The Chuck Treece Interview in Coping Block!

                                                                      

Chuck it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you man! I think the last time was some thirty years ago!  We can’t let stuff like that go on.

 Let’s sort out your origins first, where’s your hometown?

PHILLY, PA NORTHERN LIBERTIES. ORIGINAL START WAS IN WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

When did skateboarding first catch your eye?

SKATEBOARDING GOT A HOLD OF ME WHEN I WAS ABOUT 11..THE ONLY SKATEBOARDS I SAW IN THE HOOD WHERE THE ONES WITH METAL WHEELS, NO GRIP TAPE AND SMALL...I WOULD HOLD ON TO A WALL AND TEACH MYSELF HOW TO MOVE AROUND ON THE DECK..I MOVED TO THE SUBURBS OF NEWARK, DE AND A KID RODE BY ON A BETTER STYLE OF SKATEBOARD AND I ASKED MY DAD TO GET ME ONE...15 BUCKS WAS SPENT ON THE SK8DECK AND I TOOK IT TO THE STREETS OF MY NEW LIFE IN THE SUBURBS..I WAS 13 YEARS OS AGE..I HAVE BEEN ON MY SKATEBOARD EVER SINCE...STOKED ON THE START OF WHAT WE ALL CREATED IN SKATING..THE FIRST KNEE SCRAPE GAVE ME A SENSE OF BEING ATTACHED TO MY SKATEBOARD.

What was your first setup?

MY FIRST SET WAS A NO NAME BRAND SKATEDECK.THEN I MOVED TO A NEWPORT SLOLOM DECK AND THEN TO A SIMS WOODKICK KICK,TRACKER TRUCKS AND BLUE KRYPTONICS.

I know you had a dream skateboard setup back in the day, what was it?

I LIKE THE POWELL BEAMERS..I WAS SO STOKED TO HAVE ONE,RIDE ONE AND ALSO GET FIBERGLASS IN MY ARMS FROM CARRYING THE DECK AROUND..THE FIRST DECK THAT MOST OF MY FRIENDS WANTED WAS THE TONY ALVA DECK..I HAD ONE OF THOSE ALSO ALONG WITH THE MULTI COLOR WHEEL OPTIONS THAT ALVA RELEASED...SO STOKED ON THOSE DAYS....EASY RIDER SK8PARK DAZE..ME AND PEANUT BROWN...

Was your neighborhood cool with you skateboarding?

MY NEIGHBORHOOD WAS AMAZING FOR SKATEBOARDING..WE HAD THE MEADOWOOD SHOPPING CENTER TO SESSION..I SKATED WITH TONY SANTORO AND JOEY W.I ALSO SKATED MY FIRST BACKYARD RAMP WITH ROB WHITE.R.I.P.IT WAS RIGHT DOWN THE STREET FROM MY HOUSW..WE HAD TO PUSH FROM THE OTHER NEIGHBORS YARD TO GET UP ENUFF SPEED..NO TRANNY JUST A SLANTED WALL..THAT'S WHERE I LEARNED EVERYTHING BEFORE WE ALL STARTED SKATING EASY RIDER SK8 PARK IN WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

Breakdown the names of your original skate crew for us?

TONY SANTORO

ROB WHITE

JOEY WAZ

PHILLIP MALLET PREVO

BOBBY REEVES

PEANUT BROWN

WOODSMAN FROM CONCORD DELAWARE

TODD WERNY

TOM GROHOLSKI

JIM MURPHY

STEVE HEARING

JEFF HARTSEL

JAMIE GODFREY

MIKE JESOLOWSKI

VICTOR PEREZ

TED GUENIVER

MARK GERMACK

MARK MANUTI so many others also..so many good firends who gave me support and great times searching for sk8 spots and searching for our youth....

                                          Chuck Treece early dayz street plant.

What was the next closest skate scene to your own and who were some of those skaters?

THE CLOSEST SKA8 SCENE WAS CHERRYHILL SKATEPARK..WE ALL SKATED THAT PARK.WHO EVER WAS SERIOUS ABOUT SKATEBOARDING SKATED CHERRYHILL..WE ALL HAD LITTLE HOME PARKS WE STARTED UP WITH BUT WHEN CHERRYHILL SKATEPARK OPENED SO DID OUR MINDS AND WE ALL DROVE OUR PARENTS CRAZY GETTING TO THAT PARK..

BOBBY REEVES

PEANUT BROWN

WOODSMAN FROM CONCORD DELAWARE

TODD WERNY

TOM GROHOLSKI

JIM MURPHY

STEVE HEARING

JEFF HARTSEL

JAMIE GODFREY

MIKE JESOLOWSKI

VICTOR PEREZ

TED GUENIVER

MARK GERMACK

MARK MANUTI

PAPO

PUPPET

KEITH

SUGAR BEAR

CHIP

JACK FROM SEEDS OF TERROR

ZEKE ZEGAR

STEVE EYE

BRUCE

DEAN GODFREY

ROB FROM STATEN ISLAND

THE ENTIRE CREW FROM NORTH BRUNSWICK, NJ 4H SK8 CREW.

How big was the backyard skate scene where you grew up?

THE BACKYARD SK8 SCENE IN DELAWARE WAS NICE.. I SESSIONED WITH MARK GERMACK, TED GUENIVER AND TODD WERNY THE MOST.. HE HAD A 8FOOT WIDE RAMP THE WENT VERT WITH CEMENT COPING.MARK'S RAMP AND TOM GROHOLSKI'S MINI BLUE RAMP KEPT US ALL SKATING AFTER CHERRYHILL CLOSED...I WAS 16 WHEN CHERRY HILL SK8 PARK CLOSED...THERE WHERE ABOUT 5 BACK SPOTS I HAVE SKATED THRUOUGHT MY START IN DELWARE.. SOME HALFPIPES HAD FLAT BOTTUM AND SOME DID NOT..WE STILL SKATED EVERYTHING THAT WAS AROUND...TOD WERNEY HAD A NICE RAMP ALSO...

                                 Chuck Treece taking ownership of Layback grinds and to the max.

How many ramps do you think you skated in the Northeast United States?

