Coping Block Skateboarding Magazine "The Blog!": August 2010

The Donny Myhre Interview with Coping Block Skateboarding Magazine!

Donny Myhre Frontside Ollie Flight.

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Donny Myhre‘s fresh clean style has always made hard tricks look easy. Donny’s history of consistently ripping hard on vert caught the watchful eye Zorlac Skateboards, which stepped up and gave him a PRO model before someone else did! Donny has ground coping around the globe and even after a major femur break is back grinding the lip. Coping Block found out where Florida’s missing skate gem was located, and he agreed to break his silence.

By Cleo Coney Jr.

Donny, when did you first pick up a skateboard?

First picked it up in 1973, then got my own in 1976. I finally made it to Sensation Basin in 1977 or 1978, and that's when skating began for me.

You were a Gainesville local back in the day, who made up your local skate crew?

Back at Sensation Basin I skated mostly with Chris Baucom, John McGuigan, Billy McCormick, Rodney Mullen, Monty Nolder and Sam Myhre. After the Basin we had Lakeside ramp-that crew was Monty, Bill Poulin, Sam, Mike Hetrick and Andy Elliott. Late in the 1980's we had Williston Road Ramp, and then the Jonesville Ramp with Mike Frazier, Jimmy the Greek, Michael Martin, Chuck from Hell, Trip Walker and Robb Bjorkland. Roller Dave was the man!! He kept us going with the great ramps.

Donny Myhre frontside air at the imfaous Sensation Basin Bowl.

You've been skating for how long now?

Since 1976 when I got my first Bigfoot board. I never quit, except when I had a compound fracture of my femur.

A Motorcycle accident almost took Donny out the game!

When did you first get sponsored?

I was on the Sensation Basin B team and had a co-sponsor from Walker, about 1980-ish. My first real sponsor was Tracker and first board sponsor was Zorlac in about 1986. I sent them a letter with photos asking to get sponsored and boom it was on.

Who are your favorite Florida skaters of all time?

My favorite skaters are as follows, Monty Nolder, Buck Smith, Mike Frazier, McGill, Scott Stanton and Phil Hajal for vertical, and Rodney Mullen, Sam Myhre, Billy Rohan, and Mike Peterson for street skating.

Of all the Florida skateboarders, which one influenced your style the most?

I never really worked on my style like Rodney and some others. Monty, Frazier and Stanton were the ones that really pushed me to learn tricks and go bigger.

You’ve been collecting decks for a long time, what are some of your prized Skateboards.

Nolder Schmitt Stix Totem Pole, Alien Workshop prototype, Tommy G Powell Sword and Flame, Rodney Mullen freestyle Powell deck.

What were the determining factors for you when you turned PRO?

I was doing pretty well in the contests, NSA, Germany and some others, so I kind of got pressured into it. I went to sign up for another NSA am contest and Sonja Catalano was like, “no you can't skate in the am contest”. I knew it was time to move up after that.

Stoked on Zorlac Donny Myhre continues to blow minds!

How did you come up with the "Alligator" graphic design?

I definitely had a lot of Florida pride and supported the east coast skate scene. I thought if you went out to Cali to live then you were a sell out and you were abandoning your roots. (I was young and naive) Coming out of Gainesville, what could better represent North Florida than the gator? So that's what I went with. I talked with Pushead and told him what was important to me and he gave me his version of the gator.

Who do you skate with now?

I skate with a group of old timers here in Franklin, TN, it's a suburb of Nashville, and they call themselves Team Geritol. I enjoy skating with Jim Decola, Jessie Myhre, Nick Zierden, Dax McCall, Gary Bailey and some others. Even though we're all 40-ish, we're still learning new tricks and pushing it. We just built a 24' mini with a spine in our private co-op warehouse.

How has skateboarding changed your life for the better?

As a young kid it gave me direction and focus, and taught me persistence and that dedication pays off. As a pro skater it taught me that you don't have to follow the lifestyle or job path that our society deems “normal”. I gave in for a few years and did the 9 to 5; suit and tie, but soon realized it was not for me. Now I own the Franklin Skate Shop and can set my own hours. We've got an indoor skate park in the works and hope to open next year.

Donny Myhre standing up for skateboarding in TN. Photo by J.P. Robinson

Any thoughts on KONA?

I have so many great memories at Kona, so it's good to actually go there and skate it when I'm in Florida. That's where I met Danforth, Groholski, Buck, Cleo Coney, the Rancheros, and so many others. We'd go to Buck's place and go from the Jacuzzi to the pool when it was 35 degrees out. There's so much history from Jacksonville and Kona you could write a book about it.

Do you miss the Sensation Basin?

I used to miss it a lot. When they dozed it I think I might have shed a tear or two. We moved on and starting building ramps and skating the streets.

I remember you and your brother traveled down to St. Pete to skate Grigley's, what do you remember most about those days?

Other than skating the Bro Bowl and Grigley’s (hanging up on a b/s Ollie), I remember staying at Bruce Whiteside's and getting bit by a big roach in the middle of the night. Also, we used to go down and stay at Paul Schmitt's and package rails for him. We'd put in a couple extra screws or stickers to stoke the kids out. Then we'd short another rail package on the screws just to f*** with 'em...good times.

What do you have to say about old school versus new school?

I never quit skating so my skating slowly evolved to incorporate new school. I still do some flip tricks but on the same run I'll do an f/s rock or layback. To me there is no old school versus new school, just skating. The young kids today seem to respect the old schoolers. Boneless and no complies are the trendy “new” tricks these days...full circle huh?

When will we see you in the Bay Area again?

My brothers Sam and Mark used to live there but now they're both here in Franklin..hmm, maybe next summer? I'll be at the Surf Expo in January. If I make it to the Bay area I will definitely let you know.

Where do you see skateboarding headed?

More technical than it is...flipety and switch. And more tranny. I can't see them getting any bigger on the rails or stair sets. Kids will get burn out fast doing 15 stair sets. And maybe a little more underground. The parks aren't as “cool” as they used to be with the kids in my shop anyway. It's already kind of splintered into two mindsets: the more competitive, contest skaters and artsy, underground, “contests suck”, video skaters.

Any shout outs or thanks that you’d like to put out there?

Thanks to my wife Jessie for giving me two amazing kids and keeping me out of trouble. Thanks to my old friend's Scott Stanton, Monty Nolder and my brother Sam for pushing my skating over the years. Thanks to you for this Mag that keeps up old Florida skaters up to date!

Skateboarding is all business for Donny these days.

Push, Carve, Grind!

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The Chuck Dinkins Interview in Coping Block Skateboarding Magazine!

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When did you first pick up a skateboard?

I received my very first skateboard when I was living just outside Kailua Hawaii when I was in fourth grade. Being born in 1966, I would have been nine years old in 1975. My first board was a crappy Black Knight board with these weird clay wheels, which I think my dad got at the PX at Kaneohe Bay Marine base. I loved that damn thing and learned how to ride it pretty quick so my dad got me a second board with urethane wheels that year for Christmas along with a Six Million Dollar Man action figure. You know the one, with the roll up skin on the arm and the built in telescope in the head. I have to say it was a pretty dope Christmas that year; but I digress. My friends and I were limited to tic-tac’s, and bombing the nearby hill. Oddly enough I was the only one my age who would go from the top without running out in someone’s lawn.

