March 2001
Photos and interview by Brian Perry
What's your name?
Emeric Pratt
Where does Olu come from?
It's my middle name.
Who are you skating for right now?
Fobia, Supernatural, and I just get shoes flowed from Circa.
You don't have a board sponsor?
A... No. Not really.
What do you mean not really?
It's just not going on right now.
I thought you got stuff from Illenium?
I quit.
Out of no where or what?
No.. I just did. I mean, they did a lot for me. Al Partnan is the team manager and he's a friend of mine so it was just kinda weird. I didn't want to ask him for shit. In the end I just though that something else would work out. I just want to do more stuff for the companies I ride for now. Benji's going to do another video so I'll be skating for that.
Do you have anyone you want to ride for?
Well, my options are pretty open right now. Whatever's best for me is what I'll go for.
It seems to me you could ride for anyone you want.
No, I don't think so (laughter).
Are you having a problem getting boards?
No. Joe (Fobia) always hooks me up.
Have you ever been interviewed before?
Yea, a couple times... but not for hardflip.
Your my first black interview.
Yea?
How do you feel about that?
Breakin' barriers.
How old are you?
23
Got anything going on this summer?
I might go to camp but I'll be around here skating a lot. I guess they're going to do a day camp at Maplewood and I'll do that for sure.
Are you content living here?
No.
Do you want to live in California?
I just want to travel more. The last few winters I haven't been here so it's tough to deal with. I want to get out of here as fast as I can.
Would you more to California if you had the chance?
Yea. Northern California probably. Steve's out there, Clint's always out there, Todd Bratrud.
Would you want to be a professional skater?
Ow definitely. That's a ways away, though.
Is it better to be low key about it?
That's not always the best way. I look at some people and that's what they want to do and that's what motivates them to get shit done. Like Steve (Nesser) just goes out and makes shit happen. He's always out trying to film and take photos and stuff. He's getting better and better. I think he's coming back here when it gets warm. He'll be here for that camp and filming for the summer.
Do you have a computer?
No. I think it's cool that your doing this, though. I don't even check the internet or anything. I'm probably going to get an email address or whatever. I've heard what you've been doing and it sounds really good. I have seen it a few times and it's always updated. That's cool.
Are you originally from Minnesota?
Yup. I was born here. I've lived in Golden Valley pretty much my whole life. My brother got me into skating and then I started skating with Wayne Zarr and Brandon Marchini. We'd go to skateville. I didn't get to go to the Oasis (now 3rd Lair) cuz my parents thought it was in the ghetto. But when I turned 16 I just started going myself. Then I started skating with Rob (Sissi) a lot, and Brian McGuinis, Steve (Nesser), Seth (McCallum). I've seen Seth around my whole life. Everywhere I went Seth was there killing it. Then Fobia started and I started trying to get sponsored and all that.
(at this point people upstairs were yelling 'Fire! Fire!' so we decided to pack it in)
Cool. Well, any last words or words of wisdom or anything?
I'd like to thank my family. My mom, my dad, my brother of course and all my friends, my sponsors, all the people that help me out. All that good shit. And, yea... everybody. They're all good. Skate. All that kind of shit.
This interview was done shortly before this photo was taken
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