Getting Faded with Lonnie Gallegos

Below is an interview I did with Lonnie Gallegos a couple of months ago before the release of his new video Fade Nation. It was supposed to be on Be-mag but for some reason it never made it up on the site. Enjoy...










Getting Faded with Lonnie Gallegos

This month, Lonnie Gallegos and Brandon Negrete released their second film Too Faded. Their first venture, Fade Nation was a shining example of what can be achieved when two talented individuals work together to create something special. You could easily recognise the characteristics that both directors have brought from their previous releases but there was something more. It was obvious that their styles complimented each other perfectly.

Now that their second film has been officially released, I thought it was time I caught up with Lonnie to find out how his life has changed since we last spoke and what it is like making the adjustment to working with another person on a film. As always, Lonnie was more than happy to give us an insight into his life and offer a few hints of what we can expect in the future.

It’s been a couple of years since I spoke with Lonnie. The last time we were in touch was to discuss his clothing company, Black Fabric, and the release of the team video, A Staggering Artwork of Heartbreaking Genius. I was curious to know how life has changed since those days and if Black Fabric was something that he was still pursuing. In Lonnie’s opinion, things are pretty much the same.

“Not much has changed. I’ve moved to downtown Los Angeles with Kevin Gillan and Lee Martin. Other than that I’ve just been working the graphic design day job, making shirts and filming. I moved from Orange County to L.A. and that’s about it. I still have the same job and the same friends.”

Lonnie is still making clothes under the Black Fabric label but he readily admits that it is not something he is taking very seriously at the moment. This is hardly surprising considering he is already balancing the responsibilities of working a full time job and producing some of the most visually stunning videos in rollerblading. When asked if there are any plans to release another range of items, he simply said:

“Yeah, I already have some but it’s kind of like, you come to my house and see something you like and I’ll sell it to you. I’ve been planning a website forever. I swear BlackFabric.com will be up soon. You’ll see”

Once we got that out of the way, I thought it was time to find out why Lonnie decided to team but with Brandon Negrete and how their working relationship was going so far. Lonnie asserted that it was simply a natural progression from working in such close proximity to one another for so long.


“We lived close together and were always filming the same people. Plus, we usually tend to agree on a lot of different fronts. It was something that kind of naturally worked out. Instead of being all like, “Hey, look, we’re the new VG!!” about it, we decided to work our way up to that point.”

When two people work together on something they feel so passionately about there are endless opportunities for conflict. I was interested to know how Lonnie was finding working with Brandon and if they were having any trouble agreeing on certain aspects of making a film together.

“At the beginning, there was really no telling how far the Fade Nation idea would actually go. I think neither of us knew if we could put up with the other for very long, but so far so good. Plans for a 3 and a 4 have already been arranged.”

When asked how Too Faded would be different from the first Gallegos/ Negrete collaboration, Lonnie was keen to emphasise that their main goal is to progress and build upon their previous work with every new project. This is something that the pair find challenging as the success of their last effort has caused people to request that they keep producing something similar.

“We always look to improve and do something different every time around. I notice a lot of people requesting the same sections with the same style and vibe over and over. But we’re trying to push things and make them different. This video has one of the most mixed groups of skaters I’ve ever seen. From JC, to Montre Livingston, to Enanoh, to Ben Schwab, to the Russians who always send us fresh clips. It’s a beautiful mess.”

Thanks to Lonnie’s insightful responses it is now clear that the world can expect more Fade Nation releases in the future and we will even see a rebirth of Black Fabric. However, there was still one very important question that had to be answered.

“Lonnie, what’s your favourite skate video?”
.
”Mine is The Adventures of Mr.Mooseknuckle for every reason. It had cool
thugged out rap music, people doing big stunts. It introduced the balanced backslides, fishbrains, topacids, unitys, the lurch switchup (royale to ao topsoul), and the TJ Webber section is still my favorite of all time. When I asked Negrete he said Road to Nowhere.”

Dan Leifeld isn't impressed...

In response to my latest Be-mag article, Dan Leifeld found it appropriate to email me personally for a little bit of internet fisticuffs.

A little misinformed slice of your Say Word 3 attempt. Are you so overzealous with your new Be-mag publishing privilege that you regard it as your duty to send out attacks within our small industry? I'm sure things look different in Glasglow, but here in Saint Louis it just looks like post grom jealousy. A failure to amount to something substantial by a certain age, built up angst, and feeding into a personal vent. There is a difference between blogs, and Be-mag. And your Say Word 3 review didn't say a lot about the video, but it said worlds about you.