Your skills developed pretty quickly, who influenced you the most in your skate youth?

My youth was filled with influences. Once I moved to El Toro / Irvine California in 1976 skateboarding became a completely different animal for me. My initial influences were the locals in my neighborhood. They took me under their wing and let me ride their hill and a shitty back yard ramp with no flat or platforms. It was just a true half pipe. There was also this big drainage ditch called the “Tunnel” we rode bikes and skateboarded there. You were a bad ass if you could carve over this 8’ high opening to a tunnel that ran the entire length of our neighborhood. Needless to say I could do it on my skateboard but had no problem on my BMX bike. I soon discovered Skateboarder magazine and after school I used to go to a local skate park in University Park in Irvine. I took a couple of trips to the Big O with friends but was nothing more than a grom being shell shocked by the massive talent there.

From the magazines I looked up to skaters like Tony Alva, George Orton, Ray “Bone” Rodriguez, Steve Cathey, Steve Olson, Bruce Logan, Duane Peters, Jay Adams, Shogo Kubo and Stacey Peralta. However, I was especially fascinated with Marty Grimes because he was really the only other black skater I was seeing on that level. I think early on seeing Marty skate indirectly influenced me to not have race be a barrier in skateboarding. I had their pictures taped to my wall and started to mimic things I was seeing in the mag. High jump over my friends bicycles, downhill, and I even built a bank to wall in my garage out of my dad’s ping-pong table….He was not stoked. I once built a Skirkcle (I think that was the name), a round skateboard just so I could have my feet side by side and pump around the neighborhood. I had a Logan Earth Ski with Lazer trucks and power paw wheels, A Bonsai Pipeline aluminum board with ACS trucks and Variflex George Orton, pizza grip, Bennett trucks and Road Riders. I was big into the quiver even back then. It was mostly backyard ramps, surfing and BMX in the 80’s after moving from Cali to coastal North Carolina. This is where I met Reggie Barnes and the Duong brothers (Mark and Billy) for the first time at Wacky Golf’s skateboard park. Back then a skate park had to go with something else…miniature golf and skateboarding…made a ton of sense, right? Little did I know Reggie Barnes would have more to do with my skateboarding career than a chance meeting at a skate park.

You had a lot of early success in contests and you were noticed by Bruce Walker and then sponsored by Walker Skateboards, when did that take place?

Back in 1985 I was working at a skateboard shop in Memphis Tennessee and had a shop flow sponsorship from BarFoot (Chuck Barfoot’s skate/ snowboard company). In the spring, Cheapskates sponsored and arranged two pro skaters to come into town and do demos in conjunction with a weekend of music and sports festival, at the Mid South Fairgrounds. It was more of a county fair with some circus acts thrown in for shits and giggles. Motor cycles in the metal ball cage thing, trapeze, high wire acts and skateboarding. Billy Squire played that weekend along with a slew of 80’s pop rock classic acts. I think Molly Hatchet was there too. Anyhow, we arranged to have Reggie Barnes and Jim McCall come in and do some flat land freestyle demos because they would not let us build a ramp outside of a small launch ramp. Jim and Reggie arrived and killed it. I had never really seen freestyle too much in person and was super stoked to have those guys come up. Both of them were super cool and professional. They even invited me to join in and I got to skate and showcase my flat land street style, plus launch ramp skills. 360 Boneless-ones, Airs, Japan’s, Mutes, Judo’s, Ollies, all the crazy ass jump ramp stuff. I was skating with pros and had to step up my game. McCall was throwing down 360 Method Airs etc. Reggie was smooth and stylish with Ollies, etc. throwing in sweet G-Turns etc. I’d say on the whole we killed it. I didn’t know how impressed they were with me until a few weeks later, when I got a call at the shop from Bruce Walker offering me a full sponsorship simply based on the word of Jim and Reggie.

Chuck Dinkings flying twisted.

I continued to compete locally and regionally making strong showings in most contests, and winning a lot of them. I spent time traveling around to skate anything I could in places like Little Rock & Jonesboro Arkansas, Lincoln Nebaska, , Atlanta GA, Nashville and Knoxville TN. I got to go to Chicago, plus hang with the Alva boys: Tony Alva, Bill Danforth and Jeff Hartsel in Dayton Ohio! Danforth had started coming to Memphis quite a bit doing demos and we became fast friends. He hooked me up with Bryan Ridgeway in Dayton OH and I got on Tracker after that contest. In the winter of 86 I came to Florida for the Surf Expo and met Bruce Walker (face to face) for the first time. He was super nice and supportive. He mentioned there was a Pro-Am street contest in Pensacola that weekend and suggested I try to make it and we agreed. Cheapskates shop owner Ron Hale and I drove overnight to get there hours before the start of the contest and I ended up getting 2nd. I got to skate with Venice OG Jesse Martinez, Per Welinder and a slew of other Pros that were in town. After the contest Bruce suggested I move out of Memphis to a place where I could get more exposure. He offered a job at Ocean Avenue Distribution and his couch until I could afford my own place. I moved to Cocoa Beach later that year and shit really started to happen. I’ve met amazing skaters and people in Florida, and won the ESA street championship in 86 then turned pro at the Savannah Slamma II in 87.

Chuck Dinkins piviot to fakie. Photo by Tony Misiano

Chuck you are one of those great all-around skaters, you do everything well, but your interest in banked slalom seems pretty high. Tell us about your New Mexico experience.

Thanks. It means a lot coming from you Bro. As far as my interest in Slalom; I have always been aware and respected the genre. Bruce Walker was big on supporting and pushing me to excel as an around skater. I guess slalom sparked when I mentioned it in passing, at being impressed with the discipline one day in conversation. Back in 89 or 90 in Cocoa Beach, Bruce introduced me to Keith Hollien and Mark McCree, and they invited me to run some cones. I got the hang pretty quick and had a ton of fun. I soon bought my own board and had parts donated by Bruce, Mark and Keith. I mostly used it for training. I would ride to the store or go around the block with only a few pushes. As a joke, I challenged a runner around a 1/4 mile track and to my surprise beat him in the last 1/16 of a mile. Things did not really start to click in the slalom and downhill arena until George McClellan organized a trip for a reunion of old school skaters to his place in ABQ, New Mexico in 2002. I was invited by proxy, via Chris Baucom, Reggie Barnes and Kelly Lynn. On that trip there was an amazing group of guys, the previously mention plus Alan “Ollie” Gelfand, Chris Homan, Edward Womble, Brad Baxter, Bruce Mason, Donny Myer, Paul Schmitt, Chris West and also joining us was Esha Chiocciho (daughter of the Sensation Basin owners).