I HAVE SKATED ABOUT 50 RAMPS MAYBE EVEN MORE.. SO MANY OF THEM WHERE UP AND THEN A YEAR OR TWO LATER THEY WOULD BE GONE..

Any favorites?

MY FAV RAMP WILL ALWAYS BE TOM GROHOLSKI'S PLEXI RAMP HE PURCHASED FROM THE SK8 PARK IN STATEN ISLAND.. I REMEMBER TALKING TO TOM AND HIS DAD AND THEY SAID WE FOUND THIS RAMP AND WE'RE GOING TO PICK IT UP AND SET IT UP IN THE BACKYARD..WE WENT FROM SKATING THE MINI BLUE RAMP TO THE AMAZING METAL FRAMED PLEXIGLASS RAMP.. THAT RAMP CHANGED SKATEBOARDING FOREVER..

When did you get hit with the music bug and what was the first instrument you picked up?

I WAS INTO MUSIC AS SOON AS I COULD BREATHE.. I WAS ALREADY PLAYING ON A PROFFESSIONAL LEVEL AT AGE 8.. MY DADA WOULD LET ME SIT IN WITH HIS BAND WHEN THEY WOULD REHEARSE AND PLAY SHOWS.AT AGE 2 I WAS BANGING ON POTS AND PANS AND AGE 6 I HAD MY FORST DRUM KIT.... STOKED ON MUSIC

What artists did you like to skate to back in the day?

THE ARTIST I SKATED TO FIRST WERE ROCK ARTISTS, TED NUGETNT, KISS ALL THE CLASSICS THAT KIDS GREW UP ON IN THE BURBS..WHEN I STARTED CHECKING OUT PUNK MUISC AND THE SEX PISTOLS, DEVO, CLASH, 999, BUZZCOCKS, JOE JACKSON AND ON AND ON. I FELT LIKE SKATEBOARDING HAD IT'S OWN SOUNDTRACK.. NOT TO MENTION WE WERE ALL STOKED ON THE SURF PUNKS..THEY DON'T GET ENOUGH CREDIT FOR BEING THE FIRST REAL SK8 BAND..BIG UPS TO DENNIS DRAGON AND STACY PERALTA.... MY WAVE.. BAD BRAINS, JOY DIVISION, METALLICA, ARTILLERY, VOID, MINOR THREAT, SCREAM, MOTORHEAD... SO MUCH GOOD MUSIC TO SK8 TO...

You know, out of all the sports that I know of, I don’t think you can say any of them have produced as many bands or musicians as skateboarding has, why do you think that is?

SKATEBOARDING WILL NEVER EVER BE A GENERIC SPORT.. IT'S ALL ABOUT MOVEMENT..THE MUSIC CREATES HOW WE MOVE AND SKATEBOARDING IS ALWAYS CENTERED AROUND A MOVEMENT.. THE NEW MOVEMENT NOW IS GETTING SKATEBOARDING TO ALL WALKS OF LIFE SO THEY CAN ENJOY IT HOW THEY WANT TO...

Who were your first sponsors and how did you get the hook up?

MADRID SKATEBOARDS, GULLWING TRUCKS AND OJ WHEELS. TOM GROHOLSKI AND I TEAMED UP TO WRITE THESE COMPANIES..TOM HELPED ME GET IN FIRST WITH MADRID AND THEN I WROTE SOME OTHER COMPANIES AND TOM AND I PULLED EACH OTHER UP THRU ALL THE CHANGES IN SKATEBOARDING.. WE WERE KIDS WITH BIG DREAMS AND WE PROTECTED THEM WITH OUR LIVES ATTACHED TO THEM..THAT'S WHY WE BOTH STILL SK8 ALL THE TIME TODAY. WE DON’T SEE EACH OTHER THAT MUCH BUT WE DO KEEP IN TOUCH..IT'S THE SAME AS WHEN WE WERE KIDS...GET OUT THERE AND MAKE YER MARK OR GRIND SOME COPING, OR DO BOTH AND HAVE GREAT MUSIC TO LISTEN TO..DO IT ALL.. IT’S HERE FOR US TO DO IT ALL...SKATEBOARDING IS THAT TO MOST OF US..

                                             Chuck Treece setting up his next line.

What series did you skate in up north?

I SKATED THE MESS SERIES WITH TOM..WE TRAVELED IN HIS TRUCK AND WE HIT AS MANY CONTEST AS WE COULD..THAT'S WHERE WE ALL STARTED MEETING EACH OTHER.. KONA CONTEST ALSO IN 82...TONS FO GOOD FRIENDS, TONS OF GREAT PEOPLE PUTTING RAMPS UP AND DEALING WITH CRAZY ASS KIDS ON SKATEBOARDS. AMAZING TIMES...

When did you start busting out with those super bad laybacks man?

I STARTED DOING LAYBACKS WHEN I FRIST SAW SHOGU KUBO DO ONE IN A MAG..I LEARNED LAYBACKS ON A BANKED WALL AT EASY RIDER WHEN I WAS 14 AND THEN I SAW DUANE PETERS DO LAYBACK ROLL OUTS IN SKATEBOARDER MAG AND THEN WE ALL GOT TO SESSION WITH HIM AT CHERRY HILL SKATEPARK...HE WAS RIPPING THEM IN THE RIGHT HAND KIDNEY.. I DECIDED TO THROW ONE UP ON COPING...AFTER A DAYS WORTH OF TRYING THEM WHEN I WAS 15, I FINALLY MADE THE TRICK MY OWN..I HAD BERT REVERTS WIRED ON VERT FOR THE LONGEST..CHERRY HILL SK8 PARK....MANG,,THAT PLACE DID WONDERS FOR ME AND  PUSHING THE LIMITS....

Let’s get back to your earliest musical influences? What bands hyped you up so much that you knew that this was the direction you wanted to pursue?