I always find it really funny when people get angry and decide to contact me personally just to say so. Don't they realised that by getting in touch they are simply flattering me by showing that something I have written has had an effect? It doesn't matter if its positive or negative. It worked. It provoked a reaction and made someone take action. Mr. Leifeld, I'm sorry if you dont like me or my views. Actually, I'm not. I don't care... but clearly you do.

Ps. It's spelled Glasgow. I've never been to "Glasglow."

Say Word 3 Review

Check out the Say Word 3 review on Be-mag (www.be-mag.com) and buy this video!

DVD Review: Say Word 3

The people making skate videos these days need to seriously re-think their strategy. In recent years I have found that many videos tend to imitate their predecessors to the point where it appears as though you are simply viewing parodies of earlier creations. For years I have watched as many ‘filmmakers’ simply regurgitate Dave Paine’s Videogroove format and pass it off as their own. If they are not imitating Videogroove, they take a leaf out of Joe Navran’s recipe book to blend party footage into skating montages. And if all else fails, they fall back on the old favourite, the team video.

Thankfully, Say Word 3 does not fall into any of the afore-mentioned categories. The third instalment to Kenny Owens’ Say Word series is an endearing video to watch for many reasons. One if which is that it pays homage to the skate videos that came before it but does not go so far as to blatantly rip them off. For instance, there are snippets of martial arts films blended into some of the montages, which was pleasantly reminiscent of Hoax 4.

If you are a fan of good, clean editing to an interesting selection of hip hop, jazz and left field gems then this is the film with you. I was particularly impressed with The Mouldy Peaches These Burgers and Lil Wayne’s Phone Home. Kenny doesn’t waste time with intricate graphic animations to make his footage look better than it is because he doesn’t have to. The filming throughout the video maintains a high standard and showcases the tricks in their finest form.

This video is not revolutionary. However, it does contain an amazing amount of rarely seen spots across America and even features a France section. The main appeal of this video is that you will get not one, not two, but THREE Montre Livingston sections, each one even more impressive than the last. The talent that young man possesses could induce heart failure. You will also see a vast amount of great footage from Jon Jon Bolino, Will Gordon and Dre Powell. It was also a pleasant surprise to see quite a few clips of San Francisco’s Sean Keane as well. Where has he been hiding lately?

Nowadays it seems as though any kid with a digital camera thinks he is the next greatest action sports cinematographer and it is almost embarrassing to witness some of the new videos that are somehow manage to get distributed throughout our industry. This video sticks to some very simple rules: Clean editing to an absorbing soundtrack with some obscure footage thrown in for effect. Kenny Owens, well done, you have grasped the obvious concept of a skate video. You make skating look incredible.

Say Word 3 is almost an hour long, features over an hour of bonus footage and the entire Say Word 2. Three hours of skating in one film? That’s value for money.

If you have any sense, buy this film direct from Kenny Owens at: www.justsayword.blogspot.com

Rian Arnold- Australian Dynamite!

I don't know why but it seems that whenever I imagine something is going to be really difficult, it turns out to be relatively simple. I heard about Rian when I was living in Korea. My friend Chris told me about this amazing kid who came to the Asian X Games and just destroyed all the pro skaters. It turns out that kid was Rian and he's been doing the same thing at most events he has entered since. The interview below took place at the end of 2007.


Don't be deceived by the t-shirt that looks convincingly like a quirky woman's dress. Rian Arnold is big time when it comes to skating.


You know for a fact that as soon as that girl is out of sight the skate magazine will be replaced by a porno mag.


Rian Arnold does drop rails for a warm up. Step aside or get run over!

International Man of Mystery- The Rian Arnold Interview

Australia has a proud history of producing rollerblading pioneers. Over the years it has proven to be a breeding ground for talented individuals, including vert icons Tom Fry, Manuel Billaris and Cesar Mora, who collectively dominated the majority of international contests throughout the late nineties. Other exports include street skating wizards Josh Clarke, Dion Anthony and Sam Fogarty. The historians among you may even remember competition powerhouses Tim Ward and Blake Dennis, whose faces could be seen just as frequently on the winner’s podium and your favourite skate videos. The Australian skate scene has become smaller in recent years, with fewer athletes competing at an international level. However, it is gradually re-emerging and this is partially thanks to one young man’s efforts. His name is Rian Arnold.

There are still many out there who have yet to witness the unique talent that Rian possesses, as he has not appeared in many mainstream rollerblading films and is still to receive any major coverage in a rollerblading publication. However, this hasn’t stopped him taking top honours at the Asian X Games in 2005 and second place in the 2006 Arlo Eisenberg’s Hoedown, not to mention an impressive fifth place at the ASA World Championships in Texas in 2006.

