Tag: interview

The brand new PLACE issue 56 “Paris / Paname” will be available through skateshops, selected retailers and newsstands – some of the shops got the issue already, just ask!

The concept behind our current issue is to explore the booming Parisian skate scene, to visit people, who are a staple in Paris but also the ones who are not as well known but deserve a platform. We met a lot of exciting people while working on this issue, we were out there experiencing Paris with them. As with the last issue the work we do has become personal to us and we believe you can feel the Paris vibe as we felt it when you’ll read this issue.

Here’s a little sneak peak…

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Santiago Sasson “Jardin Privé” – Interview

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Manuel Schenck Portfolio – A Contemporary

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A Cruise Through Paname – Spending Time with Parisians feat. Edouard Depaz, Joseph Bias and more

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Jason Dill ’16 – Interview by Benjamin Deberdt

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FUTUR – From the Shadows

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Alex Pires “City Elements” feat. Ben Kadow, Tyshawn Jones, Joffrey Morel, Max Geronzi, Paul Grund and Sage Elsesser.

Get your copy HERE.

One day before the new radioskateboards video “Late but Short” premiers in Berlin, I decided to meet company founder and also long-time buddy Arne Krueger in his office in Berlin, Kreuzberg. Although we rarely meet, Arne received me very kindly with his typical loud voice and his Berliner accent.

After he had shown me his office, we naturally started to talk about the progress of his company. Quickly I noticed that many things have changed since the last video, which was “Radio Active Kids” (2009), but the spirit behind the brand radioskateboards remained totally the same. As I began to ask Arne some questions about the new video, he surprisingly offered me to have a glimpse on it, which I of course would not have refused to do!

“Late but Short” is a motley project with footage by many film makers and presents a very diverse team. My personal favorite might be the part of Sami Harithi, who is just killing it accompanied by a track of a very infamous German rap artist from Berlin. I swear, it could not be more fitting! In short, if you have the chance to be in Berlin tomorrow evening you should not miss the Radio video premiere at SO36.

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Sami Harithi

Tomorrow finally the long-awaited Radio video “Late but Short” premieres. Are you nervous already?

Nope, I have already seen it. (Laughs) For sure I am nervous! Let’s see how things will work out. I am curious about it. I have not seen the final version yet. It is still on its way from Chile to us. I am excited how the video will appeal to the people because it certainly is not a second “Radio Active Kids” but rather a really solid skate video. I like it a lot!

Did you have problems with the production process of the video?

As it is a skateboard video, we of course had lots of problems! (Laughs)

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Malte Spitz – Wallie No Comply 

I remember the premiere of “Radio Active Kids” at Festsaal Kreuzberg in 2009. Then the whole team drove by in a limo, exploding fireworks, police action, road barricades… What can we expect this time?

6,66 Euros entrance fee! (Laughs) Well, we all more or less reached adulthood, which not necessarily mean we got much smarter but at least we got a bit calmer. Apart from that, you can expect one hell of a party, a gnarly skate video and pleasant guests!

Since the last video the team has changed quite a lot. Can one recognize also familiar faces in the new video?

Absolutely! There will be a full montage including Nino Ullmann, Flo Bodenhammer, Vincent Golly and Maxim Rosenbauer. These are the ones who are more or less doing their own thing now. They of course still skate now and then and will always have a place in the Radio Family.

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Collin Mclean

Years ago, I saw you ripping through the mini ramp at Bernd’s Wohnzimmer (a former skate hall in Berlin that does not exist anymore). Are you also represented in the video?

Yes, my pecker is briefly shown! (Laughs) Certainly against my will. The idea was not mine!

Why does Sami Harithi still skate with the fitness of an 18-year-old? What do you put into his meals?

“Arne hat mir Speed gegeben!” (“Arne has given me speed!” – Quote from Radio Active Kids) (Laughs) No, of course not! I personally think Sami has an unbelievable inner fire that keeps him motivated for forever. He is the guy you will still watch cruising down the street in front of your house in 30 years from now. I am very happy to see him skate that good and I can speak for everybody, if I say that we are all proud to have him on the team.

Describe the new video in three words.

Late but short! (Laughs)

 

Interview by Paul Roehrs

There are a lot of things that could be said about Rob Welsh, he has influenced a lot of people and to this day he is on the tip of everybody’s tongue when it comes to style, song and outfit choices but the thing that drew us to Rob is the fact that he himself is always open to change. If we would have made an announcement 10 years ago that Rob Would be skating vert people would have laughed it of and called us fools but in 2016 Wu Welsh is padding up! As you would expect, Rob is not afraid to shoot the shit talk about the old times and the new and we where psyched to ask him some questions.

People feel like your name is very connected to SF but you grew up in Maine. Around what time did you start skating and what got you into it?

I started skating in 1985. It was the usual kid down the street story, my buddy had a board and I gravitated to it. Growing up in Portland, Maine wasn’t like growing up in the woods, we had stuff to skate; it just wasn’t smooth, it’s a brick city.


How did you make the move from Portland out to SF? Did you just take a bus or did you drive out there with your stuff? we know from other interviews that you felt SF was the place to be.

I drove out to SF with 3 other guys; Nikhil Thayer, Jonah Thurell, and Mike Gower. I owned a Ford Tempo, but didn’t own too much else. So I just packed a bag and left. The total drive time was around 52 hours.

You started skating growing up in Maine. Do you feel like moving to SF changed the way you skated?

I grew up in Portland, Maine, so we had some shit to skate. Spots are what you would see in videos, just was just super beat up. The weather plays a big part in skating back there. We’d skate in abandon warehouses, parking garages, whatever we could find that was dry. As for San Francisco, fuck yeah! The place made me a way better skateboarder. I feel like that town makes you learn how to actually ride a skateboard. It’s one thing doing tricks, but skateboarding is much more than tricks. The actual act of riding is the best part, and that city is made for that. Not to mention the level of talented skaters that came through that place, it’s hard not to have it rub off.

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How did the Wu Welsh nickname come up and who thought that one up?

I owe that 100% to Satva Leung. It was because of this pair of Wu-tang pants I owned. I’d wear them just about everyday, and he totally caught onto that. He’d be like ah “Wu-tang, pants?” in a little condescending voice. A couple people caught on to the Wu-tang part, and basically ran with it.

I heard you started skating vert recently. How did you get into that, and do you pad up or skate padless?

I have always been into skating anything and everything. Padding up has been going on a lot lately. There’s no way my knees could take a run out on a vert ramp these days, and another knee replacement surgery isn’t on my to do list. The knee pads will save you, but I don’t wear pads on the streets. hahaha!

So can we expect a Rob Welsh vert part any time soon? Or maybe a video days type part with both vert tricks and street skating.

Ouch, just the thought of calling someone to film gives me anxiety. You know what, I think if I were to film a part it would have to be so friggin’ bro cam and I would only try something for a few tries. I think the part would have a little bit of everything, but mostly friend cameos.

How has being the brand manager for Expedition One changed your day to day life? You’ve said in interviews that you’re used to living on nothing for a long time.

You know that saying “You never work a day in your life if you love what you do.” Honestly, as long as I’m skating or doing something skate related, I’m going to be happy. I’ve been skateboarding my whole life, and love it more today than I did 30 years ago. As far as the nothing part, what do you really need in life? I have always been the richest man alive. A skateboard, good friends, roof over my head, and something to eat. What more do you need?

People still talk about your skating a lot. This year Free skateboard mag even did a retrospective part of all of your old footy. How do you feel about the fact that people like your skating so much that they make their own Rob Welsh sections.

It feels good that people were into my skating. It’s still flattering, and I’m totally blushing. You know when I was skating with my friends some years ago now, filming a trick here and there, would have never expected for someone to take the time to reedit it, and or get tagged every time someone does a nose slide in sweatpants. Haha! It definitely makes me feel good.

You where there in SF when it was the centre of the skateboarding world. Now things are more world wide than ever. Do you follow skateboarding from Europe and other places and if so how do you feel like people from different cultures influence skateboard culture?

Skateboarding has always been global, but I know what you’re saying. I’ve seen a time when skaters would have to had made a pilgrimage out to California if they even wanted to consider “getting hooked up”. Social media has definitely made it more accessible. You can rip anywhere and the community sees it. I can’t even imagine where I’d be living if that were the case back in the early 90’s.

After some switches, you found a home at Expedition. How did that go about happening? What does Expedition represent to you?

My friend Joey wasn’t getting on the brand I was riding for, and Joey was hit up by Expedition. Expedition was interested in having both of us, and I thought it was a good opportunity to get together with my buddy. I was always a fan of the brand, and it seemed like a good fit. Lastly, Expedition means different things to different people, but at the end of it all, it represents skateboarding first.

How does Expedition remain relevant in a time when skateboarding is changing?

I treat the brand in my image, and I update myself every couple of years; always remaining consistent.

Any conversation about Russia and its youth culture these days is bound to include Gosha Rubchinskiy. It’s inevitable. He’s considered one of the most exciting streetwear designers of the day – with collections in haute stores such as Dover Street Market and Tres Bien – as well as an influential photographer. His work is without a doubt a reason why the fashion world is looking East for fresh ideas. His approach consists of an authentic mix of real life situations unfolding around him, captured in a Soviet aesthetic and told in a Russian accent. Skateboarding always plays a major part in Gosha’s imagery and its focus on showing teenagers on the streets in their natural environment. Most of the teenagers don’t even know about their power and their style, which is what inspires Gosha and makes the results appear so real. It’s just normal life, caught with an open mind.

We’ve had the pleasure to meet Gosha in his own Moscow neighborhood, in between bar hopping and walking around from one club to another. To no surprise, he turned out to be a friendly guy who likes to share his story. And it was also impressive to find out that he is taking care of his friends a lot and that he has such a strong belief in a romantic idea of community.


Interview by Benni Markstein

How did you get started with photography? What is your background?

Initially, I started photography in my school years just for fun. I just shot my friends with basic film cameras. It was nothing special. During college, I took some photography lessons and learned how to use mirror film cameras. I studied fashion, styling, hair dressing and some make-up. I always had a need to document my work, so I had to learn more about photography because I had to present it. I learned that it is always better to have a complete project. When I started my fashion project, I started to use my photography for it, since I knew how to develop film. But anyway, I was already taking pictures of my friends my entire life, for example while going out or skating.

Your new book Youth Hotel just launched. Please tell us something about making that book.

There is a hotel in Moscow from the ‘80s that was built for the Olympic Games for the youth and young sportsmen. It’s a strange building with 28 floors in a real Soviet mood and feel. One day a friend of mine, who is a stylist, came to Moscow and she wanted to stay in a strange hotel. So we chose this one as I also wanted to take a look inside and see what’s going on there. It was very interesting, so we rented a room, spent some time there, invited some friends and had some parties there. It’s very empty, so we had the entire floor for us, played some music, danced and also we could smoke. During these parties I shot some pictures there. My friends of IDEA Books, who also made my last book Crimea / Kids, asked me to do something new and asked if I had something for them. I said yes and told them that I have some great outtakes from my Youth Hotel series that we could use. I mixed these pictures with last year’s cool pictures that I never used. I think the name Youth Hotel is very romantic. Youth is such a short period of time in your life that you spend shortly.

