INTERVIEW BY BRIAN PERRY
03/17/04

So you're back in Vegas. Do you have family out there or why did you return?
I have family here and some how Las Vegas always draws me back.

You told me that Portland was the best skate environment you've ever been in. Could you elaborate on that?
In Portland everything they do is for the pure love of skateboarding. The whole attitude is "if you skate you skate", it's as simple as that. If you show up to skate somewhere, your welcome. If you show up thinking you deserve some sort of "pro" treatment then it's probably not the right place for you. Your skating ability matters not, just that your skating is what matters. I suggest to anyone who feels that there head is congested with skateboard politics so to speak, take a trip to Oregon and you'll see what I mean. Under those circumstances you experience skateboarding at it's purest.

How long did you live in Minnesota? Who did you usually skate with from here?
I grew up and lived in Minnesota from birth until the age of 17. People I skated with: John Mcnicoll, Glen Nordell, Jamie Billman, Adam Poutz, my cousin Brandon Dugan. And later on when I discovered the skate oasis LeRoux, Woody, Navarette, Nate Shaggeby, Justin Lynch and lots of other local rippers at the park.

How did you find this site? Do you keep up with the scene here at all? Have you seen any of Iota's riders or anything?
I look in on the 3rd lair site regularly and found the link there. I always have my eye on what is going on in Minnesota. Steve Nesser and Emeric Pratt totally rip. Steve reminds me of Rick Howard with his smooth and effortless style and Emeric has a definite flair of originality in him that is really nice to see. I saw both of them skating in Tampa very well.

Who was your favorite MN skater back then? Glen Nordell and Dave LeRoux. Two major influences on me.

Remember when we went down to Rockford for that am contest and you entered the vert contest against Andy Mac? You just learned 540's so everyone was all tripped out on you. What did you get in that contest?
I don't remember Andy Mac being there but I do recall Danny Mayer being there. I'm not to sure what place I got. I just remember that I didn't do well at all when came down to taking my runs.

You just got 28th in Tampa. Was that the first contest you've entered in a while?
Yeah, the last contest I entered was in Anaheim about 4 years ago.

Who are some of your favorite pros now?
Cardiel, Danny Way, TNT, Red, Hewitt, Rowley, Muska, Randy Colvin(one of the all time best), Ben Schroeder.

How did you get hooked up with H-Street in the first place? What was that like?
It all started with Planet Earth, then some how kind of just evolved into that I rode for H-Street. That was a great period of time everything just happened real fast. I moved to Vegas was riding for these companies, started wandering around San Diego and was all the sudden skating with and hanging out with all kinds of people I looked up to in skate videos. That was also the start of a great friendship I had with founder of H-Street and Plan B, Mike Ternasky. Everyone he worked with he basically took in as family. The way he believed in you and talked to you was absolute inspiration. He had a profound affect on a lot of people, including myself. He could definitely bring out the best in everyone. I'll always miss him.

I don't want to bring up the rumor I've heard for years but things got ugly for you many years ago. How are things now?
Things are real good. I live with my beautiful girl friend Melissa and her daughter Krystal. I skate everyday and I am in good health. I couldn't ask for much more than that. As far as skateboarding goes I have some unfinished goals professionally and personally.

You may not remember this but a long, long time ago you told me a secret that you had to shave your forehead because your hairline went down to your eyebrows. Now in my ripe old age I honestly can't remember if that actually happened or not. There were a few months back then when LSD was all cool so I may have made it up...
Yeah, that's true alright. It didn't actually grow down to my eye brows but I sure didn't have much of a forehead. I think it became pretty normal as I grew older.

Are you riding for anyone?
Not really. I need to arrange something though because I really want to be involved in any upcoming events...contests and stuff like that.

Thanks Ryan. Good to hear from you. Any last words or shout outs?
Good to see the skate scene so alive in MN.