Rian Arnold is part of the terrifying new breed of all round skaters who displays nothing short of complete comfort annihilating real street and skateparks alike. The worrying part is, he has only been skating for seven years and he is already competing at international level against some of the best skaters in the world and defeating them. It is scary to think that if it hadn’t been for his dad’s keen observation skills, none of this may have ever been possible.

“My father was driving home from work one day. He noticed a billboard advertising Vert X, an indoor skatepark on the side of the highway. I had a pair of crappy Ultra-wheels and my father took me to Vert X. That’s when the love affair began. I received my first pair of aggressive skates on my 11th birthday in August 2000. That was 7 years ago.”

Over the last few years, Rian has been silently creeping across the globe and appearing at a small selection of the world’s most respected events and completely blowing his idols out of the water, many of which have been by complete chance due to his passion for travelling and his close bonds with friends in other parts of the world.

“In 2005 I went to Korea to compete in the Asian X games. It was just a great excuse to see my friend that I met the previous year at Jr. X Games. I ended up winning, which was a crazy surprise. I didn't even think I was going to make the finals. Last year I wanted to go to America to skate and I found out that the ASA Am Finals were in Texas and one of my good friends Keaton Newson lived there. He said it was cool to stay at his for the comp. I arrived one week early for a holiday and to watch the Hoedown. At first I didn’t want to enter. I didn’t wanna look like an idiot in front of all the big names. Keaton made me enter and also paid for my entry fee and I made it through the rounds. Hoedown was the best comp that I have ever entered and I would love to do it again.”

Rian undoubtedly has the ability to compete on the pro circuit alongside the renowned elite such as Haffey and Aragon. There’s just one problem: Rian is only too aware of a volatile rollerblading industry that has yet to stabilize itself within mainstream culture. As a result, he refuses to jeopardise his future for something that may not offer him any rewards. When asked if he could ever picture himself making a living from something he is clearly gifted at, the young rollerblading prodigy revealed that he was certain that further education is the best path he can take at this moment in time.

”I don’t think you can make a career from being just a roller, unless you are born in Japan and you are doing crazy super duper triple flatspins and sponsored by Toyota. Nah, I don’t want to make a career outta skating. I’ll just stick to having fun with all my crippies back here in Australia. At the moment I’m really concentrating on studying for my final year 12 exams and really wanting to get the marks I need to go to university in the future.”

Rian has the support of several organizations within his home country. When asked what his current situation regarding sponsorship consisted of, he unwittingly released some exclusive information about one of the longest running companies in street skating, Cozmo.

”I’m sponsored by Cozmo Wheels. Cozmo are designing new wheels that will last a lot longer on street and are also in the process of designing a new skate that will come with 8 Flat Cozmo wheels stock. The new Team will consist of Walt Austin and me at the moment. I also ride for Parallel clothing based in Melbourne Victoria. Manly blades/Skaters HQ is my local skate shop and has been the best sponsor. Bill at Manly Blades is a great guy and has tried to hook me up in every way possible, even if it’s little demos at schools to get me some spare cash on the side.”

Despite making friends all over the world and winning the respect of rollerblading legends one competition at a time, Rian loves nothing more than to skate with the people he grew up with in his home country: ”Like every roller in the world, my rolling mates are generally my closest mates. The cool cats I skate with are Simon Witold, Bonaventura Dorbialski, C.J. Welsmore, Tien Nguyen, Hareth, the 2 random Dubia skaters Mas and Feras, Martin Tim Mcpherson, and a group of cool kids that I love called the BYK. All of us skate all over Sydney and Australia.”

The next twelve months will be pivotal in deciding Rian’s future. He will finish secondary education and have to make the important choice of what to do next. Despite the impending pressure, Rian seems confident when discussing what lies ahead. At the moment, he is simply enjoying being young and taking life one step at a time.

”After my exams I think I’m going to take a year off and visit my best friend in
France. I’ll also be heading to America to skate for a bit and to chill with some homies I haven’t seen in years.”

Rian has what it takes to become the next big thing in rollerblading. His skill, style and positive attitude are the attributes that one could easily find in a future rolling idol. The only question is, will we lose him to an outside world with greater opportunities? Only time will tell.

The Austin Paz Interview

Austin Paz is a skate magazine's dream. He is efficient, hard working and more than willing to do his fair share in order to get a result. To compose this entire interview, I simply emailed Austin twice. Once to get enough material for the article and again to remind him to email me the action shots he had gathered. I wish there were more skaters in our industry who took such a proffessional approach to their career.


For all you pro/ am skaters out there who bitch and whine that you don't get enough recognition yet don't want to make the sacrifices that it take to get exposure, athletes like Austin Paz are going to walk all over you suckers.

