Q&A With Ted De Gros

With Vaughn Whynot 

1^st of all Ted, I would like to thank you on doing this Q&A with me for the fact as I am a fan of yours since you was a am on santa Cruz...and now your pro...that’s crazy. I feel honoured in doing this because it will show that pros are normal guys just skating for the fact of...well skateboarding…I will also keep this quick and easy because you must be very busy these days. So let’s begin.

 

 

VW - How’s life mate, just for the record state your name and your sponsors, also your hometown?

 

TDG - Hey. My name is Ted de Gros. I’m sponsored by Santa Cruz, Lakai, Indy and momentum. Life’s good, I’ve been in Santa Cruz for the last few months. Enjoying the weather and trying to learn to surf.

 

 

VW - I been seeing a lot of you in mags these days… which one was you more stoked about?

 

TDG - My favourite interview in the last couple years was in Transworld. I think it was 06 sometime. I got lucky and managed to shoot all the tricks in a few days. I didn’t really plan any of the tricks so it was a bonus.

 

 

VW - Your Parts In “Get Tricks Or Die Tryin'” And “Yesterday’s Future”, which was your fav places to skate in your parts and out of everyone else in that video…who did you get more stoked off of?

 

TDG - I don’t think I had a part in digital. I may have had some tricks in it. I was definitely in yesterday’s future though. I’ve been to a lot of really good spots but they’re really scattered. Barcelona is one of my favourite places to skate because I’m always so stoked just to be there that skating is funnier. The spots are amazing too. Texas is good. Florida and North Carolina. L.A. is really good but the driving is ridiculous. Vancouver is fun for me. All the homies. As far as other peoples parts in Yesterday’s future, Dermer was fun to watch. He didn’t have a lot of time but he was always stoked to go film for it. Carl Labelle is rad to skate with too. He loves skating the same way.   Dickson’s part was awesome. Gianmarco was rad too. He’s awesome to watch skate live. He’s got a lot of heart and likes to charge at shi*t. 

 

 

VW - So now that you’re pro with Santa Cruz, what varies or differentiates from being an am?

 

TDG - Your pay is better and you get to see your name on a board. Other than everything feels the exact same. Your work and responsibilities are the same. Always gotta work for it.

 

 

VW - What is one trick that you are loving these days and which ones are you hating?

 

TDG - I’m loving mannys these days. I never took the time until the last couple years. I’ve always loved Rodney and Daewon but I thought I couldn’t do that stuff. It’s worth a try.   I hate three flips because my trucks are too tight.

 

 

VW - What’s your fav spot in Canada…and outside of Canada?

 

TDG - Everywhere in Canada is awesome but one of them is all the little islands that separate Vancouver from Vancouver Island. Saltspring, Galliano, Cortes. Number one place is Thormanby Island though. Only cause my family has had a cabin their for a few generations.

 

 

VW - What are your views on the helmet law in Canada?

 

TDG - What helmet law? Nobody out west has to wear helmets unless they just changed that.  In Santa Cruz you’re supposed to wear a helmet at the park. I bring mine and only put it on if the park ranger comes around. Works well.

 

 

VW - One trick you wish you had on lock down?

 

TDG - 1080 flips

 

 

VW - Craziest road trip?

 

TDG - The long ones across America with alien workshop were the craziest. Not in a good way though. Super stressful.  The best ones were the mad dashes. I don’t know who knows about or remembers those now. Geoff Dermer, Sean Sayles and maybe Kelly Bergman were the brains behind those.  I think Jon Engle might have helped with the later ones. It was a bunch of guys from Vancouver that would tour the western half of Canada and do demos for no apparent reason. They were the shi*t. There was little to no budget and we’d just go stay on shop-owner’s floors most if not all the time.   It wasn’t a corporate style trip. Just skating for the hell of it. The people who owned the shops were so rad. They were the best hosts. They’d have house parties for us and show us the best time we’d ever had.   Glenn Suggitt threw down when we stayed there. Best dude ever. I think it was guy at ruins in Prince George, he threw an awesome party. I can’t remember the lady’s name in red deer but she ruled.

 

 

VW - an Am and pro that gets you pumped?

 

TDG - Jack Lalane gets me pumped. Emeril too.

 

 

VW - Well thanks Ted for doing this for me and the skate scene of the world. Any last words and shout outs?

 

TDG - No problem. Thanks as well.

Tags:Ted De Gros, Vaughn, Whynot, Vaughn Whynot, Pro
Published by Mr.Whynot: 6:18 PM
Views: 766