Willow
Where are you originally from?
Berlin, East Germany!
How and when did you start skating?
I saw some dudes jumping around with some wooden thing. It looked crazy, I wanted to ride that wooden thing like them. I must say, jakschiiimasch (I like)!
I can’t really remember. It was in 1997, I guess. Something like that!
Do you remember what kind of board it was?
I guess it was a complete board by ATM Click. It was a cheap one.
Did you start out skating in the streets or at a skatepark?
Just street skating! We had no skatepark.
Who were you skating with at first?
With my old friend Rostock and some other dudes. We had fun.
Were there any early influences on your skating? Who did you look
up to?
Rostock, he did some good flips that I couldn’t at that time. I was so stoked, he was my first hero.
Do you enjoy skating in contests and demos?
No, there is too much pressure.
How could contests be improved?
Skating in the street rather than a contest would be good. Real street contests with cracks in the ground. Simply street skating with all the typical obstacles.
What do you like about being able to make some money from skating?
What money? It’s not as much as you might think.
What’s not so cool?
jakschiiimasch.
What do you think of skate videos these days?
I’m not really into skate videos. Even when I see them they are antiquated.
Do you enjoy filming video parts yourself?
Sometimes it’s good motivation, but sometimes it sucks so bad. Because of the deadlines and if you have no tricks then you are under pressure.
Do you skate vert ramps or bowls much?
I try, but I can’t.
What do you think of the skateparks in Europe?
Jakschiiimasch.
Should skateparks copy real street spots like MACBA or have more trannies?
Everyone should find his own real street skatepark.
What do you like about etnies?
I like the team.
Which Etnies shoe do you like? Why?
The Arto and Faction.
Who do you skate with now?
Arto and Faction.
Who are your favorite skaters of all time?
Ramon, Rostock and Samy.
What have been the highlights of your skateboarding career?
The Flip tour.
Skateboarding professionally also means a lot of traveling! What does that mean to you ?
Fun, traveling around, seeing interesting places, meeting nice people, enjoying life, missing my cats and my fishies.
What do you enjoy besides skating?
Contemporary art, visiting ethnographical museums, reading books, drawing, swimming and I collect stamps.
What are your future goals?
To fly to the moon, achive the Nobel prize and just be Willow.