Straight Outta Staten - The Austin Paz Interview

Like an overnight music sensation, Austin Paz appeared on the skating scene with an impact that was both impressive and worrying. He seemed to come out of nowhere with a selection of high profile sponsors under his belt and a vast array of tricks at his disposal. Many questioned the potential longevity of his career because his rise to recognition appeared to be so instant and effortless. Unlike fickle one-hit wonders, Austin's foray into the limelight was not the result of a record company's expensive advertising campaign. It is the culmination of meticulous networking and self-created exposure that Austin has managed to create a buzz around his name. Find out how it all began and why the world will see a lot more from the Staten Island ninja known as PZA.

It will come as a shock to many people that Austin has actually been skating for a considerable amount of time. His first venture into the world of rollerblading took place almost 12 years ago after being inspired by his older brother.

"I remember seeing my brother and a few of his friends fly down the block going mad fast on their skates and it took off from there. My parents got me a pair of skates for my birthday and I began tagging along with my brother and his boys."

Austin surprised himself by discovering that he had a natural talent on skates and from then onwards the only thing he could think about was progression.

"The first memories I have of me on skates is when I first got those skates for my birthday. I was just learning how to skate straight without busting my ass. I think I was pretty good for my first day on skates. After that I remember someone showing me how to soul grind on the curb in front of my house and it was all uphill from there."

From the Slums of Shaolin

Raised on Staten Island, Austin hails from the home of rap's most influential act and one of his favourite groups, Wu Tang Clan. It is also the birthplace of a young man who has become recognised as an icon for his generation in the skating world, close friend and mentor Billy O'Neill. Austin's childhood friend has played a pivotal role in ensuring he was able to secure that important initial exposure so he could project himself on an international level, backed by the vital necessity in any rollerblader's career: Sponsorship. Soon enough, Austin was showing up at skate spots with Billy O'Neill and displaying his undeniable ability on skates. Needless to say, it didn't take long before companies started seeing what all the hype was about.

"I usually stay in Staten Island with my boys Fish and Franco Cammayo. Fish was riding for Eulogy and he got a chance to put a couple of skaters on flow, so he chose Thomas Lipani, Alex Nunez and me. As for B Unique, I'm not exactly sure how I started riding for them. When Fish started skating for B Unique again I was always with him so they got to see me skate. I guess it came from that. I started riding for Valo almost two years ago after USD stopped sending me skates, I messaged Jon online and he was was 100% down with me representing Valo."

It's not difficult to see how Austin has become a poster boy for companies such as Eulogy with his uncanny resemblance to Colin Farrell and that New York charm that is a trademark of local legends such as Mike Johnson. His confidence is addictive, and clearly visible when he discusses what skating means to him.

"Skating is raw ass shit. There are no limits to skating and kids continuously push the envelope to shit you would never think of. My skating has that rough, in your face, New York City attitude, but with that 'smooth operator' feel to it. Haha!"

In the past two years, Austin has been impossible to ignore. He has featured on every major skating website with online edits, pictures and interviews. His name is a regular feature on Be-Mag, Empire and Valo's infamous C.O.W. This persistent self-promotion has created a minor phenomenon around his name that is not unjustified considering the high level of talent he possesses. When asked if he believed such measures were necessary in creating a sustainable skating career, Austin had this to say:

"If you're not going to expose yourself, how is anyone going to know you exist? You have to keep people interested and I think online edits are a good way to promote that. So when I'm not at work I'm skating, travelling, filming, shooting pics, editing or fucking around with photoshop. You got to get on your grind."

Austin is not conceded enough to believe that he can make a living from skating, or that any money he does generate will survive the duration of his adult life. As a result, he has made sure that his financial situation is stable while he pursues his passion in life: Skating.

"I work at an accountant's office, so from January to April I work 60+ hours a week because it's tax season. During this time, I don't have many chances to skate. The rest of the year I only work 2-3 days a week. All I do is work and skate. I have more time for travelling and skating so I'm going to focus on that because my body won't allow me to do this for the rest of my life. I'm going to take advantage of all the fun times I could be having on my skates while I can."



Tales from the City

Growing up and skating within the confines of the world renowned New York skate scene, there was never a dull moment for Austin. Each weekend he would take to the streets of New York City and nothing short of total mayhem would take place. Austin reflects on the times he shared with his friends on skates and remembers all the chaos they caused in their callous youth.

"Back in the day when everyone was little, people skated through the city in groups of 30 or more kids causing mad ruckus in the streets. Kids would throw open garbage bags into shop doors, dump sodas onto cabbies who had their windows open, rob news stands on the sidewalks and a whole bunch of other crazy shit. We would get on trains packed with skaters smelling like feet. There were so many skaters that no one could really do anything about it. It's all different now that everyone has grown up though. Cruising down the sidewalks of midtown and downtown during the week when the sidewalks are packed with people is the best. To skate with your boys, going as fast as you can, weaving in and out of people is amazing. Also, if security guards are kicking you out of a spot and you don't listen to them and they say they're calling the cops, that means you've got another hour or so to skate the spot because cops in NYC have got a lot more shit to worry about than a couple of kids skating. We were skating this spot the other day and got kicked out. We ignored the security guards and they were trying to flag down cop cars but they just ignored the security guards too. The guards ended up watching us skate for about an hour."