You mentioned that you had unused photographs you were able to use. Do you feel that different outlets are also important to realize different ideas in your work?

Photography for me is like a diary. It’s about documenting. I see something and when I think it’s interesting I shoot some faces or some outfits or some boys wearing something in a good way. Afterwards, I can use it for inspiration in my new collections. It’s always interesting to document some energy, or some moods, and to look back for some inspiration.

Please describe the overall image and aesthetic you are aiming to create.

I see something interesting here in Moscow, in Russia. My friends are doing interesting things that I always wanted to show to other Russian people, and also internationally. It doesn’t matter if it’s through photography, or films, or fashion – those are just different ways to show it. For me, it is always about showing things that are happening in Moscow and what is interesting and what is our mood.

The Moscow mood?

Moscow, or Russian, or my Gosha mood – I don’t know! It’s all about the same things told through different outlets. But what is it? I don’t know, it’s my vision; it’s different things that I think are great. If I think this guy is great, or this building, or this landscape is great, I want to show it to people.

And if people don’t like it?

Anyway, I like reactions. It’s a good thing when people react because it’s bad when people don’t care about you. I like bad reactions like: “What the hell is he doing?!” I like that.

What’s your background in skateboarding? Do you still skate?

I’m not, like, a big skater. I started when I was 22 years old. During my school years I never had friends that skated and I was really focused on art, sitting at home and drawing. Later I met some people that skated, not too crazy just in a basic way. Sometimes I go skating but I’m very busy right now and you only have a few months during the year to skate in Moscow. I’m not professional enough to go to indoor skate parks in the wintertime. Also, every year it’s a challenge to kind of start skating again and again. It’s always like stepping on your board for the first time. Anyway, I try to remember how it works.

For me it’s a about the romantic of being a teenager having time to go skate in the streets to escape problems.

Some people still live this life, people who used to do it since they were teenagers. I like to go skate on sunny days in summer and to watch others doing good tricks, to cruise around and take some pictures.

I guess you have many friends that skate, then?

Yeah yeah, it’s a big community with friends, and their friends! When I met these guys for the first time around eight years ago, I thought wow, this is really cool and it is something so true and strong. These guys are really interesting people, the most interesting guys in Russia are from the skate community. Because it mixes guys from different areas: some football fans, some musicians, some Hip Hop dancers, and graffiti guys – they all skate together. Skateboarding is the connection. If you want to meet cool dudes it’s easy to find them in the skate community. For me, it was like fresh air when I met skateboarders for the first time and every year new and cool people become part of the community.

Do you see similarities between skating and fashion? And do you get inspired from skating?

Yes, of course. Normal life always inspires me. I can be inspired by some cool 15 year old guy coming to the spot for the first time because he has some weird style and I will use it for my collection. It works this way for me; one guy can inspire the whole collection. I met Kevin Rodrigues in Paris who has a very cool style – he is really inspiring. Everybody around him is now wearing the same style as him and this is how it works.

How did that connection with Kevin happen and is he your new muse?

First of all, I’m checking what’s going on in the skate world and of course I saw him many times in videos and I liked his style. The first time I met him was in London through a Converse presentation. And when I saw him in real life I thought he was an interesting guy, and that I would like to know him more. Six month later we met again in Paris at Place de la République because we have some friends in common. So we started hanging out, drinking beer, and he was like “Oh, you’re from Russia! That’s cool, we love Russian people.” So we became friends from the first day. It’ the same with Ben Kadow from the US, how they look and how they skate is something I really like.


Crimea / Kids (2014)


What do you think is are the differences between the Moscow scene compared to other cities?

I think the main difference is the places to skate because of the weather and the winter. In Moscow, people have to do all the things they like to do during the summer period because in the wintertime everybody starts to become lazy. I think that’s the main difference between Russia and other countries. But besides that, I think in terms of the community, friendships, and skateboarding – everywhere is the same around the world. That’s because it’s so easy if you go to Paris, or to China, and meet some people at the spot, it’s the same connection.

Many people pay attention to my work and that’s why I need to use it to show the good things about Russia.

At one time you said that you would like to change people’s perception of Russia through your work. Is that true?

Yeah, it’s one of my ideas that I want to show Russia the way I see it. I think I have my own vision and I want to show it because it’s hard to imagine how it is if you don’t live here. I have power and the ways to show it – so that’s why I need to use it. Many people pay attention to my work and that’s why I need to use it to show the good things about Russia. Now we’re living in a time of information war, and especially many bad things about Russia and I would like to say: No, it’s not really like that. I can show you what’s happening. Well, and what I think is the beauty of being a Russian.

Why is there some much attention on Russia at the moment? What is attracting the people?

It was a closed country for many years and no one knew what was secretly happening inside. It was just a big myth surrounding what it is – and it still is. The country is big and of course you can be in Moscow or St. Petersburg, which is easy. But that is not the real Russia. You have to go to other cities to understand the Russian mentality better. Like you told me the story of this security guard Dima in Sochi and what his soul is like. I think you’ll understand more now. These are things I also like to show about Russia, because I think it’s good here. It’s not only clichés.

So what do you have coming up for the future and new projects?

I have an idea for a short movie so I try to find free time for it. First of all, I need to sit down, write the script and then start filming. This will be my next project.

So, will there be skateboarders involved?

Of course, ha-ha!

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All photos by Gosha Rubchinskiy

People start up new businesses every day, Budgetbeuker bearings was started by Bastiaan van Zadelhoff. We interviewed Bastiaan a while back about starting a company, being a part of Pop Trading Co and his many nicknames. We kept in touch after the interview and a couple of days ago he told me that he had gotten a cease and desist letter from another company that felt like the Budgetbeuker logo was to similar to theirs. The whole thing kind of shocked me! I asked him, why would such a big company care about a small upstart with a logo that was inspired by their own? How did they even find out about his company? What where the consequences? And how can you avoid having to go through similar issues. Bastiaan quickly responded to these questions and answered them all in this interview.

How did things go after you launched the company?

Things went well for some time, that was the best time of my life though!

How did people receive the brand?

Way better than I expected! I have been visiting some shops that carry my product and I was surprised at how much of my product they where selling. I am so happy and grateful for all the love I have received!

After such a great start when did you find out you had a problem?

On the eighth of January I opened my inbox and in that inbox was an email: Notification of IPR Infringement by Envisional Enforcement. An Italian brand (that will remain nameless) had seen my logo and felt that it was to similar to theirs. The email also stated their demands, basically all the products and promo with my old logo had to be taken offline.

Are your logos really that similar?

Well both our logos are based on a compass, the are some other differences but the only real difference is that they copyrighted their logo. So I google them and the first thing I see is that some of their jackets cost more than my initial investment! (laughs) After that I thought it would be better to comply with their request and take my site down.

Do you think this whole episode could have been prevented?

People really took notice, Budgetbeuker went kind of viral. I started to get more followers on Instagram, one of those followers “happened” to be a shop manager for this Italian brand. He possibly started this whole thing, the guy used to skate, he was one of those people who big themselves up and tells crazy (untruthful) stories. Hugo (Snelooper) told me that his friends used to pick on the guy, one night his friends even threw the guy into a swimming pool because he was Dj’ing terribly (laughs). Truthfully I really don’t know what happened, this person denies snitching on me. It could have been somebody higher up, Who knows? The Internet is a crazy place!

Did have to take your product out of the shops?

No but we have to cover the original logo, so I had some stickers made so shops can cover the old logo with these stickers. Once that is done we can keep selling our bearings.

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The new Budgetbeuker look with a sticker covering the old logo.

Okay. So what does this mean for the future of the brand?

Well the brand itself suffered because of these issues. We had to drop or change all our product designs that where based on the original logo. I’ve been spending a lot of time troubleshooting, instead of putting that time into growing the brand.
As far as creating a new logo I am not a 100% sure but I am working on it. No matter what design, we will be extra careful! So those Italians are not temped to start some trouble again.

Any last words?

To be honest I never saw myself winning the court case but it felt strangely cool that I got noticed by such a big brand!

Go to budgetbeuker.com to see more.

Photos by: Hugo Snelooper
Interview by: Roland Hoogwater

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Having closely followed Beach House’s incredibly self-determined career moves for almost a decade now, we can say one thing: the Baltimore duo, comprised of multi-instrumentalist Alex Scally and singer Victoria Legrand, has certainly grown up – both musically and as people. Based on the motto “see you later, drum kit,” Alex’s truckloads of vintage keys, canned beats, and silvery guitars are still to be found on their forthcoming album “Depression Cherry,” whereas Victoria’s incredible timbre is even more staggering than before: What seems to be a return to their hazy dream pop roots at first, is actually quite banging, in a haunting, understated way; “it’s soft but it’s also this other thing,” as Victoria put it in our recent conversation which took place near PLACE Magazine’s headquarters in Berlin.

Since we seriously recommend checking out all five albums they’ve released so far (plus visual highlights such as the Eric Wareheim-directed clip to the track “Wishes”), the following is a rare attempt to illustrate just how they’ve grown and changed over the last six years. Here’s a triptych, comprised of three face-to-face interviews we had with them – in late 2009, in summer 2012, and just now, a few weeks back.

Chapter 1: The “Teen Dream” years (2009-2010)

Though more so on the older records, I’d say that there’s still this feeling of nostalgia to be found in your music. Are you nostalgic?
V: I don’t like this topic.
A: Victoria hates nostalgia.
V: I don’t like the past. I find it kind of revolting. People are totally obsessed with what was… and I’m not saying that you’re revolting.

Well, I am not against nostalgia, so if I hear it in your music that’s a good thing, really.
V: I was going to say: I think it’s your nostalgia for the first two records; that’s what makes you feel like that. But to answer your question: no. Maybe my voice just sounds like that. So I’m screwed.

You could try Auto-Tune; it’s the future!
V: Auto-Tune!
A: I think the reason why people always say that is because maybe in our songs she’s working herself through her own past. Working on something is a way to get beyond the past so you don’t have to deal with it anymore.

…unless you decide to put it out as an album.
V: Yeah, I like that.

But seriously, the album title “Teen Dream” sounds like nostalgia too.
V: I know what you mean, but it’s more like an ode.
A: It can also be a mission statement, like a call to arms of sorts.
V: “Don’t give up on how cool you were when you were obsessed with crap!”
A: Like there’s nothing wrong with being 27 and having a huge crush on someone. And why just have sex; you can make out too. Making out is really fun.
V: Like, make a collage!
A: Yeah, if you see something in a magazine that you like, why not cut it out. You don’t have to be so rigid.

Kids today would probably just take a screen shot.
V: It comes from that really awesome thing that teenagers have, which is an unlimited amount of energy to give to something that they like or believe in. I mean, all the time we’re obsessed and we’re just nerding out about stuff that we love, but for this record it just seemed like that title – not only did the words just kind of come out and immediately sounded right, because that’s happens –; it’s more about how we felt while we were making this record: we were passionate and we believed in it. People might think you’re a 28-year-old child but you’re just an excited artist.

