Interview by Zach Moeller. Photos by Thomas Goldman.

What are you up to today?

I’m chilling, just made some coffee and getting the day started. Waiting for people to hit me up to go skate.

With the Black Lives Matter Movement in the streets and the protests against police brutality going on, how are things in Richmond?

Honestly it’s been pretty insane to say the least, but in a good way. I’m psyched to be out here witnessing all that stuff. I feel like it’s weirdly almost the epicenter. There’s definitely a super crazy divide here. A lot of super liberal people in the city who are out in the streets, but near the monuments dudes are just driving around with confederate flags out and guns waiving. It’s definitely super unsettling. Kind of tripped out to see what’s going to happen in the near future. It seems like tensions are pretty high.

Have you seen anything really gnarly in the streets these last few weeks?

Yeah for sure. The first night was insane. People were on one. Cop cars getting burned, busses getting burned. They were trying to burn down the museum of the confederacy. It was definitely a whole thing. I think stuff like that needs to happen or people just won’t pay attention.

Who is the best member of Bust Crew and why is it Ty Beall?

Haha I was fully going to say Ty! He’s a funny guy, he’s always cracking jokes. He’s the man. He’s always getting people revved up to skate, just doing little challenges and making everybody laugh constantly. Definitely a good person to have around. 

What about the most fried?

Shit, probably me honestly. I think I may be the most fried member of Bust Crew. I think Will (Rosenstock) would attest to that as well. 

Describe Jon Rowe in 5 words or less. 

An absolute legend. There’s not much more to say, he’s the absolute sickest. 

How’d you first get linked up with those dudes?

I grew up about 10-15 minutes south of Richmond, so I was always coming up here and would run into them. I started skating for Venue, and ever since then we’ve been out every day pretty much. 

I know you recently left WKND, can you explain what happened with that?

Yeah. I guess if people are wondering, I personally needed some change. I’ve been getting boards from WKND since I was 18. I still have so much love for those dudes, Grant and all those guys. But it was at a point where Sully left and Evan left. That was kind of the bridge between the older and younger guys. After that I felt pretty isolated, I guess for lack of a better word. It was time. I wanted a change. When some of my boys weren’t there anymore it just had a different dynamic. 

What is the difference between working on a project like Death Dance versus working on one like Gospel with Will Rosenstock?

Well, as far as Gospel goes, we would just drive everywhere, city to city along the east coast. There wasn’t a crazy amount of pressure so it’s more of an organic process. You’re also not attached to a brand, instead it’s just like “these are my homies, I can do what I want and skate what I want.” It’s not that you couldn’t do that with a company like WKND or filming for Death Dance, but when there’s a company and more money involved it gives it a little bit of a different vibe. It’s just different to film with the people you grew up with as opposed to a team setting. 

Which video part has been the most fun to work on?

The most fun one would definitely be Gospel, as far as videos that people would know. I filmed other video parts when I was younger with my buddy Levi, and those were obviously the most fun because we were young and didn’t care, but as far as ones people might know I’d say Gospel for sure. 

East Coast or West Coast?

I lived in California for a little under 3 years, but it’s East Coast until I’m dead. I love it so much out here. Living in California you didn’t have seasons and you had to deal with traffic all the time. It’s definitely a change of pace, and I don’t think I’m necessarily that type of person. The East Coast is definitely more my speed. 

Who is a skater that isn’t being hooked up but deserves to be?

There’s so many. There’s this kid out here named Toby Bennett from a little mountain town in Virginia that nobody knows about. He’s getting some footage with those Melodi dudes, but he’s somebody to be looking out for for sure. 

What’s it like to skate some of these confederate monuments that the people are taking down in Richmond?

It’s been amazing. In a weird way, it feels like you’re a part of something. People there like watching you skate it because they know you’re not just skating it, but that it’s something much bigger than that. 

To me it looks like an expression of art being used to protest. You’re bringing down this monument using your artform, in the same way artists have been painting messages of resistance on them. 

Exactly. I think people see it for that and not just as an opportunity to skate something that hasn’t always been skatable. It’s much more deep-rooted. We all agree that these monuments are shit. 

If skateboarding were to end right now, what would you do?

Damn, I’ve actually thought about that a lot with Covid and all that stuff going on, everything is so fickle. I’d probably try to do some handywork. I’m pretty inspired by all the dudes out here that are making it work. They’re working hard jobs and skating when they can. It’s really inspiring.

What do you think we as humans need to keep in mind moving forward to progress humanity?

I think the main thing people need to realize is that your perspective is not THE perspective. You have to see things from other people’s points of view. When that starts to happen so will change. Your perspective is not the perspective of everybody. 

Anything that you want to add? 

Shoutout to everyone at Venue, Deluxe, Huf, Vans, Bust Crew, and Richmond. Black Lives Matter, that’s it.