Just Getting Started

Anyone who is foolish to believe that Austin is going to simply disappear from the spotlight like many gifted skaters before him is dearly mistaken. Staten Island's finest is mastering his craft with every new day and pushing the envelope in terms of promotion that has cast a shadow over other more established professionals. Austin Paz is a skate company's dream. He takes the time and effort to promote himself without the help of team videos or advertising campaigns. His reputation has been created, to a greater extent, by his own hard work. There are no signs of this phenomenon slowing down any time soon as Austin gives us a brief insight into what we can expect from him in the near future.

"I have some footage in the new B Unique video. I don't know if it is a split section or profile because I haven't seen it yet but the people who saw a sneak preview in Europe gave it really good reviews, and that wasn't even the whole video. Apart from that, I will be travelling as much as possible to entertain and impress as many people as I can. I've got some other things in the works but I've got to keep that on the low for now."

There is no doubt in my mind that the world will soon see what Valo, B Unique, Eulogy and Able have known for some time: Austin Paz is the future. He has already built the foundations for what promises to be a lengthy career as a professional skater and if his predecessors are anything to go by, we should start saving our money now for the endless list of pro models that he will no doubt receive in the foreseeable future. Just like Wu Tang Clan, Austin Paz ain't nothin' to fuck with.

J.C. Rowe is hard work

Last year, Be-mag asked me to interview J.C. Rowe for an online feature. I was accustomed with interviewing pro skaters through my own efforts of numerous emails, phone calls and instant message chats. When Be-mag provided me with his details I was excited because I enjoy watching J.C.'s skating. More importantly, I was looking forward to doing less work because I had already completed the first hurdle, I had his contact details and I knew he was willing to do the interview. Hard part over... or so I thought.


It turns out J.C. Rowe is one of the most difficult people I have ever had to interview. You have to prize answers out of him with a crow bar. Everything I asked was either met with a one-word answer of one that did not have any reference to the question. It quickly became very frustrating and I soon regretted agreeing to the assignment.


Don't get me wrong. He is a nice guy. I'm just not very certain that his attention span is very long. In fact, that could be the most understated thing I have ever said about another human being in my life...

Speaking in Riddles- The J.C. Rowe Interview

J.C. Rowe is a self-aware enigma. Getting a straight answer out of him is like trying to get a sensible sentence out of a child plagued with a Ritalin addiction: It just doesn’t happen. Maybe it’s the copious amounts of Mountain Dew he consumes at an alarming rate. Maybe it’s that he just doesn’t want to give away the secrets locked away in his mind. Either way, the replies he provided proved to be interesting to say the least. One thing became painfully obvious: J.C. likes to go off on a tangent and say whatever it is that he feels is necessary. The Detroit native failed to clear up many of the mysteries that seem to surround him concerning spontaneous sponsor changes and his sudden rise to international recognition since his appearance in Dave Paine’s Videogroove 22. Could it be that the rapidly progressing urban wizard is a cunning composer of riddles? Only those close to him can truly know. All that is certain is that J.C. Rowe is an incredibly gifted athlete, and a very strange individual.

Several years ago, J.C. Rowe made the decision to move from his home state of Michigan and relocate half way across America to Wesminster, California. Like many skaters before him and many more that are sure to follow, he chose to follow his dreams and base himself closer to the heart of the industry in San Diego. However, he soon came to understand the grim realities that faced him as an aspiring pro skater.

“I first made plans to move out to California 5 years ago, although I had no idea what I was getting myself into. At that time there was still a good number of people making their living from skating. After a few years the industry was becoming smaller and less capable of providing a living for many pros. As people started doing other things and skating less, I began skating more and started showing up in magazines and videos. I knew how things were money-wise at this point, but it didn't matter. I was getting to do what I had always wanted to. I was living my dream. However, the pro skater life ended about 2 years ago when I realized I needed to get a job”

Despite the fact that J.C. Rowe has risen to international notoriety thanks to a memorable performance in Carl Sturgess’ epic Killerboots, there are still bills to pay and responsibilities to fulfill. Luckily, unlike many of his peers, J.C. was not naïve enough to believe he could simply survive on his endorsements alone and set out to find himself a stable form of income. However, he does hold a slight grudge against the fact that it does intrude on his cherished time spent on skates.

