Canadian Roll Spotlight

Dan Doidge recently sent me an E-mail with an edit he made that showcases him skating some rails near his house in Oshawa, Ontario. I really liked how the edit came out, and that is supporting CanadianRoll. Dan has always been supporting us, so on a personal note I want to thank him and all he has done for the website.

-Nick. D

A friend of mine, Dan Doidge, recently sent me an edit that is a Canadian Roll exclusive. The edit was shot at the Oshawa, Ontario skate park and showcases rolling from Dan and his friend Donevan, who hit his first soul grind! On a side note, for all those people out there looking to get their edits out, please send them in to Canadian Roll and we will upload them.

-Nick. D

Richie Eisler approached me sometime before Winterclash to do another interview and of course I was excited, especially because our first interview came out so well. The first interview took place over a year ago, and at that point a lot in Richie’s life was changing, he was getting ready to leave school, constantly seeing new places through travel, getting a new frame. This interview shows how that change has progressed, Richie is now out of school and thinking of what to do in the future, is not only getting another pro frame, but a complete pro-set up from the Conference ( Richie is the first Canadian to get a pro skate), and is still traveling all around and enjoying life. I hope everyone enjoys reading the interview as much as I enjoyed putting it together. I also hope people realize that Richie’s attitude and personality are exactly what the rolling industry needs to thrive.

Travel

Canadian Roll (C.R): From what you have been telling me, you have traveled a lot of places this year, do any in particular stand out in your mind, and if so, why?

Richie Eisler (R.E): Yeah it was a great year for travel. All of it was incredible, but China was probably the most unique. I was there with school, so we got to see a lot of amazing things that you don’t see on a normal trip. We toured government palaces, power plants, businesses, sweatshops, factories, the Great Wall, etc. The pace of change in China is staggering - that’s probably what stood out most to me. It was inspiring.

C.R: What inspires you and drives you to continually travel to new destinations?

R.E: I’m addicted. I want to make the most of my time and experience as much as possible. I have been lucky to have the opportunities to do it, but I have also made a point of not passing any of them up.

C.R: How do your family and friends react to you leaving so often?

R.E: Everyone is really supportive.

C.R: In our last interview you stated that road trips with friends have provided you with some of your best memories. Are there any you can share with us?

R.E: Last spring we went on a two week, “no plan” trip around Western Canada and parts of the US. It was the greatest feeling to wake up each morning and know that the entire day was going to consist of pure freedom and exploration. One day we felt like pulling over and wandering around ice caves and moon rock fields in Idaho, another day we had a snowball fight with the last snow left on a mountain at Lake Louise, one afternoon we sailed a boat around a lake in a valley in Montana and another day we skated the best spots in Pullman Washington. Each day was full of new adventures. Each day was perfect. There’s just something about that type of trip. I can’t wait to do it again this year. We’re probably going all the way down to Tijuana and back!

C.R: So I heard that you are going to the Winterclash in Germany. What are you expecting from the Winterclash ?

R.E: That’s right! Every year I have had school related commitments that have kept me from attending, so I’m really excited to finally have a chance to go. I am expecting gigantic crowds, overwhelming energy, mind-blowing skating and a great opportunity to hang out with friends from around the world that I don’t see enough. EDIT – that’s exactly what Winterclash was. It was a great trip.

C.R: Where is your favorite place in the world to roll ?

R.E: Barcelona is my new favorite. The spots and architecture are incredible for skating and you can always cool off at the topless beach afterwards.

C.R: What keeps you coming back to Canada ?

R.E: Living at home to finish school has kept me coming back to Canada in the past. For the future it will be friends and family. My next step is to move down under and enjoy being outside year round. I’ve had enough of hibernating 5 months a year.

Injury

C.R: You are just getting back into topside tricks, 15 months after you hurt your ankle, so I must ask, did the pain discourage your skating at any point during recuperation ?

R.E: Yeah, it has been really difficult. My ankle was really stiff for the longest time. It never discouraged me from skating but it was frustrating. I still don’t quite feel like I’m skating at 100% but the situation has improved A LOT in the past few months. I am going to physio again because it is hard to compress forwards. Soon enough I think I will be back to 110! haha.

C.R: Did this injury force you to skate differently, and if so how ? Was this a positive or negative experience and why ?

R.E: Definitely. It was hard to compress my ankle forward or sideways, so low landings, gaps and topsides were out. It has also made me feel less agile. It was mostly a negative experience because I was really limited in what I could skate. If anything positive came of this, I got better at switch tricks.

C.R: How does it feel to almost be back to 100% both skating wise, and in general everyday life ?

R.E: It feels great! I am having more fun than ever and am really happy with everything right now.

Miscellaneous Questions
C.R: How would you explain the “EislerQ” for people who do not know what it is, and tell us how it went this year ?

R.E: It started as an “anti-contest” several years ago. We would always go to these contests around the country and the funnest part was just skating with everyone from other cities and hanging out, but people were always scattered around the city at different hotels and stuff. I decided to have a “contest” where the whole concept was just to get together, everyone stay in one place and there would actually be no contest at all. So that’s what we did. Skated all day, enjoyed a lot of BBQ and then partied all night. Everyone in one place. It was amazing the first time and has been every time since.

