Please state your full name and the current city you reside in.
Paul Leroy Sewell and I live in El Cajon,CA. East County son!

I know that recently you have been working hard filming for the SHUFFL video, tell us a little bit about that.
Yeah man! I’m really excited about this project because it’s a dope crew and a solid line up. There will be full parts from John Lupfer, Ryan Harris, Dave Abair, David Cole, Austin Kanfoush, Walker Ryan and myself with Walker being the mastermind behind it. Walker is the illest and we need more people like him in the industry. The video has the potential to be amazing because everyone has their own flavor to add to it.

Some people might not know this but you are a college educated man, what and where did you study?
I studied finance at SDSU(San Diego State) and it was the hardest thing I ever had to do, mainly because I still wanted to keep skating, it was a tough balance. I did it though and it shows that anything is possible if you are not lazy. I’m backing education 100%.

You ride for what I consider to be the best shop in San Diego, Pacific Drive, wanna give any shout outs to some of the boys over there?
Hell yeah that’s my family! Gotta give love to Jim Ruonala(owner) for having my back all these years. The dude has had to put up with a lot over there, respect. Shouts to Larue, Poo, Jesse, Truck and the dudes who originally hooked me up: Cuong Lieng, Marshall Clark, Bill Thompson, and Pete Jimenez. Love you guys PD for life.

Some people including myself were confused about the term “Thuggy Smurf” can you give us a nice detailed description of what kind of person this is, and where we might find them skating.
Hahahaha, by the way I like to write out hahahaha instead of lol. Those abbreviated terms are ridiculous to me. Anyways, a thuggy smurf is a short skateboarder with big clothes and a thugged out skate style. You know what I mean, like a tough skate swagger. They usually have a gangster lingo as well. Thuggy smurfs are the illest!

Who’s your favorite Seinfeld character?
It would have to be George, but Newman is a close second. Some have come to compare me to Costanza which sucks, but is tight at the same time. Best show ever! “George is getting upset!”

Mine is Crazy Joe Davola, he’s a bit underrated, do you own all the episodes on dvd?
Davola is underrated, but what about Joe Mayo or Bob Sacamano? Yes I do my girl bought them for me for Christmas one year, thanks Lola Smith! I am a proud owner of every Seinfeld episode known to man, Hainault, Fitz, and I nerd out on that stuff all day.

Who are your favorite SD native sons?
Peter Hewitt, Danny Wallace, Shuriken Shannon, John Lupfer, Kellen James, J.T. Aultz, Cuong Lieng, Mike Fitz, Connelly, Zammit, Adrian Lopez, Marcelle Johnson, Jimmy Carlin, Peter Smolik, Surrey, Wes Kremer, Alex Horn, and the Ollie Essay! There are many more….SD baby! Don’t hate on the out of city hats, I just like the color!

Sheckler has a new Milk commercial, what do you think of it?
Hahaha, yeah that’s beyond me, but what are you gonna do? People are just never satisfied and always think they need more money when they have millions! If that’s what makes him happy more power to him, definitely isn’t the route I’d choose.

If there was a freestyle rap battle between Jereme Rogers a.ka. The White Whisper and Jimmy Carlin a.k.a Dj Dunce Cap, who do you think would win?
Carlin or Dj Dunce Cap by a long shot! He doesn’t care and does not take it seriously. So all kinds of lyrics would be flowing out of him naturally. The dude has flows for days, cant wait to hear the l.p. some time in the future. You rule Jimmy.

What can we expect to see from you in the coming year?
Hopefully lots of skating , finishing up this part for SHUFFL and onto bigger and better if companies are willing to give me the opportunity. Traveling a lot and just following my heart. Always do what makes you happy.

Paul is currently filming for a homie video Walker Ryan will be putting out with the help of C1rca and Organika. Check out some clips that didn’t make the cut. Filmed and edited by: RJ Hess

Click here to view the embedded video.

Name:
Eric Viccarone

Age:
19

Where are you from and where do you currently live:
Born in Las Vegas and raised in good ol’ Cleveland, Ohio! Currently living in Oceanside, California.

So how are you adjusting to life in California:
Adjusting… Hard times and lots of anxiety.

