Paul Rodriguez
By Rob Brink
The Skateboard Mag September 2007
Jeez, how do you write an intro for someone like Paul Rodriguez? I mean, he's one of the best, right? He's come so far in such a short while, and he's only 22. One can't even begin to imagine what the next ten years might be like for Paul and what he will do for skateboarding.
I did some snooping around… trying to get dirt on Paul, and Chet Childress summed it up best for me:
"To be honest, I don't have any dirt on Paul because he is such a good kid. I mean, the level that this guy is at would give anybody else and ego the size of this planet. Then add his skating to that… the kid lands bolts every time. Every time I go on the road with Paul he basically gets enough stuff for a video part."
Was it difficult growing up with a famous father? Or did it help prepare you for your career?
It's definitely helped me in certain aspects. I see how he carries himself. I definitely was privileged in the aspect that I got to be on movie sets and meet some famous people, but that was pretty much it. I only saw him once a month or something, but I would have liked to see him more growing up. We're so much closer now.
Kevin Taylor
By Rob Brink
The Skateboard Mag September 2007
What I like about Kevin Taylor is he's the type of dude to nollie nosegrind a ledge while everyone else is just plain nosegrinding it. He and I played phone tag for three weeks prior to this interview. There were plenty of times he was supposed to call me or be ready for my call and just straight flaked on me. I was pretty frustrated, honestly. That is, until he told me he was just busy skateboarding all those times. And upon realizing that Kevin is essentially a total skate rat, I instantly and involuntarily forgave him.
You're a busy dude. I've been trying to get a hold of you for three weeks!
I find it kind of funny that the "security" (and I use that term loosely because this dude looked like the type of guy who would camp out for a week at the mall for tickets to a new Star Wars film) in Orange County (John Wayne) airport needs their own Segways. Actually, I'm willing to bet it's one of the safest airports in the world. And if it wasn't and something gnarly were to go down, trust me, this twat wouldn't be able to do shit about it.
Peter Ramondetta
Words Rob Brink
The Skateboard Mag September 2007
"Peter is a totally normal guy who'll stand next to you, talk quietly about whatever, laugh at a few jokes, kick around the park with you and you feel like, 'Hey he's human. He's like me when we skate.'
Then you see him bust and it's like, 'Holy shit where did that come from?' And not in a totally aggro 'Look at how big I'm going' way. It's subtle and natural. It's clean and almost out of nowhere. And even though death is inches away, Peter looks like he could do it all day.
I really don't know anyone else who has what Peter has and carries themselves in such a solid, straight-up, 'regular guy' way. When some guys are going fucking huge you see them get all amped up and something changes in their eyes. But Pete is even—just cool as fuck. He's got the 'I'm going to backlip this kinked fucking rail or I'm going to eat fucking shit—either way what will be, will be, so fuck it'-type eyes.
It's subtle and huge. Like a freight train coming out of the fog and heading right at you."
Ryan Bobier
Rob Brink
The Skateboard Mag September 2007
Prior to interviewing Ryan, I had a hard time coming up on info about him. The only thing anyone knew was that he won the Volcom Damn Am in 2003. His good friend Lee Dupont informed me that Ryan wasn't so keen on phone interviews, was questioning who the hell I was, and was over being asked countless questions about "having Jamie Thomas as a boss."
It was nothing unreasonable or out of the ordinary at all, but it did throw the slight gameplan I had for a total loop. No gossip, stories or abundant media coverage to go on, keep the Jamie Q's to a minimum, hope he's doesn't hate me right out of the gate and hope he stays on the phone long enough to get an intriguing 2000 words out of him. Not as easy as one might think.
Lucky for me, and you, Ryan is laid back, real and patient. Not just about our interview, but about skateboarding and his career. He's not rushing into or forcing anything. He's not asking for anything he doesn't deserve. His self awareness is much more mature than that of the average 23-year-old, and with the Mystery video finally about to drop, our patience too, will be rewarded and we will see the best Bobier yet.
Before Jake Brown took the world by storm at the X Games two weeks ago, this was the worst slam I'd ever seen with my own eyes. Brian Schaefer, Tampa Pro 2001. The Loop.
I can't believe it seriously took over six years for someone to top this slam. Congrats Jake and Brian!
Digging through some old shit last night, I found this photo of me and Tabitha Stevens from Atlantic City, NJ about four or five years ago. There happened to be a porn convention going on the same weekend as the skate trade show. Lucky us.
Considering how much perv traffic Briana Banks brings to this site, I figured I best post this one up.
Not less than five minutes from when this photo was taken, another porn chick from Tabitha's entourage ended up throwing her...