This year everyone stayed in hotels again, but it was just as fun as ever. We had a big jam at the indoor park, watched an Icons premiere at the local pub, held a giant mini-golf tourney, completely took over the dance floor at the bar, doubled the headcount at a big house party, went watersliding and finished it all off with a session at the outdoor park in Swift Current. It was the perfect weekend. It’s crazy that all these people live so far apart, but have become such close friends. Every time we get together it feels like we have never been apart. Everyone clicks instantly. I love it.

C.R: Will we ever see an EislerQ edit documenting the event ?

R.E: I meant to film a lot at this last one but I was so busy having a blast that I never once took out my camera. Other people captured a lot of memories, but I’m not sure what they’re doing with the footage. Previous EQ footage from over the years has appeared in Canadian skate videos and online edits.

C.R: Are there any projects you have been working on lately ?

R.E: I have been working on the new “Regina Monologues” video and another massive skatepark edit, but that’s it right now. I was filming for a Kizer video but that fell through – the curse of rollerblading projects! There is talk of a new USD video but it is supposed to be entirely HD so I’m not sure how or when I’ll be able to film for that. My friends and I will also be making a tour documentary this spring….

Wheels

Richie’s Pro Wheel

C.R: You recently got another pro wheel from Undercover; were you able to choose what you wanted on the wheel ? And if so, what inspired the whole design ?

R.E: Yeah, I had full creative control. The design was inspired by the artwork for Fear and Loathing. I was looking at the movie poster one day and thought that a parody of it would make a sick wheel graphic.

C.R: Who did the art work for your wheel ?

R.E: I did it myself.

C.R: I have been really looking forward to rocking your new wheel with your anti-rockers, so I have to ask, what has taken this wheel so long to come out ?

R.E: Undercover wheels were manufactured in China in the past. As it turns out, the Chinese lost my wheel design and never bothered to say anything about it. So all this time we figured they were producing the wheel, but they weren’t. We were expecting the wheel to be out in September but now it will probably released early summer. Manufacturing has been shifted to the US now. I have tested the prototypes and there were some core problems that are being fixed right now, but the urethane was incredible. If things work out, I honestly believe the new line of Undercover wheels are going to be the best wheels ever made.

C.R: Last I heard you and Kenneth Dedeu were Undercover’s brand managers. How did this all come about? What made you take on this new role ?

R.E: True story. They just asked me if I would like to take it on. I figured it would be a good experience and it has been.

C.R: How do you feel about Undercover’s new team and the re-branding ? Why did the re-branding come about? Lastly, what can we look forward to in the future from Undercover wheels ?

R.E: I’m excited about it, but credit should go to Kenneth as it was his idea and he had the most input for the new designs and team and image and everything. I think it was just time to step up the game for UC and that is exactly what has happened. The wheels are constantly being improved, some of the freshest skaters in the industry have joined the team and things are really looking up. In the future you can look forward to Billy, SK and Jeph Howard wheels….

C.R: Why should rollers pick up Undercover wheels ?

R.E: The next wheels are going to be the best thing you’ve ever skated, they’re often released in fresh colors, the team is stacked, and The Conference does more to support rolling than its competitors.

Skates **Take Note: I was unable to ask about the release date because of all the delays with the Conference manufacturers**

C.R: Can you give us any information about your pro skate that comes out this year ?

R.E: I can’t say a whole lot just yet. They will be classic thrones, they are more colorful than your average skates and they come with my new kizer frames and new undercover wheels designed specifically for the skate. The frames will also be available separately as aftermarket hardware. Again, I was given full control over colors and everything. I worked hard (along with Kenneth) to create an original colorway/design and I am really pleased with the results. Kenneth is amazing to work with.

C.R: When you heard you were getting a pro skate what went through your head ?

R.E: I was flattered. This is a goal that I have had in the back of my mind for a while now. At first I thought it was out of my reach but things have just kinda fallen into place. Rollerblading tends to be an industry where a lot of big plans fall through, so I was unsure at first, but I got more excited as the designs started to take shape and I realized that this was really going to happen. Apparently, the samples are being photographed as we speak, so it is definitely happening. It’s pretty funny and pretty exciting at the same time.

C.R: You are the only Canadian to ever get a pro skate, so it is easy to see why people identify you with Canadian rolling. How does this make you feel ? Also, how does it make you feel that you are getting such recognition while still living in Canada - a place that is generally ignored by the industry for its great rollers ?

R.E: It’s an amazing feeling! I still feel like a little kid that is just hooked on blading, so it’s crazy to think that all of this has happened and that I have now become one of the people that I looked up to for so many years. This activity and the people in it have influenced me so much, in such a positive way. It’s weird to think that now I’m in a position where I can do the same for other kids in Canada and elsewhere. Getting to this point from the middle of nowhere is probably the highlight of the whole thing. Everyone always cheers for the underdog, right? But things seem to be picking up for Canada, exposure wise. SOL has been receiving a lot of positive attention, so that’s good for Canada and really for everyone who skates. I’d far rather see that type of attitude and skating influence the masses than some wannabe celebrity characters.