How awesome are your new roommates:
Well this guy named Bill likes to hassle me every chance he gets, but his wife is pretty awesome. Ohio Dave, well everyone knows that he is the man.

Who is helping you out these days:
FABLE HOLLA! Osiris, Workshop, Venture, Hubba, Innes, Ohio Losers, and Loopdy Loops. A good friend that goes by JR who is pretty much the reason I am skating today.

How often do you go to a spot and blow it:
Well, just about every time I go anywhere.

When you land a trick, do you ever not tic-tac out of it:
Tic-tacs taste really good, so I thought maybe they would add flavor to my skating.

When are you moving back to Cleveland:
When I decide that I cant skate anymore, but there will be many visits. GO CAVS!

Brad wants to know why you don’t ever where a hat:
There was this one time when I was at my homies house in N. Hollywood (Ohio House) and Kevin Terpening really wanted me to try his hat on to see what I would look like, and I wouldn’t do it and ever since I just hate hats.

What was your favorite scene in Brokeback Mountain:
You would ask that, and I actually have not seen it. Whats yours?

Would you rather ride a skateboard, a paddle boat, or a big wheel:
Well it’s a toss up between the paddle boat and big wheel. I think I’m going to go with the paddle boat.

Closing comments:
Make it happen!

1. So Mr. Lupfer, how’s life treating you right now in San Diego?
No complaints my friend. My days are filled with skating, and my nights are filled with “nunya.”


2. San Diego County is chock-full of amazing talent, who would you say are your top five favorite native sons?
Well as far as natives, you got SK858 holdin it down, J. Cao, and Jamie P. Then you got the transplants like Walker Ryan who’s on a killing spree right now. I don’t know man. Everyone. There really isn’t cliques or vibes in San Diego. Everyone rips. Everyone gets along. It’s mellow.


3. Some people might not know this about you, but your mom is Australian and you traveled there quite a bit when you were younger. Can you ever see yourself cruising over there for a few years?
Oh man, if I won the lottery today I’d retire there tomorrow. I got citizenship. I’m chillin.


4. Now on that same note, who are your top five favorite skaters from OZ?
I’ll just say Duncombe takes the cake. Dude’s the homie, and he’s definitely not afraid to charge some beers and shred.

5. Recently it was announced that we are officially in a recession. Have you seen that affect the skateboarding industry?
Everyone Is losing their jobs and minds. Gotta keep your head up.

6. A lot of people are really optimistic about what President Obama has planned, including trying to remedy our financial issues. How do you feel about the new guy going into action?
I’m just hyped there’s a brotha in the white house. Time for a change for sure. Dudes legit. He’ll handle it the best he can.


7. Lets shift to something not so heavy. What’s in your stereo on the way to the session?
Lil Wayne mixtapes. All day. Every day. If you don’t like it, catch a ride with someone else.


8. Who are you usually skating with on a daily basis?
I usually swoop up Ivery to film in the morning, which means afternoon and pretty much just skate with all my roommates and whoever else wants in.


9. We all know that San Diego has the best Mexican food that you can find. When you have people coming through from out of town, what spot do you take them to?

Super Bronco in Linda Vista. Hands down best place. Right by the house and pretty ladies working there. Alllllllll good.


10. What’s the burrito you get?
Cali.

11. What is in store for you in 2009?
Filmin for the Stereo vid. Shootin some flicks. Havin a good time.

Photos by Jason Hainault

1. Let’s start off with how the nickname “The Butcher” originated?

Back in 1998 I was with Jake Phelps and Phil Shao at Jake´s office, and they asked me if I had a nickname back in Argentina. I told them that some of my friends called me “labucha”, and since it sounded like “Butcher” they said, “That’s perfect, when you skate your hands look like Butcher’s knives and you love meat, you are ‘The Butcher’”

2. I remember when I first started seeing you in the mags, you kickflip back tailed Hubba back in the Think days. How have things changed since those days and how did Toy Machine come about?

Some things are still the same. I can still do kickflip back tails, and I can still skate, but switching to Toy Machine made my skating better. Skating with Ed and the rest of the guys made me push myself even more. Getting on Toy Machine happened after I went on a trip to Argentina with Ed, Austin and Caswell (the whole team back then), and realized that Think wasn’t my place anymore, so I told Ed how I felt and after the trip I left Think and got on Toy.

