ASRA - Australian Skateboard Racing Association

interviews with the place takers at the 1st DH drift race...

interviews by Ben Martin, photos as listed.

Well, as most of you lads and ladettes have heard the day is done and dusted....From here I will be talking to a few crew from around and seeing what their reactions were etc.

Yesterday I finally got to sit down with the reining champ Steve "Gnar Boy" Chick. Coincidentally he's the man responsible for this site too and a total shredder. The following interview was done on my couch with a Cascade Pale Ale...then resubmitted via email.



Steve "Gnar boy" Chick, throwing the smack down on a heelside drift...nice ankles. photo by Hamish rogers.

G'day Gnar Boy, congrats on the win and helping put the actual event on. How did it feel to race your first event?
Well, must say coming first was a nice surprise, other than that the stoke was high, the leathers were sweaty and the crashes were nasty!

Indeed they were; my hip still hurts today... I know how long it is, seeing as you taught me, but for the others; how long have you been drifting?
[I've] Been drifting for a few years, doing it regularly for about 12 months and practicing for this specific format for maybe 3 months.

The training definately seemed to pay off...have to ask though, what were your feelings on the day?
[I] Was kinda nervous for my first run, but I settled into a rhythm after that and I think it paid off, plus I think I had a bit of luck. There was so little in the final I honestly thought it could go either way.

From a judges and spectators perspective, these was one little slip, not even a mistake in it...thoughts on gear: are you tech? not tech? whatever is under your feet? etc...
Well, I'm a skate-nerd, so gear matters to me! The format also lends itself to low-traction wheels, low boards and fairly agile setups. I'm someone who needs to be comfortable with a given board to be able to ride it well, I think too much if the board feels odd and that makes me suck.

Well, to be fair you didn't seem to suck Saturday! ..big question, who are the riders you look up to?
People who rips switch... Everyone who genuinely innovates, be it gear or riding.

Good answer, nice and diplomatic-yet true! Any sponsor shout outs, anyone you wanna thank?
Mad props to Ado from cre8ive sk8 for supporting an experimental event, the guy's a legend, buy his stuff! Thanks to Gravity, Randal and Kooky for the sick gear!

Thoughts on the event?
I thought the day really went pretty well, had a few organizational problems, but not only was it our first event, it was the first event of it's kind. Given all that the day went great!

There's a few thing's I'd change to make it faster, setting up the course next time I'd like to try left-right-gap-right-left-gap, rather than L-R-L-R etc, it should speed things up nicely. Might widen the
gates a bit, not sure though.

In skatopia we'd have a really-steep really-wide road to do it on, and hopefully we'll be able to pull that off one day!

...Why can't we have skatopia again? anyway, what were you riding on the day?
[I was riding a] Rayne Nemesis - 80a Gravity Hi-grades (nicely coned) - 200mm Kooky hangers on 42* Randal baseplates.

I have to admit, it is a sweet setup. Whats next for you? more practice? more racing? next trick to learn?
Winter's coming up, so I'm not seeing much traction in my future... [I] want to get better at keeping heel-side drifts under 90*, should speed things up and get better at controlling toe-side hookups, I get stuck into my toe-sides sometimes and keep them on for longer than I want.

..So yeah, more practice, more racing if I get the chance. Must. Learn.Switch. Heel-side. 180! aarrgh!

Sounds good mate, so we are skating this weekend then? Random question to end on: how much bear could bear grylls grill if bear grylls could grill bears?
Beans

Err...I...well, nevermind...Thanks for talking to the 42*LB's papparazzi Steve.

Jimi and Steve kicking off into the history books. photo by Mya Wessels.

And the inevitable walk up the hill. photo by Mya Wessels.



G'day Gilbert congrats on the 2nd place, how did it feel to race your first event?
well technically newtons was my first event, but this was my first drift event, and where it was held made all the difference. Hobart had so much gnar to shred, I was just skating the whole day before right off the plane, so the event was just icing on the gnar cake that Hobart had to offer. Will definitely head back there to hit up the crew and shred the rest of what Hobart has to offer.

Aw, that's so nice! you guys are welcome back anytime- you know that. How long have you been drifting?
about a year I'd say.

That's pretty cool that after a year you look so comfortable getting your drift on, what were the feelings on race day?
I was hungry, but thankfully someone had some frozen banana bread to offer [big thank you to Gill Mosmann!]. Hahah I didn't know what to expect to be honest, it being the first drift event ever held and all, but I had a great shred the day before with the Ben and Steve so I was just itching to get more skating done.

You were shredding on Friday mate and made a damn good job of Saturday too! lets get to the subject of gear, what are your thoughts on gear: are you tech? not tech? whatever is under your feet? etc...
tech, definitely tech, you will not find anyone who plays around with his bushings as much as i do.