What were you guys into as teenagers? What were your actual teen dreams?
A: I was really obsessed with music.
V: I was playing piano, I was pretty good in high school, but I was way into skateboarding – like, skateboarders.

Skateboarding… or skateboarders?
V: Both. Boys. I kind of wasn’t really allowed to date. But I liked music.
A: I’m still excited like a dog.
V: We were horny.

Chapter 2: The drum kit-driven “Bloom” years (2011-2013)

Is there anything you love as much as you love music?
A: I actually really like physics.

Physics?
A: Yeah, astronomy and stuff. It’s like the most exciting time ever right now. This stuff I’m talking about is almost borderline imaginary. The things people are saying are just crazy.

What are they saying?
A: People are saying that what we see only makes up four percent of the universe. So the stars, all that stuff, is actually no more than four percent. The rest of it is dark matter and then this other thing called “dark energy” which they believe is 70 percent of the entire universe.
V: I believe in “dark energy”. Sometimes you feel and see things you can’t explain: it’s not a shadow, it’s not light, it’s not a ghost – it’s just a slip.

Did it just knock on the door?
V: That was my foot.
A: And another really interesting thing is the difference between the past and the future, and that there’s no scientific reason why the future and the past should be different.
V: That’s because people say so.
A: But time doesn’t matter for any law of physics.
V: I like this line where it goes from science to the whole imagination-creation thing, and that they’re constantly going hand in hand, because when you’re making music it goes like that all the time. The creative stuff is so free, it just happens. Like a star that explodes and burns and “is” – and then it takes all this work to keep it lit forever.

Did it ever happen to you that you actually weren’t sure if something really happened or not?
A: Or maybe just a dream? Yeah, I know what you mean. Do you think it might have to do with the Internet too?

Yeah, of course the Internet is hugely influential in that way. Nowadays you can go back to last night and check at your friends’ Instagrams though…
V: It’s affecting the experience of time and the human brain.

You think in a good or in a bad way?
V: I think in a bad way.
A: I think it’s at least double-edged, and it’s possibly very bad. I don’t like that people aren’t retaining information. You just access it for something, and then you just forget it the next moment.

Chapter 3: The “Depression Cherry” years (2014 till today)

What have you learned since we last spoke?
V: I guess we’ve learned that you can always return to yourself, because you always – kind of have yourself; you’re still there. And granted, every record has changed and evolved in little ways, but because of how natural we are about stuff, I think we’re lucky because we’ve been able to kind of feel changes, but then if we want to go back the other way, we can, because we have some sort of… we have a core.

Yeah, that’s what this album sounds like. Last time around you said that when album is done, it’s a period when you don’t have any questions, because the album is an answer in itself. What about this time?
V: I’m sure there are still questions, but I think that, particularly with this record because this is what has been our life for the last three years, and more than that, just in terms of the depth of the work, but when you get older you start to really kind of be able to call things what they are and give it a name or something, and it really is just like: they’re statements. They are all statements, statements of feelings, and it’s not that there are so many questions that I need to have answered, it’s just that every time you make an album it’s a “physicalization,” a visualization of that period of our life. And it’s huge. I think it’s always huge in some way. For us, it’s always these big, sort of artistic statements. And that’s why it’s always hard for us to try to pinpoint exactly what each little thing is, because it’s really an amalgamation of philosophy and things we’ve seen and things we’ve been inspired of and past trauma and maybe even future trauma we don’t even know it’s going to happen.
A: Weird moods that are moving through.
V: We’re just, like, little antennae or mediums of other people’s pain. I personally feel very sensitive to other people’s pain and things I’ve heard in my life, read about, whether it’s in movies or books; there are things that stay with you for a reason, and when that happens you feel the need to express that somehow.

Words & Interview: Renko Heuer
Photo: Shawn Brackbill

Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx – these are the five boroughs that compose what is probably the most vibrant city in the world. In the mid-1990s, when the skateboard industry was still focused on the West Coast, Steve Rodriguez and Mark Nardelli got together and thought about running their own board company straight out of New York, their hometown. Since those days many things have changed, including spots, team riders and the whole way of riding a skateboard. But the passion and unique style of the company still continues to grow, driven by the artistic outlook on life maintained by Nardelli, who is running the business out of his apartment on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.

For this story, We got the chance to take a look behind the scenes and find out why 5BORO is a one-of-a-kind company with amazing board graphics like the VHS series, and especially the very popular plane series drawn by our good friend Stefan Marx. Thanks to this connection, we found ourselves chatting it up with Nardelli in NYC one day, where we talked about the history, creative ideas, and that special something behind the Five Boroughs.

NYC

How did 5boro come to life?
5boro was started by Steve Rodriguez back in the ‘90s. It seemed like skateboarding on the East Coast was going through an explosion during those years. [Filmer] RB Umali came out with the first Eastern Standard Time videos, and around the same time Dan Wolfe released the Eastern Exposure videos. Those videos coming out gave the East Coast such a big amount of exposure, we felt there was a lot of momentum and we wanted to do our own thing. The scene was kind of comparable to how it is nowadays – with different crews having their own creative ideas and making their own products. The only thing is that the New York of the ‘90s is very different from today, in that the city is a lot friendlier right now.

How did you get involved with the company?
Me and Steve where both on some independent companies prior to 5boro and I always got involved with the companies I rode for. At first 5boro was run by Steve and another guy, but after a while Steve found out his partner was doing some crooked business through 5boro, so he fazed him out. And that’s where I came into the picture. So around 1996, I started working for 5boro, so that means I’m approaching the 20-year mark. I ran the company together with Steve for 15 years and for the last five I’ve been doing it by myself with help from Tombo, our team manager.

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Can you tell me a little bit about how skating in New York was back in the mid-90s?
This was just after the big pants, small wheels era that skating went through and skating seemed to come back around to what we would call solid street skating.
Pretty much, but there were still a lot of people skating around with small wheels, but at the same time you had people skating 8.5 inch boards with 60 mm wheels. People were still skating very technical, it was a progressive time in skating where we were finding out what the standards were.

5boro stands for the five boroughs that make up New York. Do you feel like it is important for the brand to have this connection to the city?
I doesn’t really matter to me, but we are a New York brand and some people around the country have given me the feedback that they could sell New York products. It does have its ups and downs, but for me it’s more important that we make good products and do good things for skateboarding. At the end of the day – love it or leave it.

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What is your favorite borough?
I feel like that changes from time to time. I am very attached to my neighborhood, Chinatown in Manhattan. I was going to Queens Astoria and I really liked the neighborhood so I popped into a real estate agency to see what an apartment would cost. At the same time, there are so many good spots out in the city even when you have been living here for 20-something years you’ll still come across place you haven‘t seen before.

Who is responsible for the visual direction of the brand?
In the beginning it would be friends of ours that handed us graphics, but I feel the aesthetic of all of those artists didn’t have a similar vibe. So now we work with artists who have an aesthetic that fits each other’s work. This in turn means that the visual identity has a clearer direction.
I might approach certain artists if their work connects to an idea I have, but in the end I am the one who curates and guides the process. Still though, I have to say I get a lot of help from family, friends, skateboarders, and artists.

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Where did you meet Stefan Marx?
Originally I met him when he was visiting NYC. He was around and I would see him here and there and I knew about his artwork, but we got hooked up through my friend Pitt, who works at Cleptomanicx. Eventually, Stefan asked if he could stay at my place for a month and I said yes, but in the back of my mind I was thinking, ‘Fuck, this dude is going to be with me for a month!’ So right when he arrived hurricane Sandy hit and we didn’t have any electricity so he ended up crashing on my sister’s couch for about two weeks and we were working in a friend’s art studio. In the end we had the illest time and from that experience we remained in contact and eventually made a series of 5boro x Stefan Marx boards.

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I feel like 5boro boards are often bought with the purpose of hanging them on the wall. People seem interested in the art just as much as the boards themselves.
Yes, I feel like we have become the artist’s skateboard company, at least here in NYC. People often ask me when the next series is coming out, but we are definitely a company that values quality over quantity. There is a sick series which we did called the Modern Art series, we put that out a couple of years ago and the graphics were inspired by Stuart Davis; a popular artist in the 1950s. It’s my favorite series we ever did, but no one saw it.

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Why not?
This was before Instagram and all these social media tools that can help expand your reach as a brand. So now when we do a series like the VHS series, a lot more people see the boards than before the social media explosion. Going back to the VHS series, though, that idea came because I had old VHS tapes that I saved because my parents wanted to throw them out. I didn’t want to lose my first sponsor-me tape, so I brought a couple of tapes home and I noticed they screen-printed the boxes with designs. So I Googled a bunch of graphics that were on the boxes and mocked them up for a series, then I just left them there for about a year. After a while it became time to do a board series again and I came across them and started showing some people, and they where immediately stoked. Then I had to put them out quickly before someone else did it.
I have these phases where I’m super into Google Image searches and I end up making a lot of stuff, but after some time I just end up forgetting about the stuff I made, I have folders with folders in them and in those folders are folders and somewhere in this mess there are some graphics. From time to time I’ll post a photo of those folders on Instagram.

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Is it important for you to remain independent?
We are doing okay but because of our independence we are still hustling. About five years ago, me and Steve had a pretty big debt and a friend of mine put in some money so we could keep the company going. But now the company is self-sufficient, there are two people working full time, it’s pretty small. I feel like nowadays a lot of smaller companies partner up with bigger firms like adidas or Nike just to make things a bit easier. We are open to do it but in the end we are focused more on the quality over quantity formula. Plus, we are getting by. And it’s still a great outlet for my creativity so I feel like we will be around for a while.

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Thanks for the interview, Nardelli.
Thank you!

Interview & photos: Benni Markstein

When I met Sage, he told me that he often feels like the guy interviewing him becomes his friend, so he’ll talk to them about everything. Sometimes that will get him into trouble, at the same time I feel like a person who is confident enough to be himself at all times is a breath of fresh air. That doesn’t mean that some things can’t be private, but being open might make all the difference when it comes to a person’s longevity in the skateboard business. Because what interviewer likes to hear the same answers over and over again? I certainly don’t. Sage is a natural who isn’t afraid to have his friends’ back and speak up about people or things he doesn’t like. Here’s the 18 year old FA team rider from New York in his own words.

You’re on a European tour with the CONS team right now. Any interesting stories so far?
Nothing much, dudes just ripping. Motherfuckers are all good as fuck, there are not many stories though, we drove around from skatepark to skatepark, from spot to spot. I do feel like on a Europe trip it’s a lot harder to eat, I just forget to eat. In Paris for instance I just ended up eating three baguettes a day at the most, in the US it’s a lot easier because you know where to go to get some food.

Last year the Illegal Civilization crew came out with their second video, a lot of people were shocked by what they saw. Can we expect something new from IC this year?
My friend Mikey Alfred makes all the IC videos and clothes but right now he’s working with Tyler The Creator a lot so I don’t really know what’s going on. But the IC2 video was sick, it was one long big inside joke. The video is just about us hanging out and skating together, we’re a group of friends going out cruising.