BAD BRAINS,JIMI HENDRIX,JAMES BROWN,LARRY GRAHM,SLY STONE,STEVIE WONDER, GRAND FUNK RAILROAD, PARLIMENT FUNKADELIC AND A BUNCH MORE..ANY MUSIC THAT SOUNDED LIKE FREEDOM I GOT INTO...DEVO,THE CLASH, BASEMENT FIVE,THE PROFESSIONALS AND THE SEX PISTOLS TOO..THE ENTIRE PUNK MOVEMENT MASHED UP WITH THE HIPPIE MOVEMENT IN FUNK, ROCK, REGGEA, BLUES..MY PARENTS LISTENED TO A BUNCH OF MUSIC..PUNK WAS MY OWN TO GET INTO..IT'S LIKE ME WITH MY KIDS...THEY HAVE LISTENED TO WHAT I COULD BRING TO THEM AND NOW THEY LISTEN TO WHAT MAKES THEIR LIVES RIGHT...

                                                         Chuck Treece jamming!

 What was or is your favorite thing about music and skateboarding?

MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT MUSIC AND SKATEBOARING IS EVERYTIME WE TRY TO PIGEON HOLE THEM THEY BOTH CHANGE ON US AND THEN WE HAVE TO CATCH UP..THEY ARE BOTH NEVER ENDING DOMINANT FORCES....

Now Chuck, you’ve worked with some very talented artists in the music industry, what was your participation and whom were some of those artists?

HERE'S SOME INFO FER YAH. ALL LOVE CREATED HERE IN THIS INFORMATION..

Chuck Treece                                                                          Discography

Solo Recordings

Tent, Transform, 215 Records, 2001. Producer, writer, arranger, and all

instruments.

Happy Birthday EP, 215 Records, 1999. Producer, writer, arranger, and all

instruments.

Dreamin’, Caroline Records, 1991. Producer, writer, arranger, and all

instruments.

Studio Recordings

Leiana, Page, 2005. Producer, writer, arranger, and drums.

Avant, Interscope Records, Produced by Scott Storch, 2005. Guitar, bass, and drums.

Busta Rhymes, Produced by Scott Storch, 2005.

Nikka Costa, “Matter of Time” (King Britt remix), Virgin Records, 2005. Bass.

Sean Paul, Produced by Scott Storch, 2005.

Sister Gertrude, Ropeadope Records, 2005. Bass.

Esthero, “If the Mood” and “Fast Lane”, Warner Brothers Records, 2004. Bass and drums.

Graph Nobel, Black Corners Records/Sony Canada/USA, 2004. Bass and drums.

Tamyra Gray, “You’re a Star”, 19 Records, Produced by Scott Storch, 2004. Guitar.

Kevin Little, “Sign Your Name”, Atlantic Records, produced by Scott Storch, 2004. Bass and

guitar.

Sly Boogie, “What’s My Name”, J Records, Produced by Scott Storch, 2004. Bass.

Jazzy Jeff, Magnificent, “We Live in Philly’, BBE records, 2003. Guitar.

Kindred, Surrender to Love, Hidden Beach Records, 2003. Bass, drums, and guitars.

Appleton (formerly All Saints), “Don’t Worry” (King Britt remix), Polydor Records, 2002. Bass and

guitar.

Tommy Guerrero, Tommy Guerrero and Gadget vs. The Jazz Cannon, “Get Out of Jail Free

Card”, Function 8 Records, 2002. Drums.

Angelique Kidjo, “Tumba” (King Britt remix), 2002. Bass and drums.

Kindred, “Let it All Go”, 2005. Drums.

Kindred, “Rhythm Of Life” (King Britt remix), 2002. Bass.

King Britt, Adventures in Lo Fi, “Super Star” featuring Ivanna Santilli, “Love’s Time” featuring

Alma, BBE Records, 2002. Bass, guitar, and drums.

ObaFunke, Cosmoafrique, “Freedom”, Fivesix Media, 2002. Guitar and Bass.

Philadelphia Experiment, Remix Album, “Miles Hit” (King Britt remix), Ropeadope Records,

2002. Bass and Guitar.

Res, How I Do, “They Say Vision”, MCA Records, 2002. Drums.

Rosey, “Love”, Island Def Jam Records, 2002. Bass.

Jody Watley, “The Essence” (King Britt remix), 2002. Bass.

AM 60, “Just a Dream” (remix), Shifty Disco Records, 2001. Co-producer, bass, drums, and

guitar.

A-UN Brothers, Dash, Maxell Records, Japan, 2001. Drums.

Miles Jaye, “I’ve Been a Fool” (remix), Black Tree Records, 2001. Co-producer and drums.

McRad, Absence of Sanity, Uprising Records, 2001 re-release. Co-Producer, drums, guitar, and

vocals.

TM Stevens, Shoka Zooloo, JVC International, Japan, 2001. Drums.

Huffamoose, Shanachie Records, 2000. Drums.

The Jazzyfatnastees, The Once and Future, “The Wound” and “Unconventional Ways”,

Motive/MCA Records, 2000. Bass and guitar.

Neysa, Up and Tao, Sister Melody Records, 2000. Producer, bass, drums and guitar.

Q & the JP Struggles, Q & the JP Struggles, Struggle Free Inc., 2000. Drums, bass, guitar, and

co-producer.

Joseph Parson, Joseph Parson, Blue Rose Records, 1999. Drums.

Buck-O-Nine, Libido, TVT Records, 1998. Drums.

G. Love and Special Sauce, Yeah, It’s That Easy, Epic Records, Produced by Dave “Stiff”

Johnson, 1997. Bass and drums.

David Garza, This Euphoria, Lava/Atlantic Records, Produced by Dave “Stiff Johnson”,1998.

Bass and drums.

Other Session Recordings

The Cult, remix single, Produced by the Butcher Brothers. Bass and Guitar.

Bob Dylan, “Dignity” (remix), Columbia Records, Produced by the Butcher Brothers. Rhythm

guitar and background vocals.

The Goats, “Typical American” (remix), “Digs Dugs” (remix), “Rumblefish” (remix), “Skitzo” (co-

writer), Ruffhouse Records, Produced by Joe Nicolo. Bass and drums.

Amy Grant, “House Of Love”, A&M Records, Produced by the Butcher Brothers. Bass.

Billy Joel, River of Dreams, “River of Dreams”, Columbia Records, Produced by the Butcher

Brothers. Bass.

Pearl Jam, Live From Las Vegas special double 7”, “I’ll Swallow My Pride”. Drums.

