http://freeskier.com/stories/mike-hornbeck-profile-skiings-hard-working-familia-man\

Exclusive Interview With Nick Visconti

Nick Visconti “RBLB” Excerpt from Jesse Burtner on Vimeo.

This is an excerpt from Nick Visconti’s part in “Right Brain Left Brain”. For his whole part and the rest of Think Thank’s season of insanity get the double disc DVD at finer snowboard shops around the world or at www.thinkthank.com

Nick Visconti – Hot Dawgs & Handrails Winner 2010 from Matt Devino on Vimeo.

Arbor rider Nick Visconti winning the Hot Dawgs & Hand Rails contest at Bear Mountain in 2010.

Do you have any trips planned for the 13 season that you’re stoked about?

Through The Lens: Catching Up with Catfish

If you ride BMX, you know who Catfish is…If you don’t, you are blowin’ it and need to get caught up and that’s where this interview comes in. I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to call Catfish a friend for years now and it’s always a pleasure to get to hang with him. I noticed he was in Cali for a visit after kind of going M.I.A for a while in Spain and I was determined to chill with him and find out what the hell he has been up to so I hit him up a few days ago and we made it happen. He is the type of person that runs his life according to a very loose schedule and has one goal and that is to have fun. His BMX roots date back to the late 80’s, he has been an announcer at nearly every single major BMX event in recent years and has seen some of the most progressive riding to date with his own eyes contest after contest. If you haven’t seen him on TV announcing a contest you may have caught him on an episode of his own show “Strangers in Danger” with his co-star and BMX legend Mike “Rooftop” Escamilla. Either way, Catfish is one person that genuinely loves riding and truly understands what it’s all about. Sit back, relax and enjoy a little sarcasm from the man himself.

How about you let everyone know your name, age, hometown and sponsors.
My name is Sir Zachary Alexander Catfish Catfish Yankush III Esquire. My hometown is Youngstown, Ohio and my sponsors are DK Bicycles, Monster Energy, Fox, Arnette Eyewear, Nooka Watches, DC shoes, and Bogiatiland Crew.

Rooftop and Catfish doing a doubles run on each other’s bikes. 

So, Mr. Catfish, what the hell has been going on lately man? Please 
take this time to fill the world in on what you have been up to.
I’ve been enjoying my life, traveling a bit, taking a bit of a vacation from my existing vacation called life. I have also been riding as much as I can and trying to smile even more than that.

For those out there who don’t know; who is Catfish?
Catfish is the funniest person I know. He’s also the best BMX rider I have ever seen. I heard from the ladies that he is also an amazing lover with a huge penis.

How long have you been riding BMX? I know that I have seen you post some
old throwbacks of you as a young kid on a bike.
I started riding back in 1985. I got my first official BMX bike in ‘87. I have been in the game for a while now.

What first got you into riding?
I remember seeing a BMX magazine and thinking that the tricks looked so impossible. I remember seeing a bar ride and thinking to myself that the rider must have a “locking stem” to keep the bars straight. I don’t even know what a locking stem is. Ha-ha.

What was it like growing up as a BMX’er in Ohio?
It was awesome. I am actually really glad that I grew up there. It made me appreciate so many aspects about BMX. I had a really good crew of older riders that I hung with that took me under their wings. There were also contests that brought a lot of the Ohio guys together. Ohio is such a hot bed for so many good BMX riders that I think a lot of people forget about. Guys like Colin Winklemann, Nate Wessel, Scott Powell, Dave Shaffer, guys that I not only looked up to but I am friends with.

A few of the many tats that cover Catfish including a frog hanging from his nipple. 

Most people know you as the guy that announces a lot of the major
 contests but you also have a few other roles in BMX. Care to explain?
I announce a lot of events but I have been involved with DK bikes for over ten years. That’s where everything really started for me as far as being in the “Industry”. I got hired at DK to manage the stunt team and that grew into team manager. Now I am kind of rider/personality/lunatic guy at DK.

