Video (500Kb .avi)
By Anna Rusinowski
Jump to Interview with:
Jesse Landen
Rune Glifberg
Ariel Stagni
Milton Nieves
Vanessa Torres
Chris Haslam
Gailea Momolu
Malcolm Wattson
I'll be there in ten minutes and what will I say? My eyes are getting all red and puffy of nervousness and I have just three days to put together the best report of my life. I'm the shyest person when it comes to meeting new people, am I up for the task? I arrive at the Hershey Centre all stressed out and ready to go, how the next three days will unfold I don't know. As I get to the course, Gailea Momolu cruises right by me and front boards the biggest rail on the course as if it were nothing. If that wasn't intimidating I don't know what is. For half an hour I just stood there in awe as some of the people I had met in my dreams began to practice for the Nokia Rail Jam taking place that evening. As I look around I recognize a familiar face, Mississauga's own Phil McKnight warming up for the big event. I looked around trying to figure out whom to pester with my crazy interview questions first, and there he was sitting by the vert ramp all by himself, another Mississauga local Mark Bajkar. I took a deep breath sat down beside him and introduced myself, “Hi I'm Anna and I'm writing an article for boardpass.com would you mind if I asked you a few questions?” To my surprise I received a great big smile and I started to ask as many uncommon questions as I could. As the conversation progressed and I realized that Mark was just like any other person who eats steak for breakfast and tests drugs on himself for a medical clinic. At the end of our conversation I asked him how he liked his eggs, after a seconds pause and a puzzled look he answered scrambled. I shook his hand, thanked him, wished him luck, and was on my way to find my next interviewee.
As I watched the practice session I noticed a tall shaggy haired figure coming towards me from the corner of my eye, “hey what's up Anna?” he said. It was perfect…Jesse Landen wouldn't turn me down for an interview, or would he? After small talk was over I asked him “the question”, “Would you mind if I interviewed you for a website called boardpass?” Jesse in fact did turn me down, but after a little persuasion and my astonishing good looks (hahahah) he agreed. Before arriving at the Hershey Centre that day I decided to ask every skateboarder I interviewed how they liked their eggs, and so I started with that very question and received yet another puzzled look.“ Over easy, no doubt” he exclaimed and I myself had an even more mystified look upon my face. Over easy? What the hell is that? Trying not to make myself look stupid I just smiled and nodded and after further inspection I discovered what this over easy was. For all the boardpass members that would like to know how to make over easy eggs here's the recipe.
Heat a small non-stick skillet over low heat and add butter. As soon as the butter stops foaming, crack the eggs into the pan. Lift the handle about an inch so that the eggs pool in the far corner of the pan. Hold for 30 seconds or until the whites start to set, then lower the handle and give the pan a jiggle just to make sure there's no sticking. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper and continue to cook over low heat until the whites become opaque. Jiggle to loosen the eggs, then lift the pan, holding it about a foot above the heat. Now, flip the eggs over by pushing the pan away and snapping upward simultaneously. Once the eggs start their somersault, raise the pan to meet them so that the exposed yolks experience the softest landing possible. The goal of course is to avoid breaking the yolks. If you succeed, count to 10 slowly then flip the eggs again, slide them onto a plate and serve. If the yolks do break, act like you meant them to, fry for another minute and serve. They'll still taste great.
Now that everyone knows how to make over easy eggs I'll continue with my interview.
Anna: so who's your biggest role model that isn't a skateboarder?
Jesse: Kurt Cobain…I'm not really sure why though
Anna: that's a good enough answer… I'm sure you've heard of Archie comics…?
Jesse: yeah of course
Anna: Betty or Veronica?
Jesse: Which one is the hot one again?
Anna: Veronica
Jesse: Sooo Veronica
Anna: ahahah but Betty can cook…
Jesse: yeah but Veronica's hot
Anna: blondes are hot…ahh oh well…how long have you been skateboarding for?
Jesse: 10 years
Anna: and how has the industry changed since you started?
Jesse: It's a lot harder…everyone's progressing so much you always have to push yourself to do better. I miss the old days.
Anna: What would you be doing if you weren't skateboarding?
Jesse: probably taking some media arts classes in school…I really like filming
And then suddenly out of nowhere in the back parking lot this crazy skateboarder jumps in front of us and almost starts to take a leak. Luckily I was wearing a bright red shirt and was pretty hard to miss . I thanked Jesse for the interview and got out of there as fast as could without getting peed on.
