Skateboard the world

MANILA, Philippines - Skateboarding is slowly coming back to our collective consciousness. Just take a look around—kids cruising on their boards are a very common sight in the streets. And sometimes, we can’t help but get just a bit jealous of how cool they all look.

Maybe you’ve had experience doing tricks on your tech deck. Getting on an actual skateboard, however, is not as easy as flicking a finger-sized replica. For average folk like us with no athletic bones in our bodies, things as simple as balancing can be a challenge. The idea of falling off the board, butt in the air and all, isn’t exactly ideal. But these are inevitable things that happen when learning how to skate. Just be patient and persevere, and the next thing you know, you’re doing ollies without breaking a sweat.

Volcom, America’s first boarding company, brought their roster of young skaters to Asian shores with True to This Skate tour. Among their line-up of skaters are Louie Lopez, 19; Alec Majerus, 19; and Dane Burman, 27. Fresh from the Malaysia leg of their tour, the group sat down with Young STAR and talked about their first skateboard, what got them started, and how to make it big. 

YOUNG STAR: What got you into skateboarding?

LOUIE: I just saw it around. Like on TV and stuff. I thought it was really cool so I picked up a skateboard and I’ve been doing it ever since.

ALEC: My brother started skateboarding and then I went to the skatepark with him and I saw the culture and the people. Everybody’s exactly how we are. Everyone’s kind of the same with who you are. Just laid-back. I liked that vibe. 

DANE: I’ve always had a skateboard. So I guess it happened naturally because of having a skateboard around the house. Just realized one day that people can do tricks on them and I just started killing it and doing tricks. (laughs)

LOUIE: My parents have always been super supportive. When I was younger, they always told me to wear a helmet. (laughs)

ALEC: My mom used to tell me when I was little that there’s more to life than skateboarding. Cause it’s all I would everyday, all day. And I just said “no it’s not” (laughs). So I just skated all day and then eventually she backed it and she would bring me to all the contests and everything. 

Where did you get your first skateboard?

LOUIE: It was my cousin’s skateboard.

ALEC: Mine was just some really cheap crappy board from a convenience center.

DANE: I’ve always had skateboards. My first proper skateboard for doing tricks was from a garage sale. It was pretty sh*tty. (laughs)

How did you get started with touring?

ALEC: To get into a company, a lot of people make movies of themselves. You and your friends go out and film each other or in competitions and stuff.

DANE: I never made videos. I got lucky I grew up skating in a big city in Australia. I became friends with another kid who’s about the same age as me who wants to be a skateboard photographer. He and I would skate all the time and he would take photos of me and send them to magazines. I got seen that way and companies approached me and asked me to ride for them. I never went out of my way as a kid to be a sponsored skateboarder. I didn’t even know that was an option as a kid. I just skated with my friends and it just kind of happened. 

How’s the experience so far?

ALEC: Seeing new people is cool. I like to go to the local skate parks and see all the locals. It’s different.

DANE: Getting to see new places and doing new stuff. Seeing how different this part of the world is to  what I’m used to. It’s been really cool. The skating is very different looking.

Any words of wisdom for those who want to make a career in skateboarding?

LOUIE: Always have fun. It’s all about the fun. Don’t even worry about getting sponsored. Just skate for you. 

ALEC: Money isn’t important. As long as you think you’re cool, people will think you’re cool. 

LOUIE: You skate so you’re gonna get hurt. You have to accept that fact.