A lot of people were hating on the video because they felt the video contained things like animal cruelty but I personally don’t feel like that, the video is sick! I didn’t like my footage, though. Most of my clips where too old and the tricks were weak, but Na-kel, Kevin, and Tyshawn really came through with sick parts.

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Is there a difference for you between a Converse Project or a Supreme type thing?
With Supreme, making a clip is super natural, we all grew up skating together and we still skate together almost everyday, it’s just the boys: we go skate, some days we might not go skate, some days are terrible and we argue, some days are great, but it’s always a lot of laughter because we are amongst friends. For me Kevin [Bradley] is just an inspirational guy. He’ll smoke ten blunts and all of a sudden he’ll start skating, Bang! He’ll land a sick trick, that makes me want to step it up a notch, too. I think there is a Supreme thing coming soon, though.

Do you feel like you do your best skating when you are amongst friends?
It depends… sometimes when I’m on a tour like this, I want to step it up a notch.

I noticed a couple of people hating on Sean [Pablo] does that happen a lot?
Yeah! I hate when people talk shit on Sean. Somebody started to try and one-up one of his tricks so when Sean landed it first, I went out on the course to show Sean some love. People are just mad because he’s 17 years old getting flown all over the world, he’s got a great style, and he’s pretty. I look at it this way, though – if people are not hating on you, you’re doing something wrong. Dylan [Rieder] is one of the best skateboarders in the world, sometimes I call him super Dylan. Sean gets a lot of the same hate Dylan gets, it’s not their fault that they are fucking gorgeous. They skate like ballerinas, it’s just natural for them, it just looks to good for some people so they start to hate on them. But Sean’s my friend, so I’ll always have his back. That’s why Fucking Awesome is the best. You can just do you, paint your nails, make your own clothes, start a ‘zine, all that stuff.

Do you get to do some of your own FA stuff?
No, Dill does all the graphics himself. Dill is like Cinderella’s step mom. He wants you to be on point, I might meet up with him and he’ll say: “That shirt sucks, take that off.” That’ll leave me feeling embarrassed at times.

I don’t think he would say that about the shirt you’re wearing now (Sage is wearing a Malcolm X T-shirt).
Hell no! This is something everybody can fuck with because it says something important: “I will join anyone, I don’t care what color you are, as long as you want to change the miserable condition that exists on this Earth.” Dill taught us a lot, though. We all came up pretty fast but at the same time it feels really natural. Dill is strict but he isn’t mean for no reason and it’s working. FA is our shit! It’s crazy when I travel to places and I see the influence we have on kids. It’s still kind of weird. Supreme did that poster of Kevin in Thrasher. (BS Tailslide as seen in the Supreme SF clip). Now kids all over the world are hanging that poster on their wall. To me, that’s so sick!

by Roland Hoogwater
Photos: Jon Coulthard

The brandnew PLACE issue 54 just arrrived at the office and will be available through skateshops, selected retailers and newsstands next week – some of the shops got the issue already, just ask!

For this issue we ask if all NBD’S have already been done and we’ll find an interesting answer coming along with some crazy photos by Roman Gonzalez aka @gonzox1000 – shot with iPhone only!

Here’s a sneak peak of the magazine, filled with Skateboard Culture… Take a look, order your copy here and enjoy the read!

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EBD – Appropriation in Skateboarding

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Becoming Friends – Sage Elsesser Interview

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Behind The Scenes – 5boro NYC

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Cracks and Crooks – Frankfurt Hauptwache Retrospective

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Those who make – Reik Manig

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Where have you been – Vladik Scholz

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Portfolio – Alexey Lapin

Erik Ellington is a person with a lot of interests. This fact became even more apparent while I was doing some research for this interview. Professional skateboarding can consume someone’s life, as can running a business and raising a family. Meanwhile, Erik is not afraid to take risks and trade stability for possibilities. He is definitely a role model for a lot people, including myself. He was one of the skateboarders to watch when I was growing up and still is one worth following – time for a conversation:

Hey Erik, thanks for doing this interview…
Of course! 
 
How are you? Can you tell us a bit about why you’re out in Europe? We hear you’ve got a few demos happening as well as filming for an upcoming project about the people and places that have shaped the London and Paris skate scenes?
I’m good, thanks! We’re out here promoting Lizard’s and my new [pro] shoes [on Supra], skating and just enjoying the scene. Yeah, the idea for the video project is pretty rad! It focuses on the people that influenced skating in their area more than just us doing a demo or whatever. It’s been fun to be a part of it. 

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With you being born in Alaska, and then moving around to Arizona, and later California, do you feel like the place where you grow up has had a big influence on you as a skater?
Yes, definitely. I was recently back in Alaska and I was looking at some spots I grew up skating, and noticing how much that shaped the type of skateboarder and person I grew into. After Alaska I moved to Arizona and met all the friends I have to this day. My local spots and the crew that I hung out with had such an impact on me. Then moving to California I feel molded the way I handled myself as a professional skateboarder and taught me about business in general. I think your surroundings totally impact every aspect of life. 

On past tours, Supra seemed to focus more on the 15-minute tour clip rather than a full length video. Do you feel there’s a difference between the tour clip and saving footage for a part or a full length video?
Both serve a purpose. I personally like the idea of working hard and putting together one project that means a lot. With the Internet, I feel it has given way to saving less [footage] and getting everything out there as it happens. On one hand, it’s cool because it immediately gets noticed and I really like the edits we create. But I definitely prefer placing a value on quality footage and saving it. 

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Late Shuvit

You have said in the past that getting drunk has often giving you creative ideas, how has this changed since you went sober?
What I didn’t realize at that time was that I can be just as creative sober. Most importantly, I now have the discipline to act on the ideas rather than to just talk about them. 
 
When talking about creative ideas, we would have to mention your pro model shoes. Almost all of them had a distinct look that differs from a lot of what’s out there. What are the things you look for in a shoe, and how do you balance making something that looks different but is still commercial?
Thank you. I just try and design what I like and stay true to what I find feels and looks good. You never really know what’s gonna do well. I think the most important thing is not to chase what you think is going to sell or be commercial. 

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Erik Ellington Vulc

Can you tell us about your latest pro signature model, the Ellington Vulc? What’s new and what’s the inspiration behind it?
It’s inspiration comes from the Ellington cup sole and me skating in vulcanized shoes the last year or so. We basically slimmed down my original shoe and put a vulc sole on it. It gave it a totally different look and feel, and I was hyped right away when I saw the first sample. 

Did your design approach change when you moved from Emerica to Supra?
Not too much, I’ve always been very hands-on with anything that I have put my name on. I worked a bit harder behind the scenes when we started Supra. 

It seems like you’ve never been afraid to take risks when it comes to business and sponsorship, going from a steady home at Emerica to a new position at Supra as part owner, and then again with leaving Baker to start Deathwish and Bakerboys Distribution. Can you speak about what attracts you to start new businesses together with friends?
I like the idea of new things, it’s exciting and I think it creates a special kind of energy. There’s nothing better than being in business with people you respect and creating things that you like and that other people are attracted to. To me it’s very fulfilling. 

On that note, I can imagine these new ventures have opened up opportunities both on the business side and the creative side of things, so how has your day to day changed?
For a while I felt that it was overwhelming and it was hard to balance. Since I have stopped drinking, it’s opened up so much more time for me. I feel like everything in my life helps balance the others out. My skating, business, kids, friends, and traveling all lend to one another. 

What are some of the achievements you are most proud of?  
To be a part of skateboarding still and be working with my friends, making a living and traveling the world. Twenty years ago that was just a dream. 

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FS Kickflip

In the last couple of years, skating seemingly has become more international then before, with brands like Polar, Magenta, and Palace, pros are able to stay in Europe more and more instead of having to move to the States. Baker Boys has been doing US distribution for Palace for almost a year now, how did this collaboration happen?
Andrew and I have always been fans of the PWBC stuff. I got Lev’s email years ago and we started talking back and forth. Originally, I was going to ask him to help us edit the Deathwish video but we never got around to it. A few years later I was on tour with Lucien Clarke and we started talking about distribution. He mentioned it to Lev and Gareth and we figured it out shortly after that. I’m hyped to be a part of it, I feel like they fit with Bakerboys. 

In your opinion, how has the rise of new and social media affected the skate industry, and do these changes influence you as a skater and business owner?
I think it has sped things up to an unhealthy level and I feel like it has to balance itself out at some point soon. 

Moving away from the skateboarding side for a moment, how important is it for you to do things outside of skating?
For me it’s very important. Like I said earlier, there’s a balance. To have other creative outlets and interests motivates and inspires new ways of looking at things. 

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SW FS Kickflip

In another interview you spoke about your interest in architecture. You even said that you considered going back to school and becoming an architect. Is this still something that you think about?
I think about it from time to time because I’ve always been passionate about architecture. I don’t plan on being an architect at this point so it seems like a business class or public speaking may be more of what I need. My son wants to be an architect so I’ll just live vicariously through him.  

At the same time, it seems that you have been posting pictures on Instagram where we see you building a tree house. Is this the realization of that dream? 
Ha, yeah sort of. That’s mostly just my interest in building something with my hands. I enjoy making things to use around the house. 

Thanks for the interview Erik, it’s been great catching up with you!

by Roland Hoogwater
Photos: Supra Footwear

Kenny Anderson has been pro for a long time and his journey has been well documented. A little while ago we heard about Kenny’s car, a Mercedes that runs on alternative fuel. We met up with Kenny to find out more about his modified vehicle.

Kenny, you drive a car, that runs on vegetable oil, which is very cool. Not many skateboarders seem to care about the environment – how did you get into it?
I always liked cars so when a friend of mine started a business restoring cars, I bought one from him. This was about ten years ago, I bought an old diesel and I had already read a lot about modifying cars so you could run them on vegetable oil. I definitely have some political and environmental reasons to drive a modified car, but it’s more about having options. For me it’s comparable to skateboarding or art, you want to experiment and experience new things. For me personally, modifying my car was a big project to take on, similar to an art project so when it worked out I was pretty stoked…

So you had to modify your car?
Yes, a little bit but not too much, it’s not a big investment, especially when you think of all the money I save because of the modifications.

I saw a clip, in which you were going to the back of a restaurant to pick up the vegetable oil – how did this connection come about?
I called around and asked about ten different restaurants in the end only one said yes. The other nine looked at me like I was completely nuts or they would say:“ I’ll call you back “, but they never did… in the end there was one restaurant that was down to let me use their used oil, I think it was because the guy already heard about cars running on used vegetable oil, and they already had another guy, that picked up used oil for his car. I was lucky to find a place that would allow me to have their oil because driving a car on this kind of fuel is not too common in the area where I live in Los Angeles…

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What do you have to do with the oil? Do you filter it?
Yeah, when I go to pick up the oil the restaurant has already filtered the oil once, then I transport the oil back home and filter it two more times… I know it sounds like a lot of work, but I have this machine that does the work for me, so it’s really quite simple…

How much do you have to pay for the oil?
Nothing, at all! But at the same time driving on vegetable oil is illegal in the states, which is something I find strange. Normally when you buy fuel, the road tax is included in the fuel price but since I use an alternative fuel I don’t contribute to this system. Which in turn means I don’t pay road tax, which is a crime. I don’t think it’s smart to say that in an interview though… (laughs). I know some other people that run their cars on veggie oil and some have a bumper sticker on their car that says: This vehicle runs on Vegetable oil. As a result of this some of them got pulled over by the cops and got a ticket. I haven’t received one yet though but I also don’t have a sticker on my car (laughs).