I went Back into the arena and noticed that Rune Glifberg was packing his things by the vert ramp. I closed my eyes took a deep breath and started walking toward him. Trying not to mumble and speak loud enough so that he could hear me over the announcers voice, I asked if he had some time for an interview and his amazingly attractive Denmark accent caught me off guard. Quickly trying not to loose my train of thought I asked him how long he had been skateboarding and what his parents thought of skateboarding as a career.
Rune: I've been riding for 18 years and my parents didn't have the money to buy me all the equipment I needed when I was starting up, but were always supportive of my riding.
Anna: Who's your biggest role model that isn't a skateboarder?
Rune: Nelson Mandela
Still red in the face and nervous like you wouldn't believe, I asked the first question that popped into my head, “eggs you like?”
Rune: yeah…I like eggs
Anna: oh shoot, I meant to say how do you like your eggs?
Rune: (laughs) scrambled…with special k cereal…with strawberries…
Anna: good answer
Rune looked like he was in a rush so I thanked him and was on my way to watch the Nokia rail Jam.
I sat down and watched in amazement as some of the boys took a few of the biggest bails I've ever seen. There was one dude who wouldn't stop trying a 270 to front board, he was so close to hitting his head I was scared for him. Paul Machnau whipped out a sweet switch front board but it was Phil McKnight who stole the audience with a switch flip front board winning himself 1st place and 2000 dollars American. Afterwards I went up to Phil congratulated him and asked if I could interview him the next day, he agreed without a seconds thought and I went home, to sleep in my warm comfy bed dreaming about all the things that had happened.
The next morning I woke up nice and early to be at the Hershey Centre by 10:30. When I arrived and made my way to the course I ran into a friend of mine Ariel Stagni which happens to be the nicest skateboarder I know. I had mentioned to Ariel the week before the comp that I would be interviewing some pro and amateur skateboarders at the Open for boardpass. When I brought it up he told me to hit him up after his heat which was coming up soon. I made my way to the floor and was blown away after seeing Chris Haslam nose grind frontside flip out the elevator rail. It was shocking!! You can always count on Chris busting out moves you've never seen before. Soon after the first heat I grabbed Ariel and we set out to the West 49 booth. After making a big circle around the Hershey Centre and finally finding the booth we took a seat and I began my interview.
Anna: so how long have you been skateboarding for?
Ariel: since grade seven
Anna: and how has the industry changed since you started skateboarding?
Ariel: It's weird because when I started skateboarding it wasn't very popular so whenever I saw someone with a skateboard I knew that they knew what it was all about. Now everyone skateboards so it's a good thing but now you can't really relate to as many people. I mean it's awesome that so many people skateboard but when I started out it was different.
Anna: Who's your biggest role model that isn't a skateboard?
Ariel: My dad
Anna: What would you be doing if you weren't skateboarding?
Ariel: well I took urban planning in University but I really like to draw…and I'd probably be snowboarding a lot more…I actually prefer snowboarding to skateboarding
Anna: sweet…and what's your favourite cartoon?
Ariel: Curious George
Anna: hahah…I remember him…what about cereal? what gets you pumped and ready in the morning?
Ariel: Muslix Bran
Anna: how do you like your eggs?
Ariel: Scrambled with vegetables!
After asking the most important question of all I gave Ariel a high five and was on my way determined to get some more crazy interviews.
I was standing by the vert ramp watching Mike Crum and his crazy hand plants when Roberto Dosanjos came up to me and asked me what I was doing…confused like you wouldn't believe I just smiled and pretended I didn't hear what he had said. Again he asked what I was doing there but pointed at my media pass and everything became clear to me. I explained to him that I was conducting interviews which I was going to put into an article for boardpass.com. Afterwards I asked him if he would mind if I asked him a few questions and he had absolutely no problem with that and offered to do a few tricks for me so that I could get it on video camera and show to the good people on Boardpass. This interview proved to be a little more difficult then the others because it seems that they don't have Archie comics in Brazil and he doesn't eat cereal or watch much television. I crossed my fingers as I asked him the money question,” how do you like your eggs in the morning”? I was sure they had eggs in Brazil. I waited for his answer and was happy to hear the two words “over easy” unlike my past interview with Jesse Landen.