Schoolly D, Where I’m From, Ruffhouse/Columbia Records. Bass.

Sting, “When We Dance” (Euro remix), A&M Records, Produced by Phil Nicolo. Bass.

Luther Vandross, “Love the One You’re With” (Remix), A&M Records, Produced by Phil Nicolo.

Bass.

Film and Television

Cellular, Featuring music by Lottery (with G. Love). Drums and bass.

Clueless, television series theme song. Bass.

IAM.com, Featuring music by 3 7000 9, Motive Entertainment, Directed by Spike Lee. Drums.

The Jersey Guy, independent film soundtrack, drums and percussion.

Late Night with Conan O’Brian, featuring live music by Urge Overkill. Bass.

MTV’s The Real World, Featuring music by AM60, Shifty Disco Records. Bass and guitar.

Shopping, “Water Pistol Man”, Co-written with Michael Franti (Spearhead). Guitar and bass.

White Bread, Featuring music by AM60, Shifty Disco Records. Bass and Guitar.

Live Performances

Chuck has toured all over the world with a wide variety of bands. His most recent appearances include touring with Leiana and McRad (SXSW and tour), and a performance with G. Love & Special Sauce at the Hurricane Katrina benefit and the winter X Games. He has played bass for Slighty Stoopid (2004 Tour), The Goats (Ruffhouse Records), King Britt (Ruffhouse) and Urge Overkill (Geffen) and Chrissy Hynde of the Pretenders, guitar for the Disposable Heroes of Hypocrisy, D’Angelo (Cheeba Sound/Virgin) and drums for Bad Brains (Maveric), G. Love & Special Sauce (Epic), Huffamoose (Shanachie Records), The Roots (MCA/Motive Records), Black Lily (MCA/Motive Records) backing Jill Scott, Jaguar, Kindred and the Jazzy Phatnastees, Tommy Guerrero (Mo Wax Records), Miles Jaye (Black Tree Records), Bilal (Interscope Records), Star Cullars and Lige Cury of P-Funk, AM60 (Shifty Disco), TM Stevens (NAMM Show 2001/2002/Guitar and Bass Day, Mexico City), Teddy Pendergras (Republican Convention 2000), Rosey (Island Def Jam) opening act for Melissa Etheridge, TM Stevens, Bill Dickens, Victor Bailey (Sam Ash Bass Day Clinic), Will Lee, Hirom Bullock, TM Stevens (NAMM 2002/Dean Markley Booth also a Tour for Ampeg and Crate Amps (Jay Hayes, guitar) in Mexico 2003/playing drums).

BAM! So you have been on stage at least once or twice, LOL! You are da man!

What was the last skate competition you remember skating in?

WAKING UP EVERYDAY AND GIVING THANX..THAT'S THE FIRST AND LAST COMPETITION WE ALL HAVE TO DEAL WITH..THE EVENTS IN BETWEEN ARE JUST MEMORIES TO KEEP US ALIVE..

What do you think about today’s skateboarders and the on going battle between street and vert skateboarding?

AS I SAID BEFORE SKATEBOARDING WILL NEVER LET US WIN ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER..IT'S SKATEBOARDING IF IT AIN'T ABOUT SKATEBOARDING IT'S SOMETHING I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT..SET UP A BOARD AND RIDE..WITHOUT YER HEALTH AND PROPER ENERGY AIN'T NOTHING HAPPENING..

I keep finding old Thashers with AD’s featuring you in them! Do you have copies of all that stuff?

I NEED COPIES OF ALL OF THOSE AT SOME POINT AND ALSO I NEED SOME NICE BACKSIDE AIR PICK IN POWER EDGE..WOULD LIKE TO GET A COPY OF ALL THE EVENTS I HAVE HAD A PART IN WITH SKATEBOARDING AND MUSIC.

When did you become a father and how has that affected your outlook on music and skateboarding?

I BECAME DAD AT AGE 31. LOOKING BACK ON IT NOW I FEEL LIKE I WAS 16 GOING THRU ALL OF THAT DAD STUFF...I TRIPPED ON HOW THE  WORLD CHANGED RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY FACE AND NOW MY OLDEST IS TALLER THAN ME AND IN HIS OWN BAND ALREADY..I HAVE FOUR KIDS AND I LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF DEALING WITH THE PRESSURE OF BEING THE GUY THAT I GAVE SO MUCH CRAP TO...DAD..MY DAD, MY GIRLFRIENDS DAD'SMY FRIENDS DAD..WE NEVER THINK ABOUT HOW WE GROW UP UNTIL WE HAVE TO RAISE TO TAKE CAR OF SOMEONE WE LOVE TO THE BONE. EVEN IF THE LOVE LAST FOR FIVE MUNTES..ONCE YOU FOCUS IN LIKE THAT WITH LOVE YER LIFE IS CHANGED FOREVER....

                                            Chucks beautiful Family out for some fun.

Your kids are beautiful man, I wish I had started when you did or a little earlier, I still don’t have any!

LOL!

Where are you residing these days?

PHILLY,PA

How many hours a day are you making music?

AS MANY AS I CAN FIT IN AS THE DAY GOES ON, SOMETIMES IT'S ALL IN MY BRAIN...MUSIC IS ALWAYS RECORDED REGARDLESS IF WE LIKE IT OR NOT...IT'S PERFECTING THE ART OF HOW WE RECORD MUSIC THAT ROCKS..IF ALL PEOPLE RECORDED AND NO ONE HAD A CHANCE TO LEARN AND LISTEN IN THERE WOULD BE NO MUSIC. IT WOULD ALL BE IN THE SHADOWS ON OUR MINDS.

Do you sleep with songs popping out in your dreams, or do you work songs out while you’re awake?

MUSIC COMES IN HOW THE AIR COMES IN. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT MUSIC YOU GET CREATIVE THOUGHTS, MAKING THOSE CREATIVE THOUGHTS INTO IDEAL THAT PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND IS COMPLETELY SEPERATED FROM MUSIC..MUSIC IS LIFE. WITHOUT MUSIC THERE'S NOTHING...NOTHING....

Do you get to skate much anymore?