It’s interesting to think back on how I’ve changed over the years, too. For a while when I was younger, I went to more contests and stuff like that. Even though it was always mostly just about skating, having fun and seeing friends, I cared more about where I was going with skating. It’s like I was having a blast and not too concerned about everything, but part of me was also trying to “make it.” And then after a few years of that, I just stopped trying to prove something and skated without giving a damn about what anyone thought. Just trying to do stuff that made me happy or challenged me. Ironically, that’s when different opportunities started happening and snowballing for me. Now since things have changed yet again, I have been trying to promote the companies that support me by focusing on showing skating for how fun it is and TRYING to make it look as fluid and technical as I can. Suddenly it’s like I care again, but with a different focus. This has seriously been a really interesting journey and I’ve learned a lot about others, as well as myself. Skating has kept me so young but also helped me to grow up so much.

C.R: Will it be strange seeing people wear your pro skate ?

R.E: No question. It will be surreal. I just rollerblade. It’s just a fun thing to do. A pro skate seems so funny. But it’s going to be like a piece of evidence that I can accomplish anything I really want to and it will be a nice little reminder of how amazing this adventure has been. It’s also ironic considering that skating has been my outlet for setting and accomplishing mental and physical goals.

C.R: Why should people pick up the Richie Eisler pro skate ?

If you like it, you should get it. That’s it, really.

This is Not The Richie Pro-Skate, But It Is Funny.

School

C.R: You recently finished school; for people who do not know, what program were you taking ? Also, what do you plan on doing with that education ?

R.E: I completed a Bachelors degree in Media Production and then a Masters in Business. I focused on International Business. I plan on doing something that combines both subjects. At the moment I am doing CSI style video and image processing/enhancing for the police, but I’m looking out to move on to a new job as soon as possible. Maybe producing for TV or movies, something in marketing, something in skating… I don’t know. I want to do something where I can be creative for a while, I’d like to be a professor, etc. I guess I want to do too many things at once.

C.R: Why did you choose those programs ?

R.E: Skating drew me to filming/editing and I like creating things and telling stories, so media was an easy choice. The business degree was another step towards teaching at a university and an opportunity to round out my skills/knowledge.

C.R: What is the main thing you learned from all the education you received ?

The main thing I learned is that I like learning new things. I learned about myself.

C.R: How has your life changed since finishing school? Does it feel like you have moved on to another stage in your life now, and if so, what are the positive and negative aspects of this new stage? Do you have more time to do the things you love, or are you out looking for work?

It hasn’t changed too much. The only real difference is that I am spending my days at work instead of school. It’s nice to have a steady paycheque. I miss being at school every day but I am enjoying the lack of stress/deadlines. I guess I am in a new stage but it doesn’t feel like it, just yet…I am basically just enjoying my time and saving money to move. You’re gonna have to check in with me in a year for a good answer to this one.

Shoutouts ?

I want to thank Be-mag for supporting me since the beginning. While the rest of the industry media was focused on San Diego, Be-mag branched out and covered the entire world right from their first online issue. They have done a lot for me and I am really thankful for that. Thanks to my mom for bringing skate parts home from a trip to NYC 14 years ago. Those $25 anti-rockers have really paid off! Thanks to my dad for helping me with all my traveling. I also want to thank all the guys at The Conference for how well they have treated me. It has been great working with them and I have seen and done a lot of things that never would have been possible without them. Thanks.

Richie Eisler Skates a Line For Canadian Roll 

So there you have it, the second Richie Eisler interview from Canadian Roll. I sincerely hope these become an annual occurrence because Richie’s answers are thought provoking, and he always has something interesting to talk about. I hope everyone enjoyed the interview and I really hope people are thinking of picking up Richie’s pro skate to show support for one of the best rollers in the industry!

-Nick. D

-Nick. D

A few weeks ago I was sitting with some friends watching skate videos, and one friend brought up the fact that we see these pros in videos and we think we know them, but in real life we have no clue what they are like. Lucky for me this situation does not apply when talking about Cameron Card. I was able to get into contact with Cameron and approached him about doing an interview to see how he was since the injury, so that people can hear everything he has to say about the situation. However, while in the process of interviewing Cameron I realized he is genuinely a good person who speaks from the heart, which is rare to find, but makes for a great interview.

Canadian Roll (C.R): For those people who have been living under a rock, would you like to recap what happened to you on July 13th, and what where the extent of your injuries ?

Cameron Card (C.C): I hurt my head, ear, and ribs rollerblading on a SWS tour out in Indiana on Friday the 13Th of July ‘07. I jumped off a backside Royal about 12 feet high and landed feet first, they hit a crack and made me fall back with all the force of the drop. I hit the right back right side of my head causing internal bleeding and 3 cracks on my skull. It ended up breaking 3 ribs in the back, and also breaking my right ear drum.

C.R: How are you feeling now?

C.C: I’m actually feeling pretty good as in headaches and pain, my life has started to become a little confusing. Rollerblading was a good amount of my life, and it was just taken away without warning! So the stage that I’m at right now is the “figuring out your life” stage.

C.R: It has been stated that one of the biggest problems you faced was amnesia, is the amnesia still in effect, and if so is it frustrating in any way?

C.C: The amnesia I have is from about a day before the accident till about 30 days after. I remember bits and pieces, but remember pretty much nothing till about a week after it. It’s very frustrating because I would love to know what was going on during those days.

C.R: The other major problem was pain (obviously), is there anything that helped you cope with the pain besides medication?

