INTERVIEWS
Pete Thompson Drops ‘90s Knowledge in VHS Mag Interview
We’ve pulled some of our favorite takeaways below.
On skate media:
I don’t know if skateboarders today can really understand what that whole experience was like. When a magazine came out, you stopped everything you were doing, sat down and read the magazine cover to cover four times. You wanted to see what was happening, what was cool, what tricks people were doing. Everything was changing so quickly. If you weren’t living in California at that time as a skateboarder, you were living in the wilderness. So when I looked at skate magazines, it was like a fantasy world that you’re having a peek into. I loved the still moments and the curiosity that your mind would conjure up looking at these still shots. I would wonder, “What was this day like? What was happening before and after this picture was taken?” The perfect moments were printed in a magazine. It’s a really beautiful moment to look at and absorb in a way that really connected with me.
On Pepe Martinez:
He was a pretty quiet guy. He was an observer who wasn’t that talkative. But when he did talk he was super funny. He would just crack jokes. I mean, he was a really, really good friend to that crew of guys in DC at the time. He knew his talent level was above and beyond everybody that was around. He knew how good he was but he was so humble. He was adored by everyone around him. He had a lot of dignity and a lot of class. And if you mix all that with his skating, it’s easy to see why people have such an undying love for the guy. Sensitive, compassionate and fucking amazing skateboarder. He was probably the first color sequence I ever shot, a switch backside kickflip tailslide at Pulaski. It was an Element ad. I shot maybe four or five rolls, and that was on my last roll. He bails and picks up his board and I’m squatting on the ground. And as he’s picking up his board, I was like, “Dude, I got one more left.” And he’s like, “Alright, I got this.” And he goes back, turns around, pushes towards the ledge. Does it perfectly and rides away.
On creating the book:
I don’t know if inspired is the right word, but what really struck me about this entire archive collection of pictures was that my view of it had changed. I don’t know how I could have ever done this had I kept shooting skating, because in your mind what you’ve created has a certain worth to you and everybody else that you carry with you. And if you can somehow step away from that mindset, you may be able to see your photos in a different light, maybe see your pictures from the perspective of another person’s eyes who doesn’t skate. That was the main thing, was I wanted the pictures to obviously be appealing to skateboarders, but I also wanted people who don’t skate to be able to look at the book and be, “Wow, there’s a lot of cool pictures in here.” So you have to detach yourself from the pictures that you have been told your entire career as a skate photographer are the good pictures.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CEKavyMF3_g/
Read the entire interview here.
Images Via Pete Thompson & Element
INTERVIEWS
Kelly Bird Opens Up in Latest The Nine Club Episode
Nike SB Global Brand Manager Kelly Bird opens up about growing up in Houston, getting into skateboarding, becoming a pro, and eventually transitioning to the industry side of skateboarding.
Before he became the global brand manager of Nike SB, Kelly worked for DC Shoes and Lakai Footwear.
INTERVIEWS
Catch Up with Mariah Duran in the Latest Nine Club Episode
Pro skater Mariah Duran has always been into sports as a young kid, she revealed in the latest episode of The Nine Club.
The goofy-footed skater from Albuquerque, New Mexico got introduced to skateboarding when she was around 10. Initially, she would borrow his brother’s board, but her mom eventually bought her a board.
She was also into softball when she was younger and basketball when she was in high school. Later on, she shifted her focus to skateboarding.
Mariah won the USA Skateboarding National Championships Womens Street in 2019, and 2021. She placed 4th in the most recent competition.
She is also a two-time X Games gold medalist for Women’s Street Skateboarding.
INTERVIEWS
Nyjah Huston Talks About SOTY 2022
Nyjah Huston has only good things to say about his rivals for the 2022 SOTY.
In the ONSTIX Episode 108 streamed on Thrasher’s Twitch channel, Nyjah described the 2022 SOTY Tyshawn Jones as the “King of Pops” for “skating over anything and everything possible.”
He also said that Louie Lopez is just straight-up creative and had a good chance of getting SOTY for many years now.
He also commended TFunk’s latest video part.
Nyjah said in the interview that he watches almost every video that Thrasher posts, even those names he hadn’t heard of.
I love watching everyone’s skating because everyone skates differently and that’s what beautiful about what we do.
Nyjah huston
Tyshawn Jones eventually got the 2022 SOTY title. He is one of the three double-recipients of the title, the other two being Danny Way and Chris Cole. He earned his first SOTY in 2018.
Watch the full interview here.
-
CONTESTS6 months ago
Olympians Dominate 2022 Summer X Games Women’s Skateboard Park
-
INTERVIEWS5 months ago
The Nine Club Features Elliot Sloan
-
CONTESTS5 months ago
Tony Hawk’s Vert Alert is Back
-
CONTESTS5 months ago
Get to Know the Red Bull Manny Mania Winners
-
CONTESTS6 months ago
Gustavo Ribeiro Wins Dew Tour 2022 Men’s Street Competition
-
CONTESTS5 months ago
Yuto Horigome, Rayssa Leal Win SLS Seattle
-
CONTESTS5 months ago
Vans Showdown 2022 Winners
-
TEAM CHANGES5 months ago
Primitive Skate Welcomes Filipe Mota