I SKATE ABOUT 2 TO THREE TIME A WEEK. I SESSION FDR SK8PARK AND ALTER ST WAREHOUSE IN PHILLY...I GET OUT TO BAM'S ONCE IN A WHILE. I ALSO I GET TO SKATE PLACES AND PARKS THAT MCRAD PLAYS...STOKED ON THAT. NOW IT'S TIME FOR THE LONGBOARD PHASE OF MY SKATING..WANNA LOBBY FOR MAKING LONGBOARD FLOW PARKS. THAT WOULD ROCK...

                                              

What’s your quiver like these days?

I RIDE A TOTALLY SK8 DECK, BONES WHEELS,ACE TRUCKS, PROJECTS GRIP TAPE AND ROBOT GUTS..I JUST LINKED UP WITH A COMPANY CALL BAMBUSA SKATEBOARDS...THEY ARE USING BAMBOO AND MAPLE TO MAKE DECKS. CHECK OUT ROBOT GUTS..THEY ARE FAMILY AND GOOD FAMILY TOO SK8RZ!

Who are still your favorite skaters?

TOM GROHOLSKI, BAM, FDR LOCALS, JR R.I.P...ALTER ST LOCALS. ALL THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE TO SKATEBOARD REGARDLESS OF WHAT TRICKS THEY DO...KIERAN TREECE, ISAAC TREECE, AND STACY PERALTA...

I want to thank you for sending me those fresh tracks from you and RES!  Killer stuff!

IT WAS AMAZING TO WORK WITH RES..WE JUST DID WHAT WE KNEW AND ALL THIS MUSIC STARTING HAPPENING IN THE STUDIO. BIG UPS TO SANTI WHITE AND MARTIN MCKINNEY FOR HAVING ON THE LP. RES ALSO...SHE IS FAMILY..PHL MUSIC..

You can keep that stuff coming all you want! LOL!

I WILL LACE YA WITH MUSIC AS IT COMES THRU....

What are your current goals?

MY GOALS ARE TO STAY HEALTHY AND TO STAY VIBRANT.ALSO TO HONOR MY PEW GRANT I JUST WON...I AM APART OF THE PEW FELLOWSHIP NOW AND ALSO AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF NARAS, THE GRAMMY FOUNDATION, BE A BETTER FATHER TO MYSELF AND MY KIDS..

Will you always skateboard?

I WILL ALWAYS SK8..IF WE DESIGN PARK FOR ALL SORT OF SKATERS THINGS WILL BE NICE OF THE BODY...IT'S LIKE BIKE RIDING, ROLLER SKATING OR WALKING.....ALL YOUTH SPIRITED EVENTS..THE GO FOR IT IS UP TO THE PERSON WHO GETS INTO THAT FRAME OF MIND...

Looking back on your youth, what memory makes you smile the most?

HAVING A SET OF PARENTS I COULD LEARN FROM AND LOOKING BACK TO LOOK ON..SO MUCH WE TAKE FOR SAKE OF THE MOMENT..OUR BRAINS WORK BECAUSE OF THE MOMENTS..IF YOU CAN SMILE YER LIVING LIFE RIGHT....

I want to thank you Chuck for taking the time to answer a few questions for Coping Block.

THANK YOU CLEO. SO STOKED YOU PUT YER LIFE ON THE LINE FOR SKATEBOARDING. WE ALL WILL BENEFIT FROM COPING BLOCK.

Any shout outs or words of encouragement for those people who read this?

ALL SHOUT OUT TO EVERYONE DOING WHAT THEY LOVE TO DO.

KEEP YER DREAMS AND GOALS MOVING..KEEP YER FAMILY IN A GOOD PLACE WHEN YA CAN..TRAVEL AND SEE THE WORLD AND MAKE HISTORY OF WHAT WE ALL CALL LIFE..

SHOUT OUT FOR DAZE

Let’s skate dude!

YEPPER


Push, Carve, Grind!

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The Marty Ramos Interview in Coping Block Skateboarding Magzine!

                                               Martin Ramos Laying down a Smith Grind.

Marty where were you born?

Jacksonville, FL . . . born and raised.

Marty, how do you begin to explain how your family became a skateboarding fixture in the state of Florida?

Mom and Dad had some skateboards under the Christmas tree back in the early 70’s. I was hooked right from the beginning.  A few years later I started skating Kona.  When it closed down in 1978 Dad thought it a novel idea to buy it and make it a great place for kids and families.  It re-opened in June of 1979 and we’ve been here ever since.

By the way . . . you can see that same board that was under the Christmas tree hanging up at Kona today.

                                               A young Martin Ramos attacking the bricks.

Kona Skate Park is a dinosaur relative to how long previous skate parks have lasted around the United States.  Scientists can’t explain it either, how has Kona Skate Park survived so long?

Probably a combination of luck, timing and keeping to the root values that Mom and Dad established as a safe, fun place for kids and families.  Plus they always had full time jobs.  The skate park wasn’t our main source of income until the 1990’s.  We’ve ridden the wave of good and bad times for sure.  There is no security in skate park ownership . . . just got to roll with the punches.

Marty, how does it feel to know that a business your family started has played an indirect part in the financial success of many other lives through skateboarding?

Not really aware of anyone benefiting financially from Kona.  It’s just nice to still be here.  It seems that the park has added some accessibility for some upcoming skaters . . . but skateboarders find ways to skate regardless.

As a kid growing up around skateboarding as a family business, it couldn’t of all been roses for you.  There must have been some instances when you wanted to be as far away from that skate park as possible?

Being the owners kid can be a double-edged sword for sure.  Its’ been a great ride so far and the benefits have far outweighed any negative stuff that has happened along the way.  I moved out to Colorado in 1992 after G&S (my sponsor at the time) closed.  It felt like I needed to do something different for a while.  Ran a snowboard shop and got tons of riding in.  Eventually I came back for a multitude of reasons.  Mainly for school . . . but ended up staying because my Dad got sick.

                                      Martin and his Father during one of many Ramp repairs.

Which do you prefer, high tops, low tops, or mids?

I prefer Vans.

One thing that I always loved about Kona Skate Park was your folk’s man!