What is new over at DK? I know that I have heard about a few changes
 going on over there.
There is so much going on with DK. The thing that I am the most stoked on is the fact that DK is really going hard getting quality BMX bikes into the hands of kids that normally wouldn’t have a chance. DK is now available at some chain stores and to be able to produce a quality BMX bike at a reasonable price that isn’t going to break after riding it one time is hard. The fact that a kid can buy a Drew Bezanson complete bike with chromoly bars, forks, and frame with a 25/9 gearing for less than $250 bucks is crazy. These are the same kids that bought a BMX bike and broke it the next day. BMX getting bigger means BMX is getting better.

Speaking of DK, you recently met up with Brett at the rehabilitation 
facility that he is at in Texas I believe. How is he doing? I know that 
you have a crazy close connection to Brett and that you really helped
 to shape the person he is today so that whole situation must be tough to
 handle.
Brett is getting better every single day. His progress is so inspiring. When I saw him he was basically comatose. It broke my heart. This is my best friend and at times literally my son, as I would have legal guardian status over him when we would travel. The whole situation is one of the hardest things that I have ever had to deal with. For starters I was in Spain when it happened. So just the communication of what was going on was driving me crazy. Then after I saw him, I lost it…like really in my mind lost my shit. That was the point that I was basically like fuck the world. My best friend is not coming out of that bed. I didn’t go to Interbike because I couldn’t deal with people asking me about him. I was pretty much so angry and upset that I wanted to block it all out. I got back to Spain and then I saw the video of Brett walking. I was so blown away. That’s when I knew he would be ok. Up to that point I really thought my little buddy was gone. After I saw the ARF video, I knew Brett was going to kick this things ass. He has always been the strongest most persistent person I have known. If he wanted to do something or learn a trick, he was going to do it. That’s the approach he is taking with his rehab. He is going to get back on that bike. Shout out to my homie Brett.

Catfish showing off his new Instagram photo shot by Rooftop. 

How did you originally get into announcing?
I started announcing contests back at my local skate parks Section 8 and Chenga World. From there is has just grown into an international incident. My big break came from Nate Wessel to announce the X Games a few years back.

What is the best part about it?
Knowing that I have the ability to get the riders pumped up. I can get a crowd going crazy with positive energy. Then I can take that energy and zap a rider with it.

What is the worst part about it?
Long days and losing my voice.

What is the next contest you are announcing?
There is a contest that Monster Energy is doing in Holland in January. I’ll be all up in that.

You have announced a ton of contests in the past few years and BMX has
 happened to progress at an alarming rate. What is it like being at the
 forefront of progression and watching it all unfold right in front of 
you?
It’s the best part about BMX. If you are a rider, an announcer, or just a spectator, YOU ARE A PART OF IT. BMX has gotten so insane over the last five years or so and I think there are a lot of factors that go into it but watching new tricks get pulled live at a contest is just the best. BMX history is constantly getting re-written and it’s awesome.

Catfish got a flat while shooting so he made the best of it and put his front wheel to good use.

You are no stranger to quite literally traveling the globe. Please 
explain how much you have traveled in the past five years.
Wow. Yeah, I have travelled quite a bit. I will say this right now that traveling is the most important part of BMX. Anyone that has traveled because of this little bike will tell you the same thing. BMX has taken me to some of the craziest places and introduced me to some of the most amazing people. Man just in the last five years I have probably been to over sixty countries. Riding my bicycle in every single one of them. I have never been without my bike on any trip. Bicycles make seeing everything so much easier. I would hate to go to a city without a bike. Fuck walking.

How was it having your own television show “Strangers in Danger” with a 
legend like Mike “Rooftop” Escamilla? I say “was” because you mentioned 
there being no more seasons after the first two right?
It was incredible. I mean…of course it would have been awesome to do it with someone else but to be able to share all those insane experiences with a good friend AND a hero is just priceless. 
We had so many good times filming the show. We are contracted for 5 seasons but I think Fuel TV is going a different direction with programming so we might be done. Granted that could change tomorrow and I can be on a plane to the South Pole.

How did that all come about anyways?
I have a good friend at Fuel TV named Sonnie Solberg. She hit me up about an audition for a TV show in Hollywood that I should go to. I had never been to a real audition and I was reluctant but she insisted. I went to the audition and got the part right there on the spot. The executive producer asked me if I knew any other BMX riders that might be a good fit for the show and I gave them Rooftops info. Three weeks later we were filming the pilot in Vietnam.

