Name: Sid Melvin
Hometown: Bakersfield, California
Age: 31
Sponsors: Arbor Skateboards, Caliber Trucks, Blood Orange Wheels, Shady Grip, Back Yard Bandits, FTC, BSC and Adidas hooks it up also.
What set-up are you riding right now?
Arbor 8.25 Whiskey snake deck, 8.0” Silver caliber hollow trucks, 53mm Blood Orange 99a, Leftover 7/8 hardware and Bones Swiss.
What’s the most fun DIY, skater-built or renegade spot that you’ve skated lately?
Kern Side DIY, Bakersfield.
Have you ever built something to skate?
Kern Side DIY Bakersfield, too much to talk about… Check the Insta @kernside.
Who do you like to skate with the most?
Whoever is down to skate and is positive.
Best skate graphic you have seen lately?
Ernie Torres has a rad Tecate graphic on Real.
Best thing you’ve skated in a skatepark?
I can’t think of anything, but usually something funky that you wouldn’t find anywhere else.
Favorite skateboarders of all time?
Gonz, Dennis Busenitz and Daewon Song.
Is there anything that hasn’t been built to skate yet that you’d like to see built?
Nothing I can think of, but that’s why I like going to DIYs because you get everyone else’s perspective on skating.
Best road trip you ever took?
I took a homies trip to Japan that was rad. No agenda, just skating and fun.
Any skate-related charities you support?
My skate shop supports the A-Skate Foundation that allows children with Autism to be part of our social world through skateboarding.
What music have you been listening to?
Old school country/ honky tonk stuff; Hank, Waylon and Willie etc…
What do you consider the responsibilities of a professional skateboarder?
To try and keep people interested in what you are doing.
Which skate shops do you support?
I’m down with any local skate shop. #shoplocal
Favorite skate photo of all time?
I was hyped on the first photo that I had in a mag. It was a two-page in Skateboarder, other than that, seeing photos of my friends in the mags.
What is your take on girls skateboarding?
I’m down. My wife skates and it’s cool having the same interests. She gets the fact I want to go skate. I don’t have to explain she just gets it.
What skate memorabilia do you have that means the most to you?
My first skateboard I ever owned. It’s a yellow Free Former banana board.
Who contributes the most to your local skate scene?
Everyone that helps with Kern Side first off, but it’s hard to say about just around town. I would like to say everyone helps a little.
Top three favorite skate tricks?
Kickflip, backside Smith and frontside ollie.
Do you think skateboarding should be in the Olympics?
Do I think skateboarding should be in the Olympics? I personally don’t care either way but I’m sure the 1% making most of the money in skateboarding would be hyped on the extra endorsements.
What is your proudest moment in skateboarding so far?
Getting my own Tech-deck!
ABOUT THE JUICE MAGAZINE STATE OF SKATE:
When we started Juice Magazine 22 years ago, you could count the number of skateparks on one hand and grindable pool coping was mostly a distant memory. Now there are thousands of skateparks all over the world, along with a vast quantity of DIY spots built to skate. In 1993, the majority of skateboarders listened to punk rock or hip hop exclusively. Now skateboarders listen to almost every kind of sound created. Two decades ago, skateboarding related charities were non-existent. Today, there are numerous non-profits giving back to skateboarding in many ways. One of the most important differences between now and then is that, 22 years ago, there was a clear division between old school and new school skateboarding. Now that wall of separation has followed the same path as the Berlin Wall, allowing for an unprecedented unification of skateboarders all over the globe. Great strides have been made for girls that skate as well as the acceptance of skate history and long overdue recognition for skateboarding’s pioneers and its artifacts. At the same time, the current generation of skateboarders is taking skateboarding to new heights, previously unimaginable. As the landscape of the skateboarding industry changes on a daily basis, and the topic of skateboarding in the Olympics rears its head once again, along with the disturbing subject of who controls skateboarding being tossed about by corporate entities, we decided it was time to take a good look at the State of Skate. We asked 20 questions to 100 skateboarders, ages 8 to 58, and found that skateboarding is as diverse as the skateboarders that are addicted to it, no one controls skateboarding except skateboarders, and the State of Skate is savage and strong. Now get out there and skate tough!
JUICE MAGAZINE STATE OF SKATE features interviews with 100 skateboarders including: Tony Alva, Dave Hackett, Chris Strople, Duane Peters, Steve Olson, Dave Duncan, Steve Alba, Tony Magnusson, Pat Black, Jesse Martinez, Bill Danforth, Jim Murphy, Ric Widenor, Lester Kasai, Glen Charnoski, Bryan Pennington, Peter Furnee, Jeremiah Risk, Ryan Smith, Jason Jessee, Omar Hassan, Cam Dowse, Jen O’Brien, Depth Leviathan Dweller, Brett Roper, Travis Beattie, Chris Gentry, CW Dunn, Chris Albright, Charlie Wilkins, Cairo Foster, Pierre-Luc Gagnon, BJ Morrill, Dr. Lenore L.A. Sparks, Sid Melvin, Jesse Irish, Packy Fancher, Greg Lutzka, Jimmy Larsen, Adam Dyet, Luis Tolentino, Greg Harbour, Frank Faria, Ryan DeCenzo, Dave Bachinsky, Johnny Turgesen, Casey Meyer, Edward Sanchez, David Gravette, Ben Hatchell, Brian Geib, Felipe Gouveia, Eric Santos, Kyle Smith, Cameron Revier, Josh Stafford, Justin Grubbs, Etienne Eden Archila, Sanzio Piacentini, Josh Elder, Eddie “Mighty” Moreno, Kevin Kowalski, Otto Pflanz, Jeremy Smith, Adam Wiggins, Jimmy Wilkins, Danny Gordon, Jake Hilbish, Corey Blanchette, Adam Legassie, Nick Santos, Trey Rounds, Curren Caples, Justyce Tabor, Andy Anderson, Sarah Thompson, Coral Guerrero, Collin Graham, Derek Scott, Ace Pelka, Sonny Rodriguez, Jarren Duke, Mikayla Sheppard, CJ Titus, Noah Schott, Emily Earring, Julian Torres, Wyatt Wisenbaker, Josh Forsberg, Nathan Midgette, Roman Pabich, Yago Dominguez, Jack Winburn, Jonas Carlsson, Kiko Francisco, Bryce Ava Wettstein, Desmond Shepherd, Matty Jessee and Luke Kahler.
FOR THE REST OF THE STORY, ORDER ISSUE #74 BY CLICKING HERE…
