Pro And Am Q&A: Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Q&A With Ted De Gros
With Vaughn Whynot
1st 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.
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