C.C: Well since I don’t really remember much pain, the only way I can answer this is that I’m pretty sure my girlfriend helped a bunch because she was there for me the whole time. She told me that I was in a lot of pain, but I’m not sure what I did to help it. On a side note I asked her about this question and she said that I didn’t handle the pain good at all and that i would be up all night eating pill after pill.

C.R: I think the biggest question on peoples’ mind is, will Cameron Card ever be able to rollerblade again, and if so, in what form?

C.C: This is the same question going on in my mind… I’d like to go see another doctor as soon as I can, but I have to wait until I feel comfortable trusting my insurance because nothing has been taken care of with all of my doctors. I have rolled around (with a helmet on!!) but had a few times where I got a little scared for my health. My guess would be that I will be able to rollerblade but it will never be past a certain point of difficulty and never without a helmet.

C.R: I read somewhere that for a while your parents were very concerned whether you were going to make it or not. So I assume that this injury must have been very traumatizing for them. This leads me to ask, how has this injury effected your family? has it altered your relationship with them at all?

C.C: My Mom has always worried for me when I’m rollerblading but she’s a very calm person, when she later told me the story of how she was freaking out, and what was going on at my home when this happened I was very surprised because I really didn’t know how bad this really was. I’ve always been close with the family so nothing has changed with my relationship with them.

C.R: In the intro to your VG 22 sections you stated, “Rollerblading is me, I am rollerblading” now that you aren’t able to roll, how do you perceive yourself?

C.C: As a very sad person missing something I was and can not be anymore..

C.R: Also in that VG 22 intro you stated, “… every time I am scared to try something I just put it in the back of my head and try it.” considering your injury, would you still give this advice to other rollers out there ?

C.C: Well I also said “know your limits, but exceed them.” meaning don’t just go out and throw a trick just because you heard someone say “just do it.” Know what your capable of and push your self a little over. If you push too far you’ll get hurt. So if your scared of something you believe your capable of then yes I would still give that advice. If I had another section now that I could throw some of my thoughts in I’d say “Wear a helmet, because life is more important then just trying to look cool.”

C.R: In what aspects has the injury changed your life? Do you see life any differently now then you did before?

C.C: It’s changed my whole life. I’m a lot more careful now, I don’t take the kind of risk I use to take. It’s tough though, because that’s what I use to do to take out the stress of life. I need to find other ways now.

C.R: In every interview, article, or snippet of information I see about you, you seem like an optimistic person. So I must ask, has this injury, in any strange way, brought some benefits? (have you been able to spend more time with loved ones, friends, seek new hobbies etc..)

C.C: As of now, sadly it hasn’t brought too much good in my life. It was very hard for my loved ones to deal with me while being in the state I was in. I guess one good thing would be I finally bought a camera. I’ve always wanted to do photography but was too busy with rollerblading.

C.R: What takes up your time now?

C.C: I’ve been working a bunch, climbing, and mostly photography. You can all check out my flickr site at http://www.flickr.com/photos/cameroncard/

C.R: Has the injury affected any of your other hobbies?

C.C Yeah living in Utah we have a winter so I use to snowboard and ski in the winter. I will no longer be able to do those.

C.R: In Barely Dead you said that you were eating Ramen noodles on tour because you were so broke. Now that you can’t rollerblade to make that small capital you were making before, does it mean you have to look for a job in the “real” world, and if so, how do you feel about that?

C.C: Yeah I’ve had a job for the last couple years of rollerblading, but going on tour and traveling so much didn’t allow me to make much money. So now I’m working much more at a ski resort and just got moved to a manager position. I don’t like it all that much I’d rather be traveling the world doing what I love.

C.R: We always hear that rolling is a fleeting business and there is no health insurance from sponsors. Have your sponsors helped you in any way since the injury?

C.C: Moral support! I don’t expect anything else. If people were making millions in our sport then I’d expect them to pay the bills. Zik (empire) and Mark (integrated) are awesome guys and if they could, I know would help 100%. If everyone in the rolling world sponsored me then we could do it with just a couple dollars a piece!! paypal me at cameron.card@gmail.com!! haha kidding!

C.R: Also on Barely Dead you stated that it was a year before you were off your parents insurance, when the injury occurred were you under any insurance?

C.C: Yeah actually 3 weeks before I went on the tour some of my friends told me to just get an accident only insurance for 25 dollars every check. I got on it and 2 weeks later…. I hit my head. So for 25 dollars I saved a bunch!

C.R: evoL, the video you did with Hayden Eatchel, has been received very well throughout the rolling industry. Can we expect to see more of your work behind the scenes? Will this work only be video and photography or will you branch off into other aspects?

C.C: I would love to branch off into other aspects I have nothing in the works right now. I’m going to work on my photography and get some more equipment and hopefully start to shoot in the industry. I just need to get my life all straitened out before I get into any other adventures.

C.R: Your life is full of many experiences that not many people can say they have gone through. Do any stand out in your mind that may or may not be skating related?

C.C: Yeah I’d have to say when I went from skating street in Utah, and flying to ASA’s to compete, to living with Dave Paine, and Randy Spizer in Californa, filming for VG22. Those are guys I only just looked up to and dreamed of just skating everyday with. So it was an amazing experience.

C.R: What legacy do you want to leave on rolling?

