Necromortis
08-13-2006, 12:10 AM
Welcome to the July Member of the Month – Pathtek4, or as I know him, Mike. You voted for him, and you asked him your questions. It’s my job to get those answers. So with much cajoling (not really), I got Mike to sit down and we had an interview. Read on for his answers to your questions!
I had tons of fun interviewing him because he’s such an interesting guy, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy his responses.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-6/1191136/aaaaame!.jpg
1. When did you first start skateboarding, and what would you imagine yourself doing in your spare time if you weren't skating?
I started skating back in 1991. I met a kid, who moved in up the street, who rode around on an old school vision board. He had 2 of them, so I started riding his second one and we went riding around the streets looking for the big hills to ride down. Imagine myself doing? That's tough! Skateboarding shaped my life, and I spent 15 years living it. But, my spare time would probably include car audio, and computer networking.
2. Who were/are your inspirations and what was your first board?
My main number one inspiration has been, is and always will be Tony Hawk. Not the Tony Hawk that is known today, but the Tony Hawk from the movie "Gleaming the Cube"! If you haven't seen it, do so. It will be quite funny and sappy at first, but the old school skating is incredible. Then watch Search for Animal Chin...You'll see why I stuck with skateboarding as long as I have. Skateboarding is about fun, and that movie preaches that! My first board was a Vision! My first "new school" board was a maple skateboard!
3. If you could pick a few members of the Cafe to have a skate session with, who would they be, and why?
Definitely Soap and Necro! Soap, because he rips and Necro because I need someone with skills to teach me freestyle! Long jetty and arto-geoff because their nollie tricks are sick and I want mine as smooth as theirs. Bill and iamthird, because given the chance, I could teach them a thing or two. Tom, although he's an "admin", I think Tom has a bowl somewhere, which one day I swear I'll get to rip with him on!
I will enjoy skating with any of you honestly (RustyNail, FMG, JHH, DJ, Mr.Getz, skateaws, jayden, tristan, dead sparrow, to name a few) as well as any other member who wants to skate! Just to see your skate parks, skate equipment, and towns would be a real sick adventure. Who knows, maybe I'll have to bag my bags and visit a skate park near you…I'll call it, Pathtek4 Tours the USA!
4. Who is your favorite skater, and what are your favorite skate team, board brand, and clothing brand?
My favorite skateboarder is and has been Andy MacDonald. I had a shrine of that guy next to Tony Hawk's shrine growing up. I had so many magazine pictures of him, it was like wallpaper! My local hero is Dan Pensyl. He's on my favorite skate team 5Boro (New York)! My favorite board brand has to be World Industries (Not really for the board, but for the graphics: I love Flameboy, Devil Man, and Wet Wussy). Favorite clothing brand? I have a lot of Blind, Think, Emerica, World Industries, Birdhouse and Flip clothing. But I love the Birdhouse and Flip shirts the best!
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-1/1139429/0001.jpg
5. You have and still do call some of the members on the Café (on their phones) – how did you ‘bond’ with the guys you talk to, why do you think it happened, and what do you think gives yourself and said members that bond?
Well, I only talked to Christian (Necro) and Tom (Soap). I can save the Soap answer for Question Number 17! Christian and I talked once. We chatted as he was at a park, and I was leaving one. Strange meeting someone on the phone but never actually seeing them face to face. But we bonded a while back on MSN. We have a good way of making each other laugh. Both of us don't take things to seriously and our enjoyment of the sport makes it very easy to talk about everything skateboarding. Although, sometimes, we do get off-topic! Seems we have similar women in our life that think skateboarding means more to us then they do...so we usually vent to each other about that as well.
6. Why did you join the cafe and how did you find it?
I was looking for a skateboard forum where I could actually converse about skateboarding and not get flamed or ridiculed for what I posted! Skaterscafe is that site that I have/had been looking for, for quite some time. There really isn’t another site like this on the net, where you can let your guard down and just be yourself. That is important for a forum to work! Everyone contributing someway somehow and being themselves. It makes for a better atmosphere. It makes me sad I didn't find it back in 2004, when I first got involved with forums. I would have loved to have been a member since then! I found Skaterscafe on Google. Thank you Google, thank you!
7. What is your all time favorite trick ever?
The 360Flip...I spent so much time getting those down to a science. They are difficult, fun, and look great over/off of everything. I must say, sometimes I feel I wear them out, but then someone comes along and says "Your Treflips are sick!" That really makes my day!
