INTERVIEWS

Na-Kel Smith Talks Kareem Campbell on Masked Gorilla

Published

2 years ago

February 20, 2020

Some people are destined for big things from birth. This seems to be the case with Na-Kel Smith. It’s no secret that Kareem Campbell is his uncle. But to hear him reflect on getting his first board from Reem, and his memories of the time that he spent around him as a very little kid really sets the stage for everything that Nak would go on to accomplish in the culture.

I started skating in elementary school, kind of like 5th grade. I was like 10. I got my first skateboard when I was three, though, cause of my uncle. He’s Kareem Campbell… he gave me my first skateboard and shit. I used to go to his house. You know Big Mama’s Pizza? He used to order that sometimes when we’d go over there. And I would be like, “Oh, he’s ordering a big-ass pizza!” Me and his son used to skate off this bunk bed… And we would play Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1. And he would have boxes of shoes. He was living the life that I’m living now. But when I was a little-ass kid. And it’s crazy to think about—that I’m living it now.

Listen to the entire Masked Gorilla episode above. The bit about Kareem starts at 10:25.

INTERVIEWS

Santa Cruz Skateboards’ ‘True Grit’ features Tom Asta

Published

4 weeks ago

July 8, 2022

Skate Newswire

In this latest “True Grit” video by Santa Cruz Skateboards, Tom Asta revealed that he never planned on becoming a pro but just enjoyed skating as a teen. He turned out to be one of the best pro skaters we know today.

He talked about growing up in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, and also showed his favorite skate spots in his hometown. Town mates Chris Cole and Ian Berry, and other pro skaters spoke about how they met Tom and how they have seen him develop into the skater that he is today.

The “True Grit” video series attempts to get an in-depth look into how skaters came to where they are now by visiting them in their hometowns and interviewing the people around them.

Watch more of Tom Asta in the Santa Cruz Skateboards’ welcome video below.

INTERVIEWS

Shecks Guests on the Latest ‘The Nine Club’ Episode

Published

2 months ago

June 9, 2022

Skate Newswire

Pro skater Ryan Sheckler talks about growing up in Southern California, starting skateboarding at the tender age of two, his over two decades of career, and his personal struggles in the latest podcast episode of “The Nine Club”.

He also discusses starting his skateboarding company, the Sandlot Times, and the story behind the name.

The Nine Club is a skateboarding podcast started and hosted by professional skateboarder Chris Roberts in 2016. The show is co-hosted by Roger Bagley and Kelly Hart.

INTERVIEWS

Vans Skateboarding Drops ‘Lizzie’ Video

Published

2 months ago

June 1, 2022

Skate Newswire

Get to know more about Lizzie Armanto through the lens of the persons closest to her in this 35 mm film directed by renowned filmmaker Greg Hunt and presented by Vans Skateboarding.

Lizzie is an X Games gold medalist (Barcelona, 2013) and the first-ever woman to make it to the cover of Transworld Skateboarding in 2016.

She was also the first female skateboarder to do the loop, a 360-degree vertical ramp on which the rider turns completely upside down while maintaining contact between the wheels of the skateboard and the ramp’s surface.