Interview: Taylor Rosenbauer!

Name : Taylor Rosenbauer

Age: 16

Years FB: Almost 2

Sponsors: Flatface Wheels, Prete Decks, Summit Hardware, BC Rails, Blackriver-Ramps flow, Capsule Trucks

Contest/Video: 1^st - FFI Rail Jam ‘08, 6^th – Rail Jam ’07, SU3, SU4, Bacon, Egg, and Steeze, Softies Griptape,

We are here with Taylor Rosenbauer, winner of the Second FFI Rail Jam! Taylor’s Rail Jam entry was flawless. He pulled off amazingly tech tricks with a butter-smooth style. Also, the Nollie Flip B/S Boardslide to B/S Crook 180 out was my favorite trick of the whole rail jam. When I finished watching his entry I knew my hopes of winning first, along with everyone else’s, vanished into thin air.

You won the Second FFI Rail Jam, which is the ultimate online fingerboard video contest. There were over 50 entries from around the world. What are some of your thoughts winning such a large and diverse competition?

Seeing over 50 entries from all around the world was so great, and to be a part of that was just awesome. The American scene really stepped up this year, especially the Flatface Fingerboard Team which swept the top 5 places. There were so many fantastic entries...I'm still surprised I won.

Since I came back to the fingerboard scene, I have noticed how you have evolved in  your fingerboarding. It's amazing that you have become one of the elite fingerboarders in such a short amount of time. I remember some of your earlier videos where you popped the board reallllllly high. It still looked good though haha. But now you are doing some amazingly technical tricks, and your style is flawless. That's the only way I can describe it. What I'm trying to say with that longwinded speech is how did you get so good?

Thanks for the compliments. ;) I think both motivation and influence have helped me improve my fingerboarding. Watching people like Eric Smith and Taylor Lucas taught me so much about style, how to do certain tricks properly, and how to put together good videos. People who watch my videos on youtube are always asking me, "Dude, do you ever land sketchy tricks?" The truth is, I'm a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to making fingerboard videos. I end up doing the same tricks countless times till I'm 100% satisfied with them, then they make it into my videos. I'd say the key to getting better and making good videos is to do tricks the best that you can possibly do them, and practice practice practice.

Do you have anything to say to the organizers of the contest? (Tina, Martin, sponsors and judges)

I can only imagine how much work both Tina and Martin put into making this contest as great as it was. A big thanks goes out to both of them for doing a great job this year. All the judges deserve a lot of credit as well for all the time they put into reviewing all 50+ entries. I doubt I could have done that myself. To the sponsors...you guys are what made this contest so exciting. I was astonished at seeing prizes awarded to 15 places, that's a really great thing to see. I hope next year's contest is as big as this one!

What were some of the positive/negative aspects to the rail jam this year? What can be built on to make the Rail Jam even better next year?

Well, the entry fee could be viewed as both positive and negative. For those that may not be the best, it might have pushed them away from entering if they felt they didn't have a good chance of winning. But it is also a great addition to this year's contest because it enabled Tina to get some really kick ass prizes, and those prizes really pushed people to do their best. The only suggestions that I could possibly come up with for next year's contest it to maybe switch up the rules and obstacles. Having team entries (Team USA, for example) with a montage of people representing their country would also be very interesting.

What do you have to say to someone new to fingerboarding who is looking to become the next Taylor R?

Haha, my biggest advice is to just have fun. If you're not having fun with fingerboarding, why do it? If you plan to be as good as Eric Smith one day, I advise you to never give up and continue to practice. Fingerboarding isn't a natural talent (at least it wasn't for me!)...it must be learned. Practicing is the key to learning, and that's the best way to get good at something. Watch some good fingerboard videos too, because doing that is what inspired me to be good. I'll never forget watching Mike Scott's fingerboard videos over a year ago and thinking, "Damn, how the hell does he do that? I gotta figure this out." From there I just took people's advice and did my best to progress.

Any upcoming plans/video parts/ etc?

Currently I'm working on a small ad for Prete. Keep an eye out for both the Prete and Flatface videos...I have a part in each. My Prete part is one of my favorite parts I've made yet, especially since I filmed a lot of it outdoors. Hopefully these two full lengths will be released soon, along with the Rendezvous III video which I'm also a in.

Thanks for the interview Taylor! We look forward to hearing from you in the future!

Interview: Manu Oberle!

AY YAI YAI!!! An interview with Manu! He is one of my favorite fingerboarders to watch and is also really kind as well. If you want some updates about the European scene, and the recent Fast Fingers 11 contest, read on. Here we go! 

Can you introduce yourself?

Hi, my name is Emanuel "Manu" Oberle. I'm 19 years old; I live in Switzerland, Europe. Fingerboarding is an important part in my life and I love it.

