Kitsch Skateboards

What prompted you to start your own Skateboard Company?

I started kitsch because I love skateboarding and I want to be involved in it forever. After many years of being a recognized skater in and being a sales rep in the skate industry here too, riding for skater owned Satori wheels and setting up countless tours etc,  being sponsored by an American board company was starting to not make sense to me. Here is where I want to live and skate and where I have created a name for myself you know?  It was a recent road trip to Argentina that really made me realize I wanted to start a board company, meeting the skaters down there who had to start their own brands after the economy crashed, versus representing American brands through distributors, the way these guys lived and being friends with people like PD from Skullskates all showed me that this is possible, and this is what I want to do.

What does Kitsch stand for?

Kitsch actually is an art form,  that is considered tacky by most but ironically appreciated by some,  it is basically Russ Morland {the artist} and my own view of how skating is looked at by the masses.

It is meant to be not too serious, we are trying to focus on the fun in skating, not the jock mentality or the politics, making light of the situation you could say. After taking my own skating and being a skater really serious for a long time, trying to change peoples minds so they accept and maybe even appreciate what we do and why we do it, or explaining to older people why I skate. I realized you can not change people’s minds. 99 percent of people do not understand skating and they never will, we are just kids that didn’t grow up or criminals in their eyes, but for the few that do understand skating, they really love it.  After reading the definition of kitsch and some of the essays that are on the internet about what it means, we realized this had to be what we called the company.

Where do you want to take Kitsch?

I want to take kitsch to where, by constantly filming videos, organizing demo tours, and producing the best products, a young skater will be stoked on supporting it. Either because we just did a demo in his town, he saw one of us in the latest sbc or color or he just saw our latest video, where we are having fun, doing innovative tricks and skating new spots.

Who do you have on the team and why did you choose those riders?

For the Team we have Jessie Booi, Brad Sheppard and I. Out of all the skaters I’ve been on tours with over the years no one interacted with the kids and had as much fun as Jess, he is hilarious as can be, and I am looking forward to traveling more with him.  He is not afraid of big rails and gaps either and skates them with power and style. Brad is one of my favorite skaters hands down. The guy is a not only a trick inventor, he also reminds me of Mark Gonzales, he has a very original style and looks like he is having a lot fun when he skates, he also has good knowledge of how the industry works too after being part owner of the Board Kennel skate shop and being sponsored at the same time, he's seen the inside of the industry here in Canada and is down to try and help change it a little.

How can people get their hands on Kitsch gear?

Now Kitsch is at DNA in , Antisocial and Underwolrd in Van, Board Kennel in White Rock.

Shout outs?

Shout outs to Russ Morland in for creating the image and graphics for Kitsch, and everyone who loves skateboarding period, hope to see you out shredding soon!