Chuck Dinkins, high speed photo op in the desert

The trip was absolutely amazing, and I can say I fell in love with Albuquerque the moment I got off the plane. The best way to describe this city is it has the best of both coasts. The terrain, parks, pools and ditches of west coast fused with the skater attitude of the east coast. No pretentiousness just hardcore skating and fun. If you can hang then you are welcomed with open arms. I have a second home and family there. At that point, being an older skater, I think I truly started to see skateboarding in its purist form. I have never been around such purist technical skateboarders than hanging out with hardcore Down Hillers and slalom guys. I’m not talking in a trick sense but mechanically pure. These are some of the fastest guys in the world and I was stoked to be learning from these guys. I’m mad impressed with guys like Robert Palmer, GBMII, GI Joe, Jason Mitchell, Black Leather racing crew, Will Brunson, Steve Lang, Jeff Budro, the Sector 9 crew and the whole lot.

That trip turned into multiple trips annually. Kelly Lynn and I started competing in the Indian School Downhill Outlaw and Bear races the second or third trip to ABQ, NM. I mostly did it for fun but surprisingly seemed to place pretty high each time. I had a natural love for speed and downhill. The key was keeping my love and ability on the same page… I’m still not a serious competitor but I am serious about my love for the speed and my fellow skaters who enjoy that discipline.

You’ve been involved in Art for sometime, what medium do you prefer and do you think that your skateboarding creative juices influenced your Art or the opposite?

I have always been interested in art since I was a kid. My dad was a Marine, photographer and artist. I am a painter I guess. I prefer acrylics mostly because I don’t have the patience for oils. I have been dabbling in other mediums over the years though. Lately my forte has been more of an arts advocate. After 13 years of music promotions I moved into the arts and worked for a non-profit art organization in Orlando, FL. I am freelance now, but would like to find a way to fuse my love of the arts and skateboarding to work with kids, especially at risk kids. Art and Culture is an important part for kids to be exposed to as they grow and start to shape their opinions about life. Art helps you to not see things from inside a box.

I feel art and skateboarding go hand in hand just as music and skateboarding or action sports do. A person who seriously skateboards or participates in action sports, seems to approach life from a different point of view. We are built a bit differently than most. We seem to be a bit more creative and look at things from multiple angles. It is kind of like skating a pool or any street obstacle. We seem to contemplate all of the different ways to hit it and different tricks to do on it. Art is the same way and so is life. Skaters as artists by the sheer nature of our mindset want to look at situations or ideas from non-traditional points of view. Which I think is a good thing. Skateboarding has never been about status quo. It has always been about progression and always taking things to a new level.

                                                         Chuck's over the stairs SOUL TRIP.

Chuck I want you to know that I was going to go with an Asian Chick on my board graphics until I saw that you had already hit that angle with “Soul Trip”. How did your involvement with Soul Trip come about?

Soul Trip has actually been around since the early to mid 1990’s I believe is was started in 1993 with Bruce Walker and I as an offshoot of Walker Skateboards. At the time, I was not too stoked with the direction of the industry. Certain companies were leaning towards a more anti-authority ideal and were promoting it within the industry as a marketing trend. Skateboarding by its very existence is a fringe sport which questions and pushes authority.

     Also at that time, I was really over competitive skateboarding from a personal sense, and was really looking to re-discover the heart of skateboarding purely for skateboarding’s sake. I was going through some personal challenges at the time including physical issues and really just wanted to focus on the purity of it all. I was skating with my buddies Ed Lay, Pat “Splat” Soloman, Brad Baxter, Kelly “Cabbage” Cavannah and the whole Brevard county beachside crew. When I decided to stop being Chuck “the Pro” and was just Chuck “the skater” and rolled with my boys, I began to skate better and see inside of it all, you know? Things started to slow down and I started to find a bit of clarity. The concept of Soul Trip was simple. Skate because you love it. Not for fame or glory but just because. My boys I hung with did just that. They were not Pros or even Sponsored. They had regular jobs but fucking ripped when they got off work. They helped me fall in love with skateboarding again. Then I blew out my knee for the 4th or 5th time…I was so sad I just put it down for about 6-7 years. I walked away from Soul Trip, went back to school and moved to Orlando. In 2001, I got a call from one of my old Soul Trip riders Clay King and Bruce Walker about wanting to resurrect Soul Trip from its dormant state. They did not want to do it without me or at least my approval. I agreed and a year later we added Kelly Lynn to the fold. I think my time off really helped me see more about a real Soul Trip. It turned out to be more than skateboarding, bigger even. Anyone can be on a Soul Trip. The bottom line is, we all have to get from point A to B in life regardless of our mode of transportation (talents), career or mindset.

     Whatever it is you do when you get to point B whether it is painting, photography, gardening, surfing, digging ditches or skateboarding. That is your Soul Trip. Everyone has one, it is a gift given to you from the creator. It is beautiful. In a sense, Soul Trip is about my friends that are not Pro, not Sponsored, not anything but skaters. They do it because they love it. That is why I (we) do it. Why after many years of not skating, the moment I started again my heart smiled. I found my Soul Trip. Was I so lost for so long? Who knows? This is why we really don’t push Soul Trip as a competitive company. We just make boards for whoever wants to ride one. The company takes care of itself. We are going to go more old school with real shapes and stuff though. I want to stay true to what we are; a bunch of old sucka’s who ride skateboard because we love it. Nothing more, nothing less- We are all on a Soul Trip.

What skaters are a part of your original skate crew and what spot were you a local?

Geez, that is a hard one to answer. It’s changed so many times over the years. I see everyone I have ever skated with, or shared a friendly hand shake and introduction, as my crew. However, to put some names on people I have consistently skated with that are my boys back in the day and now. I would go with the following; Scooter N, Ed Lay, Vincent P, Ryan G, Brad Baxter, Jim McCall, Reggie Barnes, Pat Splat, Kelly "Cabbage", Mark Lake, Lonny Reiter, Chris Baucom, Tate Clair, The Hell Brothers in Gainesville and every person I have ever skated with. Thanks for your time of sharing your space on the ramp or street.

Where are you skating at mostly these days, and do you have a current favorite skate spot?

I mostly skate with my old school Orlando, Lake Mary and New Smyrna beach homies. They call when there is a session and I try my best to show up. Whether it is at Orlando Skate Park, Oviedo, OMB’s. CS2theD’s or Joel’s backyard ramps. I go where my friends are and I appreciate that they take the time to call me and want me to be a part of the session. I still have a special place in my heart for Albuquerque New Mexico and the crew out there. I will go until I can’t walk any longer.

You were inducted into Florida’s Skateboarder Hall of Fame, how did that feel and when did you find out?

WOW! Totally Freakin honored to be a part of Florida’s skateboard history. There are so many heavy skaters that came before me and so much happened in Florida skateboarding before I moved here in 1986. For these guys to take me an adopted Floridian, a black skateboarder and to publicly say I made a difference makes it all worthwhile. There was so much I wanted to say when I got inducted. So many people I wanted to thank. I got caught up in the emotion of it and totally forgot any prepared speech. Bruce Walker and the entire Walker team is owed a load of gratitude from me. If not for Bruce taking a chance on me and my antics, it would not have happened. If not for all the wonderful skaters and supporters of the sport in Florida taking the opportunity to look past race and to just see a skater, I would not be here. There is nothing bigger than to be recognized by your peers for something they truly understand. It is an absolute honor to be in their presence.

