There will probably be some people who surprise everyone and do well. But, Chris Cole is going to be there killing it—ripping it—as always. Sheckler’sgonna be there…Lutzka. Chaz Ortiz is going to be there this year—he’s a new addition. He’s gonna be killing it. And, I hope that I’ll be doing well, too.
So, it might be a battle between us five. Still, there’s a really good chance that there will be those X factor guys who everyone’s overlooking that will probably be killing it as well. But, I’m pretty sure it’s going to be an intense competition. I just saw the drawings of the course a couple days ago. It looks fun.
What’s coming up in the next year?
Well, hopefully, success in these upcoming contests. The Plan B video, ultimately, if I had to choose one thing, that’s my main goal right now. To me, an artist—a musician—puts there effort into their album. For me, I consider this like my album. I’m just trying to create my best work and do new tricks that I’ve never done. Hopefully, get a part of the year award, if I can, and get a video of the year—that’s what the whole team’s hoping for, too. Ultimate goal is to continue staying healthy and keep my skating abilities progressing to the best of my abilities.
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