3. I know that you’re into photography. How long have you been shooting photos for, and do you remember your first published photo you had in a magazine?

I have been shooting photos for about 15 years since I went to the University back in Argentina and studied graphic design. One of the classes was photography, and I learned how to develop and print B&W photos. That was great. After that, I kept shooting on every trip that I have been on. Over the years I bought better cameras and got more serious about it. Now I’ve been shooting skate photos, and it’s really fun. My first photo published was actually in Thrasher back in 2001. Luke Ogden shot the cover of Steve Bailey doing a FS ollie over some latter, and I shot a double angle. It was really small, but after that I got some stuff published in Kingpin and then Thrasher.

4. It seems like for a while Osiris had their OG Storm crew going strong and then you and a couple of others got on. When did you start riding for Osiris, and who was the one that hooked that up?

I got on when Chris Pastras was the team manager. He called me up one day and told me that they wanted to change the team and that they wanted me to be part of that change. That was back in 2003.

5. You’ve been living in Barcelona for a minute now. What would you say are the pros and cons about being a pro for American brands and living in Europe?

The pros are that I can skate everyday without getting in my car, and the cons are that I’m not around for all the shop signings and little US trips.

6. Throughout the years of skating, what are some of the videos that influenced you growing up in the past and present?

Hokus Pokus, Video Days, Questionable and Welcome to Hell. I love all the Cliché videos. Fred is my favorite.

7. A few years back you ended up in the finals for the es’ game of SKATE against Koston and P-Rod. Pretty sick! What’s one of your go to moves when your playing SKATE?

SW BS 180 late front foot flip.

8. What would you say are some of the differences in growing up in Argentina skating compared to growing up in the states skating?

Rough spots and sketchy dudes stealing your board.

9. Hypothetically speaking, If you were riding for Osiris in the Storm days and had to room with one of the riders from back then, which one would it be?

Jerry Hsu or Louie Barletta.

10. Out of all the countries that you’ve been to thus far for skating, which one would you say you enjoyed the most?

ESPAÑA

11. Alright last question. If you had to choose one, would you rather back 180 the Sports Arena triple set that Jeremy Wray ollied or wear a pair of bright red D-3’s for a month straight? Which would it be?

BS 180 the Sports Arena wearing the bright red D3s

The photos below were shot by Diego.

 

Let’s start this thing off by getting your full name, age, and how long you’ve been riding your axe for? My name is Tom Remillard. I’m 17, and I’ve been skating for 9 years.

I remember you as the little booger creeping up into the office and thinking “who the hell is this little gromet chilling?” Tell us how you initially got hooked up with the Osiris. I was waiting for the bus after skating at the bridge and Bryan House was sitting with his chick, who I’m gunna add is hot as fuck, at the trolley stop. He came up to me, gave me his card, and told me to hit him up to go skate. I started skating this little mini ramp every Wednesday with him, Mike, and Coung during their lunch break and somehow I ended up on the flow deal.

It seems like you’ve been lurking around quite a few places since I first met you at the Clairemont park. Where do you spend most of your time shralping in SD, and what’s one of your favorite spots you’ve lurked on outta town? These days Washington St. has been super fun. As far as going out of town, Oregon is the best.

Every time we’re wrapping about skating you always have to drop knowledge on some skater that skated way before you were even born. First off I want to know how you always know these facts and second, which veteran pros influence you these days? I already know Cards is in there. I’m just a skate nerd I guess. The dudes that hype me up the most are Hewitt, Hitz, Heddings, and Cudlip: where you at dog? P-kid is sick to.

What was the newest bit of skate knowledge that you’ve learned? Arto Sari is on Alien Workshop and that bums me out a whole lot. That fool should be on flip for life.

I know your driving now. I hear from a lot of people you drive like a chinky-eyed maniac. How long have you been driving for, and have you gotten into any hyjinx while behind the wheel? I’ve been driving for about 8 months, and I’m still getting pulled over for looking under age. Shit sucks. As far as hyjinx goes, just a lot of fools looking at me because I look like I’m 13 behind the wheel.