We as skateboarders use up a lot of trees and use epoxy glues which are not environmentally friendly, so is this a way to give back?
I think so, I’m not one to preach, but this is my way to do something! Sometimes kids come up to me and ask me to show them my car, and this is the way I like to promote vegetable oil as a fuel!

I like that you are using your status as a pro skater as a tool to promote something thats good for the environment!
As I said, I like it, but I’m going to preach or force people to choose my path. This is my way… For me personally it’s important to think outside the box and make decisions accordingly, especially when you have the chance to do so…

Did the modification of your car in anyway change your perspective on life in other aspects?
I guess so… The way you eat, growing your own food, things like that. Maybe using less… Biking more…

by Roland Hoogwater
Opener Photo: Brixton

Behind each and every brand, there is always a brand director. A person who gets the last word on approval to make sure that everything stays in balance. To make sure that quality levels are kept up and every release builds a coherent brand identity. This column is about showcasing those people – and their brands, of course. We want to give you a look behind closed doors, a peep trough the keyhole, or simply, a “Behind The Scenes” of international skateboard companies that we here at PLACE really like.

For starters, here is England’s Isle Skateboards, run by Nick Jensen sitting in London, and Paul Shier with his office in Los Angeles, just to be as close as possible to the skateboard industry’s capital of the world. Small European skateboard companies are experiencing a Golden Age at the moment and everybody seems to want a piece of the pie. Isle Skateboards are ahead of their time and their boards even still look great after you skated them. Here’s the inside scoop on how they do it.

Can you tell me about the first time you met Nick?
I cannot put it down to a specific time and place that I met Nick, but have a fond memory of us skating Paternoster Square in St Paul’s, London when he first got on Blueprint many years ago. He was so small but super humble and loved skating.

You were already involved in the skateboard business with DVS after Blueprint ended. What prompted your decision to start Isle?
I wanted to start a brand that I could feel proud to be a part of, and something that could be ran in the correct manner, which Blueprint was not giving me in the later years. And I it knew it was never going to happen due to the ownership and structure at Blueprint. I wanted to be able to create a brand to represent good skateboarding and great skateboarders, and be a part of a brand that everyone involved with would be stoked to be a part of and on the same page.

Did your experience help you manage the problems that might arise when starting Isle? What kind of challenges did you run into since Isle started?
My experience for sure helped out with starting the brand, it obviously gave me a base knowledge of the business, but the most important part to me was that I was able to form so many strong relationships with woodshops, stores, vendors, and distributors which was something so important to the initial birth of Isle. Of course – just like any small company – we run into some problems but we have been lucky to avoid any major situations so far.

With both of you living in different cities, how do you manage to create a productive workflow and dividing tasks?
With FaceTime, Skype, and email we are able to work together like we were in the same city. And we all know what we want from the brand and work together to make that happen and reach that goal. The world is getting smaller, making it easier to for all of us.

I could see different time zones being a hindrance when the deadline approaches?
I do not see time differences having any hindrance to what we do. All our boards and softgoods are produced in California, so having me out in L.A actually helps the process more than it hinders. I am able to visit woodshops, vendors, and make sure our products are where and how they should be.

You also work as a team manager for DVS and as a professional skateboarder how do you balance those tasks with the work you do for Isle?
It is a balance but I just make sure that on the daily, I am giving my full attention to each of my duties with my life. I love what I do and the fact that I am able to work in skateboarding and able to skate is a blessing. I found a balance and have been able to stay true to it. My wife and I are expecting our first baby next month, so some new balancing will begin (laughs).

When it comes to the visual side of Isle, who has the last say?
Nick Jensen and Chris Aylen are working closely together in London on the creative visual side of the brand, while Jake Harris and Nick overlook most of the visuals for Vase, which is our first video production that we are releasing later this Summer. We all work together on everything, bouncing ideas back and forth regarding all creative output with the board graphics, ads, soft goods etc. and we all have to agree for something to get produced. If one of us is not feeling something, we will just not go forward with it.

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Quality is important especially for skaters, how do you manage to keep the quality of your product consistent?
Quality is the most important part of Isle and something that has to be a top priority. We use Generator woodshop (who is the agent for Bareback in the U.S) for all our boards, which I believe to be the best place for skateboard production with the best wood and I stand 100% behind it. Our shapes stay the same so there are never surprises when skating or buying an Isle board. We all talk together with the whole team and discuss soft goods too so that we can come to an agreement with what we all wanted to see going forward have been lucky to have found a great vendor through Josh Stewart (Theories of Atlantis Distribution) to produce and print all of clothing from now on and the quality is going to be consistent with whatever you see coming from Isle.

What has been your favorite thing you have done since you started Isle?
Receiving the first boards and knowing it was real was an incredible moment. Seeing people skate the boards and being stoked is one of the best parts of running a brand to me. Any trip with the boys is amazing; I wish we could do it more! Having everyone out in L.A visiting was pretty special to me. Too many favorites to mention and we are about to have a big one with the release of Vase too so stay tuned.

What is your vision for the future of Isle?
We will continue to keep true in our strong direction with the brand and always produce the best quality goods while supporting what I believe to be the raddest team of skateboarders out there.

by Roland Hoogwater
Photo: Yoon Sul

Behind each and every brand, there is always a brand director. A person who gets the last word on approval to make sure that everything stays in balance. To make sure that quality levels are kept up and every release builds a coherent brand identity. This column is about showcasing those people – and their brands, of course. We want to give you a look behind closed doors, a peep trough the keyhole, or simply, a “Behind The Scenes” of international skateboard companies that we here at PLACE really like.

For starters, here is England’s Isle Skateboards, run by Nick Jensen sitting in London, and Paul Shier with his office in Los Angeles, just to be as close as possible to the skateboard industry’s capital of the world. Small European skateboard companies are experiencing a Golden Age at the moment and everybody seems to want a piece of the pie. Isle Skateboards are ahead of their time and their boards even still look great after you skated them. Here’s the inside scoop on how they do it.

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Can you tell me about the first time you met [Isle co-founder] Paul Shier?
I remember when I met him at South Bank, but for me the most memorable early encounter was on the first Blueprint tour I ever went on. I was listening to his amazing stories while sitting in the back of the van. I thought he had already had such an adventurous life, and I wanted to have similar experiences… well most of them, ha ha!

With Paul and you both living in different cities, how do you manage to create a productive workflow and dividing tasks?
We also work with Chris Aylen and the company is split. Chris lives in London as well, so we work together and discuss our art direction with Shier, who is the boss man. He is in charge of running the brand production, distribution, sales and social media.

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I could see different time zones being a hindrance when a deadline approaches.
The time zone thing is fine, we know that at around 3 p.m. in Los Angeles, which is 11 p.m. GMT, Shier will be on the emails. It’s probably actually a blessing, because you always have room to breathe. You’re not always engrossed in endless phone calls and text messages about small details, we make bolder and more confident decisions this way.

Can you tell us a bit about your daily routine with you being a professional skater, fine artist, and business owner – and the way you balance those activities.
I go through different stages, but I try and paint four days a week and skate after I finish, and on weekends. Then I do chunks of Isle work that I take out of my painting routine.

You have an MA in Fine Arts, so I can imagine this has had a big influence on the way you view “skate art”?
I mean, I have always been drawn to painting, and so I guess I have spent a lot of time engaging with that world, which has a life and a history of its own. I like skate art, I mean everything has its place and context.

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Do you view your fine art work is separate from your Isle work, or does the work intertwine, if not on a visual level possibly on a conceptual level?
I don’t really see a link between my art work and the work Chris Aylen and I develop for the graphics. I cannot deny that they come from a similar interest in sculptural spaces, however, I think they are more like my Alias, a way to explore other ideas in a more fun and light-hearted manner.

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At the same time, lot of the videos, graphics and ad layouts you’re putting out seem to be influenced by fine and conceptual art. Can you tell us a bit about those influences?
We are definitely informed by the language and presentation of contemporary art. Installing our sculptural works next to white backgrounds is a conscious nod to the gallery wall. There is a conceptual element to our board series’ as well. The “Push/Pull” ones liken the simplest of opposites with the everyday motions of a skateboarder. There are also biographical links in all our boards, you can sense the skaters’ personality and character through their graphics.

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by Roland Hoogwater
Photos: Sam Ashley/Isle

There’s always new people coming to the German capital. Some of them leave, some of them stay. Roland Hoogwater made his way from Groningen, The Netherlands, to Berlin and is definitely here to stay. Time for a short introduction…

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Roland, please give us some basic information about your person.
My full name is Roland Jacques Hoogwater and I’m 28 years young. I was born in the city of Groningen, The Netherlands, and I’ve lived there for about 28 years. I have been a skater and a skate nerd for about 15 years. I also have a background in the arts. My first skate video was [Toy Machine’s] Welcome to Hell.

When did you come to Berlin and what were the reasons?
I came to Berlin on my birthday, the 28th of January. The reasons for the move aren’t really straightforward. My girlfriend and I both finished art school in my old hometown and I was working at the skate shop, Stigmatic. I guess my girlfriend thought we needed something – a change of scenery, perhaps of rhythm – so out of the blue she said, “Let’s move to Berlin.” I replied in a positive manner and now we are here. It was very spontaneous and we really hadn’t planned anything, but we knew some people here and I thought it might be good for my creativity.  

What do you do for a living?
I’m living the artist dream, working in the Mall of Berlin as a stock boy. “Started from the bottom, now we here!” At the same time, I’m doing odd jobs for PLACE mag and I’m helping Carsten “Barney” Beneker with a project on which I am illustrating.

We heard about your T-shirt label, Jacques – what’s the story behind that?

It’s a project I started in the winter of 2014/2015. After I finished art school, I suddenly had the urge to make stuff with Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign. Which was actually kind of stupid, because I should have started doing that while in art school, that would have made things so much easier. I wanted to make a book containing some of the artwork I had made, which is coming out soon under the title, Doe maar normaal dan doe je al gek genoeg (English: “Just act normal and you are acting crazy enough”). But at the same time, I had these ideas that just didn’t connect well with my other works of art. So I created a different outlet for those ideas, which became Jacques. The logo I use is a garbage bag, because I like to buy vintage clothes and turn them into one-off pieces. At the same time, all the stuff I make will either be in a second hand shop or in a garbage bag someday. And Jacques is my grandfather’s name, that has been passed on to me. At the moment I’m working on a couple of new pieces like shirts, hats, coats, and possibly some bags. I’m sewing things myself, and am hands-on with the screen printing. I try keep the quality of the product as high as possible and have the stuff be fair trade; some of the stuff we do is certified Earth Positive climate neutral. I have been getting a lot of support and good feedback on the products, so as far as that goes, I’m extremely grateful. It’s a wonderful feeling to have people wear your stuff, and as for the future, I am opening a Jacques Web store, and also hope to be in some stores by the end of the year. Fingers crossed!