C.C: I hope that I showed that if you get in the spotlight to not let it get to your head and to always enjoy what your doing. Your still the same person no matter how bright the light is.

C.R: What Question would have liked me to ask you that I didn’t, and can you please answer that question?

C.C: I would have asked “Did getting in the spotlight ever effect who you are?”
No I never let it get to my head, it just made me want to be a better person so if there was some kids that looked up to me then it would hopefully rub off on them. If you look at my career I didn’t push too hard on getting pro this pro that.. I just tried to be in the spotlight enough to make enough so that I could still do it. I’ve had a million amazing experiences and I’d just like to thank everyone that supported me during my rollerblade career.

So there you have it, Canadian Roll’s interview with Cameron Card. I am not going to lie, the first time I read some of those answers I was taken back. I realized how much Cameron’s situation has changed and how dangerous what we do is. However, having said that rolling brings a lot of people close together and has a lot of positive aspects, which I am sure people like Cameron Card, Me, or anyone reading this would not trade for the world. Remember to appreciate what you have while you have it.

-Nick. D

I recently got a hold of tony from Outaline skate shop and was able to take up enough of his time to get this interview done. I was pretty excited to get this interview with Tony for a couple of reasons. First, Outaline was the first shop I ever bought a good pair of skates from (Remz 03s). Second, it is the shop that I associate my roots in rolling with, so it holds a special place in my memory. Having said that, I was very exciting to get an interview with Tony himself, as he has supported rolling for many years, even longer then I have been skating, so it was interesting to talk to someone with that much dedication, and hear his perspectives on things.

C.R:What is your full name?

Tony Chiang: Tony Chiang

C.R: You are currently a Grad student, do you find it difficult to both run the shop and go to school? What motivates you to do both?

T.C: Running the store doesn’t really take a lot of time so it’s no big deal.

C.R: Want to give us a little history of Outaline skateshop?

T.C: Wow. Going way back - 1994. Chris Edwards dare to air, Hoax, and so on. The skate industry was amazing then. Everything was new and revolutionary. The store opened in a little hole in the wall in an area called Yaletown that back then has pretty desolate. For the first two years I didn’t have a day off besides Christmas.

C.R:You are not a roller yourself, what attracted you to this industry and compelled you to start a business in it?

T.C: I used to to roll a bit, but when I opened the store I was already 24 so I was definately on the “senior” side of things. I still enjoyed it though. We even had a halfpipe in town at the time so I got to ride that for a while. Good times, but it was hard to skate and run a store at the same time - I had almost no employees back then so it was tough. The aggressive side of the store actually came after the fitness side. Back then, inline was just getting started and 90% of the business was fitness skaters.

C.R:Do you still feel the same way as you did when you first began? Has anything changed, has anything stayed the same?

T.C: No. What happened? The same thing that happens whenever something new is no longer new. Honestly, the passion is just not as obvious in the industry anymore. It’s still there, but with the limitations of the economic viability of skating, the industry is having a hard time supporting itself. Without investment, new products are slower to come out and without new products, there is not as much excitement.

C.R: How are sales?

T.C: Not as good as years ago

C.R: What state do you think the Canadian rolling scene is in at the moment? What steps do you think people should take to make it better ?

T.C: The Rolling scene in Canada is pretty small. There are a core group of skaters that obviously love skating together and hanging out and there are also small pockets of skaters here and there, but I am not sure it’s even big enough to call a scene. As for making it better, as much as we like to believe we have the ability to change the momentum, it’s pretty tough. It’s a vicious circle - without enough skaters, the industry can’t afford to invest in itself and without investment, there is no excitement to drive interest.

So…I dunno.

C.R: What distinguishes Outaline from every other shop in Canada? And why should people buy from you?

T.C: Outaline was the first.

“Every other shop”?. You make it sound like there’s a shop on every corner.

People can buy from outaline if they want, if they don’t want, that’s cool too. Honestly we’re not exactly talking millions of dollars here.

C.R: How do you feel about people buying from American Shops ? What downfalls do you think comes with buying from them, if any?

T.C: Don’t care. One day, buying from the states might no longer be a choice, but a necessity.

C.R: Do you find that competition with American stores makes it difficult to sell items?

T.C: See above

C.R: Anything you would like to tell customers?

T.C: I really appreciate dealing with everybody that has ever come in the shop or ordered online. You too Nick.

I really am grateful and wish everybody the best.

C.R: Shout outs?

T.C: YYYEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAA!!!!

I recently got a chance to get in contact with Leon Basin, the owner of Shop-Task, which is one of Canada few rolling shops, and ask him a couple of questions about his life, business, and rolling in general. I was really excited to do this interview, because Shop-Task was one of the main supporters of Canadian Roll right from the beginning, and Leon always had insightful ideas or responses about rolling that opened my eyes on a lot of issues. Also, Leon is just a generally nice person that won’t hesitate to help a fellow roller or promote Canadian skating to its fullest. I highly suggest that people check out the Shop-Task’s website at http://www.shop-task.com/ or go by the messageboard, which can be found HERE.

1. C-Roll: You recently opened up the online shop, have you noticed any major changes from how you were running Shop-Task before ?

Leon Basin: Now with an online shop, inventory has to be accurate for customers to browse. The website took Shop-task to the next level. It is a lot more organized and professional than before.