What are three things about the show that would surprise people?
1. That there are only four people on the road with us. Myself, Mike, the director Brian, and the lead camera man Erik.
2. Some of the bits weren’t planned and we literally just made them up on the spot.
3. It’s not all glamour and glitz and being on a TV show isn’t always what its cracked up to be.

You pretty much barfed in every episode so at some point, you had to be
 sick of puking. Was all of the food you were eating really that gnarly?
I have a really weak stomach anyways. For example I have thrown up from smelling farts. So when I am sitting down to eat something that I know is gnarly it’s just too much for my head. I can swallow it, but it always comes back up.

Since Strangers in Danger is done at the moment; what’s next?
Just kinda’ chilling for a little bit. I’ll be back in Cali for a couple weeks in January getting my reel together and maybe hit up some auditions.

If anyone has kept up on your #barcelonadogoftheday posts on Instagram it’s obvious 
that you have been spending quite a bit of time in Spain. What’s the
deal?
I’ve been in Spain on and off since May. Anyone that has been to Barcelona knows how amazing it is for a BMX rider. The spots, the people, the girls, the food, the parties…everything is top notch. I like to surround myself with positivity and Spain is full of it.

What country do you prefer living in?
I like Spain better than the States just because the people genuinely seem happier.

How long can you stay over there at a time? What kind of visa do you
have?
I honestly have no idea. I am just running it. I have a couple passports so if something gets weird with one. I pull the ‘ole switch-a-roo.

What brought you back to the States this past trip?
Christmas. I came back to see the fam in Ohio and made sure that I had a week in California to ride and cause problems.

You used to live at the OSS house when you last lived in Cali and you’re
 staying there now while you visit. Entertain us with a good Adam22 and Chris Long story.
Oh wow. There are so many of them. I don’t even know where to start. I don’t want anyone to go to jail. Um…one time I brought them both to China. We got wasted at a Hooters and when we left there were all these Styrofoam coolers outside and we started throwing them at each other. All of a sudden Chris grabs one and starts running at a random woman that was tying her shoe. She never even saw him coming. I then watched Chris break a cooler over a strange Chinese woman’s back. She was so scared that she jumped up and started hitting Chris with her purse and it was one of the most amazing things that I have ever seen. On that same trip Chris was smoking a blunt on the Great Wall of China and some dipshit American and his 70-year-old parents tried to call us out. Chris basically told him he would knock him the fuck out right here on the Great Wall. Totally ruining their experience. That was awesome.

So, some might say you’re living the dream and from what I can tell, it
 looks to be that way. What kind of advice do you have for young kids 
looking to make a name for themselves in BMX without having to be a pro 
rider?
Just have fun! Immerse yourself in the culture of BMX. Make as many friends as you can. BMX is so small that pissing off one person can come back to haunt you. You can be the best rider with all the best tricks and be an asshole and you’ll get nowhere. You see so much talent in BMX today, you need to look at yourself like a brand. If you aren’t marketing yourself right…fix it.

How about we talk tattoos since it has become something you are
 definitely known for. Collecting some rad pieces along the way seems 
like an awesome way to remember each trip you have been on. What was your first tattoo?
I got a little circle on my ankle when I was in high school and yes, I thought I was so cool. Ha-Ha.

How many do you have?
147 now.

What’s next on the list?
I never really have plans. Most of them are pretty spur of the moment. Maybe I’ll bang a couple out while I’m in the States.

What do you have in store for the upcoming year? You always seem to have some things in the works.
I actually have a lot in the works for 2013. I can’t give out all the information yet but I assure you that 2013 will be the most important year of my life to date. I have a lot of surprises for the world to see when the time is right.

Go ahead and fire out some shout-outs and thanks?
First and foremost thanks to Mom and Pops for always supporting me riding BMX. Thanks to all of my sponsors for allowing me to live this amazing life. DK bicycles and everyone there, Bill, Charlie, Chris, Jered, Trevor, and everyone who has ever been involved with DK. Thank you so much. Monster Energy, Joy, Robbie and FOX Racing. Nooka watches. Big thanks to all of the viewers of Strangers in Danger. Thanks for all the love! All my friends- they know who they are. Thanks to everyone who is passionate about BMX. You Jeremy for this interview, Mexican people, Spanish people and all of my homies in BCN. Fernando Gomarin, Ema Scutella, and girls everywhere.

