Name: Glen Charnoski
Hometown: Allentown, Pennsylvania
Age: 48
Sponsors: Conspiracy Skateboards, (formerly: Vans, 187, Zorlac, Gullwing, Kryptonics).
What set-up are you riding right now?
Conspiracy “Glen Charnoski” pro model (8.25”), Indy trucks, Bones SPF “Hawk” 58mm wheels, sometimes Conspiracy wheels, grip and hardware whatever.
What’s the most fun DIY, skater-built or renegade spot that you’ve skated lately?
Gunnison, Colorado Skatepark (built by Team Pain). They kept the old heart-shaped skater-built bowl.
Have you ever built something to skate?
Yes! Slug 1, 2, 3, backyard vert ramps with my brother, Rick, and friends in Pennsylvania. Slug 1 was only 20’ wide and 9’/1’ vert. Slug 3 was the biggest at 32’ wide with 9 1/2 trannies with 1 1/2’ vert. All wood with staircases, railings, lights, contests and music.
Who do you like to skate with these days?
Marshall at Arvada… inspiring, fast, creative, gutsy, and positive.
Best skate graphic you have seen lately?
The Creature Bloodshed model. I just looked at it in my basement. My brother, Rick, made the film and sent me the board, so it’s cool just for that.
Best thing you’ve ever skated in a skatepark and what skatepark was it?
The mini kidney pool at Gunnison, Colorado skatepark. You can go so fast and do whatever you want. It’s perfect.
Favorite skateboarders of all time??
Mark Emond (Ocean City, MD) has to be the oldest! He taught me and Rick to skate, and he’s super stylish and draws original lines. He’s super cool and positive and loves skating. Steve Caballero and Chris Miller for their talent and styles. Lance Mountain to skate with. Rick Widenor (in Colorado) who inspires for his energy, go-after-it attitude and love for teaching skating. Al Brunelle. We rode many parks together, and had lots of fun at many contests. He reminds me of me growing up and learning tricks. He’s just great to watch and he’s so talented on diverse terrain.
Is there anything that hasn’t been built to skate yet that you’d like to see built?
Yes. Bring back an indoor skatepark with a vert ramp and add a combi-bowl replica to Colorado.
Best road trips you ever took?
In the US: Alex Brunelle and I met a friend, Nick, after the Trifecta in Oregon and we skated parks all over the Pacific Northwest. It was really fun! Internationally, Donny Myhre and I toured Europe doing demos, contests, surfing, etc. in summertime from 1988-91, which exposed me to many new things and ideas. I matured quite a bit as a result!
Any skate-related charities you support?
No.
What music have you been listening to lately?
Morcheeba, 90’s party music (Beastie Boys).
What do you consider the responsibilities of a professional skateboarder?
Represent skating and your sponsors in a positive light, promote the benefits and fun of skating to the public and local government and support initiatives for new skateparks, and to be a good role model and engage kids at the skatepark, give them attention and support. Nothing worse than a pro with a bad attitude and cares only about himself and “winning”. I won’t mention names!
Which skate shops do you support and go to the most?
Meta in Boulder because Sam is so supportive of the local skate community. SOL in Longmont because Allen, the owner, is a good friend.
Favorite skate photo of all time?
Duane Peters acid drop into the combi and Alan Gelfand doing an ollie in a pool.
What is your take on girls skateboarding?
Yeah. Cool. I’m happy to see them enjoying it. It’s inspiring, but I feel a little sad for them sometimes as it’s a male-dominated sport and the stereotype is that girls can’t skate very good. Period.
What skateboarding memorabilia do you have that means the most to you?
I won a deck at the Trifecta that everyone I knew there signed. That is special.
Who contributes the most to your local skate scene?
Rick Widenor. He has engaged kids, the parents, and the community for over 30 years and has a key to the Rosy Bowl in Denver where he welcomes skaters to session.
Top three favorite skate tricks?
Eggplants, frontside inverts and alley-oop smith grinds.
Do you think skateboarding should be in the Olympics?
No. It would make it too competitive and mainstream and it would lose appeal for many of us.
What is your proudest moment in skateboarding so far?
Beating Steve Caballero at a World Cup contest, and him telling me after the contest, “I think you won this time.”
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…