Please select one of the following completes.

A) Sims Taper Kick, Gullwings, and Sims Conicals

B) Powerflex Bobby Valdez, Indy 109’s and Powerflex 9’s

C) Alva Pig, Tracker FullTracks, Alva Wheels

D) Logan Earth Ski Dura Wedge, ACS Lites, Park Rider 5’s

E) Caster Series IV, Gull Wing Wide Pros, and Wing Wheels

I’m going to have to go with C) the Alva Pig with Trackers because it best describes my roots in the informative years of me really skating.

If you could resuurect any skate park in the world from the past and skate it, which park would it be?

I would say, the “Big O” simply because when I went there as a kid I was a total snot nosed clueless grom. I was shell shocked and sometimes still have dreams of being able to skate that place with the skill and knowledge of my hey day.

If you were building skate parks today what feature or features would you make sure to include or exclude?

A snake-run with coping and tacos! I think the idea of a snake run needs to be revisited with a modern twist. I would actually like to see the snake run and the old J run at Kona be updated. That back J-run with fresh concrete, pool coping, a slightly over vert taco at the turn and ending into a capsule would be SICK!!!!

Also when I die, I want my ashes mixed with concrete and poured into a skate park…(you listening Team Pain?)

Looking back on your skate history is there anything you would’ve done differently?

You know, I could go down that path of “coulda, woulda and shoulda” all day but in the end our past defines our present and our future. Sure there are things I wish I could have done differently and with more maturity but in the end the decisions and choices I have made make up my reality. Any regrets dictate my choices as to try and learn from the past. My past shapes the very existence of my kids, friends and loves. With that, I am going to have to go with NO.

Where do you think skateboarding is headed and how do you want to fit into that future?

I think skateboarding will continue on its current path of mass cross-over appeal and acceptance by the masses as a sport, but skateboarding still has a way to go in mass appreciation. Skateboarding is still seen in a somewhat circus light. It takes a special person with special skills to do what we do. So there will always be a line between us and them, so to speak. As skaters we will reap the benefits of new public and private parks due to the mass appeal. So I guess unless there is some sort of genetic break through that will allow the common person to obtain the skills needed to be a good skater I see it always in a sense of being “us” and “them”. The difference is the “them” is not out to get us.

I see myself continuing to try and make a difference in all of this. I want to be there for my son as he continues to grow as a skater. I want to help him make the right decisions and to uplift my friends and my sport. I want to keep skating as long as this body of mine will allow me to do so. I want to leave a positive legacy in skateboarding so people will look back and smile while saying kind things about me on a board.

Any shout outs or thanks you’d like to express?

My hat is off to all the FLA old school skaters still holding it down. Big what up to my boys at OMB’s
ramp and OSP; Bob, Craig, Denny, Matt, Dirty, Tommy G and the crew, The Lee Road Crew, The Lake Mary Crew. The NSB crew; including Kelly Lynn, Garr Poe, Tony, Smitty and Joel. St. Pete boys Tully and the crew, the Cocoa Bch/Brevard county boys Scooter, Bruce Walker, Mike Rogers, Lonny, Bob Umble etc. SPOT for continuing to do right by all of us. Steve Marinak and Floridaskater.com, South Florida, Allan “Ollie” Gelfand, Dave B etc. Marty Ramos and the Ramos family for keepin Kona alive all these years. I can’t forget my west coast homies, Dave Duncan, TA, Eric D, Holmes, Texas boys, RIP Jeff Phillips, Dogtown crew, Alva crew, Danforth, Ridge, Larry B and the tracker family (whats up Linda). Everett Rosecrans and Vans for all the help back in the day. Shucks to many people I have mad respect for. If I forgot you, you know who you are and much love.

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The Michael Daly Interview from Coping Block Skateboarding Magazine!

The History of Skateboarding along the central west coast of Florida can only be complete with the mention of Michael Daly! His antics in empty backyard pools is legendary! Speed, cat like reflexes, a style as smooth as creamy peanut butter, and no respect for any Coping, ever! His effortless frontside boneless ones across the channels of vert ramps are historic, and were amplified by the one he hung up his back truck up on and still pulled it off! If you didn’t know, now you know, Michael Daly is "the" original gangster ripper.

Michael Daly Smith Grinding in front of his son at the "Burg Bowl".

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Michael when did you get your first skateboard?

I got my first skateboard from JM Fields. My friend dropped three Pro Rider skateboards off in the garden center. Then his brother went around and picked them up through the gate. I was just lucky to have criminals for neighbors. Then we found a guy with a VW Bug who would pull us around via a ski rope. I had no idea what one could do on a skateboard, till the day Sun coast Surf shop got Skateboarder Magazine, Vol.2 #2 with Mike Weed on the cover.

How long had you been skating when Earthin Surfin Skate Park opened up?

I can't remember what year it opened, but that was when things began to change. Earthin Surfin was very close to my home in Saint Petersburg, and I worked to help build the park. They gave me 2 hours for every hour I worked. Move dirt & lay sod = 163 skate hours. I was on top of the world till it opened and they said we had to wear shoes to skate. Before Earthin Surfin we had been skating parking lots, plywood ramps with one angel, various city ditches for water run off, like "Ulmerton and Eckerd College", the13th street underpass, and Dunlop's Pool. Dayday's mom would drain the pool once a year to service, and paint it. We started in it with a big wheel. You haven't lived till you hit blue tile on a big wheel! Although, a close second would be pushing Paul into the Cambodia ramp in a wheelchair, with a five gallon bucket on his head for protection.

You have always attacked the lip, what motivates you to destroy coping?

Dogtown photos, plus the first Kona Pro contest with Tony Alva, and Jer "the Ripper" Valdez who would do front side air and land in a grind stall chipping the tomb stone extension. Also front side grinds that started 3 or more feet below the lip, sliding till the trucks hit. It was kind of like a Bert slide without the hand placement. We called them "lip lickers". That was a fun time when just doing a grind was cool. Now, who doesn't love a long Smith grind?

Michael, you were the first person I saw doing frontside cess slides on vert, did you invent that move?

I invented nothing. Stacy Peralta had a sequential in Skateboarder Magazine, doing it on a bank and I just copied it. At the end of a run I would add it with another 180 and fakie out for my last wall.

Let’s talk about Dunlop’s Pool in Pasadena, tight transitions, lot’s of vert, and you were all over the lip, I’m still stoked. When did that pool become available to skate and for how long?

It was open for only two summers to the public. We played in it before that. Just bare foot carves with poor equipment. Once his mom saw lay back grinds she didn't feel skating was cohesive with pool maintenance. I always check it, and have been able to sneak a ride several times since. I recommend that if in the area, stop and see if it is drained. Somewhere, there are photos of his mom yelling at us after riding the freshly painted pool.

A highly compressed Michael Daly drifting across four foot vertical walls.

You dominated the Eight Bowl in the back of Earthin Surfin Skate Park, killed Dunlop’s Pool, destroyed Rainbow Wave Skate Parks half-pipe, drew crowds to your runs in Clearwater Skate Parks half-pipe, crushed sick runs in Rollin Waves Skate Park's flow section, plus their quarter-pipe demos at local malls. What bay area Skate Park did you really enjoy in those days?