Last words?
Never stop asking questions and never stop having fun.

Feel free to follow Catfish and his daily adventures on Instagram @catfishvsthug and Twitter @catfishcatfish and also check out his website www.catfishcatfish.com

Catfish will always be someone that I look up to for the simple fact that he lives his life according to his rules, and that’s what it’s all about. Life is too short to live any other way. Hopefully you learned a bit about who Catfish is and enjoyed a glimpse into his world. Be sure to check back next Wednesday for the forty-fifth edition of Through the Lens and as always feel free to leave any questions in the comments section or email me at info@jeremypavia.com and I will hit you back as soon as I can. Feel free to follow me on Twitter and Instagram @jeremypavia.

It’s been a while, but Todd Richards has finally stopped announcing contests, hosting fake shows and tweeting long enough to sit down with his best friend in the whole wide world and reboot (if only this once) the classic, and amazing, High Fives with Todd Richards. So, with so much going on in 2013, these questions got asked and your life is now better for having clicked this link. Google this shit for more of the old, but good stuff. 

You’re the only real adult in snowboarding. Could you explain the fiscal cliff to all the youngsters?

Todd: Well, the fiscal cliff has like this gnarly rock run in, with a fully bomb-holed landing, but you pretty much fucked yourself and have to jump it because you followed some fucking dumb ass pro down here to ask him for his goggles. It’s pretty much like that except with everyones finances.

The Xgames are coming up. How will Shaun White top his perfect score from last year?

I imagine that Target paid for an extra 10 points to be added on. So, add this one goes to 11 analogy here.

Who’s penis would you rather be: Shaun White, Ryan Sheckler or Kelly Clark? 

(Once Todd stops laughing.) I would way rather be Sheckler’s Penis. Judging a book by its cover, I imagine it would smell like expensive cologne.

Do you think anything interesting will happen in snowboarding this year? 

My only hope is for another banger “a Man” voiceover of the Super Natural event. That was pretty much the highlight of last season for me. That and Chad Ottersrom quietly learning the triple cork one day this season in the Breckenridge park  without the use of an air bag and not punching the sky like he has the power of Greyskull when he does.

Ok last question, The New York Times just published an article explaining how snowboarding is no cooler than skiing now and our world has lost its bad boy edge. Care to comment? 

Well shit man, just draw a huge cock on the top sheet of your board and start a bunch of fights on the hill….viola we are bad boys again…and maybe pull some fire alarms.

There you have it folks. Todd is still funny, the economy is fucked, chicks got dicks and the New York Times thinks you are a bunch of babies.

Up close and personal. Photo: Ian Post

Riley Nickerson is a cold blooded east coaster with a knack for partying hard and shredding even harder. Traveling across the country in search for the right film spots, Riley is letting his east coast roots shine no matter where he rides. I caught up with Riley while he was driving from Salt Lake to Denver. The service sucked and I dropped his call twice. We got it dialed eventually.

I’m glad I caught you man, I understand you’re on the road right now. What’s the plan? Where you heading? 

I’m driving through the desert right now with Ian post, John Murphy and mister Yale Cousino a.k.a Ryan Cousino. We are on our way to Breckenridge and we are going to board at Copper for few days, I think. Film an After Hours edit, and I’m also working on an edit for Hoboshredwear with Colin Walters.

Where do you call home right now?

I am currently living, I would have to say… on the road, (laughing) just couch surfing. That’s what I’ve been doing for the last 10 months. Recently, Me, Ian, John, and Yale rode Boreal for like a week and half, made an edit there. Then, it started raining, and basically the 10 day forecast was rain, so we left and came to Salt Lake. We filmed at Brighton for two days to make a Brighton edit, haven’t made that yet. We also filmed at the Bone Zone, and we are going to contribute our stuff from that to the Bone Zone movie.

Where are you guys going after Colorado?

I plan to film with Ian Post as much as we can for another After Hours movie. That is pretty much everybody’s plan that I am with right now. We are trying to go about in the same way we did last year, driving around, checking out new spots, and looking for where the snow is at and shit. After Colorado, we are heading straight to Vermont for Rails to Riches. We’ll probably get there Friday, crash there on Friday night, do Rails to Riches, and then probably go up to Quebec after that to try and get some street shots so I can have couple under my belt for the season. I’m also going to hang out with my family for Christmas. I haven’t seen them in 10 months so I’m excited about that.