“At the moment I work in the office of a window tinting company. They do cars, buildings and houses. I run the automotive department. I work every Saturday, which is probably the only thing I don’t like. On a Saturday when everyone goes out skating, I'm busy talking to people about their cars. I have a full time job and a sold out pro wheel. Not bad, eh?”

Not bad indeed. J.C. is currently skating for Eulogy wheels, Fifty-50 frames, Sixwonsix clothing, Night hardware, Octona skateshop and Crap bearings: An impressive list of sponsors that not many of his fellow professionals can boast. The more observant of you will notice that there are two notable absences from that list of endorsements: Senate and Remz. J.C. became the topic of many debates among rollerblading fans everywhere when Eulogy suddenly released a pro wheel with his name on it. This came as a shock to many enthusiasts within the industry, as J.C. was widely regarded as the new face of Senate, under the guidance of veteran pro skater Kevin Gillan. It is unclear to this day if Senate has simply ceased trading or if the relationship between the two simply ceased to function. When asked what happened with Senate to prompt such a move, J.C. seemed reluctant to go into specifics. He simply said, “I guess I realized after a few months of intercepting and stealing Eulogy wheels that were supposed to be sent to my house for Rob G that I should make the switch myself, and tell Rob I owe him some wheels.”

This seemed like an extremely odd response considering in the short period of time J.C. has skated for the brand he has received two pro model wheels and previous interviews suggested that his relationship with team manager Kevin Gillan was really good. For the past six months J.C. has also been seen riding on Xsjados, which came as a surprise to many as he was a well known member of the Remz team and until recently featured heavily on their website with regular online edits. The fact that J.C. left Remz without any motive to ride for another company poses many questions. When asked what prompted the departure from a team that he seemed so suited to, J.C. replied, “Apparently there are no more Xsjados in my size anywhere. I wish didn't start liking a skate so much right before they became extinct.”

Eager to know if there had been a dispute with owner Kato or conflict with other members of the Remz team, I pushed J.C. for an answer but he seemed unwilling to provide one. Instead of saying why he left the team, he simply declared what weren’t the reasons for his departure. It is evident that J.C. prefers to keep certain aspects of his career as a pro skater private.

”I think everyone expects me to say ‘because I didn't get a pro skate’, which is stupid. Skating for Remz gave me the opportunity to do a lot of skating and travelling, which is more than I could have asked for. It didn't matter if I was going to ever get a pro model skate or even another paycheck for my skating, and it still doesn't. The reason I skate is for fun. That's why I started and that's why tomorrow on my day off I just want to go skating with my friends.”

If you have ever wondered what a normal day is like for J.C. Rowe then I am afraid you are going to have to continue wondering. When asked what J.C. usually does to keep his conscious hours occupied, he was more interested in detailing what he likes to fill his stomach with. However, he was gracious enough to give us the briefest insight into his life once he was done listing his favourite junk food indulgences.

”I have donuts and vitamin water for breakfast, hamburger or pizza for lunch, and usually pizza again for dinner. I drive an old Bimmer a few miles to work. I spend my spare time with my friends, or drawing and listening to music. Oh and I usually beat Chris in a couple games of pool, haha!”

J.C. Rowe tends to go off on tangents when faced with basic questions. It is difficult to assert whether or not this is due to the fact that he didn’t want to give out certain details or that his mind simply wandered off track at certain points during the interview. It doesn’t really matter either way. His skating ability is undeniable. Anyone who has witnessed J.C. in the flesh or viewed his astounding performances in Videogroove or Killerboots cannot deny that he is at the forefront of modern rollerblading. This is reflected by the fact that he has a sponsor list that many of his fellow professionals would envy. Look out for J.C. Rowe in the new Sixwonsix team video that is set for release very soon. If his last performances are anything to go by, it will certainly be a profile to be admired time and time again.

Next up is the second article I had published, which appeared in both Unity and Be-mag back in 2004. Again, I am perfectly happy to raise my hands and confess that I have pontificated to the point of masturbation on this one. However, a very good friend of mine Alistair Allan provided the artwork you see for this article which I now have framed in my flat. At least some good came of my overzealous ranting. Interesting fact, as well as being a great artist, Alistair is also an amazing skateboarder. Just goes to show, they're not all bad...

Something Isn't Right

How many times have you been out skating and seen one of those signs? You know the ones I mean. The kind that look down on you with scorn and resentment, like a businessman passing a homeless person on the street on his way to work. The signs that tell you your passion, your belief structure, your way of life, is wrong. Every time skaters venture into a city centre metropolis, they are frequently confronted by notices put up by city councils and private businesses, which tell us that what we do is simply unacceptable in contemporary society. They usually say something to the same effect as, "skateboarding and rollerblading in strictly prohibited etc. etc." But why?