8. If you could change one thing in the mindset of skateboarders everywhere, what would it be?
That skateboarding is just that, SKATEBOARDING! You don't need a fancy board. It doesn't matter what brand of trucks, wheels, or shoes you have! Just go out there and have fun doing it. It bums me out to hear skaters put so much emphasis on what "brands" they are riding. It's cool to share thoughts on companies and such, but does it really matter? I enjoy the sport and the lifestyle. I am a skateboarder, and what I do is ride a skateboard!
9. How does it feel to be older than most of the people on the forum. Would you feel differently about them if they were over 18?
Being older then the other members doesn't bother me. I speak skateboarder not age! I feel I can give helpful advice to the younger generation and give them a hand with technical knowledge. I never really had someone do that for me, so I feel the best thing I can do is give back to the sport. Keep it alive! I wouldn't matter to me if all the members were over 18. Sure, might be different that we might have a bit more in common with knowing the 80's (cough), but hey, the younger members keep me up on what the new best videos are and who are the up and coming riders. Things like that I wouldn't have a clue about if it wasn't for them.
10. When did you start skating?
Isn't this Question 1? Do I hear an Echo? Editor’s Note: You do hear an echo, but that’s because you included a nice story in this one. 1991! Are you trying to make me feel old, lol? One thing I will comment on here that I didn't before...there was several older guys on my block that built a halfpipe in the woods right by my house. I spent a lot of time watching them on that ramp. It was there where I saw my first horrific accident on a skateboard. A guy named Chris who lived at the end of the street, was trying to pull some sort of air trick and landed (shoulder blade first) on the coping and shattered his collarbone. His screams had to be heard a mile away. I never did/will forget that moment. It just stuck with me that, "no matter how good you are, you’re still mortal"!
11. You've been skating for so long (15 years right?)…are there any down moments in your skating life? If so, what were they like and how did you overcome them?
Well, there were a lot of injuries. In total I have had about 50 stitches, a broken ankle, broken wrist, dislocated shoulder, and 1 classified concussion. I overcame all of them with just rest. My father played a big part in getting me through the times that I couldn't skate. He'd get me out and about, telling me, I don't need crutches anymore, or don't been scared to ride again. He pushed me hard and I thank him for that. He knew skateboarding was important to me, and it kept me out of his hair..lol!
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-1/1139429/360flip.jpg
12. Besides love, what do you think is the most important thing in life?
Honesty! I've learned that being honest, no matter how bad the situation, is really the best solution. It will only be/get worse if you lie! People might not WANT to hear the honest answer from you, but its better then them finding out the truth from someone else. With honesty comes trust. If people can't trust you, you will be alone in this world! Gain peoples trust, you have to earn it! AND the sure fire way of losing someone’s trust is not being honest with them....THIS IS A BIG KEY TO SURVIVING YOUR PARENTS!!
13. What are you personal feeling as to where the sport of skateboarding is going for the future? Uphill/downhill?
UPHILL! With the X-Games becoming more popular, skaters starting younger and younger (and getting really good faster), we can expect BIG THINGS for skateboarding in the future. I hope that one day when I’m really old, I can turn on the TV and actually see a skateboarding competition on, without it being a special event (like the X-Games)! It would be really cool just to see it on, rather then having some Soap Opera on!
14. Have you ever sent a "sponsor me" video to any companies? If so, which companies?
NOPE! That is one thing I never did! I have been sponsored by a local company "imocskate.com" for 4 years now...But it's only for free decks, shirts and stickers. I might go to a Best Trick comp sporting their products, but it has been and usually is my. I'd like to send a video to someone one day (just the Shove-it Lateflip over a Euro gap or something), but I think I'll just sit back and let the younger generation fight out the spots....makes for great competition and great progression!
15. How does it make you feel that your little brother (soap) has more reputation and moderator status on the message board?
Oh, that doesn't bother me one bit...He earned that rep and he earned that moderation. Being a "mod" isn't about governing the website, that's the admins job. Being a mod, is a standout member who only wants what's good for the site. They are still a "member" and so they still obliged to all the rules of the forum, they just keep it together to take the ease off of the admins. They are chosen because the other current mods and admins see something special in them. Soap fits that scenario perfectly, and I couldn't be happier for him! GO SOAP!
16. Can your wife ollie?
Actually she can, a little. Usually I have to hold her hands, lol! But she'll humor me once in a while with a credit card height attempt.