Any trouble with the cops yet along the way?

The what?

The cops.

COPS!? Fuck no! Cops don’t like us, we don’t like them. They are afraid of us. Nahhh. No cops haha

Fuck the Police. Photo: Erik Hoffman

What is your process when filming with After Hours?

We drive around a lot to check shit out. Sometimes we know about spots, and sometimes we are just searching. We go to a spot, set it up as fast as we can, but always have a good time. We are never trying to make this not fun because we started snowboarding to have a good time and … we are not trying to change that.

Do you kick it with the Gremlinz?

Yup … those guys are the absolute shit. GBP is awesome. So many people talk shit and it’s bogus. They got a sick-ass bus that they are going to convert to run on veggie oil. They got it going on because they are just having fun. I don’t know why, but I guess some people can’t find anything better to do than hate on it. Plus there are so many kids that just go on websites and hate on videos, it’s so lame.

How did you get linked in with Rome?

I started getting boards through Rome from Ron Faverty a couple years ago. I used to ride for the Vermont Burton rep but that ended, and then for the last couple years, I have kept my relationship up with those guys and they have been the shit.

How many rails can you count? Photo: Christopher Baldwin

Have you filmed with the Rome dudes yet this year?

At Mammoth opening weekend, I took a few runs with Ozzie and Jonah and chilled with Ron in the fucking lodge for a good solid hour. Didn’t film with them though, just shredding. My plan is to film with After Hours and GBP.

With all the After Hours filming it sound like you’ve been on it pretty hard though.

I’m trying man, so far it’s going way better than last winter. Last winter, I was in Vermont and didn’t even start snowboarding until November. This year, I was at Windells all summer, then went to Tahoe because the mountains all open so early. I can just keep boarding from there.

Scrolling through this photo is like controlling your own slow-mo. Photo: Christopher Baldwin.

What made you finally leave Vermont?

I casually started leaving Vermont over time. I’d be leaving to go to Quebec or somewhere else. Then, when I was 18, right after high school I moved out to Tahoe and got a house with all the Gremlinz guys. That was my first time leaving Vermont. and then I just kept leaving for a little a bit at time, and then it just was more and more time spent away as the years went on.

Did you go to a snowboard academy?

No, I went to Stowe public school, but I grew up in Massachusetts until I was 13. I used to be a weekend warrior, haha, I rode at Ski Bradford man. You know, like a 600 foot tall piece of shit hill with a rope tow, but it always had this short bus on the hill with this crazy jump plowed up to it.

Big ol’ back lip. Photo: Christopher Baldwin.

Masshole baby, I think the bus jump was a standard at all Massachusetts resorts.

Ya, I also rode at Wachusett. I went there a few times. but I mainly drove up to Vermont to go to Stowe with my dad and then my parents moved there when I was in high school.

First time boarding?

Ya, it was a shitty piece of plastic with no edges and it had these huge plastic grooves on the bottom of this board that was like 2 inches thick. My dad took me to the top of Wachusett and it basically took me all day to get down.

I was told to ask you about a story regarding a couple old ladies and a blow up doll on Mount Mansfield?

Ya, I don’t know how you found about about that, but that is 100% true. I was with Hans Mindnich, my friend Conner and my friend Keenan Cawley. We hiked up Mt. Mansfield one day and when we got to the top, there is an access road at the top called Toll Road, where you have to pay some money or whatever. There is a parking lot at the top and we got up there around 5:00, and there is one car in the parking lot. In the high corner of the parking lot, there was a black blow-up doll with a boner and a rick james mustached black face on it. None of us could believe it, but it was fucking there. So we walked up to it and as we got closer, we heard some rustling in the bushes behind a porta potty. Then we just notice these four full grown woman hiding there, one of them with a bottle of wine. So we called them out and continued on with our hike, and that’s the truth.

My god, that is ridiculous. I don’t know what else to say. Shout outs?

