( I have photographic proof of how drunk this person was but out of respect I will not post it) We’ll get the business side out of the way. What’s up with your new venture and what is your role?
The new venture is called Beloe Footwear. I’m handling the key accounts, BMX program, helping with design input, and whatever else needs to be done.
The Beloe CYMK logo tee, available in Feb
What prompted starting Beloe Footwear, and was it tough to pull off? it happened pretty quickly.
Beloe is the brainchild of Russ Pope, a lifer in the skateboard industry whom I worked really closely with at Duffs. He had begun working on the concept of Beloe, and asked me to be a part of it. Once it was “go time”, it did all happen really quickly, but we were definitely over the other place we were working. It had become a situation where me and Russ weren’t getting the creative input that we were supposed to have, but we were still looked at as the “faces of the brand”. So thanks to Pope for going out on a limb and taking me with him.
When will they be available?
Shoes will be in the warehouse in February. Available through Albes, Dans, and Empire to name a few. Your local shop can get them from QBP.
I had a few photos sent to me these are the Jim Bauer’s
Who do you have on the team? What type of input do they have?
The team is Jim Cielencki, Nathan Williams, Kevin Kiraly, and Sean Sexton. We’ll be adding one or two more dudes once we have shoes, but I want to keep a small, focused team. We just finished the design phase of a Jim C pro model. Waiting on samples pretty eagerly. It will be out in June 08′. Jim had full creative control over the look of the shoe, so you know it’s interesting.
SHOES SHOES SHOES!!!!!
Speaking of teams, any plans for a video?
I’d love to do a video, and with our team, you know it would be good. The guys are all working on other projects right now. So maybe something next year. I’d like to do a team trip in the spring, we’ll see what comes out of that.
What about you? How long have you been riding?
I’ve been riding long enough to remember RAD, no skateparks, dirt jumps(they became trails later), leathers, and cherrypickers.
What type of riding do you get into most now-a-days?
Street is always my first love, but I have to admit it’s been a lot of skateparks lately. Louisville, 6th Ave in Nashville, and The Flow in Columbus. The Flow is amazing. If you haven’t been to the new building, you’re missing out.
Any big travel plans coming up, Places you want to go but haven’t yet or places don’t want to go but have to?
I don’t know. I just kind of go with it. No major travel plans, but that changes by the second. As far as places I never want to go again, Toledo and Florida are pretty much tops on my list. I love Nashville, probably my favorite city. I’d also like to spend more than a day in Austin, seems like my kind of place.
Who has more shoes in their closet, you or your lady?
Me by a mile!!! She can’t touch me when it comes to shoes. I’ve built up a pretty nice collection since leaving Duffs(I burned them all). I’ll clean out the closet once I have Beloe shoes in my size, but until then, it’s a healthy rotation of shoes with blacked out logos and my Clarks(the most comfortable shoes ever made).
What’s an average day like for you? sun up to sundown.
It all depends. If I’m home: it’s up around 7, read the paper, drink a couple of sugar free Red-Bulls(I’m old now so I have to drink sugar free) Get Jared up around 8, take him to school. Come home and start working. Go eat Mexican food with Leland or Metro, maybe a quick sesh at the park. Pick Jared up around 3:30, do some more work till 5:30, then it’s whatever Jared wants to do. I also make some time with Melissa in there somewhere. I don’t have enough time with her so I love our weekends together. If I’m traveling: who knows, it’s always an adventure.
I got to meet Tito Ortiz at ASR. That dude is massive.
who are some of the influences you have in general? life or in riding.
My biggest influence in life is definitely my mom. She raised me and my sister in some pretty impossible conditions. It let’s me know that anything is possible if you work hard enough. She also kicked breast cancer’s ass last year!!! My wife is the whole reason I have the things I have in life, without her none of it matters anyway. She puts up with all my weirdness and loves me, can’t ask for more than that. My son, Jared is amazing to hang out with. He just has fun with everything, I love his view of the world. As far as riding, it would have to be James LeVan(get well soon buddy). Watching the things he’s done since we were younger has been unbelievable. He always comes up with something new or interesting. Scott Towne, hopefully I’m as rad when I’m 40.
My little boy, Jared with a chinchilla on his shoulder.
How would you spend you last day on earth if you knew you were gone tomorrow?
With Melissa doing whatever she wants to do. There’s a lot I want to do, so that’s a pretty bad scenario.
Me and Melissa before my 30th birthday party.
Alright generic interview questions:
Music?
All over the map dude. Against Me! Lucero, Johnny Cash, Shooter Jennings, Wilco, Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly, The Beatles, Dead Kennedys, Elvis, Jawbreaker, The Distillers………
favorite city?
probably Nashville with Louisville being a very close second. Everybody in Nashville is so cool and laid back. The riding scene reminds me of Louisville when I was younger. We’ve talked a little about moving there. Louisville will always be home though.
Blonde or brunette?
Blonde, you’ve seen her. Come on, what kind of question is that?
Beer?
PBR, Blue Moon, Killians. I really don’t do much beer anymore, had to lose the belly. It’s Beam and diet Coke or vodka soda and lime almost exclusively now.
websites?
FBM, The Come Up, Def Grip, You Tube, HowardStern.com(Sirius is the best thing ever).
Books?
Banksy “Wall and Piece” Hunter Thompson “Kingdom of Fear” Cash the Autobiography.
Movies?
Boondock Saints, Poolhall Junkies, anything Martin Scorsese, Michael Moore, or the Coen Brothers can make.
Riding videos?
Nowhere Fast, Criminal Mischief, Anthem, Bag of Suck(Enjoi Skate Video), Roadfools 1 and 2, Nobody Special(you’ll see it soon enough) another thing I could go for days on
Metro, myself, and Chris Mahaffey at my 30th birthday party.
Anyone you would like to thank?
The list is too long. Mom, Melissa, Jared, Stephanie, Andrew Hamm, Russ Pope, John Walbrecht, Metro, Brian Tunney, Leland and Tag, Crandall, LeVan, Cielencki, Ian Morris, Todd and Flip at Albes, Ernesto at Dans, Tom and Tina at Empire, Todd, Tim, and Jay at QBP, Jim Bauer, Matt Coplon, the Nashville crew Chris Mahaffey, Nathan Williams, Aaron, Alex, Shane, Cool Ethan. Craig and Shannon at The Flow, my old Duffs team for being supportive of me making some changes in my life. Another one I could go for days on.
Freestyle. You can say what ever you want. Be nice..
Hopefully somebody found this entertaining, I need another Red-Bull.
for future reference. here is the website, the site is under construction right now.