2. C-Roll: With the opening of the online store, how have sales been ?

Leon Basin: Sales have been great and getting better every month. Being online helped out a lot in reaching new kids that are just starting out and skaters all across Canada.

3. C-Roll: How much work goes into running the shop and having a life outside of rollerblading ?

Leon Basin: My life is rollerblading. All my time goes to running the shop. I’m always making orders, updating the site, shipping packages and talking to customers. Even on my free time when I’m skating/filming and touring, I’m promoting my shop.

4. C-Roll: Are there any promotions or tours planned in the near future ?

Leon Basin: This summer I went on two tours. I drove across western Canada to Calgary and flew to Toronto. I also held the first Vancouver Amateurs competition, Van Am, which was a great success. My next project is the Shop-Task Flow Team dvd which will be edited by Joey McGarry.

5. C-Roll: What do you believe sets Shop-Task apart from other stores in Canada, and why do you believe people should buy from you ?

Leon Basin: Shop-Task has the biggest selection of the hottest shit in Canada. I’m very experienced and knowledgeable about the products I carry. Plus, I am honest and always keep my customers happy.

6. C-Roll: Running Shop-Task keeps you in tune with what is happening in Canadian Rolling, what do you believe is the state of our industry ? Is there anything that needs to be improved or do you think it is fine the way it is ?

Leon Basin: The industry used to be really strong but it collapsed because of a weak foundation. In the past few years I’ve seen a lot of rollerbladers taking matters into their own hands by starting companies, websites and organizing events. The industry is now in the process of rebuilding a strong foundation and we all need to support each other.

7. C-Roll: What are some of the downfalls of being a shop owner of a receding industry ? What are the benefits ?

Leon Basin: Some distributions/manufacturers are extremely unprofessional which makes it difficult to bring in the products on time. This makes me look unprofessional to my customers. The benefits are seeing the industry grow and knowing that I am a big part of it. Plus, everyone wants to be my friend.

8. C-Roll: Everyone knows running a rolling shop is risky business, so with that risk in mind, what made you start Shop-Task and believe that it could succeed ?

Leon Basin: I knew Shop-Task would be successful because I could see what other shops were doing wrong.

9. C-Roll: Shop-Task sponsors lots of events such as the Popularity Contest, Pimp Cup, Hamilton (Ontario) Skate Weekend, Ghetto Street Battle and the Ottawa Flossathon. Is that important to you and if so, why ?

Leon Basin: This is important to me because it is my way of giving back to the industry which why it’s important for everyone to support all Canadian shops.

10. C-Roll: Why do you keep prices so competitively low ?

Leon Basin: In the end it all comes down to price and service. I provide Canadian skaters with the fastest and cheapest way to get the products they want.

11. C-Roll: Shop-Task seems to be striving for more than just an online shop, you have Task-TV and the constant pictures updates. Is this an important part of your business by getting recognized though other forms of media and not just through word of mouth ?

Leon Basin: Media is the best way of marketing. Pictures and online edits are not only good advertising for Shop-Task but also for Canadian skaters that should be recognized for their talents.

12. C-Roll: Will there be a Shop-Task Team in the near future and if so, is a video in the works ?

Leon Basin: I’m a very picky person, especially when it comes down to a team. I do have a few carefully selected skaters on my flow team and a flow team video is in the planning process.

13. C-Roll: Anything you want to say to your customers or potential customers ?

Leon Basin: I want to thank all my customers for supporting Shop-Task and to the potential customers, thank you for taking the time to read this article.

14. C-Roll: Shout outs !?

Leon Basin: I want to thank: My girlfriend, Eli, for all her help; Joey McGarry, for his superior editing skills; AJ DeLong, for all his contributions to Canadian Rolling; Steve Eising and Jordan Coles from IDFA Clothing, for having money in the bank; Nick Damico, for keeping the Canadian rollers up to date; Todd McInerney, for Popularity Contest; D-Structure, for the Montreal Classics. Tom Dixon from Rolligious, for keeping Calgary on the map; Chris Wedman and Will Pursell, for making us all look good; the Shop-Task Flow Team for ripping it everyday; everyone who believes in freestyle rolling; and to all my customers.

Shout outs to: Anyone I forgot to thank; Brendan Shaughnessy and all the Ottawa boys; Mobb crew and all my hommies from the GTA; RPT and the Calgary crew; SOL crew; Kamloops boys; and everyone in Vancity.

-Nick. D

This spot light is of Dan Doidge, a good friend I have made through Canadian Roll’s good deeds. I told him I would like to showcase new talent on the site that not a lot of people see, and he sent me some pictures to put up. Dan is completely dedicated to rolling and a good guy, I’m glad the first underground spotlight went to him.

-Nick. D

When I first had the idea of interviewing Richie Eisler I really did not know how to approach him about wanting to do an interview. I assumed he was a really busy person and probably did not have time to put toward an interview. Well I couldn’t have been more wrong, not only was Richie easy to approach but also had a great attitude toward the whole interviewing process. I think that really sums up Richie though a person with a great attitude, good outlook on life who is genuinely a nice person, and lets not forget he can also roll with the best of them. So when he agreed to do the interview I was damn happy, when Devon Hanofski also contributed that got me even more excited about this interview. So I hope everyone enjoys.

