Erik Ellington Interview Interview by Steve Skrzypek
-Tre Bomb
Erik Ellington has been in the game for some time now and it seems like a fine wine he is getting better with age. I mean I am not really a wine buff, but I'm sure if I had some wine from good ol 77' it wouldn't be as impressive as half of the shit Erik has done in the past year, let alone the past ten. I remember being a young lad, and watching the Emerica Video "This is Skateboarding", my favorite part from that video was definately Mr. Ellington's. Read on, and see what one of the most well known and respected skateboarders/fathers/businessmen has to say.
Name: Erik Ellington DOB: August 9, 1977 Hometown: Anchorage, AK Current Location: Hollywood, CA Sponsors: Deathwish, KR3W, Supra, Brigada, Thunder, Spitfire, Mob, active Years Skating:15
Where have you been skating lately? The Berrics is the spot. I skate there as much as I can. Also the Deathwish warehouse when I am not traveling. We just got back from a week in Paris and then a two week Dirty South tour…so I guess those count as spots I’ve been skating lately, right?
Who do you think is going to win the last man standing at The Berrics contest? What kind of question is that? ME…I already rigged it…just kidding. It’s a tough to call cause there are some insane dudes entering. Koston is a safe bet.
For awhile a couple years ago it seemed like you were bouncing back and forth between Baker and Zero, do you care to elaborate on what was going on and what choices let you to quit Zero for Baker, then quit Baker for Zero, then end up back on Baker? It’s a pretty long story, but to sum it up shortly we started Baker while we were all living in Huntington Beach then I moved back to San Diego and was hangin out with the Mumford and Jamie a lot more so I thought I made the wrong decision. About 6 months went by and I realized Baker was what I should have stuck with, no love lost with anybody, it all worked out.
How many people gave you shit for that, and do they still? Nobody did.
Do you care to explain what's going on with Deathwish Skateboards/ Bakerboys Distribution and can you elaborate on your involvement, just make everything clear for everyone who has no idea. Last year Jim Greco, Andrew Reynolds, Terry Kennedy and I decided to partner up and start the first skater owned sunglass company. The sunglasses are an extension of our personal style and really aren’t just for skaters. As for Deathwish, Baker was getting to be so big and we wanted to keep putting people on the team, so we started Deathwish as a sort of sister company to Baker, It’s all family. Baker Boys Distribution is our distribution company that we hope to continue to grow to add sick new companies to. We definitely learn something new on a day to day basis but we are self financed and pretty stoked on how far we have come in a short period of time.
What were the craziest things to happen in the Baker house? Just the typical drunk shit. Maybe Antwuan talking shit to cops from the balcony.
I read awhile back that you did not like flying, can you tell the story behind your fear of flying? I just don’t like being totally out of control of something like an airplane but I’m learning to deal with it a little better.
Are there any sports you pay attention to outside of skateboarding, and if so who's your favorite team? Not really…skating’s pretty much it.
-Switch flip to board breaker...ridden away cleaner than most could do on a not broken board
How hard is it balancing your family and your skateboard career? It’s not easy but it’s the coolest thing I’ve ever done. Been lucky enough to be able to earn a living skating but now that I have the companies my time has to be divided up a bit more. I am still a pro skater and I try to skate every day but there are also boards to design ads to lay out and product to ship. On top of it I have my son (Julius who is 3) and a baby girl due in a few weeks. I make sure to keep my family a priority but sometimes it gets tough when we are touring or we have deadlines to meet.
You're one of the most well known and respected skateboarders ever, what kind of responsibility comes with all of that and are there ever times where the attention is just too much? Wow…that is a pretty humbling question. I appreciate that and regardless of what people think of my skating I always try and keep in mind that without the kids getting stoked on me I wouldn’t be anywhere. I guess I am getting older and don’t have any regrets but in the past I was a little less worried about the “responsibility” that came with being a pro. Now I am a bit more aware and try and stay grounded about it all. I don’t mind the attention since it’s the same people that give me that attention that buy our boards and support the stuff I do. I know it sounds cliché but I am thankful for that.
If you could only skate one thing for the rest of your career what would it be? I couldn’t pick one thing, that would be no fun. The berrics would be at the top though
Word Association Hardflips- Herman The Berrics- funland Baker- family Deathwish- gangsters Family- life Photographers- crossed processed Mega Ramp- Dway 3 flip
-Kickflip Front Board
What are your top five favorite video parts to watch? 1. Penny, High Five 2. Trainwreck, In Bloom 3. Jamie, Welcome to Hell 4. Andrew, Baker 3 5. Mike Carroll, Questionable
Top five things to do other than skateboard? 1. Hang with the family 2. seeing something I design turn out like I imagined it 3. cooking gumbo 4. Tinkering around the house on renovation projects that never seem to end 5. Drinking with the boys when I can, and bbqin too
What direction do you see skateboarding taking in the next 5 to ten years? In the same direction its gone In the last 5. Well rounded and more open minded than it’s ever been.
-Big ol ollie over the rail.
Do you think the current state of the United States economy is going to have a big impact on the skateboard market? Why or why not? Yes. It has already started. I think it will weed out the companies that aren’t in it for the right reasons. .
Who did you vote for in the past election and why? Obama. He is a leader and exceptionally motivational, I think those are qualities that will make a great president. And he has the ability to listen.
Do you have any superstitions when you skateboard, like spinning your wheels or tapping your tail? To try and keep my mind from thinking crazy shit. There’s no tapping that will help that.
In recent times can you think of a trick you pulled, that when you were riding away you thought "Good thing I'm still alive" or something of that nature? Not really that I can think of. I guess there was this tall hubba that I bigspin front boarded and my friend hit his head real hard in the session and I kept thinking about that, when I rolled away I was happy I made it.
What is your favorite country to visit? Brazil or Japan.
-Back tail
Favorite state? Arizona. I grew up there so I always have fun visiting.
What are the top five songs you're listening to right now? 1. Metallica- Antestesia 2. Traffic- Dear Mr. Fantasy 3. Outkast- new song off gangsta grillz mix tape 4. GnR- Paradise city 5. some new coldplay song I don’t know the name of
-This is an video part ender for most... Back bigflip
Anything you would like to tell the world? Skate for the fun of it…if you can make a career out of it then all the better but in the end it’s just about having fun. Anything you do you should do because it’s fun.
Anyone you would like to thank? My family, friends, and people who’ve helped me out along the way.
