1. What motivated you to start making decks?
When I first joined up with FBC, and later with FFI, I realized that there was a lot of heart put into the scene, and that the kids involved took it seriously, so I wanted to find a way to somehow add something to the fingerboarding world. When Todd started contemplating selling Defstone, I thought that would be the perfect opportunity. I had owned Defstone decks made by both Todd and Mark, and thought that it would be a perfect opportunity to not only give something back to fingerboarding, but a way to continue a company that already had a stellar reputation.
2. How did you choose your team?
Very carefully. First I looked into other companies, researched their teams, looked at how they represented their sponsors, and came up with a questionnaire that would let me know how prospective team members would represent Defstone. I wanted kids on the team who had heart, not just skills. They had to be able to represent themselves, their company, and me positively, anything they do or say is a reflection on me and on Defstone, so I expect a lot from them. They had to have some technical skill, and innovation, but they had to be good people first.
3. How long have you been fingerboarding?
I started fingerboarding the morning after I saw the Future Primitive video back in the 80's. I started making my own fingerboards out of lexan and hot wheels cars, anything that might work. I did that throughout junior high into high school and let it slip away. Years later, I spent some time working in a cubicle, in which I built a little cardboard skate park to use the new Tech Deck toys with, to keep me from falling asleep while on the phone with customers, haha. My kids dug out a box of old toys, which included those TD's, and it kind of took off from there. I bought wooden decks and bearing wheels for them, and we started collecting together, and then I took over Defstone.
4. Where would you like to see defstone go in the next few years?
I just want to continue making decks for people that are not only solid and usable, but I also want them to be unique, artistic and memorable, for however long that lasts, days, years, doesn't matter, as long as it's fun and I'm creating something cool.
5. Anything big coming up?
I'm looking into a mellow mold for fans who aren't as comfortable with the hardcore shape that Defstone has. I'm also getting a few artists together to hand paint decks for limited series', but that's only if sales pick up for me. For now I'm just going to keep making decks and doing what I do.
When I first joined up with FBC, and later with FFI, I realized that there was a lot of heart put into the scene, and that the kids involved took it seriously, so I wanted to find a way to somehow add something to the fingerboarding world. When Todd started contemplating selling Defstone, I thought that would be the perfect opportunity. I had owned Defstone decks made by both Todd and Mark, and thought that it would be a perfect opportunity to not only give something back to fingerboarding, but a way to continue a company that already had a stellar reputation.
2. How did you choose your team?
Very carefully. First I looked into other companies, researched their teams, looked at how they represented their sponsors, and came up with a questionnaire that would let me know how prospective team members would represent Defstone. I wanted kids on the team who had heart, not just skills. They had to be able to represent themselves, their company, and me positively, anything they do or say is a reflection on me and on Defstone, so I expect a lot from them. They had to have some technical skill, and innovation, but they had to be good people first.
3. How long have you been fingerboarding?
I started fingerboarding the morning after I saw the Future Primitive video back in the 80's. I started making my own fingerboards out of lexan and hot wheels cars, anything that might work. I did that throughout junior high into high school and let it slip away. Years later, I spent some time working in a cubicle, in which I built a little cardboard skate park to use the new Tech Deck toys with, to keep me from falling asleep while on the phone with customers, haha. My kids dug out a box of old toys, which included those TD's, and it kind of took off from there. I bought wooden decks and bearing wheels for them, and we started collecting together, and then I took over Defstone.
4. Where would you like to see defstone go in the next few years?
I just want to continue making decks for people that are not only solid and usable, but I also want them to be unique, artistic and memorable, for however long that lasts, days, years, doesn't matter, as long as it's fun and I'm creating something cool.
5. Anything big coming up?
I'm looking into a mellow mold for fans who aren't as comfortable with the hardcore shape that Defstone has. I'm also getting a few artists together to hand paint decks for limited series', but that's only if sales pick up for me. For now I'm just going to keep making decks and doing what I do.
