Interview and photos by Henry Viswat.

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How old are you now and how old were you when you first started skating?

I’m 15 now, I guess I started skating when I was 2, but I wasn’t really doing anything besides pushing and rolling around. When I was 6 or 7 I started trying tricks and landed my first kickflip at 10.

Who influenced you to start skating at such an early age?

I don’t really know, since I was only 2, but my dad skates and he always had boards lying around the house. He used to take me to the skate park as a baby to watch and I guess I enjoyed it enough that one day he decided to put me on a board.

That’s becoming much more common for a dad to get his son into skateboarding.

For sure, my dad had a huge influence on my skating in my more formative years. Without him, I definitely would not have picked up a board so early.

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You’ve amassed a pretty serious line up of sponsors from Santa Cruz, Etnies, and now Red Bull. How did you start skating for these companies?

I had a few sponsors along the way, mostly from local contests, but the first true sponsor I had was Santa Cruz. I went to California one week to skate with my friend who lives out there now. I was doing my thing and one day the Powell guys at the park asked me if I wanted to get some shop boards from them. Of course I was down but before anything truly happened with Powell, my friend Ronnie Gordon spoke to Andrew Cannon and I got flowed from Santa Cruz. From that, everything else sort of figured itself out. I’m truly grateful for everything Ronnie, Andrew and the Santa Cruz guys have done for me over the years! They’re killing it lately. I’m stoked to be a part of that family over there and excited for what’s to come.

Do you feel any added pressure now that you’re joining the ranks of Red Bull?

This may sound awful to say but no, not really. At this point in my life I only worry about skateboarding. Going out every day and trying to film something, trying to learn new tricks and just skating with my friends. If I continue with that, the rest will fall into place. My sponsors have been pretty responsive to that so far.

Have you given any thought on how you’ll continue to progress in the industry in the next five, ten, twenty plus years?

Well first, I want to work hard on putting together a video part. With the summer coming I’m getting out into the streets more which has been good for me. But over the following years, I intend to focus more on filming better video parts along with some contests.

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How do you feel about the contest scene?

I’m looking forward to them starting up again. It allows me to see all of my friends in one place and to skate new things. I miss the community aspect the most, seeing everyone together and stoked to skate is pretty electric. When I go I’m not so focused on the results, I’m mostly focused on skating hard and doing my best.

Is the end goal joining the US Olympic Skateboarding team?

I mean I would do it if they asked me to join the team but no, it’s not something I am actively looking to pursue at the moment. I really just try to skate whatever is in front of me.

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Whether it’s transitions or handrails, you always seem down to skate it and have a trick ready. Where do you find all this energy and fearlessness?

I think most of it comes from just being a kid. I get so stoked about everything I’m skating, or the tricks that I’m trying, that I just keep skating even when I’m sore or tired. I just can’t help myself. As to the fearlessness, I don’t know, I guess I just don’t think about it. The anxiety of not doing a trick is worse to me than slamming. Some battles you can’t win however.

You carry yourself very well and never seem to get too mad when a trick is not working out.

You think so? I don’t know, I feel like my attitude is bad sometimes, but I have been trying to work on it more. I don’t get as mad as I used to, but I was never one to really throw my board around, try to break it, or throw temper tantrums. I mean, don’t get me wrong I can definitely get angry, but I try to keep it cool now rather than blow up.

Most people wouldn’t peg you as a 15 year old, your style is hard charging and fast compared to that awkward kid style so many are plagued with.

Well thank you. I guess it comes from the East Coast and the older guys I’ve watched skate growing up and always tried to emulate. They have such amazing style, even down to their clothes.

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Of course. The baggy jeans, the bulky DCs, head high fs noseslides, it’s iconic.

Exactly, I don’t try to copy in the slightest because that’s wack, but obviously it has had an effect on my skating and my own personal style. And those guys looked so sick doing it, how can you not love the East Coast style?

Has growing up on the East Coast influenced your skating in other ways?

I think growing up skating on the East Coast everything is so much gnarlier. The ground is crusty, the rails are taller, the landings have cracks. No spot is ideal and because of that, skaters have to get better at just dealing. You can complain about it or just embrace the challenge. If you do embrace it, all the spots everywhere else are easy. Plus, because everything is rugged, everything looks cooler too.

Any last words or shout outs?

Yes, thank you to my dad Paul and my mom Monica for supporting the dream. Thank you to everyone at Santa Cruz, Red Bull, Etnies, Independent Trucks, OJ Wheels, Bronson, Mob griptape, ALLIKNOWISGOON, and The Skateboard Academy of Philadelphia for everything they do for me, and thank you to everyone else that has helped me over the past few years. There are way too many to thank and if I forgot anyone I don’t want them to get mad.

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