Interview with Ian Levine and Mike Haugen by Travis Drake
Photos by Ian Levine
Minnesota has a long history of vert skating, which considering the long cold winters is impressive and surprising. It takes a certain kind of person to get out on top of a 12’ tall ramp while it’s 40 degrees and windy. We’re at the OverPass skatepark just outside Minneapolis. While instructing the kids how to correctly mop the ramp before the session, Ian Levine and Mike Haugen, along with about ten young kids, including Mike’s son Max, are padding up. There’s a portable space heater on deck, and the session is about to kick off.
Hey guys, could you tell me your name, age, and years skating?
(I) Ian Levine and I am 52 years old, got my first board in 1985.
(M) Mike Haugen, I’ve been skating for about 37 years now I believe.
When did you get into vert skating?
(M) I think for me it was the King of the Mountain, Mount Trashmore Contest VHS from 1985. I watched that thing until it melted. I was only eleven or twelve years old then and lived in Charleston SC. We didn’t have a vert ramp so it was street skating and launch ramps until I moved to Minneapolis in 1989. My friend Ole took me to the Twin Cities Skate Oasis and they had a vert ramp. It was the first time I saw people riding one in real life. I couldn’t wait, I ran up there and tried to drop in the first time I was there. I slammed so hard man, it was gnarly. But seeing guys like Dave Leroux, Justin Lynch, Ian Levine, and Eric Froland ripping that vert ramp was just super inspiring, I wanted to be like them.
(I) I had been skating for a little over a year, primarily bombing hills and wearing out wheels attempting powerslides. My only reference for vert skating at the time were pictures in Thrasher or Transworld. I met other skaters that knew of a backyard ramp that was not far from where I lived. Brian and Bruce Shriver were twins that lived in Woodbury and they had an 8 or 8.5’ high 16’ wide ramp with PVC coping and a plywood surface. It was the first chance to learn how to pump and drop in. We rode the ramp all year round and in winter we would just shovel the snow off and try to skate hard enough to keep warm. At some point, someone learned about an indoor ramp located in a North Minneapolis warehouse. After making connections at the main skate shop, The Alternative Bike Shop, I was able to get access to the private indoor skate spot, or P.I.S.S. as it was affectionately called. It had a mini spine and a small vert ramp. The space was dirty and had questionable electrical wiring for the lights, but the ramps were faster and smoother than the Shriver’s outside ramp because of the masonite surface. The P.I.S.S. ramps eventually shut down and some guys designed The Barn Ramp, which was built in Baldwin, Wisconsin on a dairy farm. The ramp was an improvement to the outdoor ramp and the P.I.S.S. ramps, but it was miserable in January when the temperature was below zero. When The Barn Ramp eventually needed a new home, I convinced my parents to put it up in their backyard. My parents were never into skating themselves but they were supportive enough to allow a ramp in the backyard, so really supportive. I remember my mom BBQing when we finished putting the entire ramp together. There were lots of great sessions. Since there was no internet/social media/cell phones, people would learn about the ramp by word of mouth. Lance Mountain was in town for a Bones Brigade Demo and one day showed up just walking across the yard to the ramp.
It’s mid-October and 40 degrees, there are two guys over 50, and then about eight kids between the ages of 9-12 all out here battling through to skate this beast. What keeps this going??
(M) Yeah man isn’t this crazy?! We only get to skate vert from June through October here so if it’s open, we’re skating. It used to be just Ian and I trying to keep some of our vert skills as we got older. Now there’s this hefty crew of young guns showing up and getting me more stoked! They push us as much as we push them for sure. Watching all of them learn to skate vert is something special. I mean that thing is almost 13’ tall! These kids all faced some gnarly fears right here in front of everybody. I’ve seen tears of pain and joy spilled on this ramp. These kids are warriors, I hope their parents know how cool that is. I’m proud of all of them. There are some heavy life lessons being taught.
Most underrated MN rider that you wish people knew about?
(I) Eric Froland. Darren Navarrette talks about Eric in his interview in Thrasher as part of the 20th anniversary of the vertical vampire. Huge airs, effortless style and consistency.