I always felt safe and secure at the Park because of them. They always remembered my name and where I was from, and which company I rode for.  You have picked up a great deal from them and I witnessed how you handled yourself at the Surf Skate Expo in Orlando like a real professional. What advice do you have for new skate park owners?

Get a real job.  Skate park ownership is 90% passion and 10% business.

My parents were passionate about people.  It just happened to be skateboarding that they got into.  They didn’t care whom you were, where you came from, how many tattoo’s you had or if you just got out of jail.  Everyone was treated with the same kindness and respect that you wouldn’t always expect at a skate

park.  Let’s face it . . . in those early days they were dealing with the dregs of society.  Some of the gnarliest dudes in town became great friends with my parents.  And they were as main stream as it gets.  Dad was an accountant and mom was the head guidance counselor at the local high school.  Not any surf or skate background at all.  They just wanted to have a place for kid’s that was fun and safe.

Thanks for the props on the event at Surf Expo.  Its’ been great to be able to pursue those opportunities as they come up.

The Tombstone has been a proving ground of sorts over many years with skaters like Duane Peters, Mark Lake, Tony Alva, Buck Smith, Shawn Peddie, Bobby Reeves, and others building their skateboarding reps through attacking that monstrosity. Who’s idea was it to build the Tomb Stone?

Not sure who came up with that one.  Mitch Kaufman probably knows.  It was already attached to the bowl when my parents bought the park.

It definitely defines the park though.  I’ve seen many a professional skater get broken off on that thing.  That and the snake run . . . it’s way faster than it looks.

                                              Martin's first drop in on Kona's Tombstone.

With the fiberglass stripped from the old half-pipe, it sits there under the sun holding lifetimes of memories and dissipating energy from sessions passed. What about that ramp and the skating that took place on it do you remember the most?

The old fiber-glassy ramp was so much more than I think people realize.  It hosted the first-ever professional vert ramp contest.  There were a few other Pro ½ pipe events before that . . . but the Kona event in 1981 was the first time there was a contest on a wooden ramp with flat-bottom and vert.  It was the first modern day vert ramp as we know it.

The first summer it was completed was in 1980.  The Variflex team was doing a nationwide tour, came to Kona, and fell in love with the ramp.  It had a plywood surface then and and guys like Eric Grisham, Steve Hirsh, Freddy De Sota, Alan Losi and Ziggy Zigler were taking all their pool tricks and doing them on a wooden ramp for the first time.  Gil Losi (owner of Variflex) and my Dad really got along well and decided to partner up and developed the Kona / Variflex Summer Nationals.  The rest is history.

As far as memories of that ramp go:

• Really slippery
• Wood 2x4 for coping
• Big speed bump in the center of both walls due to all the patches
• Bob Reeves doing huge method airs and stalled inverts
• Buck Smith winning all the am events
• Chris Baucom . . . well  . . . just being Chris
• Hosoi and Gator break dancing during one of many rain delays
• Hawk
• All the dudes from Texas . . . “shut up and skate”!
• The Summer National events with the top pros coming out each summer
• The innovation and energy of those times doing what had never been done before on skateboards . . . the list of first time tricks is waaaaaaay to long.  But I will say this . . . the mute-air as we know it, was first done by Buck Smith on that ramp.  A few months later it showed up in a magazine giving someone else credit.

                                     Martin pulling a big backside air on the ancient Kona Ramp.

I remember way back in the day (28 years or so) watching you skate the half-pipe and pool, ripping it up with various Kona locals.  Who were your core local skaters back then and are they still skating today?

This list is so very long that I would hate to leave anyone out.  A lot of them still skate  . . . probably more skating than not skating.  I think anyone that was around back then know who they are.

Are you able to skate as much as you’d like these days, or does the business side keep you off your skateboard more than you’d like it to?

Its’ been really tough balancing skating and working.  Work has definitely won out over the past few years.  I keep telling myself I’m going to get back out there on a regular basis . . . but for now it’s about once a month.

You’ve always had a large PRO Shop at Kona, in fact us St. Pete guys couldn’t wait to get in there and see all your stuff back in the day.  Is it harder today to stock inventory that will move than say just ten years ago?

Retail has changed a ton over the past ten years.  But the shop has always been at the heart of the business.  Sometimes I describe the Skate Park business model as a Skate Shop with a Skate Park out back.

What area of Kona Skate Park has the biggest contingency of skaters?

Street is still king.  But the concrete kids are starting to come up.  But I think street will always be the most popular because its so accessible and the fear factor isn’t anything like pools or vert. . . . . unless you’re doing huge gaps and rails.

                                  Martin at the Grind for Life event in Cocoa Beach Florida.

Where is the Kona Skate Park Marty Ramos signature model with Kona Skate Park wheels?

Probably need to skate more than once a month to make that legit.

                                            Martin killing a backside ollie over the tunnel.

What’s your favorite fast food chain?

Not a fan of fast food.

When are you producing the script to Kona Skate Park the movie?

Ask Stacy Peralta about that one.  As far as a movie or documentary goes, I wouldn’t consider anyone else touching it other than him.  If he isn’t into it then it probably won’t be done.

Elaborate a little about your affiliation with Stone Edge Skate Park in Daytona?

I bought Stone Edge in 2003 after the concrete bowls were removed (except the 9-bowl).  Been holding on ever since.  As if it wasn’t tough enough keeping one going, but I couldn’t pass it up.  Way more of an emotional decision than a business one.  I spent so much time skating the blue ramp and hanging out with Team Glug that it was important to try and preserve it.

Would you consider taking donations to build additional new pools and bowls to replace older less skated structures at Kona Skate Park?

Please make payable to: Kona USA Inc.

                         Martin's been ripping for years! Here he is floating a lofty frontside ollie. 

Why isn’t there more prize money in skateboarding?

As an industry, skateboarding is retarded.  We are notorious for shooting ourselves in the foot time after time.  We need to realize it’s important to promote skateboarding as an industry, and create an organized, understandable path to being a professional.  Otherwise it will always be a struggle for both professionals and retailers.

It isn’t that there isn’t prize money . . . its that it’s a top feeder system.  Only supports the top one percent of professionals and everyone else is left scrambling for leftovers.

