Photos and words by Kyle Anderson.
Wes, heelflip crook
Wes and Keenan are childhood friends from Tampa. They met when they were ten years old at the Skatepark of Tampa. After high school they headed for Chino, California moving in with filmer and fellow Floridian Jean-Luc Vida. Wes and Keenan quickly got jobs at Amazon. They are both flow for Chocolate, both maintaining long distance relationships with girls they left in Tampa, and both wrapping up video parts for Jean-Luc’s Not Another VX Video being released in November.
Keenan, bs noseblunt
As Interesting as their story is, it’s still pretty typical in skateboarding, “Teenager finishes high school, and moves to Southern California to skate, blah blah blah.” I can’t imagine anybody being interested in how these kids respond to the same tame, predictable questions. Here are some anyway…
You guys have been in Chino for about a year. Who came out here first?
WB: Me, but pretty much at the same time.
bs 180 5050
Did you guys brainstorm a plan to both move out here?
KL: Kinda. Jean-Luc invited us out a little over a year ago, we made a plan.
How long had you guys been getting boxes from Chocolate at that point?
WB: Around five years.
KL: For about three years.
ollie
What do you think Southern California is lacking? It has gotten better, thanks to the help of transplants like yourselves. But the scene here was pretty embarrassing and predictable ten years ago. What does Florida have that California doesn’t?
WB: Most people won’t see something as a spot if it isn’t some perfect skatepark looking spot. Florida has some grit.
KL: Yeah, the crust is real in Florida. Some people are too spooked to deal with that.
fs crook
Most of the country looks down on well manicured California spots, but I can’t walk ten feet in Long Beach without bumping into three dickheads from Florida. Why are you all coming here?
WB: The opportunity and change of scenery. Something new to do every day. And so many of our friends are already out here.
KL: It has always been a dream to come and skate here, rather than just seeing it in videos.
heelflip
As kids, were you aware of how monotonous it was, or were you excited to see the Wilshire rails in a video for the 100th time?
WB: We knew Southern California was big enough so we didn’t have to do what everybody else was doing.
How is California different than you imagined?
KL: It’s cool and pretty, but it made me appreciate Florida more.
WB: Shit’s kinda crazy out here. People say Floridians are crazy, but it might be more wild out here than Florida.
fs boardslide
How much Florida footage do you guys have for Jean-Luc’s video?
WB: Fucking none. I wish I had some.
KL: Tampa clips would have been tight.
If he does premiere the video in Tampa, how much shit are going to catch from the locals for all the bright sunny schoolyards and perfect ledges?
KL: Shit, I think folks will be hyped we are skating perfect spots now.
WB: At least we haven’t skated the LA courthouse…
bs 180 nosegrind
Whose idea was it to work at Amazon?
KL: I don’t remember. We needed money.
WB: Yeah, we needed a quick job, with flexible hours so we can skate.
360 flip
Is Amazon as awful as they’ve portrayed?
KL: It isn’t the best job and I would definitely rather work somewhere else, but it isn’t too bad to get me to leave.
WB: It’s hectic and fast paced. They have a pretty insane and strict system. But a job’s a job.
bs smith
You want to thank anybody?
KL: My girl, Skate JAwn, Chocolate, Adidas, HUF, Spitfire, and Thunder. And shoutout to my family back home, my brother, and God for making the universe.
WB: Friends, family, my girl, Chocolate, Vans, and Royal Trucks.
