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Who would have thought a piece of wood with four wheels would bring so many boys to the streets?
We sent our new arts editor, Emily Pero, out to lead our search to discover the best (and erm... hottest) skater guys from around the world. Besides having the enviable chance to chat to 15 guys in a matter of days, she found skating to be a world comprised of movie cameos, travel, artistic pioneers, video-game hook-ups and, of course, endless product lines. But if it’s about anything, she says, it’s “about the individual”. Each and every person who skates has something new to bring because who you are will always come through in the motions. Over the next few pages is an eclectic collection of some of the world’s best right down to the new and little-known. Roll up.
SHANE CROSS
This 20-year-old from the Gold Coast has come a long way from bumming on couches. These days, he’s “feeling old” and perhaps with justification. By 19, he had graced the cover of Transworld Skateboarding and become Slam Magazine’s ‘Skateboarder of the Year’. We caught Shane “just partying” at the Volcom house in California after a two-week tour around the States filming for Flip Skateboards’ upcoming film.
MATT MUMFORD
One of our great Aussie exports, Matt is originally from Rockhampton but these days calls California home. When Matt was starting up in the skateboard game, being anywhere but the United States wasn’t really an option. Although, now he reveals, “Skateboarding has gone through a big change… you no longer have to live in America to do it.” When we found him he was off to the next camp ground somewhere along the West Australian coastline – to begin an evening of drinking after a ‘hard day’ on The Hoon Run, an annual skating and camping pilgrimage.
JOSH RIO
Born in New Zealand, Josh moved to Brisbane four years ago to pursue his skating. From there it was not long before Element caught wind of his talent through a ‘sponsor me’ video he submitted, and signed Josh up. Officially sponsored, he left the night-packing and fluoro lights of his supermarket job, to make a career in skating.
NICK BOSERIO
This kid has lived in some random places. Born in England, his dad’s work took him all over the world, including India, Oman, Indonesia and finally, to Perth. It was in Oman that he first got a skateboard – a fishtail with “crazy pink wheels”. Since graduating from school (with flying colours), Nick has put further study on hold. Skateboarding has always been his passion and thanks to helpful friends, Nick found himself on tour with Insight (an audition of sorts) and scored himself a part on the permanent team.
LEWIS MARNELL
Don’t be scared by the dreadlocks and golden grill smile – it’s not the pimp from Quentin Tarantino’s True Romance – but rather Lewis Marnell, Australia’s latest skating star. Born in Melbourne, Lewis ended up spending most of his high school life in Sweden, where he was able to skate as part of the school day. Returning to Australia, Lewis was set up to make a career in skateboarding – Volcom, Nike SB, Dwindle and Almost all have this kid covered. He had a main feature spread in Australia’s The Skateboarder’s Journal as well as an ever-increasing profile in skate magazines and websites around the world.
BUCKY LASEK
This guy is no up-and-comer. He’s been riding the skateboarding wave of fame for almost 20 years now. Skating since the age of 12, he has seen it all. He survived the drop off in popularity back in the early 1990’s to come back as one of the world’s most recognisable skateboarders. His endless list of recent competition wins over the last few years has seen him now ranked as a world number one vert skater. Consequently, Bucky’s schedule is packed with much more than just skateboarding these days. He has his own mini empire of sorts. He features on at least five editions of Tony Hawk’s video games, has appeared in Rolling Stone and Interview magazines and even has his own action figure!
KIERAN REILLY
At just 13, Kieran is part of the new prodigy breed of youth skaters. He tells us he started skating at one (what?!) and started taking it seriously at four. Knowing this it comes as no surprise that Kieran is already well hooked up. He just got back from tour in the United States with Volcom, and is back chilling at home in Hamlyn Terrace, NSW (we interrupted his family dinner with this interview – sorry!). Right now Kieran has the tricky job of school and an emerging career in skateboarding. But considering how long he’s been in the game, we think he’ll do just fine.
DANIEL SHIMIZU
Los Angeles-born and raised, Daniel Shimizu is a new addition to the ever growing Insight skate team. But that’s not to say he’s new in the game. Rather, at 25, Daniel has now been skating for 13 years, and Nike and Stereo Skateboards
(owned by the skateboarder, now actor Jason Lee), along with Insight have taken him on board. However skating professionally wasn’t necessarily a planned venture for Daniel. “I didn’t really think about it”, but rather used it as an escape from any team orientated sports, including High School formals.
BRAYDON SZFRANSKI
Born and raised in Las Vegas there ain’t much this boy hasn’t seen. Setting up camp in Hollywood, Braydon went pro in April 2006. “I was just doing my thing. Skating all the time, partying. I was this crazy 18 year old with a fake ID going to all the clubs. Then Andrew Reynolds asked me to join the best team in the world, Baker,” he says.
ADRIAN LOPEZ
Inspired by the fact that the skateboarders in his hometown of San Diego had the hottest girlfriends, Adrian picked up a skateboard at 12. Two years later, he was sponsored by Ed Templeton’s leading skate company, Toy Machine. In 1996, Adrian was a new member (and silent partner) of Dark as Hell Zero Skateboards. Along the way Adrian learnt skills in graphic design, team management and became the Creative Director of Zero, as well as skating full time at an authoritative level. Adrian’s latest project is Mystery. While he rides on this team himself, his main role is to recruit new riders.
MARK APPLEYARD
Few skaters have the privilege of holding the title Mark Appleyard (from Toronto, Canada) has earned. In 2003, he was awarded Thrasher magazine’s ‘Skateboarder of the Year’ – the equivalent of an actor winning an Oscar. Now at 24, Mark has been skating for 13 years and undoubtedly will continue till the day he dies. He’s the classic story of the kid who just loved to skate and couldn’t imagine a life without it. “I don’t consider myself any kind of superstar skater,” says Mark. “I just skate. I got in with the right people who motivated me. The only way I can be happy is by filling my day with an accomplishment through skating.”
RYHS GROGAN
Things are looking pretty sweet for this candy-making skater. After having left the New South Wales countryside two-and-a-half years ago, Rhys has been carving it up on the streets of Sydney. These days he’s making hearts for young lovers and hyped-up kids in a mall candy store, moonlighting as a journalist for Australian Skateboarders magazine and proudly skating as an Insight team member.
JAKE DUNCOMBE
This kid is the one to watch. Touted invariably as the ‘new best thing’, Jake got his first board at nine and was sponsored by 13. Now, at 18, he can claim fame to a string of heavyweight sponsors such as Volcom, Globe, Electric Sunglasses and Blind Skateboards, and the title of ‘Slam Skateboarder of The Year’. (left and right bottom images)
PEDRO DAY
Born in New Zealand, Pedro is now living the Australian dream at Sydney’s Bronte Beach. The 23-year-old has been skating ever since he stole a guy’s board at the tender age of 15. Thankfully, however, when the wronged individual finally caught up with him two years later, he left Pedro in good enough condition for him to remain the fine skater he is today. Despite the ruckus this kid may have caused in his youth, the person you meet today is an incredibly humble individual. Since moving to Oz, Pedro’s ‘weekend’ skating has seen him nail a place on the Element team – as well as being hooked up with Von Zipper.
ADAM SCARF
Hailing from the Blue Mountains, the place that produced skate legends like Dustin Dollin, Adam Scarf is a new kid set to make a big splash on the scene. At the tender age of 14, Adam has been skating for seven years – he sacrificed a family trip to the circus to get his first board! Travelling to comps and new skate spots, Adam’s performances scored him titles, prizes and ultimately sponsorship with the local skate store Sk8logic. Skills and determination assure this kid will soon be very well known.