(M) I’d have to say Zac Curry. He has the most insane tricks in his bag. And they’re all bangers. I swear all of his tricks are hard. He doesn’t even have warm up runs, just business. It doesn’t matter what he’s skating either; vert, bowl, or street he’s bringing hell with him. He may hate me for this but he’s my pick. Honorable mention to Jack Lunt. He has to be the most improved vert skater over the last year hands down. Watch out for both of them!
Who are some of the MN OG’s?
(I) Darren Navarette, Dave Leroux, Justin Lynch, Adam Efferts, John Muldoon, Brian Perry, Nate S, Garry Barbo, Ole, Mike, Pat, Peter, Greg Witt.
(M) There are some awesome local vert legends here in the frozen tundra. Eric Froland, aka “Woody”. I was also fortunate enough to ride with Justin Lynch in his prime. That dude was amazing. You can’t bring up Minnesota vert without talking about Dave Leroux. Of course, Ian Levine is on this list for me, first guy I saw do a 540 in person. I call him Sir Ian Levine, he’s ageless. I also got to start skating vert around the same time as Darren Navarrette. He had a hunger for skateboarding that couldn’t be matched. Every day I would show up and he would have a list of tricks to learn. And learn them he did! John Muldoon is another vert legend in my opinion. Most of the OG’s have lightened up or let go of the vert thing. I mean I get it, the vert ramp is a beast. And you WILL pay your dues. Slamming on vert at our age takes time to heal. But some of the others get out a few times a season and get some runs in.
What was the highest level you reached? Any sponsors or video parts out there people can check out?
(I) There was a local Minneapolis board company, Molotov that I rode for. I was in an ad in Poweredge magazine. I made it to the 1992 NSA finals in Houston. A group of us drove down in a 15-passenger van. We stopped in Dallas to ride at Jeff Phillips park. I liked the ramp there because it was indoors and similar to the Minneapolis ramp at the Twin Cities Skate Oasis. I’ve skated at the Combi in Orange County, Grosso’s ramp when it was still at Vans, Tony Hawk’s ramp, Chris Borst’s ramp, Party at the Ponds in Michigan, Kona in Jacksonville, Banger at the Hanger in Houston, and recently in Tennessee at Rage at the Rose. I am optimistic that this year I’ll make it to Malmo for Vert Attack.
(M) I was riding for Fobia Skateshop, Iota skateboards, and was getting some flow from Etnies Shoes. We had so much fun down there going to Tampa Am, they were great times! I think the best I placed down there was 5th. I won the Vans Warped Tour contest here in Minneapolis and went to California for the national contest. I had a broken hand that trip. It was a bummer but still enjoyed skating the vert ramp in Orange. The Combi was still there too so I was able to finally skate that monster. I’ve always been in it for the love of skateboarding, I’m a lifer for sure. There’s a couple of video parts out there somewhere but you’d have to dig. Making videos was so much more work back then. There wasn’t a ton of love given to the vert guys as far as local guys wanting to film and such. Which I totally understand, but we didn’t care. We just wanted to skate.
Best and worst part of growing up skating in Minnesota?
(I) Best part is that because the community was so small, the skate crew was tight. Downside, it’s hard to keep vert alive when there are only a few riders.
(M) Well, it’s always been about having something to skate. Minnesota sucks when it comes to allowing skateparks to be built. There’s always some BS rule about ramps over 4’ tall need to be enclosed with a fence and have an attendant. Dumb. So all of the outdoor concrete parks are limited to the little plaza style parks. Still fun but they obviously haven’t been out west. When it comes to vert there isn’t an indoor option at all. So when November comes, that’s it until at least May. Then we dust off and start the vert train again. Kinda sucks, but it’s better than not skating at all! As far as the best part of skating in Minnesota? It absolutely has to be the people and the scene. From 3rd Lair to Cal Surf to Familia, the skaters around here are family. They all want each other to get better as skaters and as people. I couldn’t be more hyped on that. Skateboarding produces quality humans no matter the town, I’m proud to be a part of that.