Earlier that day I had overheard Milton Nieves talking to little Brandon and had heard him say some of the wisest things I have ever heard in my life. I've never heard anyone talk about skateboarding so passionately and hearing him talk just made me want to grab my board, ditch the comp and go skate the parking lot. After overhearing his conversation I asked him if I could interview him and soon after we were walking to the back hall where we grabbed a seat on the floor and I began the interview.
Anna: How long have you been skateboarding for?
Milton: 20 years
Anna: What did your parents think of your skateboarding as a career?
Milton: They weren't happy with it but they loved me and when you love someone you support them even if you don't always agree with what they're doing. The most important things is that you care for what you do.
Anna: (laughs)…I wish my mom were interviewing you maybe then she wouldn't try to steal my skateboard three times a week.
Milton: (laughs) that sucks
Anna: what would you be doing if you weren't skateboarding?
Milton: I'd be a cook
Anna: o0o0o0…Master chef Milton Nieves
Milton: (laughs) oh yeah
Anna: So master chef how do you like your eggs?
Milton: over easy
Anna: and what's your favourite cereal?
Milton: Kellogg's…the regular kind…no sugar
Anna: nice
I was going to ask Milton whether he preferred Betty or Veronica but I quickly remembered Roberto Dosanjos's answer and quit while I was ahead. We helped each other off the cold arena floor and walked back to the course. By that time the fourth qualifying heat was just about to end and everyone was getting ready and hyped up for The Switch Best Trick contest. Now I myself felt tricked…I was so stoked on seeing every single trick done switch but little did I know “Switch” was the name of the juice sponsoring the event. After a few moments of sadness Gailea Momolu cheered me up like no one else could with a switch heel front lip. Other highlights of the “Switch” Best trick contest were when Wagner Ramos switch heeled the big set and Corey Sheppard busted out a kickflip back board. After the “Switch” Best trick contest they played the DC shoe Deluxe Edition vid on the big screen and I have to say that Big Black is so incredibly funny and I wish I could've interviewed him as well. I wonder how he likes his eggs in the morning? Or how many eggs he likes in the morning?
On the last day of the West 49 Open I arrived at the Hershey center even earlier and got to watch the girls warm up for the big competition. Our very own Caroline Irvine had entered but unfortunately due to an ankle injury was not able to compete that day. It's okay Caroline…you can still rip it like no one else. Girls like Lyn-Z Adams Hawkins and Vanessa Torres made me proud to be a female skateboarder and so I had to interview at least one of them. I approached Vanessa Torres and introduced myself, I told her about Boardpass and asked if she would mind if I asked her a few questions. Vanessa being the cool girl that she is walked with me to the parking lot where we sat on a pick-nic table and I began my interview.
Anna: How long have you been skateboarding for?
Vanessa: 5 years
Anna: Which skateboarder do you look up to most?
Vanessa: Rick McKrank
Anna: What did your parents think of you skateboarding?
Vanessa: They didn't like it too much because I started doing badly in school and they wanted me to be successful, but now they're totally supportive of me and want me to have fun with what I do in life.
Anna: Do you ever get nervous before competitions?
Vanessa: no, I never really got nervous because I grew up skateboarding in front of people and realized that was part of the deal.
Anna: What would you be doing if you weren't skateboarding?
Vanessa: surfing
Anna: Betty or Veronica?
Vanessa: Veronica
Anna: what's your favourite cartoon?
Vanessa: Tom and Jerry
Anna: nice…and how do you like your eggs??
Vanessa: scrambled or over easy
Interviewing Vanessa Torres was definitely the highlight of my day and I couldn't wait to get a few more interviews in before the end of the day. When watching the girls finals I took a seat on the floor right next to Chris Haslam and waited for the perfect time to ask him for an interview. Then as he was stretching his legs I asked and was not disappointed. We ended up walking to the back hallway and sat on a trolley where I began asking questions.
Anna: What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you to sign?
Chris: oh man…a cigarette, a coke can, socks, a quarter…anything you can possibly imagine I've signed.
Anna: What was your first job?
Chris: in a department store
Anna: how long have you been skateboarding for?
Chris: 10 years
Anna: do you get nervous before competitions?
Chris: no…not anymore…because I know I'm not going to do well so I'll usually just try to land something you don't see very often.
Anna: what's your favourite cereal?
Chris: Corn Pops…but the Canadian kind because the American ones aren't as round and crunchy. Other then that I like Honey Combs and Cookie Crunch.