17. [Editor’s Note: Soap asks] Why are you and me so much like brothers? What do you think gives us that bond?
I swear we were dropped off at different ends of the planet as a joke! lol! We have the same thought process. So many times we know what each other are going to say, that it can be really strange at times. We bonded because we both have the same outlook on life. You may be 10-11years younger then me, but man, we have some of the best conversations ever. This is why I dubbed you "my brother from a different mother" months ago. You are and will always be my lil' bro! When you need a place to stay in the USA, you call me up. Missy and I will be glad to have ya!
18. Does being married affect your skating? And what are the effects of being married and still skating?
Yes and No! What effected my skating has been moving to a new neighborhood. I live on a hill now, so skating flatland is tough. I usually (for Game of Skate) go over to where I grew up (about 5 minutes away) and skate there. It's comfortable to me, and feels like home when I skate! Although, being married only 3 months now (wow has it been that long?) it's been the greatest experience of my life. My wife, Missy, knew when she was marrying me, that she was marrying a skateboarder. She met me as a skateboarder, and she'll grow old with me as a skateboarder. She won't and hasn't tried to change that. The only major thing that changed is the amount of time I have to skateboard. When we lived apart, I could just go when and where I wanted. Now, because she can't cook right, and burned minute rice, I do ALL the cooking. So being home to make supper for when she gets home, can put a damper on my skating times. But Sundays, SUNDAYS are always my skateboarding day. I go to church with her at 7am and then skatepark (my other religion) at 11am! I even got the owner of Pennskate (where I teach skateboarding lessons) to play AC/DC "Hells Bells" right when he opens...It's kinda like his own church bells going off...If ya haven’t heard the beginning of the song, listen to it, you'll know what I mean!
19. What was your most embarrassing moment?
My freshman year, a few of us were sitting around, in a circle, on the floor during gym class...I noticed on this girl (a junior), who was sitting next to me, had a string hanging from her shorts. Well the nice guy that I am, I pulled that string....only to find that it wasn't "Connected" to her shorts....you figure it out!! I was mortified!!
20. Name three things you love about skateboarding.
Independency
Creativity
Self-expression
Thanks for everyone who voted for me...It is truly an honor!
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-6/1191136/360-5050.jpg
Here’s some footage of the amazing Mike:
r48uysskdX4
I had tons of fun interviewing him because he’s such an interesting guy, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy his responses.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-6/1191136/aaaaame!.jpg
1. When did you first start skateboarding, and what would you imagine yourself doing in your spare time if you weren't skating?
I started skating back in 1991. I met a kid, who moved in up the street, who rode around on an old school vision board. He had 2 of them, so I started riding his second one and we went riding around the streets looking for the big hills to ride down. Imagine myself doing? That's tough! Skateboarding shaped my life, and I spent 15 years living it. But, my spare time would probably include car audio, and computer networking.
2. Who were/are your inspirations and what was your first board?
My main number one inspiration has been, is and always will be Tony Hawk. Not the Tony Hawk that is known today, but the Tony Hawk from the movie "Gleaming the Cube"! If you haven't seen it, do so. It will be quite funny and sappy at first, but the old school skating is incredible. Then watch Search for Animal Chin...You'll see why I stuck with skateboarding as long as I have. Skateboarding is about fun, and that movie preaches that! My first board was a Vision! My first "new school" board was a maple skateboard!
3. If you could pick a few members of the Cafe to have a skate session with, who would they be, and why?
Definitely Soap and Necro! Soap, because he rips and Necro because I need someone with skills to teach me freestyle! Long jetty and arto-geoff because their nollie tricks are sick and I want mine as smooth as theirs. Bill and iamthird, because given the chance, I could teach them a thing or two. Tom, although he's an "admin", I think Tom has a bowl somewhere, which one day I swear I'll get to rip with him on!
I will enjoy skating with any of you honestly (RustyNail, FMG, JHH, DJ, Mr.Getz, skateaws, jayden, tristan, dead sparrow, to name a few) as well as any other member who wants to skate! Just to see your skate parks, skate equipment, and towns would be a real sick adventure. Who knows, maybe I'll have to bag my bags and visit a skate park near you…I'll call it, Pathtek4 Tours the USA!