All my sponsors, Rome, Gnarley, Arnette, Celtek, Hoboshredwear, and Rhythm Liven. All my friends, the family, the Gremlinz, GBP, Johnny Lazz, Zander Blackmon, keep the change crew. Ian, John and Yale, even though I’m with them right now. Everybody.

Zeke about to give a surfer at Keramas a faceful of Bali spray. Photo: Andrew Shield.

This interview first appeared in "Focus" in Surfing Life 289

Hawaii courses through the veins of 18-year-old budding superstar, Ezekiel Lau, or at least that’s what his high school says. Zeke – as he’s known - is a student at Kamehameha High School, one of several learning centers around the islands that cater purely to kids of native Hawaiian ancestry. Although still very young, it’s seen Zeke take a very serious stance toward the continuation and preservation of Hawaiian surf culture.  “When I get older for sure I want to come back and be able to give back to the kids in Hawaii and help all that new talent. I definitely wanna be a part of it,” he says.

It was also here, on a sunny day in November 2010, that Zeke first learned of the death of one of Hawaii’s modern heroes, Andy Irons. A.I. was an idol and friend of Zeke’s, the two having shared a coach in Dave Riddle. The influence of both Andy and Dave is very evident in the mechanics of Zeke’s surfing; big smooth arcs, stored up speed unleashed in furious gaffs, and a lofty aerial game. More recently, Zeke’s competitive results have also begun to reflect that of a future champion. In the past two months, Zeke joined Andy on the winners’ list of America’s most prestigious junior series, the NSSA Nationals, at Huntington. He followed that up with a third in the star studded six-star Billabong Pro J-Bay, and then a win in a four-star event in Japan.

Above all that, Zeke rates recently winning the NSSA National trophy for Outstanding Performance, presented by the Irons Family, as his most cherished title. The loss of Andy was a monumental blow for both Zeke and Hawaiian surfing. When we caught up we sought an answer as to how his generation was faring, who has stepped up to fill the void, and what it means to be carrying The Rock into 2012 and beyond.

How much did it mean to claim the Andy Irons trophy at the NSSA Nationals, Zeke?

It was pretty gnarly. I didn’t know about it until the last day when (former Hawaiian pro turned coach) Jason Shibata told me about it, and I was psyched.  I didn’t think I was gonna win it. I thought they’d give it to some grom who surfed really well, but at the end of the day they gave it to me and it’s the sickest trophy I’ve ever won in my life.

How close were you to A.I.?

I knew him pretty well through Dave Riddle, who coached Andy since he was small. They were really close and growing up Dave used him as a mentor. Everything Dave taught me, was based off what Andy did in surfing, contests. I also got to have little things like Andy would come over for dinner and he’d be hanging with Dave and his wife, and it was always really cool to have him around.

How did you guys interact?

It was pretty sick. Andy always knew what was going on with amateur stuff and was really interested. He was just fun to be around, joking and talking about rap music, Lil Wayne and all the stuff we talk about. He’d just crack jokes and hang out and have fun.

What did you take away from Andy’s surfing?

Andy just had this special feel on the water. Dave always taught us to study him and Kelly, and what they would do in competition, and how focused and determined they were. I feel like their whole attitude to competitive surfing was something he wanted us to take in. One of the first things he ever taught me was about Andy’s whole highline floater deal. I’d seen Andy do it a bunch and I remember just watching videos and trying to copy exactly what he did. Those highline floaters are pretty much the base.

Zeke has got the frame, and the surfing, of someone who looks much older than his 18 years of age. Photo: Andrew Shield.

Read the rest of the interview HERE!

Click HERE to watch: 

Ezekiel “Zeke” Lau
Professional Surfer
Location: Kewalo Basin on the South Shore of Oahu
Sponsors: Volcom, Arnette, Body Glove, Nixon, Dakine, Fitted, Jeff Bushman Surfboards, New Era
Twitter: @zekelau

Jason: Who are your Top 5 favorite musical artists and songs that get you in the mood?

Zeke: Wiz Kahlifa “Work Hard, Play Hard” along with the whole “Taylor Alderdice” album, Drake “No Lie” featuring 2 Chains, Tyga “I’m On One” remix, 50 Cent “God Gave Me Style” and the whole “Curtis” album and The Game “One Blood” along with “The Doctor’s Advocate,” “The Red Album,” “The Documentary” and all of his mix tapes.