Can you list your sponsors? ^_^

Blackriver-ramps, Gripskin ( soul sponsor), Arctic, WW'z

How long have you been fingerboarding, and what got you into it?

I bought my first TechDeck back in '99. But I wouldn't say this is when I started fingerboarding. It was just a big hype in our school and I learned an ollie (with sticker instead of griptape). But then I forget about it and time passed. I got back into it 5years ago, 2003, when I was in school with a friend of Boris Dietschi. He brought his Berlin Wood in the school and landed a kickflip. I was so stocked and couldn't stop fingerboard myself

So Fast Fingers 11 was this past week, how did the contest go?

What can I say.... no words can ever describe the feeling you get at such a great-organized fingerboard event. The contest itself was pretty sick. The first round was very long and a little bit boring with the time. But then again it's cool to have so many starters. The skill level was very high this time, but also the creativity of the riders is awesome.

Yeah, it's amazing what the scene over there has accomplished haha

It shows the rest of the community what can be accomplished and sets an example for others to follow.

Thx, god... uhm..

Yes it's cool to see what you can make out of fingerboarding. But therefore you need someone who lives for fingerboarding. It's hard work to get the respect from shop owners and skateboarders it deserves.

The thing is: Skateboarders always wanted the respect of all the people, and now they got something like that... But now they are also ignorant.

Yeah I just wanted to tell the people out there a little bit about what's really going on at such an event. 99% of the people are there to have fun, meeting people and fingerboard together. The whole contest thing is cool, but it's not like a football game where people forget the fun.  

I had some really great experiences this year. I met a lot of funny people and we laugh and drink a lot together... We also had a nice after contest party and skate sessions. :)

That's great! I have a feeling a lot of people  would really be focused on the contest itself rather than the social event.

But I can understand when people from the US that come to Europe for fingerboarding try to be good. Like Mike Schneider ;) he was very good. But you know, it costs money for the flight and some time to travel. So I think I also would try to be good ^^ This year there were no prices anyways. Everybody went outside the building after the final to smoke and chill. So they just threw the stuff out of the window.. It was very funny. But some thought it was unfair...

So are there any more events coming up?

Uhm there are quiet some I think. There is at least one skateboard exhibition where brr has his stand. Then there is WeissWurstiss-Jam in Munich. Everybody goes there and Winkler leads through the city to some outdoor spots ;) There will be a European championship at the 22nd of November in Austria, organized by Fingaspeak. And I hope to have some great sessions this summer with a lot of guys

Shoutouts?

First of all, thank you for interview ;) keep it up with this blog. I know it's a hard work, but it's worth it! There should be more fingerboarder like you. There are too many haters out there. Support fingerboarding and stay positive. I want to thank every fingerboarder out there! Have fun and stay real. Fingerboarding never dies!

Thanks to Gripskin-/, NWDC-/, BRR-/, WW'z-teammembers. Thanks to all the ones I forget and I want to meet again this year.

Thanks a bunch Manu for the interview! You are a great fingerboarder!

Interview: Eric Smith!

Eric Smith interview by Chris Daniels

 

Q: When did you start fingerboarding?

A: I guess my first interest in it, was around 1996.  I started with forming credit cards, cardboard, and stuff like that to mess around with.  At first, I just imagined there being trucks and wheels and stuff, so it wasn't exactly fingerboarding yet... But soon after, I started to use paperclips for trucks, or anything I could find.  That was, until I found some cool keychain decks at my local skate shop.  A few years after that, Tech Deck came out, which was a HUGE upgrade to what I was using, and it got me into it even more.  

Q: When did you first get into the online scene?

A: It was only about 3 years ago.  I don't know why, but I never thought to look it up online, or search for videos or anything like that.  I just did it with friends after a day of skating, or in class when all my work was done or when there was nothing else to do.

Q: Yeah true that. So do your friends still fingerboard? I have like a group of 5 or 6 close friends that shred still haha

A: Pretty much only one of my friends still does it.  His name is Zack Parham, and he shreds it up! Actually, two of my friends Zack Parham, and Casey Burnett heheh

Q: Can you list your sponsors off? DONT FORGET ANY~!!! Or else...

Yeah, didn’t you film a mini with Zach?

A: Yep, I did.  With my still picture cam, and he's got a mini online too.  As for my sponsors, a few are inactive, and are probably dead.  But I'll mention them anyway.

Primo obstacles, Eurollt wheels (probably dead, in all honesty, i'm addicted to wheels with bearings and that's all i use now so i'd have to leave anyway), Public Trucks (most likely dead, and moses ran off with a lot of peoples money... so that's not something i'd like to support... it's a shame though, had potential), Priest Oldschools (never officially dead, but never officially open hahah)

I have a few offers that I'm thinking of accepting, but I only like to take an offer if I absolutely love the product, and want to support them.