So tell everyone what WSVT means and who came up with the term Suffer? WSVT stands for Washington St. Volleyball Team. Hitz is the one who came up with Suffer Camp, which is going to shitty ass spots and going for it knowing your going to slam. It’s just pure suffering.

I see you’ve been to a couple of contests this year little buddy. How do you feel about skating in those things? Is it more about getting out of San Diego or skating some new terrain? Contests are fun because you see people you haven’t seen for a while and you’re in a different place. I’m just trying to do as much as I can. You never know how many opportunities you’re gonna get. To do shit like that you just gotta jump in the van sometimes and see what happens.

If you had a go to trick what would it be? For most kids your age it would probably be a salad grind down a handrail, but I’m guessing yours is the front rock or rainbow slide right? Or am I wrong? Kickflip attempt.

How do you get to skate in these contests anyways? In other words who’s hooking you up these days kid? The dudes at Anti-Hero and Spitfire hook me up pretty good, and of course Osiris, Route 44 Skateshop, Ace Trucks and Alphanumeric shits back son and DAF.

Alright, one last question Hemi. If a meteor was going to hit our planet next week and you could pick any place in the world to skate at with any five people, which place would it be and what five skaters would it be? Sounds wack as fuck, but one last sesh at WSVT with Neil, Raven, Peter, Brandon, and that one Scottish fool with missing teeth.

How did you like the Feed The Need International Tour? I wish it wasn’t wintertime in Europe when we were over there. It would have been a lot more fun. But it was an awesome trip. Fun times as always on tour.

What was your favorite country we visited? England. I like to talk to people without a struggle. There is no language barrier. I think London is a fun town, lots of friends, good record stores, chicks and I love the greasy food!

Overall, what has the response been to the video? I hear I should of had last part a lot, but I love Rattray’s part. I haven’t heard a single complaint about the video. It’s been only positive stuff. Seriously, the video is great, so I don’t think people can be let down in anyway.

How was your experience filming for Feed The Need different than Cataclysmic Abyss? For Cataclysmic Abyss I didn’t get hurt with only three months left to film. Also, we went on film trips for Osiris, as for Foundation we never did any trips for the video.

Where there any countries you would have liked to visit before our deadline? China.

Did you have specific tricks in mind you wanted to get, but couldn’t due to your broken ankle? There was so much stuff I wanted to do, I didn’t get a chance to film the ender I wanted. But they’re always more videos to film for. It sucked getting hurt near deadline for Osiris, because there were a lot of things I wanted to try.

You’ve seemed to heal up very quickly. How has the rehabilitation process been so far? Skating is coming back ok, I lack some of the confidence I use to have, due to the fact that it still hurts when I jump down big things. I’m almost 100 percent healthy, so I can’t complain. I’m just glad to be ok and be with my friends skating again.

Now that you’re back skating, what are your future plans for 2008? Just to keep on rolling.

Congratulations on purchasing a new house. What are some of the improvements you’ve been making lately? Well, I tore down the old fireplace and put up a new one. It’s made of slate and the mantel and hearth are all new too. My Dad and I did all from scratch and stuff, so that’s cool. Now it looks awesome and it was fun, that’s what I’m most happy about. My Dad and I have been doing all sorts of things to it. Its gonna be on cribs for sure—not. But its smashing!!

Spring 08 is the official release date for your two signature shoes from Osiris. How was the design process on both the “Duffel” and the “Corpse”? |It was great. I got to do everything I wanted. I was able to create what I think is a perfect skate shoe.

What are your top three favorite skate shoes of all time?

• When I was younger I loved the Duffs KCK’s, Black and Gum.
• 88 avengers
• My new Osiris shoe, the Duffel. Pick up a pair when they hit stores!

1. So I know your last video part you filmed for was the pig wood video. How was it different filming for the osiris video compared to that one?

   We actually went on some trips rather then budget ass tum yeto. Beagle was pimp though.

2. What’s up with OB? How was it growing up there, and do you still ever go to the skate park and roll around?

   OB’s illin. Melow little town. You got the beach right there. It’s just a nice place. I’ll always shred the obeezy park. It ain’t as smooth as other parks, but it’s fun. It gets the blood flowin.

3. You’ve just recently turned 21. Did you do anything on your 21st, and what are some of the advantages and disadvantages of being a grown ass man?