What is the biggest misconception that people have about you?

Sometimes I feel my personality is misinterpreted because I’m so competitive by nature. If I see something that gets me into competition mode then my mind and body just clicks on, and people who don’t know me well get the wrong vibe so I guess people take it as if I’m angry but I’m not. I know when to switch it off, I’ve learned to strive hard and focus for things that I want and I go for it with all that I’ve got but at the same time I know when to switch it off. There often is the stereotype of being an angry because I’m Hawaiian because of the stories that people hear about Hawaii or by the way that I look and perceived that I may just want to scrap everyone or being a punk really sucks because some people just expect you to be like that. Then I could get upset about it and then become that person, but I just focus to control that and let it go. I know who I am and that’s not me and they’ll learn.

Check out Contrast Magazine to get the full interview!

By: Angela

Nick’s ear to ear smile peeked in the door before he did. After the grin strolled in some signature Nick Visconti tight pants, excited chatter and a couple friends. When Nick and I sat down to talk, I expected a quick interview about shenanigans lately, upcoming projects, and general stoke for summer at Windells. A couple minutes into our conversation, I realized we’d cover these topics, yeah, however, Nick has a huge heart and “general stoke” doesn’t even scratch the surface.

Angela Swain: Hey, Nick. Let’s hit the basics. How long have you been coming to camp?
Nick Visconti: Oh, gosh. For about 13 years now. I was a camper for five years and I coached for a couple years and I’ve been coming back with Stevie Bell, Curtis and J Rob for our Team Takeover for a few summers.

Wow, that’s quite the stint. What have you guys done with your Team Takeover Session in the past?
We try to make our session about the campers. Yeah, we’re here to have fun and hang out and enjoy summer on Mt. Hood, but we use our session as an outreach rather than an outlet for ourselves. We try to interact with the campers as much as possible and really give back to the community that supports us.

So, what initially struck you about Windells that made you a return camper and then decide to continue your involvement with camp?
I think it was camp life; it was so much more than just camp. Windells is a place that welcomes campers to a community and allows them to really connect with other snowboarders, both peers and professionals. I really became absorbed into the world of snowboarding during my time at camp. For most of these kids, snowboarding at their home mountain is recreational but when they’re here they really get a sense of the culture.

What’s one experience with a camper that really sticks out to you?
It’s hard to pick just one. Me and the guys are more intent on building relationships and making connections with the kids during our Takeover session, and to carry those out beyond their time at camp, too. Social media has made it easy for me to stay in touch with campers throughout the season and to share my love for snowboarding with them which is really cool.

Well, we’re all looking forward to Session 4 with The Reunion. What projects and things should we be on the lookout for?
ReCreation with Transworld was a big one; it’ll be out in March. We’ve been working on a Christian snowboard film called ANTHROPOLOGY with Nations Foundation, Dave Downing, Ryan Paul, Simon Chamberlain, Jordan Phillips and Director Joel Parker. Other than that, I’m just eager to come out for the summer and excited, as always, to hang out with some campers.

Transwold's Nick Visconti "ReCreation" Saga:
ReCreation Teaser
ReCreation Full Part
Behind the Scenes Part 1
Behind the Scenes Part 2
 
Nations Foundation "Anthropology" Teaser: (Set to release in the fall)
 
Anthropology Teaser
 
 

Read it HERE!

http://espn.go.com/action/skateboarding/blog/_/post/7661462/appleyard-sacred-street-footage

Willi EdwardsBorn and bred into the waters around "Town," Ezekial Lau is quickly garnering international attention.

Ezekiel Lau is a warrior: Literally. The 18-year-old, who is affectionately called "Zeke," is a senior at Kamehameha Schools and its mascot is the Warriors. In addition, his middle name -- bestowed by his great-grandfather -- is "Kekoamaikalanimai," which translates to "warrior from the heavens." He is Hawaii's hope for the next world tour surfer from the birthplace of surfing. His recent event victory at the North Shore Surf Shop Pro Junior at Sunset Beach in January is one of several contest results that have Hawaiians touting Zeke as the next prodigy to do battle on the world tour.