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Who are your favorite people to skate with?
My all-time favorite person to skate with is probably my old roommate G-Dog (Gerben Scharft), but he recently quit skating and started boxing. Nowadays, the people I call to go skate with are Dr. Lensing, Danny Sommerfeld, Tjark Thielker, Nils Brauer, and Daniel Pannemann, who all play a part in making Berlin my new home while simultaneously making me feel like I suck at skating (laughs).

Photos: Danny Sommerfeld
Interview: Pille Pop

A dark grey sky is looming overhead, and a mixture between rain and snow has been pouring down all day. Surprisingly, Patrick arrives on his cruiser board despite this total mess; what’s more, he’s smiling and seems to be in a very good mood. But then again, that’s just how he is, smiling and laughing all the time. Plus, what probably helps him stay positive even on a horrid day like this is the fact that he just returned from Bangkok, from a four-week trip that saw him skating with friends like Farid, Joscha, and Burny every single day.

Still in high spirits after this month-long Asian adventure, Patrick is something I’d like to call a “the sun made me do it” kind of guy. Prior to meeting him I even thought he was a hippie child, but he’s actually not. He grew up in a small town called Goslar, where he was able to choose between two indoor skateparks. That’s also where he learned everything about backside noseblunt slides.

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I’m a little bit surprised to find out that you’re actually not a hippie child, attending Waldorf school and growing up with laughing adults dancing around a campfire, singing songs and being just happy.
I grew up in a neighborhood with a lot of immigrants, and everyone had a different cultural background. I liked it because most of the time the people were open-minded and they didn’t judge you. Everybody had to find some way to make things work, to find an arrangement. I have always been on my own track and sometimes I got a “What’s this for a German kid?” thrown after me. Though actually I’m half Polish, but I was born in Germany. A lot of them didn’t really like my style but we used to hang out together anyway. They were more the Nike Shox and leather jacket types, and I was wearing baggy pants and skate shoes. It was okay.

How much would another company have to pay for you to join their team?
To me, it’s not about a price, it’s about that you get along with everybody in a good way, that you’re able to do lots of tours and that you can be in touch at any time. This is very important to me when it comes to riding for a company. At Titus, we’re all super down, that’s great. If another company made an offer, it’s not about the money. It’s rather the whole thing, the whole picture, you know?

There’s a football player named Patrick Rogalski and his current market value is 25.000 Euros. Would you change teams for 25K?
Ha-ha… no idea! But, for example, Louis Taubert got an offer by (German TV station) Pro 7 for a long-term documentary on him. He said that he’d never sell his soul for such crap, although they were willing to pay him a lot of money. That really impressed me and this is way more real than doing stupid shit for a few bucks.

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SW Kickflip

You changed your profile picture on Facebook four days ago and got 230 likes since then. How does that feel?
Feels fucking awesome, ha-ha… seems like 230 people like my photo. It’s just a confirmation that I did it right, don’t you think?

So it’s more about the right photo – and not because of your looks?
Dwag shot a good photo I guess! It’s just for the homies.

20.000 views on your last video part on YouTube. Are you satisfied?
Could always be better. But it’s better than having less that 20.000, isn’t it?

Someone in the comments section asked why you always seem to be so out of it. Are you?
How can anyone judge based on a video part?

What has changed since you turned pro for Titus?
Not much, just more hustle. I don’t work at the Titus Zoopreme store anymore so I have to make my money from skating. Or else I’d have to find another job.

So how much is it worth to be a pro then?
Personally it means a lot to me, it’s like a dream come true! When I was a kid I could never understand why all the pros where skating so good, so I always wanted to have my own board one day. I thought it would be cool. Ten years later it happened, I got my own board and I’m really happy about it! But of course it’s a known fact that you can’t buy a Ferrari when you turn pro so I am not kidding myself. I turned pro but I have to do something else on top to make it work. Like studying, which my mum has been forcing me to do a lot lately.

What are you interested in?
I think when you study it’s not about your interests. I finished economic high school so I know what I don’t want to do. I think I’m more drawn to something in the social sector, but let’s see. I don’t have a bigger goal, at the moment I’m simply working on short-term schedules.

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BS Nosebluntslide

Did you know before traveling to Thailand that you were going to do the backnoseblunt?
I guess so. We went straight to the hubba the first day we arrived. I shot a photo of the spot and looked at it for days. The spot is very crowded with pedestrians so it’s definitely not easy to skate. I saved one board for the last day.

To be honest, I wasn’t surprised that you did it.
Because it’s my signature move?

Yes, you kind of destroyed this trick already before. I have seen you doing it so many times; I know how comfortable you feel with this trick. Of course, it’s a big spot but I guess it was only a question of guts and the day’s form, wasn’t it?
It’s definitely a serious hubba, and to be honest I almost shat my pants. But I had to do it. It was the day before I was going to fly home, and I needed the best possible ender. So I could enjoy a nice Gin & Tonic on the plane and be very happy after a successful trip.

You buried this trick forever.
Ha-ha, everybody should do whatever they want!

Do you think the backnoseblunt is the king of the tricks?
For me, personally and emotionally, I would say yes. It took me a long time to learn it and now every time I do it, it just feels amazing. To do it in a proper way you really need to put everything you have into it. But okay, if it’s dead now, I will stop doing that trick, ha-ha. I don’t know where to do it anymore anyway.

by Benni Markstein
Photos: Burny

Im Rahmen des diesjährigen Street League Events in Barcelona nutzen wir die Gelegenheit uns mit Paul Rodriguez zusammen zu setzen, denn es gibt ein paar Dinge, die uns wirklich interessieren – warum wir in letzter Zeit so wenig Street Footage zu Gesicht bekommen haben, wie er an Nyjah vorbei kommen will und ob es nicht langweilig ist, krasse Tricks bei jedem Versuch zu schaffen. Während des Interviews schraubt er sich gemütlich ein neues Board zusammen und wir erleben einen gewohnt professionellen, aber auch ehrlichen und offenen P-Rod. Nach dem Interview entsorgt er seinen Müll und räumt in aller Ruhe den Tisch ab – nicht dass man so etwas nicht erwarten darf, es ist uns einfach nur aufgefallen…

Hi Paul, wie oft warst du schon in Barcelona?
Puh, so ungefähr 15 Mal würde ich sagen. Ich bin gerne hier – es ist einer der besten Orte der Welt. Hier ist immer ein guter Vibe, man kann sehr gut skaten wegen der ganzen Spots, das Essen ist super und die Leute sind gut drauf. Ich fühle mich hier wirklich wohl!

Wie läuft dieses Jahr bis jetzt für dich?
Bis jetzt ziemlich gut, ich bin fit und mache noch immer das, was mir am meisten Spaß macht. Von daher: Alles gut!

Du hast gerade die Fitness angesprochen – keine Verletzungen?
Im Moment ist Gott sei Dank alles gut. Heute hab ich ein bisschen schwere Beine – ich bin viel geskatet die letzten zwei Tage. Aber ansonsten kann ich mich nicht beschweren… Hoffentlich bleibt das so… (lacht)

Wo liegt denn im Moment dein Fokus – eher auf Contests oder gehst du viel Streetskaten?
Es kommt darauf an – im Moment ist jeder Tag anders. Wenn ich zuhause bin, fahre ich viel in meinem Park, am Wochenende bin ich dann meistens auf der Straße. Wenn Contests anstehen ist es manchmal ziemlich schwierig sich auf eine Sache zu konzentrieren. Während der Contestsaison probiere ich an meinen Tricks zu arbeiten und eine gewisse Routine zu bekommen. Die Tricks, die ich auf Contests mache, versuche ich dann später auf der Straße umzusetzen. Im Moment versuche ich beim Streetskaten einfach Spaß zu haben und mir keinen Druck zu machen – wenn ich dann noch etwas filmen kann ist alles gut! Aber da liegt gerade nicht meine Priorität…

In der letzten Zeit gab es tatsächlich nicht so viel Streetfootage von dir – ich habe mir deinen Youtube Channel angeguckt und dort viel Contest Footage gefunden…
Ich habe schon gefilmt, aber das meiste davon geht in „We are blood“ – den Film von mir und Ty Evans, der diesen Sommer kommen wird. Im Moment geht es mir mehr um den Spaß beim skaten als darum Footage zu sammeln… Ich lasse die Tricks einfach passieren – oder auch nicht… (lacht)

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Was ich zuletzt von dir im Netz gesehen habe war „Path Unseen“ oder die Nixon x Primitive Collabo… Gibt es viele Leute, die sich darüber wundern, dass es im Moment so wenig Footage, aber relativ viel dokumentarisches von dir zu sehen gibt?
Mit Sicherheit. Klar fragen sich die Leute wann es wieder mal Footage zu sehen gibt. Das ist nicht immer so leicht: Footage gibt’s, wenn sie da ist… (lacht) Für „We are blood“ war ich aber fleißig…

„Path Unseen“ ist ziemlich episch, viel Slow Motion, dramatische Musik und so weiter. Für meinen Geschmack war das fast ein bisschen zu viel des Guten.
Das kann sein, aber ich bin nicht der Produzent – ich sorge für die Tricks, das ist mein Job bei so einem Projekt. Für den Rest sind andere Leute verantwortlich…

Es sieht so dramatisch aus, aber ich weiss, dass du die meisten dieser Tricks, die man in Slow Motion sieht, einfach aus dem Ärmel schütteln kannst.
„Path Unseen“ ist ja für unseren Brand Saint Archer, ein Bier. Und auch wenn wir alle unseren Wurzeln im Skateboarding haben, geht es eben bei diesem Film um Bier. Das ist eine ganz andere Zielgruppe und nicht alle, die Bier trinken, kennen sich mit Skateboardig aus. „Path Unseen“ wurde für Leute gemacht, die nicht unbedingt wissen, was ein Switch FS Feeble ist… (lacht)

Vor zwei Jahren bist du hier in Barcelona beim Street League Contest Zweiter geworden. Was ist deine Strategie um dieses Jahr den Sieg nach Hause zu fahren, gibt es eine?
Gute Frage. Klar würde ich hier gerne gewinnen und einen guten Job machen. Ich habe mir natürlich ein paar Tricks überlegt, die ich gerne machen würde – die Strategie ist, sie auch zu schaffen… (lacht) Wenn ich all meine Tricks schaffe denke ich, dass ich vorne mitmischen kann. Vielleicht klappt’s, vielleicht auch nicht.

