INTERVIEWS

Na-Kel Smith Talks Kareem Campbell on Masked Gorilla

Published

3 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

‘Good Work’ Episode Features Lisa Whitaker and Meow Skateboards

Published

2 months ago

September 23, 2022

Skate Newswire

Skater Lisa Whitaker narrated how she started Meow Skateboards in this episode of “Good Work”.

She also related how she got introduced to skateboarding and how she founded Girls Skate Network in 2003.

Whitaker started her skateboard company in 2012. Now, Meow has more than a dozen talents including Vanessa Torres, Mariah Duran and Kristin Ebeling.

“Lisa has always been the catalyst for women skateboarding”, says Torres who was one of the first skaters to join Meow’s roster.

Produced by Red Bull, the Good Work series features skater-owned and operated businesses.

INTERVIEWS

Monster Energy’s Aspire-Inspire Episode Features Mami Tezuka

Published

3 months ago

August 31, 2022

Skate Newswire

Get to know more about Mami Tezuka in this episode of Aspire-Inspire by Monster Energy.

Surrounded by skaters growing up, Mami showed interest in skateboarding at around the age of three.

She started participating in competitions abroad in 2017. In 2021, she won silver in the X Games Women’s Skateboarding part. She landed third place in X Games Chiba 2022.

Fellow Monster Energy rider and friend Lizzie Armanto describes Mami as easy-going, fun to be around, and inspiring. “When I’m around her, I want to push myself better,”

Tezuka admits that she enjoys filming video parts more enjoyable than participating in contests.

“Competition is kind of stressful for me”, Mami said. But added that she does enjoy seeing everyone at contests.

“Filming part is more fun for me…it doesn’t to be hard, tricky trick, but you can see the style and progress of the skating”, explained Mami.

I want to inspire girl skaters and young people. Do what you love and then don’t be afraid to be yourself.
Mami tezuka

Aspire-Inspire is a mini-documentary series by Monster Energy. Previous episodes featured Aurelien Giraud, Kelvin Hoefler, Rune Glifberg, Ayumu Hirano, Nyjah Huston, and Matt Berger.

INTERVIEWS

The Nine Club Features Elliot Sloan

Published

3 months ago

August 24, 2022

Skate Newswire

Elliot Sloan narrated how he injured his neck while doing a 900 and his other worst slams on the ramp in this episode of The Nine Club podcast.

He also talked about getting into vert and then mega ramp, building his own vert and mini mega ramp in his own backyard, and hosting the X Games in his backyard among other things in the two-hour podcast.

Sloan is a four-time X Games Big Air gold medalist. In the recent X Games held in his backyard, he landed second place in the debut of the Mega Ramp category and first in the Skateboard Vert Best Trick.