Criminal Damage?

In cities such as London and Manchester, putting on a pair of rollerblades risks the possibility of being prosecuted. If you are found to be skating on a company's private property or a crowded public area in either of these cities, you are liable for a fine to the extent of two hundred pounds and possibly even arrest. I have personally witnessed such occasions and have been thoroughly disgusted by the lack of tolerance for something that is so innocent and harmless.

When asked why such measures of punishment are deemed necessary, I was informed that skating is considered "criminal damage to private and public property". Really? Let's look at this logically. If that remark is in reference to grinding then it is simply ridiculous, as the surfaces that skaters use, such as concrete ledges and metal handrails, cause more damage to their skates than their skates cause to the surfaces. Think about it, concrete and metal versus plastic and urethane? It's not really much of a contest. What I was most intrigued by was the latter part of the statement made by the police officer, concerning public property. Surely public property is for everyone's use? Evidently not.

I would understand if there was concern for public safety but even then there is little issue for debate as the only people in any danger of getting hurt are ourselves. After all, we are the ones throwing ourselves down these obstacles. The main idea that these signs put across is that rollerblading is something that should be considered illegal, like the signs you see in public parks that tell dog owners to clean up their pet's excrement because to do otherwise is to litter. Apparently when you put on a pair of rollerblades you are no longer worthy of the term "citizen". In wearing skates you become demoted to the category of common criminal and vandal. Having wheels under your feet is almost as incriminating as carrying a concealed weapon or can of spray-paint.

A waste of our money and their time

You have got to question what exactly is going on in a country where the government chooses to waste tax payer's valuable money on erecting signs that are not only unnecessary but are absolutely useless, as they do little to deter skaters from proceeding to ride the property regardless. Surely that money could be used to provide something a little more beneficial to the community?

Consider how much money it would cost to produce at least five hundred signs (that's just to cover the inner city of London alone) and then think about the amount of money it would cost to pay someone an hourly wage to put them all up. Note: Despite what most people may think, council workers receive a fairly generous hourly wage. So let's take the council worker's hourly wage, multiply that by the hours it would take to drive around and attach them all to posts and walls, then add that to the amount it would cost to produce the damn things in the first place. That adds up to a lot of money wasted for a meaningless purpose. It just doesn't make any sense. I'm sure if the councils informed their citizens of exactly how much money they wasted each year on such a pointless concept, the local residents would be far more outraged by such a terrible waste of their hard earned salary as opposed to being resentful towards us for simply putting some scrapes on a few handrails. After all, we're not the ones throwing away their money for something which could be better used to improve their way of life.

Something more appropriate

For arguments sake, let’s say these signs were effective and people did actually take notice of them, there must be signs that would be of a higher priority than ones that tell kids not to rollerblade. For example, I have never once seen a "No Littering" sign, yet every time I have been in a city centre I have observed rubbish, broken glass and cigarette ends as far as the eye can see. I have also never seen any signs saying "No Vandalism" yet every inner city train station and alley have gratuitous amounts of hideous graffiti and tags which make the city look unpleasant and unsafe.

More importantly, I have never once seen a sign which deals with Britain's greatest problem; alcohol abuse. Have you ever seen a sign that says "No drunken fighting or disorderly behaviour"? I didn't think so. Yet these are serious problems that our society faces that need to be addressed and dealt with, not a few kids on skates having some fun. For crying out loud, people are dying out there some weekends as a result of pointless, drunken brawls, yet we are being punished for doing something that is of risk to no one's health but our own. We're not in anyone's way. We're not trying to cause any trouble. All we want is our own little dwellings in the seemingly limitless area that a city provides. The only thing rollerbladers are guilty of is the desire to experience rapture. That doesn't sound unreasonable to me. I must be wrong.

Regardless we persist

Despite these set backs, we continue to thrive, both as an increasingly recognised culture and as a rapidly progressing extreme sport. Fines, confiscation of property and even arrest has done little to reduce our enthusiasm as, every weekend, all across the country, thousands of people venture into their nearest city to meet up with friends and skate their favourite spots. Our passion is too strong to be extinguished by the narrow-minded opinions of those who have seemingly forgotten what it was like to be young and adventurous. These people who stand in our way should not be looked at with anger and frustration but rather with pity and empathy, as they cannot see they are the ones who are wrong. It is them who have lost their way and somehow forgotten what it was like to indulge in the purest of experiences: Fun. So let them take away our spots. Let them put caps on the rails and blind person bumps at the top of stair sets. We'll simply find other ways to skate the obstacles or find entirely different spots altogether. Either way, we're not going away and that's something they're just going to have to accept.