In 2011, Zeke appeared in three ASP Star event finals. He won in El Salvador and at Sunset Beach and placed runner-up at Puerto Escondido. Two years ago Zeke broke his back after a poorly calculated floater, but won an NSSA National title with the injury. A three-month stint in a body cast, meticulous dieting and tenacious physical therapy made him healthier and stronger. Today, Zeke looks more like a wide receiver than a surfer. ESPN caught up with the athletic, Kewalo Basin local to talk about training, jocks, swag and surfing.

Where does your competitive drive come from?
The sheer will to win all the time and just working hard; you're gonna want that work to pay off. If it takes that little more to push through and if you need that score in the end, you're going to push through and do it. All the things you do to prepare, leading up to events pretty much gives you all that drive.

How often to do you train?
I trained twice a day during winter break and Monday, Wednesday and Friday in the morning with Uncle Kimo [Middlesworth]. I do my own weightlifting and core training in the afternoon. In between training days is surfing and whatever running regimen my dad makes that's aside from all the school stuff. It's a lot of work for me to get out there and I just want to make it count.

Where do you go to school and what makes it such a unique educational institution?
I go to Kamehameha Schools: it's a school for kids that have native Hawaiian ancestry so it's pretty prestigious just to go to that school so I just want to seize every opportunity that I get and just make things happen.

How did you feel when you saw so many of your friends that surf, like Keanu Asing, going to home school and you were in a stricter school setting with bells and schedules?
At first, I wasn't used to it and I didn't really see [the advantages] as clearly as I do. When you're young you want to do what everybody else is doing. Now, I see that [my school experience is] different. I think it's better to be different and not just trying to do the whole full-on-surf-thing all the time. It just sets your self a part.

How did the traditional school schedule affect your hunger to surf?
I just wanted to be successful and you see the different paths other kids take with school and how lucky I am to already have a career ready. All these other kids are working really hard to get into college and build their career. I know how fortunate I am and I don't want to take it for granted.

Willi EdwardsLau says he would have played football if he didn't surf ... but reckons he made the right choice.

You're the captain of the Kamehameha Surf Team, but we heard you cruise with all the jocks at school.
At school I'm pretty much hanging out with mostly all the football players. They're all my friends and I met them when we were young because we had something in common: we all played sports. All the athletes kind of clique together and I'm with all the football players. They're all bigger than me. They lift weights, get big, train hard and try to do good in school because school comes first. If they want to play any sport they gotta do good in school. Being around that kind of mentality just pushes you to want to do well.

If you didn't surf what sports would you play?
If I didn't surf I would probably be playing football, basketball and running track because that's what all my friends do. I already wanted to play football so bad this year just because you want to do what your friends do, but I had to sacrifice that just cause surfing is going good right now and I don't want to mess that up.

Your pops, Leonard Lau, used to play football for the University of Hawaii back in the day and is a football coach. Did that make you want to pick up the pigskin?
Yeah, for sure. He's a big part of my life and he started me out in sports real young. We did pretty much every sport possible except for football. That's the only one we didn't play. His experience with sports and athletics really helped build who I am. He instilled working hard and training to me. He ingrained into my brain that that was the only way I was going to make it. He is big on preparation."

As a Native Hawaiian, how important is surfing to you?
As a Hawaiian, it's really important. It seems like Hawaiians fell of the map lately just cause they're aren't very many Native Hawaiians surfing [on tour] now. I just want to make that come back and try to bring that whole thing back. We started this sport so I just want to perpetuate it.

How do you describe your style in the water?
Speed, power and flow.

How do you describe your style on the street?
"Swag: Just swagged-out all day. One hundred percent."

Are you a gangster?
No, I'm not a gangster, but I am swagged-out. [laughs]

Why do you think some people think you're a gangster?
I don't know. Probably because of the music I listen to. That whole hip-hop vibe and we just kind of grew up into that whole thing, especially at school. All my friends are like that and just that attitude: you don't take no BS.

What are your career goals?
The ultimate career goal for me would to become world champion, but I'm trying to take it slow right now and build off of the success I'm having right now. Just try to do my best and see where it takes me.

For more click on the link and get more into Zeke. http://www.surfermag.com/features/zeke-lau-qa/

Check the full interview by Chris Nieratko and ESPN right here...