Anna: nice…Betty or Veronica?
Chris: which one is the blonde again?
Anna: Betty
Chris: yeah Betty for sure
Anna: and how do you like your eggs in the morning?
Chris: over easy!!!
Then I realized Gailea Momolu talking to some fans down the hallway so I ended my interview and made my way towards him. After giving away some boardpass stickers I approached him and asked him if he had some time for an interview. Right after Gailea finished signing we took off down the hall where we found another trolley to sit on.
Anna: What's your favourite cereal?
Gailea: Raisin Bran
Anna: what your favourite cartoon show?
Gailea: Simpson's and Family Guy
Anna: What was your first job?
Gailea: paper route
Anna: How long have you been skating for?
Gailea: 9 years
Anna: Who's your biggest role model that isn't a skateboarder?
Gailea: my parents…they've always been really supportive of me
Anna: do you get nervous before competitions?
Gailea: yeah but I just try and stay focused
Anna: what's the weirdest thing someone's asked you to sign?
Gailea: (laughs) stinky shoes and under aged boobies
Anna: (laughs) believe it or not you're the first person to give me that answer.
How has the skateboarding industry changed since you started skateboarding?
Gailea: I've never really paid much attention to the skateboarding industry…I just love to skate I'm always on the outside looking in.
Anna: last question…how do you like your eggs?
Gailea: scrambled
Soon after the interview the fructis style vert finals started and I've never seen a 900 done on my eyes until then. It was amazing, Bucky Lasek won best trick with a nollie flip McTwist but Sandro Dias walked away with first place in the end. After the Vert finals the most anticipated event of the weekend started. The Mens Billabong Street Course Finals blew everyone's mind away. Skateboarders like Mark Appleyard, Colt Cannon, Wolnei Dosantos, and Josh Evin made the event worth while. When watching the boys compete I took a seat by Malcolm Wattson and was blown away with his intelligence. Malcolm said some of the smartest stuff I've ever heard and so I asked him if I could ask him a few questions. The interview started just like the rest and I discovered that he liked Betty not Veronica, ate Cinnamon toast Crunch cereal and likes scrambled eggs not over easy.
Anna: How long have you been skateboarding for?
Malcolm: 18 years
Anna: How has the skateboarding industry changed since you started skateboarding?
Malcolm: well unfortunately it's not so much about talent anymore. Skateboarding is like a fraternity…you got to be in the right one to get places.
Anna: Where are you from?
Malcolm: L.A, South Central…yeah girls were coming out of high school with 2 kids, it's messed up. I just used skateboarding as an exit.
Anna: What would you be doing if you weren't skateboarding?
Malcolm: I'd be an NBA superstar (laughs) no I'm joking probably a teacher.
Anna: what did your parents think of you skateboarding?
Malcolm: they didn't really have much to say about it they were just happy I found something I loved.
Anna: Were they ever worried about your safety?
Malcolm: no…I mean relationships hurt more then falling but parents always want you to get married eventually.
Anna: Who's your biggest role model that isn't a skateboarder?
Malcolm: (laughs) I don't believe in role models or heroes…you are who you are and no one intends on being a role model or hero it just happens by accident. Myself I guess if I were to give you an answer. Who's your biggest role model?
Anna: probably my friend Donna
Malcolm: and why is that?
Anna: I don't know…I guess it's because she motivates me and pushes me to be a better skateboarder.
Malcolm: so you want to be like Donna when you grow up?
Anna: (laughs) well I wouldn't mind because she's a great person but I guess I just look up to her a lot
Malcolm: that's cool
Anna: last question…what's your favourite cartoon?
Malcolm: well it's an adult cartoon…Undergrads.
After interviewing Malcolm Wattson I realized I had a new favourite skateboarder. The finals had ended and the prizes were given out. Wagner Ramos ended up taking home the gold or 1st place in the Mens Billabong Street Finals, Colt Cannon placed 2nd and Rodolfo Ramos took third.
The weekend was amazing and I haven't had so much fun in a long time. I was nervous at first but soon realized that the people I interviewed are just like you and me. I have a new found respect for the skateboarders I interviewed and skateboarding in general after that weekend. I just wish everyone had the opportunity I did. Congratulations to West 49 for putting together this amazing event and no thanks to Phil McKnight for the interview that never took place. I'll get you, you little bugger.