The Academic Dispute

The photo above was taken when I met Eric Bailey back in 2006 at the Amsterdam IMYTA before everyone found out what I knew as soon as I watched his REJECTS profile. Eric Bailey is the future of rollerblading...

Below is one of the first articles I ever had published in a skate magazine back in 2003. Reading it now, it's pretty embarrassing to realise that I am guilty of milking the hell out of my mental thesauraus. Why I felt the need to use complex words and phrases when simple substitutes would have sufficed is beyond me. At least I can appreciate now how pathetic it was for me to try and impress an audience with words that most people will never (and should never have to) encounter in their entire lifetime.

It is also quite funny because the point I was trying to make at the time has no merit now. I was attempting to display that those winning skate competitions are not the icons of our sport because at that time the people winning ASA and X Games events were people like Cesar Mora, Jon Bergeron and Matt Salerno (people who never appeared in magazines of videos). However, this is no longer true because outstanding figures in our sport, such as Chris Haffey, Brian Aragon and Eric Bailey are dominating the competition circuit. Oh well...

Enjoy...

The Academic Dispute

The scholastic system is flawed beyond all logical comprehension. It's not that the teaching method is faulty but rather the way in which its success is weighed. Students are unfairly judged by their performance in trivial exercises such as tests and exams. The scores they receive measure the merit of their knowledge. This harsh injustice means that "good" students are the ones who perform well under the strenuous circumstances of these procedures whereas "bad" students are the ones who do not. The conjecture behind this way of determining a person’s academic merit is defective as a student may possess vast knowledge on the chosen subject they are studying but are merely unable to cope and function well under the strain of examination conditions. Thus, poorer students reap the benefits of composure and are rewarded simply because they are able to focus when faced with distraction. Such methods are terrible ways of measuring someone's intellectual ability.

The exact same problems exist in rollerblading on the part of the ASA and competitions such as the X Games. A skater’s ability is put under intense scrutiny during a 90 second run in which they must display style, creativity, and difficulty as well as consistency. When you are standing at the top of a quarter pipe with the sun bearing down upon you like a large spotlight, knowing that not only do you have the undivided attention of all your peers, but also thousands of spectators who may or may not laugh if you go down on your face, as well as television cameras which broadcast internationally in every home, in every country in the world. Pressure tends to make it ever so slightly difficult to stay focused. Hence, the examination theory intervenes. Good skaters whose vast vocabulary of tricks on handrails, ledges, and large gaps earned them the envy and admiration of skaters everywhere are undermined when they receive poor scores from biased judges who claim they are judging on ability when they are actually judging on composure.

This is why the skaters who win events such as the X Games and the ASA comps are not the best skaters in the world. They are just the best competitors. This is a common misconception on the part of the media and the Aggressive Skaters Association who honestly believe they are awarding first place to the best skater when that is simply not the case. Such events are an insult to our culture as they are NOT street skating competitions. I have never seen a quarter pipe or launch ramp at any urban street spot. Nor have I ever witnessed a spine ramp or bowl positioned next to a stair rail or ledge and I hope I never do, as it would destroy the essence of what street skating is all about. It is the opportunity to explore our imaginations by using objects meant for other purposes for our own enjoyment. It is unjust to claim that these tests of a skater's ability are street events as real street skaters are ill equipped to compete due to the lack of such obstacles on real streets. They should be called PARK competitions, as it is only park skaters that fully benefit from such organised commercial showcases.

The real innovators of skating, the icons that shape the face of our lifestyle, are the ones who are doing so at inner city sites across the world. In the sole presence of their friends, fellow skaters and maybe one or two cameras. Not thousands of screaming spectators who are ignorant to what they witness, believing that the skaters who do the highest airs and the most flips possess the most ability. These icons I speak of are the ones appearing in videos, magazines and even on the Internet. They are the ones who are earning respect due to their unquestionable talent and commitment to furthering a movement that we can call our own.

There are no spotlights on real street with innumerable cameras blinding our approach to obstacles with their flashes. The ASA has no right to claim they are the voice of skaters as they represent the core of what is wrong with skating. The reason rollerblading is so appealing to so many of us is because of its limitless opportunities. There are no rules, regulations or boundaries. There is no right or wrong way to do something. There is only the way you see fit. Geniuses are not always the ones who perform well in schools. Many of the world's great philosophers never even went to school. Rollerblading is a reflection of this. The people who have helped shape our industry and skating itself are not the ones on the podium receiving the gold medal. They are the ones we encounter every day on our travels in search of new places to skate and see in our favourite videos. If we continue to let such organisations dictate the way OUR culture should represent itself we may as well be like football of any other sport, as we will merely be allowing ourselves to be dictated.

Refrain from drowning in the pool of other people's ignorance.