Viel Glück auf jeden Fall. Ich habe dich in München beim Street League Event gesehen, wie du SW Backtails die Hubba runtergemacht hast – bei jedem Versuch, drei Tage lang. Wird das nicht langweilig auf die Dauer?
Oh, auf jeden Fall! Aber auf der anderen Seite, macht es auch extrem viel Spaß – es ist irgendwie weird. Bei Contests geht es darum consistant unterwegs zu sein, man hat eben nicht soviele Versuche für seine Tricks wie beim Streetskaten oder filmen. Man muss on point sein, wenn man was reißen will. Man geht auf Contests weniger Risiko ein – so funktioniert das eben. Schon als Kind habe ich mich nicht damit zufrieden gegeben einen Trick geschafft zu haben, ich wollte ihn beherrschen. So kann man Tricks weiterentwickeln – Flip in oder Flip out oder wie auch immer. Das macht mir Spaß! Als ich klein war, fand ich Tom Penny super – der hat seine FS Flips und SW FS Flips bei jedem Versuch gemacht. Ich wollte sein wie Tom Penny und meine Tricks immer schaffen…

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SW BS TS – bei jedem Versuch.

Ich habe eine Quote von dir rausgesucht: „I had this desire, i wanted to be more as just a sponsored Skater, i wanted to be big!“ Wie groß fühlst du dich im Moment?
Nicht besonders. Ich habe früher aufgeschaut zu Leuten wie Penny, Koston oder Reynolds. Ich dachte mir, wie cool es wohl wäre so eine Größe zu sein. Aber es ist eine Illusion, denn wenn man selbst groß ist, merkt man es selbst am wenigsten. Ich bin sehr dankbar und zufrieden mit meiner derzeitigen Situation, ich bin auch stolz auf meine Karriere, die ich gemacht habe, aber ich fühle mich immer noch wie das Kid von damals…

Du hast mal gesagt, du hörst auf deine innere Stimme, was sagt sie für die nächsten drei Tage bei diesem Contest?
Dass ich mir vertrauen und meine Pläne nicht über den Haufen werfen soll… (lacht). Manchmal entscheide ich ganz spontan, doch einen anderen Trick zu machen – das funktioniert nie. Ich sollte mich an das halten, was ich mir vorgenommen habe, ich habe gelernt auf meine innere Stimme zu hören!

Bald kommt dein neuer Schuh raus, richtig? Hast du den an gerade?
Nein, der hier ist aus der 8er Serie – mein neues Pro Modell, der P-Rod 9 kommt im Juni oder Juli.

Bald hast du die zehn voll!
Ja, total verrückt…

Machst du eigentlich immer noch deinen Move mit der Kappe?
Immer. Egal ob auf Contests, in den Straßen, im Skatepark, in der Practise: Immer, vor jedem Versuch!

Vielen Dank für das Interview, Paul! Hat Spaß gemacht.
Danke euch!

Interview & Fotos: Benni Markstein

Nepomuk ist 1993 geboren, dementsprechend 21 Jahre alt und bereits seit vielen Jahren auf dem Skateboard und in der Berliner Szene unterwegs. Kürzlich wurden er und seine Jungs engagiert, um bei einer Aktion im Nike SB Shelter als iPhone-Filmer zu fungieren und nicht erst seit diesem Tag wissen wir, dass die Jungs sich regelmäßig bei der Ausübung ihres Hobbies mit ihren Smartphones verfolgen. Aus diesem Grund haben wir Nepomuk um seine Expertenmeinung gebeten, um uns ein paar zeitgemäße Antworten auf unsere Fragen über das Social Media Verhalten seiner Generation zu geben.

Wie nutzt du Medien im Alltag?
Eigentlich relativ normal, denke ich. Morgens wachwerden, Kaffee machen, Instagram checken, was so abgeht. Facebook, Mails, kurz rumsurfen, aber auch nicht die ganze Zeit.

Welche Medien nutzt du dabei am meisten?
Instagram gefiel mir von Anfang an am besten, dort bin ich am meisten unterwegs. Dort geht es nicht um komische Status-Probleme, es gibt einfach Fotos und kleine Videos und man kann einfach den Leuten folgen, auf die man Bock hat oder nicht und genauso auch anders rum. Derjenige der keinen Bock hat auf das was du machst, der muss dir ja nicht folgen. Das finde ich, ist das coole an Instagram. Nicht viel Text, sondern auch einfach Bilder, die für sich sprechen. Und das man sein eigenes Ding machen kann. Facebook finde ich nicht so geil, es gibt einfach zu viel Unnützes, Links und Werbung.

Was bekommst du für Feedback zurück, auf Dinge, die du postest? Eine Art Bestätigung?
Eigentlich nicht. Ich war lange verletzt und so habe ich angefangen meine alten Clips zusammen zu schneiden, da ich auch dran bleiben wollte, am Skaten und versucht habe, da coole Sachen draus zu machen. Das habe ich gepostet und gemerkt, dass die Leute das gut finden, die mir folgen. Damals war ich noch relativ unbekant auf Insta und so habe ich eben angefangen, Clips zu machen. Auch dadurch, dass ich so lange verletzt war, habe ich kaum die Gelegenheit für Support bekommen oder Free Stuff oder irgendwelche Trips zu machen und so habe ich angefangen, mich selber zu vermarkten. Einfach, um auch noch mal die Möglichkeit zu bekommen, vielleicht mal auf eine Tour zu gehen oder einen krassen Contest mitzufahren.

Oder auch einen Sponsor zu bekommen?
Oder auch einen Sponsor zu bekommen! Einfach mal die guten Seiten von Skating zu erleben. Dann habe ich immer weiter Videos gemacht und immer mehr positives Feedback bekommen und dann habe ich mich entschlossen, Berliner Skateboarding zu supporten. Es geht mir nicht darum, Fame zu kassieren oder viele Likes zu haben, eigentlich ist die Sache dahinter das Skating in Berlin so zu supporten, wie ich es selber sehe. So habe ich angefangen, wenn immer einer einen coolen Trick macht, drauf zu halten und so sind die Videos entstanden und den Leuten hat es gefallen. So läuft es bis heute, ich will Skaten pushen, weil ich den Eindruck habe, wenn man nicht die richtigen Leute kennt, ist es schwierig selbst gepusht zu werden. Ich hatte nie einen Schuhsponsor, musste meine Schuhe z.B. immer selber struggeln.

Wie wichtig ist deiner Meinung nach Sichtbarkeit in sozialen Medien für Skater? So wie auch du versucht hast, deinen Marktwert zu erhöhen…
Was heisst meinen Marktwert zu erhöhen? Ich habe einfach versucht, Skateboarding zu pushen, mit Homies und meinen Freunden und den Leuten, mit denen ich abhänge. Natürlich auch, um auf mich, auf Berlin und unser Skating aufmerksam zu machen. Aber es ging jetzt nicht in erster Linie darum, Fame zu werden. Es ging einfach darum zu zeigen, hey hier bin ich und checkt meine Sachen aus und ob ihr es gut findet oder nicht, das müsst ihr selbst entscheiden.

Für gesponsorte Skater ist es natürlich wichtig, Coverage zu haben und im Internet neue Footy zu zeigen und produktiv zu sein. Aber ich glaube im Skaten kommt es auch viel auf die Leute hinter den Kulissen an, welchen Teammanager du kennst und wer an welcher Stelle ein gutes Wort für dich einlegt. Da musst du erstmal reinkommen in die Schiene. Das ist auch nicht immer so leicht und wenn du davon keinen Plan hast… nun gut. Es ist auf jeden Fall wichtig, am Start zu sein, zu zeigen, was man kann oder was man hat und darauf kommt es an.

Ist es für gesponsorte Skater wichtig möglichst viele Follower zu haben?
Nee, glaube ich nicht.

Welchen Stellenwert nehmen denn Follower heutzutage ein?
Ach Follower, guck mal das ist doch eigentlich nur eine Zahl. Es geht aber um die Reichweite, wie viele Leute du damit erreichst, darum geht es.

Ist doch die Reichweite, oder etwa nicht?
Ja klar, aber ich kenne genug Leute, die mich dumm anquatschen, weil ich so viele Follower habe und nicht mögen, was ich mache. Ich denke mir nur, wenn du es nicht magst, dann folge mir halt nicht. Die denken, ich wäre famegeil. Aber darum geht es mir überhaupt nicht. Die Leute sehen alles nur auf den ersten Blick und denken nicht darüber nach und bilden sich direkt ein Urteil. Ich will mich eigentlich auch gar nicht beschweren…

Hast du ein paar Tipps, um mehr Follower zu generieren?
Haha… die wollt ihr wissen, oder? Ja, man muss am Start sein. Viel posten, den Leuten auch mal Feedback geben und wenn sie Fragen haben auch antworten. Ich sage mal so, du musst auf dich aufmerksam machen, dann checken die Leute dein Profil ab und entscheiden dann, ob es ihnen gefällt, was man macht oder nicht. Und dann treffen sie die Entscheidung, folge ich dem oder nicht. Und es ist eben wichtig, was du postest.

Wie hat sich deiner Meinung nach Skateboarding durch Social Media in den letzten Jahren verändert?
Auf jeden Fall megakrass! Wenn man mal überlegt, man schaut einmal auf Instagram heute und sieht die härtesten Tricks, von Leuten von denen du noch nie den Namen gehört hast und dir diesen auch nie merken wirst. Sprich, jeden Tag kommt ein neuer Ami-Übermensch raus, der Tricks macht, wo du dir nur denkst, alter, was ist los mit dem? Es hat eine ganz andere Dimension angenommen durch Youtube, Facebook und Instagram und es hat Skateboarding sicherlich voran getrieben, und das Niveau ist extrem gestiegen.

Hat es nicht aber auch die Quantität erhöht?
Klar, jeder versucht heute sein Stück vom Kuchen abzubekommen und sein Ding zu machen. Da ist es auf jeden Fall wichtig, einen Wiedererkennungswert zu haben und für eine bestimmte Sache zu stehen. Wirklich, es sind nur noch krasse Trick am Start, so dass mich schon gar nichts mehr schockt. Das ist schlimm, ich gucke mir das an und früher konnte ich es nicht glauben, wenn einer einen krassen Trick gemacht hat. Heute denke ich mir „okay…“ und scrolle weiter. Ich kann mir auch einfach keine Namen mehr merken!

Wird es austauschbar und gewöhnlich oder was passiert dadurch?
Gewöhnlich trifft es sicherlich ganz gut, da man sich einfach daran gewöhnt immer krasse Sachen zu sehen und zum Standard wird. Vor fünf Jahren noch habe ich mir jeden einzelnen Trick gemerkt, wenn ich ein Skatevideo geguckt habe, doch heutzutage gibt es einfach so viele Parts… könntest du mir jetzt einen Trick sagen aus dem Torey Pudwill Plan B Part? Er macht fünf Minuten lang die härtesten Tricks, die du man gesehen hast, aber es schockt einen einfach nicht mehr, weil es zu viel ist, einfach zu krass. Man kommt einfach nicht mehr hinterher.