Kona has hosted so many rad events like the Lords of Dogtown viewing, Old School Skateboard Reunion, Florida Skateboard Hall of Fame Inductions, Kona Anniversary with Tony Hawk, the Bowl Riders Cup recently, Grind For Life Events, what’s next for Kona in event marketing?

It would be great to bring a nationally televised event to Kona.  With all the history, the uniqueness of the existing concrete and the passion that the industry shows for it . . . I feel it’s a winning situation for everyone that would be involved.

                            Martin enjoying a Cocoa Beach Skate Park evening Grind.

You are a businessman Marty but at your core you are a skateboarder first, who are your all-time favorite skateboarders to watch skate?

That is a tough one.  Chris Miller comes to mind first . . . but being around guys like Buck Smith and Tim Johnson is like a daily inspiration.  They are so raw and talented and bring a ton of energy to any session.

You ever just want to load up a van and drive around the country and skate different skate spots?

Every day.

                        One of those rare instances when Martin was able to go on a skate safari!

When you were a kid what was your dream skateboard set up?

One that I could spin 540 on.  Still waiting for that set up.

Pancakes or Waffles?

Blueberry Muffins.

Is there a skate park that you always wanted to skate but never got the chance to go ride ?

The Turf in Wisconsin.  Ironically they just unearthed a portion of it while some road construction was clearing land.  There is a big push to save it and it appears that I may be able to skate it after all.

Marty did you know that the first piece of press I got was in your Kona Flyer almost thirty years ago! Now you are being interviewed in my own Skateboarding Magazine.

Full circle I guess, I want to thank you and your family for being the first to recognize my skateboarding.

Dad came up with the idea for the mag.  It seems to have impacted way more people than any of us ever realized.  It was such a small thing at the time.  All about our local scene . . . but with the traffic the park received, a ton of non-locals were getting coverage as well. I can still remember that White G&S side-cut board you rode. 

Dang! Forgot about that deck!

Marty, how has your view on life changed since you became a family man yourself?

Family first.  Kids are great.  They really put things into perspective.  I was blessed to have the same two parents throughout my life.  Its important to make sure the things my parents engrained into me are carried forward in my family.

                                       

Do you have any companies or persons you want to thank or recognize at this time?

Anyone that has ever come to Kona and enabled us to survive for this long, and all the volunteers that continuously step up and help with events, camps, and contests.  But lately its’ been the support of my wife and family.  As the economy has beaten up everyone, we too have felt the pressure.  It’s like old times now with all my girls helping out on a daily basis.  Laurie (wife) is helping out with daily operations and Cassidy (16 year old daughter) has taken over with events and such.  Roxanne (6 years old) and Scarlet (4 years old) have even started working the snack bar.  It is truly a family business.

And lastly but certainly not the least . . . my Mom . . . she rocks!

Thanks for taking the time to chat with Coping Block!

Its’ been an honor.

Push, Carve, Grind!

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

http://copingblock.wix.com/cleoconey

The Holly Ryan Interview in Coping Block Skateboarding Magazine

                                                 Holly Ryan, not your average country girl.

Holly, how long have you’ve been in Florida?

Two years.

What brought you here?

My husband Justin and I were ready for something different, we both had been in the mid-west our whole lives, I grew up in Illinois and he grew up in Iowa. The winters were very gnarly, and the older you get your bones just can’t handle it anymore. LOL!

How did you two meet?

We met through skateboarding, he was a part owner in a skate shop in Des Moines Iowa,

 during the same time I was going to school about an hour away in Iowa City. I met him at the skate shop there. In the winter we didn’t have any place to skate, but Des Moines had a roller rink that would bring ramps out twice a week and we’d drive over an hour to skate every week on Wednesdays and Saturdays in winter conditions like sleet and blizzards just to skate.  If we didn’t drive there, we wouldn’t get to do anything.

That’s serious commitment! What got you into skating in the first place?

Well, when I was a twelve- year old girl growing up in the country, like really deep country. We had one neighbor and they had three kids, and I was friends with the their daughter and her brother skated.  When I’d go up to visit her and hang out, I remember he had pieces of plywood laid out and up against a pile of logs.

No way! He was skating up logs?

Yeah, plywood going up logs, we were deep in the country.

It was a country ramp!

Yeah! We were in the country outside of town, all trees and dirt roads.

I went up there to visit my friend and he was dropping in and then riding down the ramp into the grass. It was probable about five feet tall.

That is the raddest thing I’ve heard!

So I got up there and I was like, “I wanna do it”! Cause I was always following my brother around, and he was into motocross and he was friends with our neighbors oldest boy and they’d be out riding around on motorcycles while I was skating on the country ramp. Then one day our road got black top and that’s when I decided I wanted a skateboard.

     Ok, so when I first started skating it was mostly street because that's all we had unless we built little crappy stuff.  One day I was on my way home and near our house is a bridge that crosses over a little creek.  I saw some wooden thing floating in it that looked like a 3 foot launch ramp.  It wasn't far from my house so I figured I could get that thing home somehow so I walked down there into the water and dragged the thing out with giant spiders running off of it.  Got it home, my friend helped me clean it up and resurface it, and I put it in my basement.  That's what I learned to drop in on.  It was only 3 foot tall and maybe 3 feet wide, pretty narrow but it worked and I was so excited.  Eventually I had a launch ramp, parking block I got for my birthday, weird flat bar made of PVC coping, a grind box, and an itty-bitty mini ramp all in my basement.  It was pretty rad, especially in the winter. I'm very lucky that we had a large sized basement for all of that and parents that let me do it.  I miss it now.

                                                        Holly putting her skills on display.

What was your first skateboard?

We didn’t have any mags or skate shops or anything, I had to order from CCS and got a Fred Smith III, with Gullwing trucks and I can’t remember the wheels I think maybe Slimeballs. LOL!

That’s crazy! So, later you meet your future husband at the place he does business?

Yeah, when I was living in Iowa City I became friends with the Des Moines skate crew and we’d go to his shop. We were friends for a long while before we started dating.

Now you guys have been married for how long?

Two years, but we’ve been together for eight.

Wow!

Taking it slow, LOL before we got married.