Richie Eisler: Holler back! Dick Richie here with Devon Hanofski, reporting live from Regina where the water flows like wine… sparkling wine to be exact. The time is 16:47 - December 31, 2006 – New. Years. EVE! We are currently wetting our lips with a delicious beverage known as Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut MAGNUM. (No joke, I swear. It’s “very dry, fruity and finely balanced… a consistent monde selection gold medal winner…”)… AKA “The Bubbly.” Life is good right now. Really good. In fact: it has been the best year of my life, yet again. Probably the 10th consecutive year in a row as the best year of my life. What did I do to deserve this? I Hope everyone else had a great year too! …and that the coming year will bring great things…

Alright let’s get into the interview…

Canadian Roll: You’ve gone through some major injuries, first your head and now your ankle. Do you want to explain what happened, how it happened and how it is affecting your life right now. Did it give you any different perspectives? Different out looks on skating?”

Dick Richie: The day before I was supposed to go to Europe for 6 weeks I went for a little skate. I was supposed to leave for Hungary the next day and decided I was sick of packing and it was a really nice day so I went to roll around the outdoor park. Next thing I knew – I was laying in a hospital bed worried about being late for my flight. Turns out I slipped back somehow on an air over the hip and landed on my shoulder/head on the flat bottom (from about 7 feet up). I was dizzy so I called my dad for a ride and he took me to the hospital because I was rambling and incoherent. It’s ironic - for the few weeks leading up to the trip I was being careful to not push my limits while skating to make sure I didn’t get hurt. So much for that. To be honest, it hasn’t really affected my life as much as it probably could have. I was pretty lucky to get off with no permanent problems and the only real set back was missing the Europe trip. I have been living each day to the fullest for as long as I can remember so it’s not like I really changed my attitude in that sense (like lots of people do after scary accidents). I’m a bit more careful about my skating right now but I’ve always been careful to stay within my limits so no real significant change there, either.

Coach Devon: The bubbly is still flowing!

Canadian Roll: If you ask just about anyone they will say “Richie Eisler has amazing style.” What do you think makes for good style? How did you get yours to the points where it is now?

Dick Richie: I’m definitely flattered that people say that, but it’s kinda funny to me because over the years people would say anything BUT that about my skating. First, during the old CAT tours when I was winning all the contests, people talked shit that I was good at park but couldn’t skate street. Then a year or two later when I had some video sections out – people said I was good at street but couldn’t do stunts, wasn’t good at skatepark and had bad style. Maybe it’s just a T4 thing but there were so many haters. I just find it kinda funny that at one point or another in my time skating – people have criticized me for every little thing they can think of. I think style is the most important part of skating so that’s the nicest compliment I think I could receive. I think good style comes from experience skating and just making things flow and look easy. It’s not something you can really force so I’d say I just got mine to the point it is by skating for more than half my life and having so much fun doing it.

D Cups: I’d like to interject here with a few samples of video evidence. No street skills in the good old days? Try:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVCY7fnUZac
No skatepark skills? Tell that to the 35 THOUSAND viewers and 100 love letter comments found here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NRZh9qlu74
No stunts? No style? Happy New Year:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZrV_9unF0w

Canadian Roll: How hard do you work on learning things switch, and what made you learn them? It seems like you have every trick down both natural and switch.

Dick Richie: I really like this question because I don’t really see switch as even being real. Unless you have a wooden leg you should be able to do any trick either way if you just learn it. Exceptions would be one-footed grinds with your unnatural leg or topsides on square stuff with a stiff unnatural ankle. But really, switch tricks are just new tricks that you maybe didn’t learn the first time around. For example: a “switch royale” happens to look like a natural royale but it’s really just a different trick with your feet in different positions. Why should it be considered unnatural? A “natural” royale isn’t really so natural when you first try to learn it, so why should switch be considered some magical thing? I really started to take an interest in switch grinds because learning new things was the most exciting part of skating to me, and it was getting to the point where I really had to do something intense for it to be 100% new. I started learning all the switch tricks and skating felt like it did in the beginning – really fun and full of new accomplishments every single time. Switch spins were tough to learn but the benefit has been huge. Now that I can spin comfortably in both directions – the amount of tricks that open up as possibilities increases quite a bit. This is especially fitting right now because my right (more natural) ankle is still stiff and weak from tearing ligaments so I’ve solely been doing switch tricks while I work it back to strength.

Devonairre: Lately I’ve been making a point to learn switch spins and it makes skating more fun when you’re learning new things. Living in Regina with Richie and Dan Varin (one of the original switch masters) – it’s pretty hard to avoid getting into the whole switch thing. Again, let us dive deep into the archives and bring some evidence to the table:

http://zine.d-structure.com/inline/whatyouknow.mpg

Canadian Roll: If anyone has watched Black Market, they have heard the constant call for professionalism in rollerblading. The lack of professionalism was seen as one of our downfalls in the mid to late nineties, what role do you think it plays in rollerblading today?

