Ryan Sheckler
Where are you originally from?
I'm originally from Diamond Bar, California. I grew up in San Clemente.
How old were you when you started skating?
I was 18 months old when I started rolling around on my knees, but I started to ollie and stuff like that when I was four.
How did you get started skating?
I think it was from the neighbor kids, because everybody in my neighborhood skated. I just started to skate with them, cuz I wanted to do something that they were doing. They all quit and started surfing, but I stuck with skating.
What terrain were you riding at first?
Just my driveway, smooth concrete.
What did you skate after that?
When I was seven, I got a mini-ramp in the backyard, so I just skated that every day. It was six feet high, 36 feet wide and 50 feet long.
How did you start going to skateparks?
I started entering CASL contests and that's really how I got into the skateparks.
Which parks are your favorites?
I pretty much like all of the Vans parks.
Do you ever try to ride the pools there?
Sometimes, but it gets boring for me after a while.
Can you grind them?
Yeah, but I'm not as good in the pools as I want to be, so that's why I don't skate them that much.
Who were some early influences on your skating?
Tony Hawk. I looked up to Eric Koston and Rick McCrank when I first started skating.
Do you still like all of those guys?
Oh, yeah, for sure, cuz now I know them and get to hang out with them, so it's good.
Do you enjoy skating in contests?
I do, a lot. Many of the pros ask me if it gets boring that I can skate contests and I can skate street, but I have fun in both of them, so I'm just going to keep on doing them.
Is it important for you to win or place high in contests or is it all just for fun?
Um, it's great to win, but I normally skate for fun. It's whatever, but I definitely like to win.
How could contests be improved?
I think they're pretty good the way they are. The best contest was in Australia when it was a jam format. I really liked that.
Do you like having your mom on tour with you?
Yeah, it's all right. It doesn't bother me.
Do you like skate videos?
I do. They help me skate a lot. They just get me pumped.
Which are some of your favorites?
I like the Zero Dying To Live video a lot. Emerica This Is Skateboarding. I like Man Down, the Tilt Mode Army one.
Do you enjoy shooting video parts?
I do. It's definitely a pumper-upper, because I can skate and then watch what I did and be like, "Yeah, stoked! I'm psyched with that. Use it, for sure." If I don't like it, we can do it again. So, I like being videoed, for sure.
Have you shot any parts for videos that have come out?
I've shot parts for Digital, Volcom and Almost Skateboards.
Do you skate real street much?
Oh yeah, that's all I skate now. I hardly ever ride skateparks anymore--only when I need to practice for a contest, occasionally on the weekends. I skate a lot of street now.
Why did you switch over from parks to real street?
Because I realized that's what I need if I'm going to pursue skateboarding as a career. I need to get the gnarly stuff that everybody else is getting, so I just kind of transitioned over. I still have skatepark skills, but I like street a lot.
Do you skate small stuff like curbs and parking bumps much?
Oh yeah, I'll mess around on stuff like that for fun and to get warmed up. But when I do get down to it, I like to skate stairs, handrails and gaps a lot.
Any hubbas?
I haven't really gone to a good hubba, so I don't know. I like 'em at the skateparks. If they're the same on real street, then I like 'em a lot.
How do you get around to all of the street spots?
With photographers and other skaters.
Do you skate vert ramps much?
I used to skate vert, but I kind of got over it once I started skating street a lot more. I skate mini-ramps. I still have one in my backyard.
Was etnies the first shoe you ever skated in?
Yep, the only shoe.
How did you get on etnies?
Brian Patch.
What do you like about etnies?
Everything, the team--it's great.
Who are your favorite skaters of all time?
Oh, jeez. For sure, Rick McCrank, Eric Koston, Colt Cannon and Tony Hawk. I've got a lot of favorite skaters. It's hard to name them all.
What kind of unusual coverage have you got?
Commercials for Gogurt, Kellogg's Frosted Flakes, the Sony Vaio video camera and two movies, The Grind--a skate movie--and MPT 2.
What do you enjoy besides skating?
I like riding my Yamaha YZ85 dirt bike. I like to snowboard when I get the chance, and I occasionally go surfing. I snowboard at Mt. Hood in Oregon, plus Mammoth, Big Bear, Snow Summit and Snow Valley--just all the local spots. I normally surf at the pier, or go to Riviera with my best friend, Eric. I like to listen to music, mainly Metallica, AC/DC and those guys, but right now I'm into rap like 50 Cent. I also like to go hit golf balls from time to time.
What are your future goals?
My longterm future goal is to be one of the best pro skaters ever.