LOL!

So getting married is great, but it really didn’t change much, I got my name changed.

Added Documentation?

Yeah.

                                  Holly Ryan attacks ledges, stairs, benches, rails, and now coping!

What is it you like about street skating?

It’s more free skating, not being confined to one little area.

Where I grew up skating we just cruised around, we didn’t have a big town but we did have a campus, and we found what was good and skated it. You get more creative that way I think, instead of building stuff to skate.

Is your husband Justin a street skater, or does he get into ramps too?

We both really just like “Skateboarding”, we don’t have categories or labels, we are just skaters. We like everyone and skate everything, except that I don’t like spine ramps. LOL! Those things kill me! LOL! I used to skate them though.

What’s the response you get from other women your age when they find out you’re a skater?

Well, I haven’t really met many other women from outside the sport my age. I have a group of female friends back home but most of them skate too. But I also have close female friends that don’t skate at all that respect the sport and think it’s cool.

What do you like about pool riding?

I like the speed!  I love carving and hitting coping! The feeling of hitting pool coping is not something I was used to growing up on ramps with steel coping everywhere.

The first time I hit pool coping was so different, it felt kind of like street skating in a way.

It was raw and I like the way it sounds, it was like grinding concrete in the street.

                                                   Holly finding a coping grinding speed line.

Are you apart of the GRO organization?

I would like to be, I help out when they come here, and I definitely support it!

Who are some of the other female skaters that you session with?

Noelle, who lives in Sarasota and Courtney who’s about fourteen, she’s a little ripper!

Do you mainly skate at the Skate Park Of Tampa?

Most of the time, it’s easy, and you don’t get in trouble street skating. Nowadays, you get busted for street skating.

                                                        Holly Ryan Ollie Blunt to Fakie.

What advice would you give to young girls who want to get into skateboarding or who have only just beginning to skate?

Do your own thing, don’t listen to the negative people, don’t worry about the little kids that come up to you and ask silly questions.

How supportive has your family been with your skating?

My mom has always been super proud of me! She liked the idea that I was doing something out of the norm especially for a girl. She’d take us to skate parks and my dad seemed pretty proud, I’ve been pretty lucky.

                                                     Holly styling a Frontside Rock n Roll.

What’s your cumulative years skating?

Twenty years.

Twenty years skating!, I’m stoked!

I feel like I’ve transformed in my skating. In the beginning I skated street more, and then gradually I started skating transition more and more.

You like that bowl they have at the Skate Park Of Tampa?

Yeah, it’s like a mini bowl, it’s fun.

What kind of tricks are you pulling in it these days?

Well I haven’t been doing too many new tricks in a while, shame on me.

But ah, I like blunt to fakies probable the most recent trick I learned, ah, frontside rocks, and frontside lipslides. I love frontside rocks they feel good.

They feel good don’t they!

Yeah, I like those they’re fun, I like getting all twisted up!

I want to get all my tricks back to back, to be able to pull them all in a run back to back.

Have you been over to the New Symrna pool yet?

No.

How about the Englewood Pool down South?

Yeah! That’s hot, we went down there pretty recently.

Met some friends down their, I’ve actually met more girl skaters here in Florida then anywhere else.

Do you keep in touch with other girl skaters on Facebook?

No, not really, I’m friends with like three of them.

I think there’s like three Holly’s that skate and that rip, yourself included.

Yeah, I always want to meet new girl skaters, because I would like to skate with more girls.  It helps motivate you when there are other girls in the session.

Were you stoked when you saw the footage of Lindsay Hawkins, the first female to pull off a McTwist in Paris at Tony Hawks traveling skate show?

Yeah! I can’t even imagine what that feels like!

What other Florida parks have you skated?

I Skated the Orlando Skate Park, and I’ve been to Ovideo as well.

What do you think about Florida now that you’ve lived here?

I had people tell me that Florida was too hot and I would take the heat over minus twenty degrees any day! LOL!

I feel you on that, LOL!

Not having to go out and dig your car out of the driveway, just being able to go out and go skating. Plus I can go ride my motorcycle and we’ve met a lot of cool people down here.

What would you do to promote skateboarding to females?

I never thought of female skateboarding being different than male skateboarding.

But I’d skate with anybody who wants to learn.

Where do you really want to go skate?

I’d love to go back to Colorado and skate! There are some great places to skate there, and I’d just love to go skate whereever I can around the globe.

Where are the kids at?

Kids? What kids?

No kids? No junior skaters in the household? What’s going on with that?

I want it to happen, but right now I’m not sure I’m ready to give up my freedom.

I don’t know how to say that, I want to have kids, but it’s scary.

When you’re on the coping do you want to destroy it or are you calm on the coping?

I want to destroy it.

When you are watching skateboarding what makes you go “yeah”!

Skaters at speed, really long grinds, you know, when I see skaters get real aggressive it makes me want to get in there and skate too.

What do you like to do in the streets?

Rails, stairs, flippy tricks I dunno, I’ve been spending more time in the bowls now.

Where do you see yourself in five years in skateboarding?

Depends on my physical condition, but still skateboarding.

If a girl wants to skate with you, where and when do you session?

Most of the time I can be found Tuesday Nights at the Skate Park Of Tampa.

Sometimes when I just want to skate flat ground, I go to Fossil Skate Park in St. Petersburg. It’s not my favorite, but it’s close to home.

Do you surf?

No, but I did snowboard back home.

Oh! You rip the snow?

Yeah!

You take the black runs?

Yeah, I like the speed.

That’s sick, you rip concrete and you rip the snow, I’m stoked!

I prefer to skate at parks that have no hours, no safety equipment requirements, no rules, just pure skateboarding. That’s how I started out.

Limitless?

Yeah, no limits!

Is there anybody you want to give a shout out to or a thank you?

Oh yeah, my husband Justin who has taught me so many things in skateboarding.

He pushes me and won’t let me take a step back. My family has always been supportive of me especially my Mom and Dad, the Skate parks in Iowa and the Skate Park Of Tampa for really being good to Justin and I.

                                                         Holly Ryan slashing steel coping.


Push, Carve, Grind!

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

http://copingblock.wix.com/cleoconey