I just wanted to skate. While in high school there were five skate parks within 40 min. of my house. Every night we would check the weather report to see where the least chance of rain was. Sometimes it would rain till a block or two of the final park. Rainbow was the best bay area park. Like all of them, there were few nice areas, and a lot of wasted concrete. Let's not forget Cadillac Wheels Skate Park.

In those days there were Park Teams that battled each other in contests, how did you like skating on a park team?

Joining a local park was the only way to skate for free. Our team came up with a system to practice at other parks. Each one of us would say what they would do on their last wall, so teammates could enter the bowl before the other had left. Snake was the repeated retort. I remember three of us keeping the half pipe for up to 45 minutes. Then it was time to break for the parking lot.

Did you skate with Paul Schmitt in those days at Rainbow Wave?

No. I first met Paul at a Rainbow contest. I broke my truck during a run. This little kid with food in his teeth asked if he could change my truck for me. I let Paul do it while I watched the contest. It was years later when the Sim's team was sold and they asked me to fill out some silly questionnaire to stay on the team. Not for me, so I asked Paul if I could skate for him at Grigley"s. He blew me off thinking I wasn't sincere. It wasn't long before I was riding an Schmitt Deck, helping make 100 boards a week, and bagging rails. Rails were torture, eight screws in a small bag, two rails, and one sticker all in the long bag. Then seal it for a nickel.

What would you say is the toughest thing a skateboarder has to deal with?

Drugs and alcohol. I don't know what kids do today, but I remember at one ramp I was asked where to get the stuff. It doesn't matter what drug someone does; to them it's (the in thing). I said I don't even know anyone who does that. To which a great skater replied, "Look around". Everyone I had been skating with started to laugh. After the parks all closed and the backyard ramp scene started to grow, how long before you were sponsored by Schmitt Stix? We always had backyard ramps. They just got better through the years. I rode for Earthin Surfin, Rollin Waves, Rainbow, Markel, Sims, and Pasadena Bar & Grill, then Schmitt.

Michael Daly blasting off the coping of Rainbow Wave's half-pipe.

There’s some rad footage floating around on-line of you just flowing and shredding the 301 Ramp. I think I’ve viewed it fifty times, but each time I think day-um! Michael's ripping that ramp! How often did you skate that spot?

"301" was a good time, with lots of girls in the crowd! I enjoyed the Opus for two summers.

You were a local at Grigley’s big vertical ramp in St. Petersburg Florida; you even picked up a hammer or two on variations of that ramp. What is your fondest memory of that Ramp?

I never picked up a hammer, but it was cool to ride with consistent aggressive skaters that knew how to have fun. In Virginia beach about ten years after Grigley's, another contestant a foot taller than me said his dad took him to a St. Pete Ramp Jam. He was eight when he saw my front side boneless over the channel, which hung like a picture. Just before my face hit the ramp, the board popped loose, and some how it wound up under my feet. I was so compressed I couldn't stand up. Finished that run with a bunny hop. Like old photos, things other people remember are the best.

Did John’s dog Charlie ever chase you?

No. One time he got out and ran right past me and began to chase the local kids. Charlie dropped the first three year old, went for the second child running down the alley. Dropped that child to the ground, and was able to pick up a third before he was two houses away. That dog was meant for bigger things.

Who are your favorite skaters of all-time, and which one out of that group of skaters are you most impressed with and why?

Ray (arch skater) Gregory, Steve (like butter) Caballero, Monty (tough fun) Nolder, Thom (looking good) Nicholson, John (all knowing) Grigley, Chuck (archives) Hults, Bruce (not yo) Whiteside, Cleo (XXX) Coney, Chris (sugar water) Baucom, Rodney (add a trick) Mullen, Mike (Rex purpura) Shelton, Wayne (my man) DeHaan, John (the worst) Mcguigan, Kelly (flow me a BL) Lynn, Ed (shwamie) Womble, Mike (the groomer) McGill, Lonnie (all action) Reiter, and Paul Schmitt. I am most impressed with Paul. He was not built for skateboarding. He loves it. He practiced and learned. Always had fun, and was fun to skate with. Started making rails after school field trip. Some said he copied Fish Stix, but his was a much better product. Then he started making skateboards. He probably just wanted to save money, but once again it was a better product. Skateboarders soon agreed. Then Brad bought Schmitt's two molds, belt sander, four car jacks, and jig saw for 30 grand. Best thing Brad ever did. Soon Paul had to move on to a new deal,
and there was no stopping his "giant" plans. I remember being at some new wave bar when some Betty walked up. I thought I was in. She was there for Paul and soon made it clear. Paul is the shit. Go to createaskate.org and see Paul hasn't forgot; children are our future. Work with your kid’s school and let them know about createaskate.org. Paul Schmitt is proof of the reality of the American dream. I'll never forget racing down Superior hill and Paul not making the right at the bottom. He was waist deep under a parked car. When we pulled him out, his knee was swollen to the point of looking like a hawk's face. Water and blood was dripping out the tip of the beak. Paul was all smiles, and we kept skating late into the night.

How often did you get to skate the Nacho Ramp?

I was a “not yo” ramp member in good standing.

Michael Daly Board sliding the Basin's Bowl.

Tell the Coping Block readers what was going through your mind the first time you rode the infamous Sensation Basin Vertical Snake Run.

Why doesn't it work? Such a nice unfunctional set up, few could ride it all. For me, like most people, it was a half pipe using the first and last wall. In a contest they said practice was over for all except doubles. Guy Hoffman was next to me without a partner, so we joined together to keep practicing. We had different speeds, and angles on it so we could continue to practice without interfering with each other. Competition time came and we took off with no plan. Guy hit the last wall going slow on his frontside grind. I was catching up at a higher rate, and crashed into him pushing Guy though his grind. Then we both did our own thing till I noticed we were no where near each other, I hit the wall doing a front side cess, grabbed the lip with both hands to stall and wait for Guy. He did a backside cess going under my arms. We took first place.

What would be your ultimate old school skateboard complete set up?

Schmitt Stix custom Rip Saw, crafted by Chuck Hults with saw cuts in the nose for grip, cut outs on the tail for heal to toe traction, plus Schmitt fat rails. Indy 169 trucks with 97mm Saw blade Wheels. I still have a fresh one, and one in the bag. After that I don't know what I will do. Please send suggestions to me on Facebook.

Is there anybody you’d like to thank or give a shout out to at this time?

Matt Davies thanks for the pot. We use it every day, and it's dishwasher safe. Can I get one big enough to toss a salad?

Push,Carve,Grind!

For more great Skateboarding stories please visit http://www.copingblock.com/

The Buck Smith Interview in Coping Block Skateboarding Magazine!

Buck Smith has always impressed, he is the definition of a dynamic skateboarder. Ramps, Bowls, and Pools fear his galatic Power. He has ripped hard since he was a spunky little shorty, blasting bio airs and mega runs on KONA’s half-pipe. No one questions his skill, courage, or intestinal fortitude once you’ve witnessed his skating, especially boneless ones off the megalith tombstone in KONA Skate Parks infamous Kink Bowl. Buck let’s his skating speak for him and his skating speaks loud and clear.

