Name: Collin Graham
Hometown: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Age: 18
Sponsors: Embassy Skateboards, Ace Trucks, Coastal Edge Surf Shop, Type-S Wheels, 187 Killer Pads, Spohn Ranch Skateparks, Bulletproof Kevlar Laces, Element Apparel, Taco Dudes, and the Windsor Woods Fork Crew.
What set-up are you riding right now?
Embassy skateboard, Ace trucks, Type-S wheels, Mob Grip, Reds bearings and Shortys hardware.
What’s the most fun DIY, skater-built or renegade spot that you’ve skated lately?
Tim’s ramp in Wilmington, NC is the most fun DIY. Old school style vert ramp with a 3ft. vert extension that goes up into the trees and an elbow pocket with beer can pool coping!
Have you ever built something to skate?
I’ve worked for Spohn Ranch skateparks setting up ramps and bowls, but never an actual DIY other than helping out my friend Bob QN’s backyard bowl.
Who do you like to skate with these days?
Ronnie/Dylan O’Neal and Ronan Livingston or any of the WW guys!
Best skate graphic you have seen lately?
Ronnie O’Neal has a sick graphic out for Shipyard Skates, by Jimbo Phillips.
Best thing you’ve skated in a skatepark?
The No Diving vert wall at Williams Farm skatepark in Virginia Beach.
Favorite skateboarders of all time?
Bob Burnquist, David Gonzales, and Pedro Barros.
Is there anything that hasn’t been built to skate yet that you’d like to see built?
I still have a lot too see in the world, so I don’t know everything that’s out there, but anything out of the ordinary is always fun.
Best road trip you ever took?
The trip to Florida Bowlriders Cup every year is always one hell of a time!
Any skate-related charities you support?
Anything to help out the skate scene in VB is what I support.
What music have you been listening to lately?
Sabbath and a lot of Slayer always gets me pumped.
What do you consider the responsibilities of a professional skateboarder?
Promoting your sponsors and keeping skateboarding alive!
Which skate shops do you support most?
Coastal Edge is the only shop I go to. They’ve been hooking me up for about five years now.
Favorite skate photo of all time?
Mike Conroy’s one footed tuck-knee invert on the old Mount Trashmore vert ramp.
What is your take on girls skateboarding?
Gnarly! Seeing girls shred on a skateboard is impressive and sexy.
What skateboarding memorabilia do you have that means the most to you?
I don’t really have any old skateboard memorabilia. The skateboard I won from my very first contest means the most to me.
Who contributes the most to your local skate scene?
The Windsor Woods fork crew!
Top three favorite skate tricks?
Phillips 66, Boneless FS invert (brainless) and the Elguerial.
Do you think skateboarding should be in the Olympics?
Why not? Anything that keeps skateboarding alive and makes more contests for skaters is fine by me.
What is your proudest moment in skateboarding so far?
Being able to invent my own trick, the “Collinoscopy” (Stalefish Eggplant Elguerial).
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…
