Dominik Dietrich
How and when did you start skating?
I started skating around ’94. I watched some guys from my town doing ollies out of a bump over a wooden crate and I got really stoked on it. A few weeks later I got my first board from my dad.
Do you remember what your first board was?
It was some Ever Slick board but I don’t remember which brand. Still got it at home though but there’s almost no tail and nose left cause I skated it for at least two years.
Who were you skating with at first?
With friends around town.
Were there any early influences on your skating?
I didn’t really watch many skate videos when I was younger, so friends from back home kinda influenced me a lot.
Do you enjoy skating in contests?
When I was younger I used skate more contests than I do now. Some in Europe are quite fun but I rather go out skating somewhere else with my friends than sharing a skate park with a lot of people.
Where did you place in Tampa Am this year?
I don’t know.
How could contests be improved?
Not having single-runs. I think it’s more fun to skate and to watch jam sessions than individual runs.
What’s your favorite terrain to skate?
Anything. Wherever it’s possible to roll around.
Who do you skate with now?
I’m traveling more or less the whole time, so it always depends where I am at the moment and who’s around to go skating.
Who on the etnies team is most inspiring to you?
I like the whole team to be honest.
Give us one really good or funny Conhuir Lynn story.
Actually every day you hang out with him something’s happening cause he’s such a funny character! There are many good stories to tell about the Conboy so its not that easy to think of a really good one but do you know somebody who needs to set an alarm to get out of bed at one point a day? I do.
Who are your favorite skaters of all time?
Tom Penny, Arto, Pat Duffy, Geoff Rowley, Javier Mendizabal.
What are the differences between skating in Austria vs. the States?
Skating back home is pretty mellow compared to the States. There aren't that many skateparks and good street spots around especially in that area where I’m from so you don’t really have to worry about tickets or getting arrested for rolling on the streets.
The weather in Austria also changes a lot and during the winter season it can be pretty cold and snowy for a few months. But growing up there definitely made me appreciating the nice weather and smooth flat ground in the States.
How has your stay in the States been in the last months or so? What have you been doing? Who were you skating and staying with?
My time in the states was pretty good! I’ve been traveling around with my good ol’ friend Conhuir the whole time which is always fun. First we did a trip with Etnies around Florida for like 2 weeks and than we flew to California where we stayed at Clifford’s house in Long Beach. After that we spent like a month at blackbox and skated with the zero guys around San Diego. We went on trip with them to San Francisco and stayed at 6 Newell for a week. Jammin’ in the basement every night and bombing hills around the city.
Good times!!
Give us five good bands we should be listening to right now.
Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, Neil Young, Johnny Cash.
Do you have a girlfriend back home?
Nope.
What do you have to say about the ladies in California or the States in general?
They are alright!
Where are your favorite spots to skate?
All over the place. I enjoy skating spots where you don’t have to drive for hours and sit in a van all day to get there.
What’s are your favorite trick to do?
I like all of em!
What’s one you suck at?
Nollie Backflip.
What’s one thing you don’t like about skateboarding or the industry?
Skate politics.
What have been the highlights of your skateboarding career so far?
Traveling around the world and meeting people from different places!
What do you enjoy besides skating?
Spending time with my family and friends back home, food, music, beaches, life…!
What are your future goals?
More trips around Europe with my camper!