   21 shit. It’s goin by fast, but its chillin. The advantages are you can drink some brews and go to bars, but then you gotta snap back in to reality and pay bills and a bunch of bullshit. “Life’s a bitch and then u die.”

   

4. Just saw the new k.O.T.R. Thrasher. Couldn’t stop laughing. So do you always sing karaoke in full cowboy suits or what? What was the funniest part of that trip?

   Shit that’s the new trend these days fool. Shits on fire. It’s good stuff. That was probably funniest part other than that, gotta say the phelper. He’s the illest.

5. What are some of the videos from past and present you are feeling right now? Trilogy’s got to be up there right?

   Always trilogy. Let’s see what else uno was buttery, FTC vids r always sick, and all the girl and choco vids, habitat and alien vids, lakai vid on point, and the neiborhood vids.

6. The couch tour has finally ended for you. It seems like you have a lot of good friends that were looking out. How does it feel to have your own place, and what are your future plans in skating?

   Yeah wouldn’t be here without the homies. Good lookin fellas. I’ll never forget. Holla. But yeah im hyped. I got my own little spot. It’s been too long. I’ve got a couch if any of the homies need it. Future plans, I dont know. Go with the flow. Skate as much as possible. Learn some manuvours, and live life ta the fullest. Ya heard.

7. You’re a traveling man these days. How was going to amsterdam, and do you like traveling over seas?

   Yeah, I’ve been out and about. Im hyped. I get the opportunity to do such things like amsterdamn. If ur a stoner, that’s the spot just to kick it, smoke some herbs, drink some coffee were u get the goods, and then explore all the pimp architecture. Blazed holla, and I do like goin over the sea to see another country. Besides the long ass flights, it all worth it.

   

8. What’s the difference these days in skating for you compared to say 6 years ago when you weren’t sponsored? Has it changed a lot besides the checks and free product?

   Shit, skating then was a lot different. I never cared. I just skated, but now that skatings all big and the whole sponser shit, u gotta film and shoot photos and do a bunch of stuff. I never pictured it in a way that it has become, but im glad i’m involved. I’ve meet a lot of people skating that I probably would never have meet if I didn’t skate, so keep skating kids.

9. Do you like filming or shooting photos better?

   Filming and photos are both frustrating at times, but ur hyped if you get a good clip on film or a photo that looks all steezy. It’s just like an orgasm.

10. Now that you’re done filming for feed the need, what’s the next project that you’re filming for?

    Label son. Sometime next year.

11. Last question brotha. If you had to choose one, would you rather dress up as a cowboy and sing karaoke for a week straight every night, or have to cut your dreads off. Which one would it be?

    Shit, I’ll cowboy steez it all the way. The dreadies have come to far to get chopped up, and if they did get chopped they’d probably get u high. Holla I’m out.

Download

1. Yo Caswell. I know you’ve been in the game for quite a long time now. What was your first real sponsor brotha? Volcom since 1991 or something. I was a little rat that would fly around the skatepark with pads bigger than my limbs. Some of the Volcom guys came to the park and met me and my family, and they decided to give me clothes and have never stopped.

2. When you were younger what skate videos did you grow up watching? Did you have a favorite one? To get this straight, I started skating in 1990, so when I think of being younger and skating, I think of when I was 9 or 10. Back then all I had was some NSA Del Mar contest or Powell Peralta video. I usually opted for the Powell vids.

3. I read your recent Question Authority in the latest Skateboarder. It was a barrel of laughs. You’re talking about the 12-ounce lift and smoke in your lungs. Are you much of a partier, or do you only get loose when the time is right? Man, to tell you the truth, I rarely drink when at home. I like to relax. I mean, I’ll have an occasional drink at dinner or when skating a mini ramp. I smoke all the time though, like it is legal. You can do shit when you are feeling loose, which is to me the most important thing.

4. In Bag of Suck I noticed that you skate every type of terrain, but in the end of your part you smith grinded that beast of a rail. Do you skate big rails often? And what type of mind frame do you have before you try a move like that? Shoot, you gotta want it when doing some big rails. I used to think of an animal like a water buffalo and my favorite skater at the time. Another good thing to do is not think. If you can do that, you are the master of your domain!!!!