Dick Richie: I think it should play a huge role but I’m going to have to admit that rollerblading is one of the biggest clown show circus industries imaginable. People call themselves professionals? Haha. There are so many positive things about rollerblading and the people in it, but professionalism is not one of them. I’m happy to say that I’ve noticed this is beginning to change for the better, but we’re still a long way from where we should be. I would like to point out that people like Jon Julio, Erik Bailey, Jochen Smuda, Oli Benet, Chris Haffey and several others are taking things in the right direction with their skating and professional attitudes. I think we need leaders in this area and these guys (and many others – these guys just come to mind first) are taking things in the right direction. I’d also like to say that professionalism in this sense doesn’t always mean boring business style shit – it is also a lot about making skating look good and bringing a positive attitude. Being a good role model or a positive leader. SOL videos are an example of something that I think is very professional but may not come across that way. Obviously the videos are full of fun and energy, and their portrayal of their characters and personalities may not seem professional at first glance – but it is the whole idea of showing the fun side of skating and life that is professional. The production is obviously professional but I think professionalism in this sense is also just showing how fun skating really is. The amount of people that love those guys and love skating after watching their videos is evidence of how professional they really are. It ‘s about how you present yourself and your sport or culture or whatever it is.

Professional Brut Magnum consumer, Devon H: Basically, I think rollerblading needs more Jon Julios and Richie Eislers because they really are the definition of professionals. Take a look at how they are promoting it and you will understand. Stop making t-shirts and do it up right.

Richie: P.S. I want to clarify something as well… I obviously have some opinions about a lot of topics relating to skating and in an interview like this we are discussing all these things in depth, but at the same time I also really view skating, in a very simple way: It’s a fun activity that captures my imagination and makes me smile. Nothing more, really. There’s two sides, I guess. But, in the end it is just something I love to do, never mind anything else.

Devon: I concur. At the end of the day all the crap doesn’t really matter – you are just doing something that you still enjoy as much as you did the day you first got into it.

Richie: It’s kinda funny that I’ve been enjoying life so much but two of my favourite things, music and skating, are basically forms of escape!

Canadian Roll: You, like many pro rollers today, are no longer a teenager with a carefree life to solely devote to skating. How do you balance school, friends and your busy life while still finding time to skate at such a high level.

Dick Eisler III: I’m not really sure how I balance everything! I just kinda do what I think is right and things work out. Skating has really just been a fun activity for me and it just so happens that all sorts of amazing opportunities and experiences have come with it. Friends are just a normal part of life and I have met almost all of my best friends through skating in one way or another. I think it’s easy for me to balance school because I really enjoy learning so it’s not really much of a burden. Obviously my parents have been amazing in letting me live here and putting up with my crap. If I were living on my own right now it wouldn’t be so easy to take off to Australia (or wherever) all the time. So yeah I don’t really know. Time flies. I fell in love with rolling around on wheelie boots and acting like a stunt man, and the years of AMAZING memories/trips/friends have just kinda flown by. I’ll be done school in May and then I’m planning to move somewhere warmer or travel a bit so I guess I’ll have to see how it all works out.

Canadian Roll: Your life seems to have been packed with many experiences that not a lot of people can say they have gone through. Do any stand out in your mind that may or may not be skating related? What do you think allowed you to be in the position to live life in such a manner?

Dick Richie: Life is what you make it, right? You only live once and it may not last any longer than this exact moment. That is something that always on my mind. I am pretty much constantly seeking out new experiences and adventures. Obviously, like I said: the support of my parents has enabled a lot of the traveling and stuff to happen and there have been a lot of friends and family that have been involved as well, but at the end of the day I think a person’s own attitude and motivations shape the way their life unfolds. This is something we could talk about forever (as your attitude and perspective are shaped by so many influences), but I don’t know, I think you just have to make yourself happy. There are so many experiences standing out in my mind right now that we’d need to write an entire book just to scratch the surface…

Devon: It’s the Regina attitude! Given’er. Haha. Living to the fullest!

Canadian Roll: Over the summer you went to Australia, which is how they got the cover shot of Be-Mag’s 21st issue (congratulations). You have also traveled to many more destinations because of skating. As roller and just a person who is living life, do you think this travel has effected your mind set, if so how?

Dick: The Australia trip was so amazing. I’ll never forget the people I met and the adventures we had. Thanks, I was also really excited to find out I was on the cover of Be-Mag! I had a night shot (roof grind) in my profile in issue 6 that they were considering for the cover but it was too dark – kinda ironic that I ended up getting a cover 15 issues later – with a night shot! Haha. I think travel is one of the best things you can do with your time. It is like a drug, an education, an adventure and a party all in one! Seriously, the amount you learn through traveling… meeting so many different people and just opening your mind outside the little world you usually live in – so valuable. The countless road trips with friends over the years have provided some of the best memories of my life. And skating is such a perfect activity to team up with travel – wandering through the world, searching for new adventures, creating playgrounds from boring courtyards and obstacles that nobody else even notices or cares about – and just seeing things from a different perspective…. Again, I could go on forever about all this stuff… This interview is going to end up at 20 pages if we don’t stop now! Haha

Happy New Year everyone!

Well there you have it an Interview with Richie Eisler AKA Dick Eisler and Devon Hanofski. I want to personally thank both for taking time out of their schedule for providing such quality answers. Also taking time out of your New Years Eve celebration is greatly appreciated. I hope everyone enjoys the interview, and if you kids are good and follow through with your New Years Resolutions we just might have a follow up. Richie you’re the man, Devon your funny as hell and to all that read this keep rolling.

-Nick. D

What is one more picture.