BUCK SMITH SHREDS!

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Buck Smith attacking the Kona Skate Park Tomb Stone

Buck as far back as I can remember you have always been ripping it up! Kona ramp contests, Florida Backyard Ramp Series, Grigley’s Ramp Contests, there you were flying high and fast, how long have you been skating now?

I stared skating on the hill in front of my house in 75 or so. I’ve been skating ever since.

Is there any particular ramp from the past that you miss skating?

Maybe not ramps so much, because they did kind of suck back then, but the sessions that went down. Ramp Ranch in Atlanta, Grigley’s ramp in St. Pete, and obviously Kona.

From your early days Buck, who were the skaters you sessioned with on a weekly basis?

The local guys like Bryan Farbogoli, Shaun Adams, and Bill Hodge. And then there were the Florida locals like Chris Baucom, Shawn Petty, and Billy Beauregard who were around Kona all the time.
How important was it for you to have KONA Skate Park around as a kid?

I was already surfing and skating, but Kona was built right by where I lived in ‘77. Obviously Kona was a gateway for me and skateboarding.

Do you remember your first skate contest and how you felt competing as a grom?

Back then there were no such things as groms. We were little 10-year-old brats and skate contests were just local weekend events. My first skate contest was in 1977, Seven eleven, U.S. Open at Kona. Henry Hester disqualified me for pushing down the snake run; I was about 9 years old. Plummer won downhill that year.

Pool pleasures, Buck Smith Backside Air. Photo by Chuck Hults

You are currently riding for Deckcrafters, but who were your other sponsors from back in the day?

Bruce Walker started me out and got me on Gull Wing, then I hooked up with my old friend Mike Folmer who had talked about getting me on Sims. After about a year on Walker, I went to Sims, and then much later on I went to Vision.

How did you hook up with Deck Crafters?

Well, Chulk Hults was working for Paul Schmitt and showing him what was up with wood back in the Tampa days. So Chuck and Paul made me my first custom board out of Paul’s rental storage units down there. Then Paul went into business with Vision owner, Brad Dorfman, who owned the team I skated for. When I went pro for Sims my buddy Chuck Hults ran the whole wood shop and designed my board and has designed every board ever since.

How far away from home has skateboarding taken you?

The Arctic Circle in Finland, the sun went down for three hours.

Buck what pushes you to attack and destroy KONA’s gnarly tombstone?

Buck Smith Backyard Ramp Mute Air

Why do you climb the mountain?

What skater or skaters influenced you the most?

Obviously George Wilson who rules and Plummer, then later Shawn Petty, Baucom, Beauregard, and that one guy Monty Nolder.

There’s been chatter that a Skate Park might be built with replica pools and bowls from legendary Skate Parks from the past. If you were asked what pools you’d like to see in the park which would you suggest?

Nah, I don’t want to replicate any old kinks. The new skate park guys got plenty of tricks up their sleeves.

What’s the gnarliest trick that you are killing right now?

Going to work everyday.

Buck what’s the skate vibe like out west versus the east coast?

It just depends on where you are and whom you’re with.

When you aren’t on your skateboard tearing coping apart, what else do you enjoy doing?

Surfing and skating together as a family with my wife and daughter.

What’s the easiest way for a skater to purchase a Buck Smith Pro Model?

http://www.deckcrafters-skateboards.com/

You’ve been apart of many a skate session, what is the sickest thing you’ve seen during one of those skate sessions?

So many good sessions it’s hard to choose just one.

You were inducted into the Florida Skater Hall of Fame this past year, you are now officially one of Florida’s best ever, how does that make you feel?

It’s really cool being in the club with all those guys.

Please select one of the following “Old School” completes:

A). Powel Beamer, Indy 109’s, and Powell Cubics

B). Krypstick with Tracker X Tracks, and Kryto Wheels

C). Flite Deck with Lazer Trucks, and Sundancer Wheels

D). Sims Folmer with Gullwings, and Sims Green Snakes

E). Powerflex seven ply, with Bennett Trucks and Powerflex 5’s_

D). -I rode that crap.

Looking back on your early skate days is there anything you would change if you could?

Hindsight’s 20/20.

Buck where do you see skateboarding going in the future and where do you see yourself fitting into that future?

I’m not good at this hindsight’s 20/20.

Buck you’ve had a lot of success in skateboarding, is there any person or person’s you’d like to take the time now to thank or give a shout out to?

I’d like to thank Bruce Walker and the Ramos family, and all my skate buddies and especially my family.

For more great Skateboarding stories please visit http://www.copingblock.com/

The Tim Johnson Interview in Coping Block Skateboarding Magazine!

                                               Tim Johnson Flying high. Cover photo by Yunker

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There’s nothing more exciting then watching live vertical skateboarding! Tim Johnson is the living definition of Gonzo! His runs will keep you on the edge of your seat, highlighted by his relentless mind blowing lines consisting of massive bio air variations, and blunt slide combinations that boggle the mind. To quote a bad guy from an old Bruce Lee movie, “his skills are extraordinary!” No ego here, just a down to earth Georgia/Florida soul that sips sweet tea and destroys coping.

By Cleo Coney

Just when did you start skateboarding?

1986.

Help me out here, where are you exactly from and where are you living now?

I’m from St. Mary’s Georgia, just across the border from Jacksonville, Florida. I have moved a bit between Jax, Daytona, and St. Augustine for a while too.

It doesn’t matter where I’ve seen you skate, KONA, Saint Augustine Skate Park, Cocoa Beach Skate Park, Stirling Skate Park in Dunedin, or Skate Park of Tampa, your willingness to go big over and over again really impresses! What is your energy source?

Friends, Heroes, Groms, a good session can get it going for anyone, but sometimes out of no where people feel like just busting some stuff out!

Which three skateboarders have influenced you the most and why?

I have so many influences it’s hard to pick 3. Out of the people I know well I would say Mike Peterson, Buck Smith and Benji Galloway. Dudes I grew up stoked on from videos and whatnot, I would say Danny Way, John Cardiel, and Pat Duffy. The whole Bacon Team and homies keep me influenced as well.

I don’t think you’ve ever seen a “Blunt Trick” variation that you didn’t like, when did you really start maximizing that trick?

I seemed to always skate with someone who had good blunt/nose blunt tricks that I couldn’t do, so I would get really hyped seeing that first hand and make myself learn them. Plus watching old Plan B videos.

Do you have a private ramp or bowl that you session regularly?

I have a ramp at my house. Currently it is 26 ft wide 5'9 w/ 7'9 trannys and extensions on both sides at 8ft tall. One ext has black granite coping my buddy Jason made for me. I’m currently moving another ramp there to plug into mine. Oh yea it’s all galvanized steel.

Is it ok if I call you the “Stale Fish General”?

Hahaha, um, I’ll have to check with the masters, although maybe through a corner.

How has skateboarding made a positive difference in your life?