Was bedeutet das? Wird Skateboarding langweilig oder stirbt gar irgendwann aus? Was ist deine Prognose?
Nee, Skateboarding wird nicht aussterben, auf keinen Fall. Es wird einfach krasser und viel härter. Mehr Technik, höhere Stufen, härtere Rails…

Aber das war ja schon immer so. Kam z.B. damals ein neues Zero Video raus, waren in dem Video auch immer die neuen fettesten Stufen und dicksten Rails zu sehen.
Ja klar, aber es hört einfach nicht auf und der Überfluss an Footage nimmt einfach zu, man kann sich nichts mehr merken. Es ist einfach zu krass,.Aber ich finde, es gibt immer noch einen Unterschied zwischen Coverage und dem Internet. In Magazinen gibt es viele Fotos und Tricks, die einen künstlerischen Anspruch haben, was im Video oder auf einem kurzem Insta-Clip nicht so ist. Dort kommt es mehr auf die Härte der Tricks an, doch im Magazin, das gedruckt wird, kommt es auch auf die Schönheit des Tricks und die Ästhetik des Fotos an.

Ja stimmt, die Ansprüche sind da sehr gestiegen.
Ich glaube es wird jetzt immer wichtiger in diesem ganzen Überfluss seinen eigenen Style und einen gewissen Wiedererkennunsgwert zu haben, den die Leute gut finden. Z.B. seit ich denken kann, ist Lem mein absoluter Lieblingsskater! Ich war so beeindruckt davon, mit welchem Flow er die Tricks macht und aus dem Fussgelenk schüttelt und so wollte ich auch immer skaten. Und auf solche Leute kommt es jetzt einfach noch mal mehr an, bei denen dieser Wow-Effekt wieder zurück kommt. Das ist mir ganz wichtig.

Wie oft schaust du schätzungsweise pro Tag auf dein Smartphone?
Puhh, zu oft. Aber meist auch einfach nur aus Langeweile.

Interview: Benni Markstein
Photo: Danny Sommerfeld

Geoff Rowley ist einer der wenigen ganz Großen im Skateboarding – dieses Standing hat sich der Flip Pro aus Liverpool über viele Jahre hart erarbeitet. Seine vielen Videoparts sind noch immer wegweisend und haben ihm neben dem SOTY Award im Jahr 2000 höchste Anerkennung in der Szene gesichert. Wir haben Geoff in Berlin getroffen um über das neue Vans Video, alte Achsen und seine Pläne für die Zukunft gesprochen…

Du bist seit einer Ewigkeit auf Vans, ich kann mich nicht an Geoff Rowley Footage erinnern, wo du keine Vans trägst. Wie lange hast du für Propeller gefilmt?
Ich fahre seit 1998 für Vans, für Propeller habe ich ungefähr 4 Jahre gefilmt, die letzten zwei davon sehr intensiv. Ich war oft verletzt, ich musste am Knöchel, am Knie und zweimal am Hals operiert werden, ausserdem habe ich mir heftig die Nieren geprellt. Ehrlich gesagt, bin ich fast ein bisschen überrascht, dass ich diesen Part fertig bekommen habe…

Hat sich dein Skating denn durch die Verletzungen verändert? Sähe dein Part anders aus, wenn du in Top Verfassung gewesen wärst?
Ich denke schon, zumindest ein bisschen. Ich hatte noch nie so viel Spaß beim filmen eines Parts wie bei diesem, ich habe mir keinen Druck gemacht. Die Verletzungen haben aber definitiv viel wertvolle Zeit gekostet. Trotzdem habe ich einen Full Part zustande gebracht mit dem ich durchaus zufrieden bin.

Du bist in England aufgewachsen, bevor du nach Kalifornien gegangen bist – hat das Einfluss auf deine Art Skateboard zu fahren?
Ich komme aus dem Nordwesten Englands: Wenn es nicht regnet, ist es windig, wenn es nicht windig ist, schneit es… Der Boden dort ist schlecht, völlig anders als in Los Angeles. Am Anfang mochte ich den guten Boden dort nicht einmal, es hat mich verwirrt einfach überall skaten zu können. Ich musste nirgendwohin um einigermaßen guten Boden zu finden… Ich mag schlechten Boden aber immer noch lieber, es fühlt sicht irgendwie echt an.

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In vielen deiner Parts findet man britische Einflüsse – zum Beispiel die Musik. Hattest du für Propeller die Möglichkeit in England zu filmen?
Du hast das Video noch nicht gesehen, richtig? Ich will dann nicht zuviel verraten, aber man findet definitiv britische Einfüsse in meinem Part. Du hast recht, ich bemühe mich immer irgendetwas britisches in meine Parts einzubauen – für meine Familie, meine Freunde, das macht mir Spaß. Den Song „You’ll never walk alone“ habe ich damals zum Beispiel für meine Mutter gewählt – ich dachte, das würde ihr gefallen. Im „Propeller“ Part sind viele Anspielungen auf meine Frau und meine Kinder eingebaut… Dieses Mal war ich wirklich nur Skater, kein Producer oder Director wie bei den Flip Videos – aber irgendwohin muss ich ja auch mit meinem kreativen Output, deswegen diese kleinen Anspielungen…

Ich bin mit deinen Parts großgeworden und mir ist eine Sache immer wieder aufgefallen: Nach einem Trick machst du oft im Wegfahren noch einen hinterher…
Gut beobachtet! Ich sehe einen Trick nicht als Prozess mit einem Anfang und einem Ende – ich bin Streetskater, da geht es immer weiter… Nur weil ich einen Trick geschafft habe, muss die Aufnahme nicht danach enden. Das ist mir wichtig…

… und bringt immer Flow mit sich.
Genau, ich bin kein Fan von schnellen Schnitten. Tricks brauchen Zeit um gesehen und verstanden zu werden.

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Ich habe mal gehört, dass du sehr alte Achsen fährst?
Genau, ich fahre Stay 7 Indys, die von 1989 bis 1992 produziert wurden.

Woher bekommst du die? Ebay?
Ich habe noch nie welche bei ebay gekauft. Man findet sie auf der Straße – manchmal haben Kids ziemlich alte Boards oder man findet welche auf dem Flohmarkt oder so… Meine Freunde geben mir einzelne Komponenten, wenn sie noch welche haben. Ich habe eine große Tüte mit diversen Einzelteilen und bastel mir bei Bedarf daraus etwas zusammen…

Du hast keine Corporate Sponsoren – wieso nicht? Angebote hattest du doch mit Sicherheit…
Ich bin zufrieden mit dem was ich habe, ich brauche einfach nicht mehr… Trotzdem sollte man sie nicht verteufeln, viele dieser Companies helfen Skateboarding heutzutage. Sie machen die großen Events und das ist okay, denn sie kommen nicht in unsere Industrie und wollen Skateboards machen…

Was können wir denn in Zukunft von dir erwarten?
Ich werde einen Miniramp Part filmen…

Das hört sich spannend an, wir freuen uns! Vielen Dank für das Gespräch!

Interview: Roland Hoogwater
Fotos: Vans

Anthony van Engelen darf ohne Übertreibung getrost als lebende Legende bezeichnet werden. Unvergessen seine Parts im “DC Video”, Alien Workshops “Photosynthesis” oder “Mind Field”. Mittlerweile ist AVE 36 Jahre alt und hat es trotzdem fertiggebracht den letzten Part im neuen Vans Video abzuliefern. Beeindrucked, wenn man bedenkt, dass er in der Zwischenzeit mit Fucking Awesome und Hockey Skateboards noch zwei angesagte Brands gelauncht hat. Während der “Propeller” Premiere im Berliner Babylon Kino hatte unser rasender Reporter Roland die Möglichkeit Anthony zu treffen und mit ihm über das Internet, Magazine und seinen Gesundheitszustand zu sprechen. Here we go:

Hallo Anthony, Glückwunsch zu deinem Part. Wie lange hast du insgesamt dafür gefilmt?
Ungefähr fünf Jahre, davon drei ziemlich intensiv.

Du arbeitest schon lange mit Greg Hunt zusammen, wenn ich an das DC Video oder Mindfield denke, sind in jedem Video andere Stimmungen. Hat sich eure Zusammenarbeit über die Jahre verändert?
Das Filming und das Skating an sich haben sich nicht besonders verändert, was ich auch gut finde. Greg und ich haben uns persönlich natürlich weiterentwickelt, vertrauen einander und in unsere Fähigkeiten. Wir sind ein gutes Team glaube ich.

In deinem aktuellen Thrasher Interview sieht man, dass dein Fuß getaped ist. Kannst du dir die Zeit nehmen Verletzungen richtig auszukurieren?
Eigentlich geht es mir tatsächlich ganz gut gerade. Mein Fuß ist immer kaputt, das ist was chronisches. Ich könnte ihn operieren lassen, aber ich habe Angst vor der Pause und solange es geht… Irgendwann sollte ich das aber wirklich mal angehen…

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Skateboarding hat sich durch das Internet extrem verändert. Es gibt immer weniger Magazine und sich Sachen im Internet anzugucken ist etwas komplett anderes, wie siehst du diese Entwicklung?
Ehrlich gesagt kann ich es nicht verstehen, es ist traurig. Ich habe noch nie irgendetwas ausschließlich für das Internet gefilmt oder produziert. Ich bin froh, dass meine Karriere vorbei sein wird, wenn das Internet alles übernimmt. Es macht einfach keinen Sinn, ein Foto nicht anfassen zu können: Sich alte Magazine anzugucken und sich an bestimme Tricks oder Anzeigen zu erinnern – das geht in der digitalen Welt total verloren. Wo soll das hinführen? Ein Foto in einem Magazin ist für die Ewigkeit!

Websites wie Chromeball posten alte Anzeigen – denkst du, es ist wichtig, solche Sachen im Internet zu archivieren?
Natürlich ist das ein guter Weg, trotzdem ist ein Magazin, dass irgendwann in einem Keller gefunden wird, mehr wert. Ich habe tausende alter Magazine bei mir zuhause rumfliegen und ich kann mich stundenlang mit ihnen beschäftigen. Es ist traurig, dass es immer weniger von ihnen geben wird…

Es ist einfach zu viel, zu schnell… Es ist scheiße.

Ist es dasselbe mit Videos? Viele sagen ja, dass das “Propeller” eines der letzten Company Full Lengths sein könnte… Für mich wirkt es, als würde Skateboardvideos immer weniger geguckt werden, weil ständig neue nachkommen. Früher liefen VHS Kassetten bis zum Bandsalat, heute ist alles nur noch einen Klick entfernt.
Das ist so schade – was Skateboarding betrifft macht mich das Internet richtig fertig. Wir werden völlig überfordert, es gibt zu viel Output, aber nichts sticht mehr besonders heraus: Die Meilensteine fehlen. Es gibt so viele gute Parts, die dann von irgendeinem belanglosen Sommertour Video einer Sonnenbrillencompany verdrängt werden… Es ist einfach zu viel, zu schnell… Es ist scheiße. Das Internet ist eine Maschine, die wir in Gang gesetzt haben und die wir nicht mehr aufhalten können…

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Es gibt viele neue (europäische) Skateboardcompanies, die versuchen ihr Ding zu machen. Wie siehst du diese Entwicklung?
Es ist super, Veränderung ist gut: In den letzten Jahren war alles sehr kommerziell und es wurde nicht viel experimentiert… Im Moment sehen wir ein Revival der wahren Skateboardkultur.

Interview: Roland Hoogwater
Fotos: Vans

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