5. Enjoi is a lot of peoples favorite company. It looks like a tight group of homies having fun. How do you like skating for them thus far, and what’s the difference between skating for them compared to another board company? It’s pretty much the best thing for me. You have to know what you’re getting into you know? I think you have to mesh well with all of the dudes and like everyone genuinely. No disrespect to the other sponsors I’ve had, but I just didn’t feel close to them. You also gotta want to be a part of what’s going on as well. Like a well-oiled bearing is what kind of relationship you want with a sponsor. Does that even make sense? I’m kinda out of it!

6. Have you ever been to a San Jose Sharks game? Hell Yeah, I took my cousin to see one for a gift. It was ill as fuck! An energy was radiating from the crowd that I can’t even explain.

7. I know you’re filming for a couple of videos right now including our video Feed the Needand The Tilt Mode Vid. Looks like people are going to see a lot of you this year. When you film stuff do you usually plan tricks you’re going to do, or do you just go with the flow? When I plan things, they only turn out about half of the time. I like to just roll with the punches and see what happens.

8. Are you a Coca-Cola dude or a Pepsi guy? Fuck Pepsi!

9. Hypothetically speaking. If you were riding for Osiris during the Storm days and had to room with one of the riders from back then which one would it be? Jerry for sure.

10. I noticed you have a San Jose tattoo. Obviously you have San Jose pride. If you had to relocate to another city and could choose from any city in the world, which would it be and why? Australia seems to come to mind. Somewhere there maybe. They speak English and folks seem to be laid back.

11. If you had to choose one. Would you rather late shuv-it El Toro or go to the dentist for a week? Hahaha, I already done the week at the dentist. I went to the dentist last year something like 12 times. The first time I went in they laid down the law about flossing. I am now addicted to floss! I also used all of my insurance up. Luckily it wasn’t to late for my choppers.

1. You were in Scotland for a bit and now your back in sunny San Diego again. How was it back home, and are you hyped to be back? It’s deffenetly good tay be back mate that’s fur sure, it’s just a whole deffrent way of living back there yay know. The skating over theres so good man theres alota shit tay get intay, but it aint SD mang!!!

2. I see that you got a wheel for Spitfire. Damn that’s sick! Tell us a little bit about your wheel and how that came about? Mate am so stoked on the wheel. It looks great. Those lads at deluxe aint fucking around. Just let me tell yay that much. I like the way av got a black eye that’s SICK. Am fucking hyped on that fur sure!!!!

3. Since I met you 4 years ago skating at the Poway park, how has your life changed since being here in the states? Coung, that session was sick man !!!!!!!!! Wont be forgotten, but mate shits sick now. Av got it some what sorted now. I was sleepn on couches fur way to long dude, but check it, lets go tay Poway this coming week!!!! Hell yeah.

4. I saw the new Creature vid. Pretty epic! I noticed that everyone got some runs in at your local park, Livi. How was it growing up skating Livi? Has skating there helped how you skate today? FUCK YEAH. Its made me exactly wat I am tday. I’m a SLAVE tay the crete, and I fucking love it.

5. Fatherhood. How’s that treating you? Pretty damn good so far mate. It’s a hard day in the Graham crib like that’s sayin the least, but it’s so RAD ad never change it fur the world.

6. I’ve noticed that you listen to a very wide range of music. If you still had your Ipod, and you were about to shred the bridge, what song would you put on first to get you hyped up for the session? That’s way hard tay answer, but am fucking blasting Sabbath right now through these sick ass ear phones a got, Sabbath bloody Sabbath fuckers…

7. Now that you’ve lived here for a bit, what do you think are the differences in growing up in the UK skating opposed to the kids growing up skating down here in sunny California? Yays kin go skate wen ever yay want. Ya jammi cunts. Yays seriously have no idea how lucky yays are!!! Tay wake up Christmas morning fresh Santa setup knowing its like fucking 70 fucking degrees yay shitting me!!!! GOD.

8. You were telling me that you use to skate street quite a bit when you were younger, how often do you street skate these days? Absalutely never. Am way tay big fur that shit man. Ad just die straight off the bat. A get stoked as fuck though wen we aw get in the van and go skate mish. Yay never know man a might hit a rail in AZ cumin up dog DONT TRIP.