Oh yeah, I forgot BRR.

hardy har har.

Q:shit you are sponsored by BRR?

A:Yeah, but then I woke up.

Q: poo..haha..

So is there anything that inspires you to fingerboard?

In otherwords, makes you pick one up and sesh

A: Skateboarding mostly.  I love realism.

Also, seeing people have fun with fingerboarding, that gets me hyped.

I love clean styles too.

Q: Yeah I love the way you fingerboard, quick and clean

fast paced and creative stuff haha

A: Thanks, man.  I love the way you fingerboard too, and I'm not just saying that because you said that to me hahah.

Q: Haha thanks, besides fingerboarding, what are some of your other interests?

A: Art.  I have a strong passion for many types of art.  Music also falls in that category for me.  I love to listen, and create music. I'm also into design.  Visual communication.

Q: So are you interested in drawing or anything like that? or just looking at art?

A: When I was younger, that was the main thing I did in art.  But later on, I began to do a lot more, and sort of stopped drawing as much as I used to.  I do all sorts of things now such as digital work, collage, drawing, mixed media, etc.  I love to create, look at art, and interact with artists of all types.

Q: Yeah definitely

Do you have any advice for those who have just entered the scene?

A: Yeah.  Just be respectful to others, and be humble about things.  Even to the people that have been a part of the scene for a long time should do that, but a lot of people have this elitist vibe that really gets on my nerves.  Most of all, have fun with what you're doing, because after all that's the only thing that matters.

Q: All right well I  got one more question before I go to the movies

How did you get to be so god damn good?

a thread

A: I don't know heheh.  I'm a pretty fast learner, and a slight perfectionist.  I guess both of those combined is a good solution heheh.

Q: For sure, so on the video where you were shredding the bowl. Did you practice that over and over til you perfected it? Cause the tricks were flawless haha

A: I do come up with lines that are patterns, and I'll sometimes change them up a little bit or whatever, but I remember a bunch of different lines so things will keep a nice flow.  There's no points where I'll be going slower trying to think of what trick to do next and stuff like that.

Sometimes I just do whatever though. But I do like to come up with patterns as well.

Yeah, another reason I do that sometimes, is because I find myself repeating tricks a lot otherwise.

Q: Any last things to say or shout outs?

A: Fingerboard because you love it, don't fingerboard to impress anybody.  Don't be ashamed either.  There's a lot of people who have this strange view about fingerboarding, and it's quite odd.  Never quit because somebody is not educated in realizing what it truly is, and thinks it's "childish", or anything like that.

Interview: Gary Chin!

Here is an old interview of Gary Chin from about 6 or 7 months ago.

Gary Chin interview by Chris Daniels

Q: When did Mr. Gary start fingerboarding?

A: Mister Gary has been fingerboarding for three years now, I started December of... 2004? Yeah, 2004.

Q: Can you plz list your sponsors? If you forget one SHAME on you!

A:lol Addict Grip (seriously I am addicted, so good, grip lasts so long too), New York Marble (soon to get a bench, they look so good though), Flatface Decks (OMG)

Q: So outside of fingerboarding, what are some of your other interests? (GUITAR HEROZ)

A: Whoa, a lot man

Filming skateboarding, making films, photography, guitar, GUITAR HEROZ, Dance Dance Revolution, guitar, guitar, I said guitar already didn't I, cycling (love it, favorite sport of all), a bit of handboarding

Q: What is your underlying drive to keep fingerboarding? In otherwords, is there something about fingerboarding that you enjoy that makes you keep doing it?

A: Well, I keep fingerboarding mostly because of the friends I've made doing it, if it wasn't for my friends, I probably wouldn't even be doing it now. I have always been inspired by people like Chris Daniels (you) and have a reason to keep going. Also, there's nothing like getting an awesome trick on film. (good answer <3>

Q: Any advice for those who are new to the scene?

A: Keep working at it. Make some friends while fingerboarding, it makes the experience so much more fun. Also, visit http://www.youtube.com/weakfingers for inspiration (haha) and trick tips that I frequently post. Also, fingerboarding can be frustrating, so make sure you film your tricks, when you land it it'll be all worth it 

Q: How different is the current fingerboard scene from the scene when you first started fingerboarding?

A: The scene back in 2004-2005 was actually pretty good. Techdeck.com actually had decent people going to the forums. I could post videos and then eventually I expanded into FFI. I feel sorry for the guys who go to techdeck.com nowadays, because that place has gone to hell. Sometimes you can find new talent there though. Also, the friends I made at techdeck.com are now guys who go to FFI, so it really was an awesome experience when I started fingerboarding. Sorry for going so far off topic.