What’s the most productive thing you’ve done this week?

I worked on a couple pieces of furniture. I’ve been into that shit lately. Once we moved into our new spot I was going to the grocery store the first night and found this old desk on the side of the road and thought ‘I’m gonna take it, I’m gonna make it nice.’ I took it home and finished it all up, and I’ve just been doing that everyday. If I’m out I’ll find some random shit and fuck with it. My room’s been coming together with some trash from New York City.

Would you consider New Jersey the greatest state in the nation?

That’s not even a fucking question! New Jersey is the greatest state in the whole world. Ann Van, Skate Jawn, all that shit is New Jersey oriented. Probably the best skateboarders ever too. Fred Gall, Jordan Gesko, Nik Stain. Good people. 

Where in NJ are you from?

I grew up in this town called Lambertville, which is on the Delaware River bordering New Hope. It was so sick, a super good town to grow up in. Mad diversity. My parents were into art and that was the town for it. Then my parents split up and one of them moved to this town Flemington and one stayed in Lambertville. I went to this shitty little high school with hicks and maybe 40 kids in my class total. Flemington was wack, pretty boring town, strip malls and shit. That’s where Shields Skatepark was though. Huge shout out to Shields.

What was it like skating there growing up?

My boy Noah Barnett got me into skating, and he used to go to the old Shields. I didn’t really skate at the time but then my mom bought me a new board one day. She got me a cheetah-print Speed Demons board, neon pink, so fresh. Set that up and went to the new Shields and never stopped. That was the start of it. 

Is it true Eric Swick, who is now your roommate, used to be your skate counselor at Shields?

No, he was not my skate counselor, but that dude is my fucking father. He’s been there the whole way man. He would drive me to Ann Van and Princeton when I was a little ass kid. He’s the man, he’s my brother. 

How old were you when you first got hooked up by Prime Skateshop? 

I started skating in 2010, so maybe around 2012. I was going to the shop a bunch and they would hook it up with a discount. If I filmed he would send my footage to random reps too. I’ve got to give it all to Rich at Prime, he was the man and he helped me so much. That shop was the best.

When did you move to NY?

Last October, so a little over a year now. I’m digging it out here, it’s the best. 

Who’s your crew here?

It’s a pretty sick crew. I met them all the first week I came out here and we’ve been skating ever since. Dudes like Brandon Stepano, who’s filming the video (Sportsmanshit), my boy Noah, a bunch of homies that Brandon’s friends with. Random people everywhere. I’m really thankful for everyone in the squad it’s not just one group either, I like to hang out with everyone. 

How often do you go out and film or shoot photos?

When I first moved here we were filming a bunch for this video. We were all super hyped going out after work every night when I only had nights to film. We were banging it out every night but lately I’ve been slacking. It goes through patches where it’s super productive and shit, and then a month will go by and haven’t filmed anything.

Let’s call that the Blue Park Effect.

It is the Blue Park Effect! That happened to me man. 

It takes out many people. 

I need it to stop, but that place is the best. It’s probably the best park out here. It’s the closest thing to Ann Van. Just a bunch of random shit. 

How was your recent trip to Montreal?

That was the lifestyle mission. One homie had a camera but we weren’t stressing on filming. We went last year for the Dime Comp and every spot was blown out. So we went for four days before it happened just to skate. Last time there was so much partying going on that we really didn’t get to skate as much as we wanted with so many people at each spot. The homie Sam got a rental car and stopped on the way at a couple of places. We stopped at Lake George. Fuck Lake George.

What’s wrong with Lake George?

It’s Trumpland, that shit was scary. But then we went out into the forest and hiked a bunch. 

Are you working on anything right now?

We’re just working on the video “Sportsmanshit” which is basically done. I think he’s cutting the date after Halloween. I have one day so we’re going out Sunday to try to get one more thing. 

And you’re going to have a full part? Noah and Swick too?

Yeah, it’s going to be insane. Even though our group is always together, Brandon always keeps everything super low so that when the premiere comes you’re super surprised. He won’t tell anyone what any of our friends do or anything. He’s super low key about stuff which I really appreciate. I had met him a few times before, so after dinner I hit him up to see if he wanted to skate. We went out at 10 at night until 1 in the morning and it was so sick. 

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?

I can’t quote it correctly because I don’t remember exactly how he said it, but John Gardner said one of the best things I’ve ever heard. I’ve known John from Ann Van and he had just started hooking me up with DC a little bit. We were at this spot one day in Philly and he said ‘The bee will find the flower when it’s ready to pollinate’ or some shit like that, but it made so much sense. He basically told me to be patient and shit will come to you, you shouldn’t worry about stuff. It stuck. Hearing it from a dude like that means a lot. John’s the best dude ever. 

Which video part do you get the most inspired by?

I love John Igei in Static II. Shit’s bomb dude. 

Any plans for 2020?

I don’t know man, just to keep doing what I’m doing. It’s been working out. New York is a crazy place, shit just happens man. 

Shoutouts?

Definitely shout out to my mom Betty. Flower Porn is her company, she’s doing her thing and I’m stoked for her. My dad for being the coolest fucking dude and influencing me in many different ways with art and music. Eric Swick is a legend. Noah Barnett and all my friends from high school. Ben Hyatt and all those fools. My sister, she’s one of my roommates, and it’s the best. And you guys, appreciate you guys.