9. Are you ever going to go back and conquer the mega ramp launch again? Dude you had it. Seeing that first hand is knar buckles. Its the biggest ramp av ever seen in my life mate, nay shit. The shits MEGA. Danny, Peirre, Jake and T Mag, yays are aw MENTAL !! But ad like tay try again maybe someday It doesn’t scare me. Coung man yay know, it’s aw about knowing yiv got it!!!

10. That story you told me about the dude back home calling you Troy is pretty classic. You got quite a few tats brotha. What was your first one, and how psyched were you when it was finished? Man the first tattoo a got was the Blind reapor guy wen a was 16 , but the troy shits gotta stop man it says SKATE AND DESTROY. Fucking troy yay kiddin me !!!

11. One last question. Name 5 skaters that you’re hyped on from present or past that are influential in your skating. Recently am gettin more hyped on David Gravette AKA baby lamb. Shuriken Shannon of course, the fool so much fun tay cruize wit. Jeff Grosso fur damn sure wen i got tay go on that trip tay Oregan I couldn’t believe a was in the same crew it was TIGHT. I really fucking like Nick Dompiere, that dude shreds. Shit its sick, naver met the guy yet though but al shake that fuckers hand one day. Ok last one MMMM wee BENSON fay Livi skate park Scotland, he’ll be out here soon !!!!! BEWARE HE’S COMING FUCKERS HE’S COMING WITH RATH!!!!!!! peace oot peeps.

1. What is your full name? Mr John R. A. Rattray

2. I know you’re from Scotland. What part of Scotland are you from, and how was it growing up skating there? I grew up in Aberdeen, in the north east of Scotland. Skating there is a fairly harsh affair. Plenty rain, cold and buckled paving slabs. There was an indoor park for a short time in Aberdeen when I fist started and a renegade indoor park or two an hour south in Dundee. At that point Dundee had abandoned buildings that the locals there were motivated enough to take advantage of. The north east of Scotland is reasonably remote. It was a pretty amazing scene.

3. Recently you got 8th in the Tampa Pro Contest. Did you enter a lot of contests in the UK when you were growing up? Not that many.

4. How do you feel about this day and age of skateboarding? It’s pretty wild. Generally I think it’s fantastic or I wouldn’t be bothering.

5. Now that you’re residing in sunny Southern California, what are the pros and cons of living down here? Do you feel like it benefits you as a skater more or less then living in the UK? Well, to a certain extent weather is a matter of the clothes you’re wearing. Skating is globalizing like any other business. The only way up is what the number crunchers are forced into instinctively believing. Fight to survive, dog eats dog in a never ending struggle of handshakes and marketing strategies. Whether geographical location makes any difference to the average skater, possibly. Best thing to do- learn a new move or improve on an old one and enjoy it like you always did. I think that regardless of past choices we are constrained to make the best of the situation we find ourselves in at any given moment. All I know is that I’m having a great time doing what I’m doing with the people I’m doing it with- most of the time.

6. You’ve always have had such a diverse bag of tricks from tech ledge lines to 540’s on Vert. Do you think it matters in this day in age to be Versatile and able to skate everything, or do you think the straight “going for it” method is the way to get it done? I think everyone should just live. Just live. Skate what you want how you want to. That’s the reason we skate isn’t it?

7. Did you grow up skating a local park around your house in Scotland? If so, which one was it and has it helped to make the skater that you are today? Westburn park had a fiberglass mini ramp and a really bad undercover kerb which curved the wrong way. That’s the spot.

8. I remember watching your part in the Blueprint Video “Waiting for the World” and thinking that you were a part of a company that was crossing the European and American boundaries. Are you good friends all of those guys still, and what’s the difference between skating for an American company compared to Blueprint? Still friends. The difference is in the accents and the TV programs people remember from their childhoods. Aside from that people are more or less the same.

9. Who do you think would win in a fight, Sir William Wallace from Brave Heart or Stu Graham? That situation couldn’t happen what with Stewart’s commitment to pacifism. If it did, Stewart might win by blowing Wallace a little kiss thus incapacitating the great man with uncontrollable laughter. That’s my best guess.

10. If you had to choose one quote from a movie, what would it be? We’re all in this together kid.