Everyone needs something weather its a hobby, passion, or whatever. I was an outdoor kid/backyard ninja. I had to fill that void or I was heading for trouble. I took Karate for a long time and besides the physical aspect helping my skating, I get a sort of respect for what we do as well. It has helped me learn many trades from the people that I’ve met through it also.

When did you first get sponsored and who are your current sponsors?

My first sponsor was a little team out of Jacksonville called Legacy back in 99. We traveled around the southeast hitting up comps and jams just meeting people. After that I got some shop flow and Kona hooked me up with whatever I needed and I still ride for them today. I got some flow from DNA for a few years but they seemed interested in street dudes mainly. I started to get boards from another underground but known well in the area, called Crown Skateboards. That was around 02-03. They had a really good team with a few PROS already. Carl Neagele, Fred Reeves, Candy Hiler, and John Wilinski. They wound up turing me PRO just before a world cup event at Kona. I rode for them until late 06. I had a bad injury on my left knee in 06 and was out for 6 months during which I started riding for Bacon. http://www.baconskateboards.com/  I currently ride for them, and every one of my teammates rips harder than anyone even knows!!!!! Every one of those guys can skate everything! I also ride for Ace trucks, Type-s Wheels, Kona Skate Park, 187 pads, and Soledad clothing.

Let’s talk Bacon, do you eat it as well as skate for it?

Oh yeah, I’ll take the last veggie burger and slap bacon on it even when there is plenty of beef ones left. Moooo hooooo hooooo hahahahahaha! (Evil laugh)

You’ve skated so many parks, and ramps, which ones have scared you?

West Seattle, Frank Baagos lil bath tub bowl, but Kona's Tomb Stone is by far the gnarliest though.

If you could run skate contests like you prefer, what would you do differently?

Uh let me in them! Haha, nah, I don’t like having to do timed runs to get into a jam, that stuffs for the kids but I understand why. Some dudes get in there and play chase and block people from doing a good run, especially near the end of the comp. I don’t like skating in the same heat as open PRO Groms either. I’ve seen Chris Senn in the same heat as five PRO Open Groms, and they showed no respect, so he started mowing and I started cheering. Don’t get me wrong, the kids are freaking rad these days but I guess I’m just used to when I was coming up you were one or the other. We couldn’t just step in with the big guys who have paid their dues, and then go home and skate the local comp. Bottom line is the best thing about contest is the gathering. Fun parties after, during, and before the competitions. Seeing friends that live far away and getting to rip and hang with them.

Who are the skaters that make up your current skate crew?

Well, I’m kind of a floater. I’m not in one place too much. I skate with Mike Barnes (darkness) a lot and on occasion I ride with the guys in JAX, like Jo Marrara, Mike Peterson George Evand, Mullen, Doug, then I get down in the Daytona area and ride with Darkness monster, Smitty, Storm, and Steve Workman (who grew up where I’m from in Georgia, he showed me how to skate vert. He still rips too, He learned 540s at the age of 36!

Have you ever felt like not entering a contest and just grabbing a bowl of cereal and watching cartoons?

I do that more than skate anyway!

What do your current board graphics look like?

Kona during a nightmare!

What’s the quickest way for a person interested in buying your skateboard, to purchase one?

Baconskateboards.com will have all of the info for ya.

How does your family feel about your involvement in skateboarding?

They support it. They are very proud of me no matter what. They don’t come watch me at comps because my mom can’t handle it. I scare her too much at home, let alone in some park with my homies getting me fired up, I’m a slammer and every session I’ll fly to flat from a bailed air in the deep end. My feet hate me, and my elbows look like Randy Coetour's ears!! So they just wait for me to come back with the stories.

What’s your favorite energy drink and or thirst quencher?

Sweet Tea!

You spend time in both Georgia and Florida, which of the new Georgia Skate Parks do your really find fun to skate?

Not the one by my house that’s for sure!!! Pre fab crap!! Uh, the ATL area has some good ones I want to check out Columbus, my aunt lives there and the park looks sick!!!

What bands do you like to skate to?

Old shitty punk rock or southern rock baby!!! I get in the Metal or hip-hop mood sometimes depending on the session but regardless music is necessary.

Where was the coolest skate scene that you’ve experienced and why?

Charleston South Carolina has the best backyard scene, still going strong with the new and older generation. Portland is cool but there seems to be so much stuff to ride that it’s exhausting and almost unmotivating in a back ass way. The people there are rad though. Bondi Beach Australia!

Tim Johnson Smith Grinding Bacon Style. Photo by David Ostlund

What’s the skate scene like in Jacksonville outside of KONA?

Oh man there is a lot!!! Atlantic Beach has the Gridline Park, there is Johnny’s Bowl, Franks, Monument park, (new Team Pain Park) and for now the Skate Labs old ramp is still there, and the crew out there rented out the lot so some vert sessions have been going strong lately.

Do you own a Longboard?

5 1/2 ft G&S. It is my cruise ship!!!

Personally, what’s your opinion of skateboarding today?

It seems to have splintered into a few more categories than the earlier days, but I love the way everything has gone down. There are more people riding these days so that means more talent and more kooks/jocks also. All and all, I’m hyped on skateboarding.

You’ve been in quite a few skateboard contests, which one sticks out in your memory the most?

Wow, um my first PRO comp at Kona, Pro-Tec (just pick a year they were all good), and Bondi Beach Australia earlier this year was a big one. Plus, all the way back to the old mini ramp death matches in Clearwater, they were all good memories.

Do you stretch prior to skating?

Yeah, I have to now. I used to be super flexible while I was in karate, but now that I’m older it seems that I’m not flexible at all. Stretching after is just as important.

What new maneuvers are you practicing right now?

I just learned one-foot eggplants, maybe Ill try one to fakie. On mini I’ve been trying to get backside nose blunt to backside nollie flip out. Street, well finding a spot here is tough. Most of the rails I skate are in parks. The land is flat here, so that is why I think I took better to transition skating. Pool skating is a move on its own, just finding a line to get to a trick is a trick in itself.

540 or McTwist? What do you call it?

Two different tricks, I need to get them back. I don’t think I’ve even spun one in 3 years.

Where would you like skateboarding to take you?

All over the world, I want to travel as much as I can.

Any persons or companies you’d like to thank at this time?

My Girl Jen who has put up with my crap for eight years now, all of my sponsors, Jax homies, Charleston crew, Colin and Benji @ Bacon, Sergie Ventura, Buck Smith & Mike Peterson for being humble bad ass's, Ryan Young, Otis and Shannon, Hank Bering, Marty Ramos, Mike Rogers, My Family, Dave Duncan, and I’d like to say wuzzup? to the Scrotes, Gar Poe, my homie Billy, and everyone else on my spacebookface. I’m going to go play some call of duty now because it’s raining on New Years Eve!!!!

Push, Carve, Grind!

For more great Skateboarding stories please visit http://www.copingblock.com/

The Pineiro Brothers Interview In Coping Block Skateboarding Magazine!

Coping Block Skateboarding Magazine was the first publication to interview the Pineiro Brothers, back in December 2009 in Coping Block Issue #32. At that time it was easy to recognize the potential and the current skill of these two talents. Since then Steven Pineiro has competed both at the Maloof Money Cup and in the X-Games, not to mention his new PRO model from Embassy Skateboards! Coping Block Skateboarding Magazine is proud of these two and we know that with their skateboarding talents, this is only the beginning of a long and impressive imprint they will place on Skateboarding. The following is that previous conversation with the Pineiro Brothers, enjoy!

