Name: Cairo Foster
Hometown: Taichung, Taiwan
Sponsors: enjoi skateboards, ESWIC clothing, etnies, Krux trucks, Ricta wheels, Mob griptape, Bones Bearings, Polar Camping Stuff, LOUD headphones, Diamond Hardware.
What set-up are you riding right now?
8.25” X 31.8” full concave enjoi SPECTRUM board, with 8.0” K4 Krux, 52mm Ricta SLIX, Mob grip, 7/8” allen Diamond Hardware and Bones Bearings without the spacers.
What’s the most fun DIY, skater-built or renegade spot that you’ve skated lately?
DIY is cool, but it’s something I prefer only when it’s completely out of necessity. If there aren’t any street plaza/parks around, schoolyards, etc., I prefer to hit some natural terrain that an architect has designed. Favorites include double sets with a gap to rail option, or out ledges. I love granite ledges, but honestly, it’s nearly impossible to find a good ledge nowadays. That brings me back to the DIY thing. If you’re looking for a ledge and there aren’t any around, maybe you can find an abandoned lot and build one for the crew to skate.
Have you ever built something to skate?
I’ve built a few boxes in the past, which helped out my ledge game a lot. It’s been ages since then, so there are some tricks I wish I could get back. When I lived in Egypt, I built a couple jump ramps. Nothing too serious, but enough to get us boosting pretty high.
Who do you like to skate with these days?
I kind of skate with whoever is around, but to be honest that means rolling a lot with the AMs and flow bros on enjoi; mainly Daniel Dubois, Blue Turner and Miika Adamov. They’re usually cruising with Matt Mullen who is the enjoi filmer.
Best skate graphic you have seen lately?
I saw Gino’s FA portrait board the other day and got really hyped. The stain on there reminded me of LIFE and H-Street and, of course, I’m a huge Gino fan. So together, they were really on point.
Best thing you’ve skated in a skatepark?
Hmm, that’s a big one. Not sure about best thing, but the House Park in Austin, TX, has some great granite ledges. The hubba at the Red Park in San Jose, CA is amazing too, but the run-up is a little short. When it comes to skateparks, it’s just rad when there’s a good ledge, a good flatbar and some rad hubbas.
Favorite skateboarders of all time?
Rick Howard and Mike Carroll. Those dudes span all time.
Is there anything that hasn’t been built to skate yet that you’d like to see built?
Strangely enough, it’s hard to find a stand alone ledge and stand alone flat bar at most parks. Builders and designers seem like they’re trying to make obstacles and features look really unique, often overlooking the fact the some of the simplest structures are all you need to make a skater happy.
Best road trip you ever took?
The two-month trip throughout Western and Eastern Europe in 2004 with the Popwar crew comes to mind. We did demos on both ends of the tour, and crammed in a lot of countries in between. Handled filming the majority of a video, as well as two major tour articles. It was stressful at times, but overall I think most of the dudes on the trip will remember it as a fave.
Are there any skate-related charities that you support?
There aren’t any charities I financially support, but I’ve been fortunate enough to work with the Skateistan peeps in their earlier years, and I’ve worked a little bit with Steve from STOKED. He’s an inspirational guy whose main goals seem to be creating opportunities where none seem to exist by way of bringing skateboarding to those who may not know how accessible it can be.
What music have you been listening to?
I’ve been sticking to the classics that I’ve grown accustomed to with a sprinkling of newer bands that actually sound like the classics. It’s pretty funny how we end up hearing about a new band that actually sounds very similar to a fave. I’ve always liked The Magnetic Fields, and there’s Built to Spill and Modest Mouse whom I favor some of their older albums. Beirut rules as does The National, Tame Impala, and, as a wild card, I’ve been known to annoy the hell out of my friends with some Skrillex.
What do you consider the responsibilities of a professional skateboarder?
Just be aware of the fact that you’ve been given a really special gift; an opportunity to “work” doing something you love. That’s a rare thing, so it’s important to not take it for granted. Being a professional skateboarder is something a lot of people dream about and I feel lucky that my path led to this. I try and engage with anyone else who’s a fan of skateboarding as well as take the time to talk to most everyone who’s down for this life.
Which skate shops do you support?
To be honest, I don’t really hit up any skate shops. In Oakland, there aren’t any nearby except 510 Skateshop in Berkeley. I use to hit up FTC, but since I don’t live in San Francisco anymore, that hasn’t happened lately. Unfortunately, the days of sitting around at the skateshop watching videos and shooting the shit about what’s new in the mags is a thing of the past for me. A lot of my friends have moved away from the Bay Area, so I get my “skate shop” fix from when I’m in the tour van.
Favorite skate photo of all time?
Most things that have to do with Rick Howard are timeless and epic, so I’ll just go with that.
What is your take on girls skateboarding?
It’s awesome. Skateboarding is an equal opportunity activity. It bridges all races and genders.
What skateboarding memorabilia do you have that means the most to you?
This is such a good question. I have so much stuff from over the years that over time becomes seemingly pointless to hold on to. In the end, they’re all just little markers of what was going on at a specific time. I guess my favorite thing is this Lettus Bee / Wrench Pilot figure that I received from Andy Jenkins. He signed it and gave it to me, as well as mentioned that an old photo that Luke Ogden had shot of me was somewhat of an inspiration for the figure. Lettus is in a full scorpion position, and the photo I’m talking about was an outtake from skating a handrail in Minneapolis when I missed on a 180 nosegrind. It’s funny how sometimes slams are more memorable than the makes.
Who contributes the most to your local skate scene?
I feel like the 510 Skateshop peeps do a great job giving back to the community, as does Karl Watson and the guys over at Town Park in West Oakland.
Top three favorite skate tricks?
Tre flips, nollie flips and nosegrinds.
Do you think skateboarding should be in the Olympics?
Sure…it’s going in that direction. Skateboarding has evolved into something different than what it was for me when I began. Then, it was about anti-establishment, being punk and having a tribe to belong to that understood your angst and was a way to “escape” your family who generally didn’t understand why you “played” with skateboards. Even then, I knew what the Olympics was all about and, every four years, I sat in front of the TV to watch USA do its thing. With skating attracting larger corporations, from shoe companies to media channels, and having more support from parents who see a future in the “sport,” the progression of skateboarding is to take things to more grand formats with the ultimate venue being the Olympics. It’s not a matter of whether skateboarding should be there. It’s more about how should it be portrayed at the Olympics. Fast forward 20 years, and skateboarders will be proud to be a part of the Olympics. Right now, it’s a foreign concept and, to some people, taking skateboarding to the Olympics is altering what skateboarding means to them. Really though, skateboarding remains all I said it was, in addition to all that it is becoming.
What is your proudest moment in skateboarding so far?
The fact that I’ve made skateboarding a career that’s taken me around the world is awesome. I’m really stoked on the number of covers I’ve had throughout my career. I never set out to make that a thing, but things worked out that way and, when I look back on what I’ve accomplished, that milestone definitely comes to mind. It couldn’t have been possible without a lot of other variables falling into place, but I’m stoked nonetheless.
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…