4. Who is your favorite skater, and what are your favorite skate team, board brand, and clothing brand?
My favorite skateboarder is and has been Andy MacDonald. I had a shrine of that guy next to Tony Hawk's shrine growing up. I had so many magazine pictures of him, it was like wallpaper! My local hero is Dan Pensyl. He's on my favorite skate team 5Boro (New York)! My favorite board brand has to be World Industries (Not really for the board, but for the graphics: I love Flameboy, Devil Man, and Wet Wussy). Favorite clothing brand? I have a lot of Blind, Think, Emerica, World Industries, Birdhouse and Flip clothing. But I love the Birdhouse and Flip shirts the best!
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-1/1139429/0001.jpg
5. You have and still do call some of the members on the Café (on their phones) – how did you ‘bond’ with the guys you talk to, why do you think it happened, and what do you think gives yourself and said members that bond?
Well, I only talked to Christian (Necro) and Tom (Soap). I can save the Soap answer for Question Number 17! Christian and I talked once. We chatted as he was at a park, and I was leaving one. Strange meeting someone on the phone but never actually seeing them face to face. But we bonded a while back on MSN. We have a good way of making each other laugh. Both of us don't take things to seriously and our enjoyment of the sport makes it very easy to talk about everything skateboarding. Although, sometimes, we do get off-topic! Seems we have similar women in our life that think skateboarding means more to us then they do...so we usually vent to each other about that as well.
6. Why did you join the cafe and how did you find it?
I was looking for a skateboard forum where I could actually converse about skateboarding and not get flamed or ridiculed for what I posted! Skaterscafe is that site that I have/had been looking for, for quite some time. There really isn’t another site like this on the net, where you can let your guard down and just be yourself. That is important for a forum to work! Everyone contributing someway somehow and being themselves. It makes for a better atmosphere. It makes me sad I didn't find it back in 2004, when I first got involved with forums. I would have loved to have been a member since then! I found Skaterscafe on Google. Thank you Google, thank you!
7. What is your all time favorite trick ever?
The 360Flip...I spent so much time getting those down to a science. They are difficult, fun, and look great over/off of everything. I must say, sometimes I feel I wear them out, but then someone comes along and says "Your Treflips are sick!" That really makes my day!
8. If you could change one thing in the mindset of skateboarders everywhere, what would it be?
That skateboarding is just that, SKATEBOARDING! You don't need a fancy board. It doesn't matter what brand of trucks, wheels, or shoes you have! Just go out there and have fun doing it. It bums me out to hear skaters put so much emphasis on what "brands" they are riding. It's cool to share thoughts on companies and such, but does it really matter? I enjoy the sport and the lifestyle. I am a skateboarder, and what I do is ride a skateboard!
9. How does it feel to be older than most of the people on the forum. Would you feel differently about them if they were over 18?
Being older then the other members doesn't bother me. I speak skateboarder not age! I feel I can give helpful advice to the younger generation and give them a hand with technical knowledge. I never really had someone do that for me, so I feel the best thing I can do is give back to the sport. Keep it alive! I wouldn't matter to me if all the members were over 18. Sure, might be different that we might have a bit more in common with knowing the 80's (cough), but hey, the younger members keep me up on what the new best videos are and who are the up and coming riders. Things like that I wouldn't have a clue about if it wasn't for them.
10. When did you start skating?
Isn't this Question 1? Do I hear an Echo? Editor’s Note: You do hear an echo, but that’s because you included a nice story in this one. 1991! Are you trying to make me feel old, lol? One thing I will comment on here that I didn't before...there was several older guys on my block that built a halfpipe in the woods right by my house. I spent a lot of time watching them on that ramp. It was there where I saw my first horrific accident on a skateboard. A guy named Chris who lived at the end of the street, was trying to pull some sort of air trick and landed (shoulder blade first) on the coping and shattered his collarbone. His screams had to be heard a mile away. I never did/will forget that moment. It just stuck with me that, "no matter how good you are, you’re still mortal"!
11. You've been skating for so long (15 years right?)…are there any down moments in your skating life? If so, what were they like and how did you overcome them?
Well, there were a lot of injuries. In total I have had about 50 stitches, a broken ankle, broken wrist, dislocated shoulder, and 1 classified concussion. I overcame all of them with just rest. My father played a big part in getting me through the times that I couldn't skate. He'd get me out and about, telling me, I don't need crutches anymore, or don't been scared to ride again. He pushed me hard and I thank him for that. He knew skateboarding was important to me, and it kept me out of his hair..lol!
