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Bryan Pennington – Juice Magazine State of Skate Interview

Name: Bryan Pennington
Hometown:  Houston, Texas
Age: 45
Sponsors: Conspiracy. 

What set-up are you riding right now?
Conspiracy board, Indy trucks, Conspiracy wheels.

What’s the most fun DIY, skater-built or renegade spot that you’ve skated lately?
Jared Smith’s mini ramp here in Salt Lake.

Have you ever built something to skate?
I’ve built lots of ramps and small concrete banks. My ramp that I call the Moose ramp is fun. It’s kind of a steep mini with pitted steel coping with heavily lacquered, extensions with railroad ties and an over vert section made of a metal lathe. It makes a cool texture and sound when you hit it, kind of like a chain link fence.

Who do you like to skate with these days?
Jared Smith, Jed Fuller, and Ben Page… There’s a ton of rad skaters here down for a sesh.

Best skate graphic you have seen lately?
I’ve always dug Lindsey Kuhn’s graphics.

Best thing you’ve skated in a skatepark?
The Combi bowl and Bucky’s bowl.

Favorite skateboarders of all time?
Jeff Phillips, Chris Miller, Neil Blender, Ben Raybourn and Kevin Kowalski.

Is there anything that hasn’t been built to skate yet that you’d like to see built?
I’ve got tons locked inside my head and intend to build some new stuff soon. I’m into portable circular grinder bars at the moment.

What’s one of the best road trips you ever took?
The trips to Oregon in the fall are the best. It’s been a few years since I’ve been there. Colorado is always a good time.

Any skate-related charities you support?
I’m a taxi driver for all my own kids’ sports… Ha.

What music have you been listening to?
The Allah-Las and Tommy Guerrero’s band.

What do you consider the responsibilities of a professional skateboarder?
Skate rad, act professional, have fun and travel!

Which skate shops do you support?
Milo.

Favorite skate photo of all time?
Phillips doing an Andrecht on the Kahuna in Houston.

What is your take on girls skateboarding?
They shred!! Stoked on all the girl skaters! My daughter skates a bit.

What skateboarding memorabilia do you have that means the most to you?
A Metallica graphic Zorlac board that I won at a contest.

Who contributes the most to your local skate scene?
Jed Fuller, Ben Pellegrino, and I guess all the free skateparks. (The city…) We need a vert ramp!

Top three favorite skate tricks?
Ollies, egg plants and grinds.

Do you think skateboarding should be in the Olympics?
Sure. I think it could be fun for the skaters to experience. I’m not too sure it would change skateboarding as we know it because the big contest series already exploited it into the mainstream. The local scenes seem to still stay strong because the skateboard community is mostly just people who like to skate. Sponsors and contests are rad and fun! I get stoked on seeing my skate families somehow or another.

What is your proudest moment in skateboarding so far?
2nd place in my first pro contest in Houston. SUAS.

Bryan_PENNINGTON_HOUSTON-LEELEAL
Pennington flying a backside air like a true Texan. Don’t mess with Texas! Photo by Lee Leal.

 

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…

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