Cooper Qua Interview

November 16, 2021

Interview by Larry Davis. Photos by Kris Qua.

I just want to get this out of the way first, let’s talk about your dad’s YouTube with footage of you skating for the past twelve years. How does that make you feel?

I think it’s sick going back and watching all the videos from when I was really young. Actually last night I was watching videos of my friends from when we were like 5, and it’s sick to just see my progression throughout the years.

Why do you think the one where he calls you a grom has the most views?

Uh, I don’t really remember this video, but grom is a big word in skateboarding. I feel like it means you’re good when you’re younger.

Would you consider yourself a grom?

I definitely was, not now though. I try to compare myself to people who are not at the grom level now.

How old are you anyway?

I’m 16 years old.

You’re still in high school and everything?

Well, I’m doing online school, but yeah I’m in 11th grade. Just started a week ago.

What’s the best thing about growing up in Albany?

I love the skate scene in Albany. When I was growing up we had this backyard ramp and we’d throw these sessions called “Quafest.” I was really young and that’s when it clicked for me to start getting into skating. All the Albany dudes would come and it was super sick. We’ve got a skateshop here, Seasons. They do a lot for the community and everybody knows and loves them. They are just a big group of homies that go out and street skate and film.

Is Seasons where you picked up a Skate Jawn for the first time?

Yeah, my dad always goes to pick up the new issue and I’ll check them out with him.

You know there was a maze of you in an old issue?

I do know that! That’s crazy. When I saw that I was just like what the heck.

So you grew up skating with your sister too right?

I did, but she stopped when she was 13 or so. I remember there was this one fall she took on our backyard ramp where I feel like it just ended it all for her. She just wasn’t feeling like eating it anymore.

Do you have an after school job or anything like that?

I was doing skate lessons at my local skatepark and was kind of making money for a minute, but I haven’t gotten any lessons in a while, so no real job.

Have you ever had a real job?

I haven’t, but in the winter I’m planning to get a job on this snowboarding mountain.

Nice, have you been to Woodward a bunch?

I think I went like four times and stayed for a week. It was pretty sick. I was going to go this summer but then I canceled. I just wasn’t feeling it.

You ever do the mega ramp?

I did. When I was like 12, it was crazy.

Didn’t a 12 year old do a 900?

I don’t even know dude, it’s crazy to me. I think the kid who did that 900 was at the mega ramp when I was there and he backflipped it or something.

Do you believe in god?

I do not, and probably won’t ever.

Do you skate vert?

I think it’s fun to experiment with vert just because it gets me out of my comfort zone a little.

Do you remember when you made the transition from little ramp kid to big rail kid?

I had this red ramp in my backyard growing up and I would take a flatbar, and put it off the end on a cinderblock, and just do little taps of tricks off of it. I feel like that got me into rail skating a little. It’s fun to skate a ramp every once in a while but I’m all about the streets now.

Do you have any trips planned or anything you’re excited for?

There’s this company called Calm that’s a group of kids from around the world and they’re bringing me to New York City with them and then they’re coming up to Albany for a little bit. Then I’m going to Tampa for Tampa Am.

Are you trying to get in on the contest scene?

Yeah, I don’t like contests but I just do it to see friends and socialize with people I haven’t seen in a while.

What about that money if you win though?

True! Seeing all the people that have won in the past, it just doesn’t seem very likely that I would win.