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-1/1139429/360flip.jpg
12. Besides love, what do you think is the most important thing in life?
Honesty! I've learned that being honest, no matter how bad the situation, is really the best solution. It will only be/get worse if you lie! People might not WANT to hear the honest answer from you, but its better then them finding out the truth from someone else. With honesty comes trust. If people can't trust you, you will be alone in this world! Gain peoples trust, you have to earn it! AND the sure fire way of losing someone’s trust is not being honest with them....THIS IS A BIG KEY TO SURVIVING YOUR PARENTS!!
13. What are you personal feeling as to where the sport of skateboarding is going for the future? Uphill/downhill?
UPHILL! With the X-Games becoming more popular, skaters starting younger and younger (and getting really good faster), we can expect BIG THINGS for skateboarding in the future. I hope that one day when I’m really old, I can turn on the TV and actually see a skateboarding competition on, without it being a special event (like the X-Games)! It would be really cool just to see it on, rather then having some Soap Opera on!
14. Have you ever sent a "sponsor me" video to any companies? If so, which companies?
NOPE! That is one thing I never did! I have been sponsored by a local company "imocskate.com" for 4 years now...But it's only for free decks, shirts and stickers. I might go to a Best Trick comp sporting their products, but it has been and usually is my. I'd like to send a video to someone one day (just the Shove-it Lateflip over a Euro gap or something), but I think I'll just sit back and let the younger generation fight out the spots....makes for great competition and great progression!
15. How does it make you feel that your little brother (soap) has more reputation and moderator status on the message board?
Oh, that doesn't bother me one bit...He earned that rep and he earned that moderation. Being a "mod" isn't about governing the website, that's the admins job. Being a mod, is a standout member who only wants what's good for the site. They are still a "member" and so they still obliged to all the rules of the forum, they just keep it together to take the ease off of the admins. They are chosen because the other current mods and admins see something special in them. Soap fits that scenario perfectly, and I couldn't be happier for him! GO SOAP!
16. Can your wife ollie?
Actually she can, a little. Usually I have to hold her hands, lol! But she'll humor me once in a while with a credit card height attempt.
17. [Editor’s Note: Soap asks] Why are you and me so much like brothers? What do you think gives us that bond?
I swear we were dropped off at different ends of the planet as a joke! lol! We have the same thought process. So many times we know what each other are going to say, that it can be really strange at times. We bonded because we both have the same outlook on life. You may be 10-11years younger then me, but man, we have some of the best conversations ever. This is why I dubbed you "my brother from a different mother" months ago. You are and will always be my lil' bro! When you need a place to stay in the USA, you call me up. Missy and I will be glad to have ya!
18. Does being married affect your skating? And what are the effects of being married and still skating?
Yes and No! What effected my skating has been moving to a new neighborhood. I live on a hill now, so skating flatland is tough. I usually (for Game of Skate) go over to where I grew up (about 5 minutes away) and skate there. It's comfortable to me, and feels like home when I skate! Although, being married only 3 months now (wow has it been that long?) it's been the greatest experience of my life. My wife, Missy, knew when she was marrying me, that she was marrying a skateboarder. She met me as a skateboarder, and she'll grow old with me as a skateboarder. She won't and hasn't tried to change that. The only major thing that changed is the amount of time I have to skateboard. When we lived apart, I could just go when and where I wanted. Now, because she can't cook right, and burned minute rice, I do ALL the cooking. So being home to make supper for when she gets home, can put a damper on my skating times. But Sundays, SUNDAYS are always my skateboarding day. I go to church with her at 7am and then skatepark (my other religion) at 11am! I even got the owner of Pennskate (where I teach skateboarding lessons) to play AC/DC "Hells Bells" right when he opens...It's kinda like his own church bells going off...If ya haven’t heard the beginning of the song, listen to it, you'll know what I mean!
19. What was your most embarrassing moment?
My freshman year, a few of us were sitting around, in a circle, on the floor during gym class...I noticed on this girl (a junior), who was sitting next to me, had a string hanging from her shorts. Well the nice guy that I am, I pulled that string....only to find that it wasn't "Connected" to her shorts....you figure it out!! I was mortified!!
20. Name three things you love about skateboarding.
Independency
Creativity
Self-expression
Thanks for everyone who voted for me...It is truly an honor!
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-6/1191136/360-5050.jpg
Here’s some footage of the amazing Mike:
r48uysskdX4