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You might do a double take while watching these two shred everything they skate. The fast rising Pineiro Brothers are close in height, looks, and rip up skate parks equally. I had the pleasure of meeting these two exceptional talents and they are for real! They have been given the proper skateboarding growth fertilizer that all kids need, supportive parents whom gladly take them to all the skate events they possible can. When it comes to their skating abilities, don’t take my word for it, pull these two up on YouTube and let their skating speak for them!
I’ve been skateboarding and around skateboarding since the seventies, which gives me a pretty good eye for talent. The first time I saw the Pineiro Brothers skate, was at the Stirling Skate Park event in Dunedin, Florida. Most recently I witnessed them shredding at the Cocoa Beach Skate Park, Grind For Life Benefit. The Pineiro Brothers put on a clinic, of which I remain impressed at the passion and hours of dedication they’ve put into their skating. Their rising talents represent the new blood that pumps life into each successive generation of skateboarders. Florida’s really blessed to be newly represented by such explosive skating skills, which seem to be expanding like the universe. It’s only a matter of time before the rest of the world gets to experience the energy these two skateboarding brothers generate.

By Cleo Coney

When did you two decide that you wanted a skateboard?

About 3 years ago at the ages of 9 and 10 we got lost going to the beach and ran into the Atlantic Beach Skate Park . There we saw a four or five year old kid name Noah dropping in and we were amazed by it. The very next day it was on!!

How long after getting your skateboards did you guys realized that you loved the sport?

Steven: Right away it was magic!!

Juan: Instantly

How many hours per week would you say you two are at a skate park riding?

Steven: It all depends on the weather, my fathers work schedule, and how good we are doing in school. About two to three hours on the weekdays, and usually the whole day on weekends. So, about thirty hours total per week.

Steven, which do you prefer, ramps, bowls, or pools?

I love them all the same.

What about you Juan?

I prefer ramps, but I like Pool and Bowl skating too!

Do you two work on tricks together? Or do you guys sometimes work on tricks alone?

Sometimes, it really depends on the trick. But most of the time we work on different tricks.

Do you two share the same preference for wheels?

YEP! Type-S they are so fast for us tranny skaters.

How many contests would you say you two have been in at this point?

We lost count but, between the local, state and across the USA a little over 100 and counting.

Do you guys prefer a jam format or a three individual run format?

JAMS! But when they are under control and nobody gets hurt. We have been hurt a few times being so small and going against bigger and older guys it's very dangerous.

Juan, how often do people call you by your brother’s name?

All the time! We are NOT twins, but we are 11 months apart and look a lot alike.

Proud Mr. Pineiro and his talented sons. Photo by Bob Brussack

Steven, are there many skaters at your school?

Not so many, out of the few that skate none are as into it as I am.

What do they say about your skateboarding?

We usually keep ourselves low key but the people at school that know we are skaters and that have seen us skate think we are amazing.

I see that you two have traveled to some other parks around the country,
which skate park did you two really like?

Lake Cunningham Regional Skate Park in San Jose, California is one of our favorites.

What other skaters do you two skate with on the regular?

Pretty much with who ever is at any given park and wants to skate with us... Nowadays people prefer to skate street more often than vert or round wall, because of that it's hard for our friends to skate with us.

I see that you guys met one of my all-time favorite skaters, Steve Caballero. Where and when was that meeting?

Lake Cunningham Regional Skate Park in San Jose, California the last week of September 2009 on the weekend event of the 11th annual Tim Brauch Memorial. Steve was super cool with us .

Juan, what skateboarder impresses you the most and why?

Mason Huggins from the Bacon Team because he's just amazing and carries a sweet bag of tricks and knows how to skate a comp.

Steve, same question.

Bucky Lasek!! and Why? because he's Bucky.

Let’s say you two had the power to take one element from four different skate parks, and put them together to create your favorite skate park, what sections would you include and from which four skate parks? You can answer that separately.

Juan: 1st. Lake Cunningham Regional Skate Park in San Jose, California's Pool, 2nd. Pier Park , Oregon's full pipe, 3rd. Jordan Price's back yard vert ramp in Port Orange, Fl and Finally 3rd Lair Skate Park in Golden Valley , Minnesota's street course.

Steven: 1st. Kona Skate Park in Jacksonville, FL's Pool, 2nd. Lake Cunningham Regional Skate Park in San Jose, Cal's Flow Spine 3rd. The 14 foot square deep end at Houston, Texas and finally Jordan Price's Vert Ramp love it!!

Steven, if you had your own board design what would your deck graphics look like on the bottom?

I'm a big Creature Fiend so pretty much that type & style of graphic.

Juan, what drives you to become a better skateboarder?

My brother Steven drives me to become a better skater, because I
can't skate without him.

Where is the one place your parents take you two to eat that you guys just love the most?

OUTBACK Steakhouse!

(I see a television commercial coming out of this!)

Steven, what new trick are you working on right now? Do you have a favorite trick?

I'm working on my 720 on vert which I've landed on spine, but right now I’ve got to say it”s my McTwist, fakie to fakie 540 and of course my Rodeo 5 are my favorite tricks.

Juan, what is your favorite trick and what are you working on right now?

My favorite trick is Masson Huggins's Wiser Sleeve (South flip front disaster) and I'm working on Varial flip melon grab .

Steven, do you like street skating?

Yes, it's a lot of fun.

Juan, what’s your opinion of street skating?

I think that street skating is amazing, but was not made for me.

Embassy Skateboards made a well advised investment in raw talent.

There has got to be one park that you two really want to skate, which is it?

Actually it's two places The Combi Pool in the Vans Skate Park in Orange, California and Woodward in Pennsylvania.

Steven and Juan, how far do you two want to take your skateboarding?

Steven: I just To be well known and successful before I go to college because at that time whatever is my skating status I'm taking a break to get me a degree.

Juan: To be a worldwide recognized Pro skater before it's my time to go to college and that is non negotiable.

Steven, what do you like most about vertical skateboarding?

Blasting high air and spinning.

Juan, if you could pick your all-time favorite cereal, what kind would it be?

Rice Crispies!

Whose skateboard lasts the longest?

It really depends on the board's luck and what king of surface we are skating the most, but concrete is the most brutal on our boards.

Have you guys tried to get your father on a skateboard yet?

Yes!, he does have a longboard that we won in a comp, but he was more into BMX and Roller Skating.

If someone wants to catch you guys skating, where might they have the best chance to witness some of your power runs?

Kona's pool because it's pretty much our local park.

Would you two like to thank anyone at this time or give a shout out to anybody?

We would like to thank GOD, My Father who always believes in
and never give up on us, my MOM and our two sisters Stephanie
and Killiam, the few sponsors we have and last but not least Martin
Ramos and James Reeds for their support and awesome parks.

Push, Carve, Grind!

For more great Skateboarding stories please visit http://www.copingblock.com/