Tech has really taken off in the last couple of years, but which riders you look up to?
anyone who can pull out a big toe-side stand-up....switch, and still remain humble.

TS switch standies eh? nice.... any sponsor shout outs, anyone you wanna thank?
big one to cre8ive sk8 for all the swag provided for the event. ado has the best shit this side of the hemisphere *cough* asym *cough*

Okay, serious business time- thoughts on the event?
drifting down the hill alone at practice was just alright, but once you chucked in another racer behind you busting a drift inches behind you, it definitely starts to get interesting, and just a little scary, especially when you have someone like Steve gnar-boy behind, you really don't wanna mess up.

there are some kinks to iron out I'll admit, but i think as a whole it's a brilliant idea, give it some time to evolve and not only will it be an awesome new way to race down a hill but it'll make a great spectator sport like other slope-style events.

We are already working on next years event, you'll be back eh? c'marn! what were you riding on the day?
asym, munkae, comet checkers (underrated wheels)

random question: how much bear could bear grylls grill if bear grylls could grill bears?
pffffft easy, pi.

Lastly, whats next for you? more practice? more racing? next trick to learn?
[I'm going to] pull out a big toe-side stand-up....switch, and still remain humble.

HAHAHAHA, thanks for taking the time to write back to us mate, we'll see you damn soon for a skate and a beer!

..next up I got in contact with the the other local lad who saw himself good and proper on the day... Jimi Treweek via email.

Congrats Jimi, first off the rank and into 3rd place...how did it feel to race your first event?
It didn't feel like it was much different than going with the crew. The only difference I felt was that there were spectators and camera guys. Other than that, it was just a fun day doing something I love.

Nicely, how long have you been drifting?
I started doing heelside pendies in January [2010] I think it was. That got me stoked. From there, I'd just walk down everyday to a shopping centre car-park nearby and practise hard. The automatic sliding doors of the
supermarket fronts the corner where I learnt to dift. This put me in a
situation where if I pulled too early or too late, I'd end of injuring
myself - which I did plenty times. I can remember exatly where I
started, exactly where I finished, I even remember I was listening to
The Carrier at the time - that's how stoked I was about my first drift.

January this year that is, goes to show that your a fast learner and becoming a damn good shredder mate, what were your feelings on the day?
In the morning I was nervous. But once I arrived at Baskerville, I just wanted to skate. I loved the vibe of the event. Everyone's so supportive of each other. This is what made me confident enough to
compete.


Jimi Treweek ripping the track up. photo by Hamish Rogers

So, seeing as i recently sold you the board you came third on... What are your thoughts on gear: are you tech? not tech? whatevers under your feet? etc...
I'm not tech at all! If someone had swapped my bushings or something, I doubt I'd even know!

Riders you look up to?
You man. You and Steve rule. You're awesome longboarders and you're awesome human beings.

To be honest, as a question; the answer I was expecting was Kevin Riemer (K-Rimes), Scott "scoot" Smith or James Kelly- when I opened the email and saw that- I was a little stoked and suprised. Sometimes, the little jobs to get recognition...

...Any sponsor shoutouts, anyone you wanna thank?
Yeah, [thanks to]CRE8IVE SK8, and the Lions Club. You and Steve and whoever else for arranging the event. Big thanks to my parents.

Gotta throw the parentals a thankyou for sure, thoughts on the event?
It has potential man. I truly reckon that it will grow and grow. Next comp will have more participants, sponsors, spectators and the one after will have even more...etc...

Our thoughts exactly, so- important question...what were you riding on the day?
Landyachtz Switch, Indy 215 trucks, Jimz/Reflex bushing combo, Abec 5 bearings, 69mm 83a Urban Sk8er wheels.

Unique setup...seems to suit your riding style really well, whats next for you? more practice? more racing? next trick to learn?
What's next for me? I'm going to practise my toesides til I can pendy, drift, shutdown...etc toeside.

I'm going to try and get into tech sliding cause it looks so rad, and I'm going to get myself some soft wheels and Randals and start speedboarding.

And finally a random question to make it not too serious: how much bear could bear grylls grill if bear grylls could grill bears?
I think you mean "How many bears could Bear Grylls grill if Bear Grylls could grill bears?"
let me answer this question with another question, How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if the woodchuck was Chuck Norris?

No no, I really did mean "how much" ...more importantly, how much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck was out on compo?....anyway...

Views: 116

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Great pics Ben and thoroughly enjoyed the interviews.........trikes
Rock ON Tassie Boys!
Great interviews!
Excellent to see you guys get an event going in Tassie!
any video? - would be very interested to see how you set the course.

Reply to Discussion

RSS

Search

© 2024   Created by Bugs.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service