Mark, thanks for taking some time to get this BLADE LIFE together. There’s no doubt you are an insanely talented dude on the blades, but it seems like you kinda fly under the radar. Why do you think that is?
I think there are a few reasons why I’m kind of under the radar, or at least have been in the past. Mainly, I’ve been busy with college as a full-time student. I finished my undergrad last December. Since then I’ve been trying to skate and film as much as possible and am definitely open to more traveling in the future.
How about the definition between pro and am; and do you think the state of am bladers is the same as when you were coming up and/or spectating? If it’s changed, can you describe how?
It’s a lot different now. AM skaters are now just casually lumped together with the flow people, like that should be normal and acceptable. Like, BFG and pre-BFG especially, AM was a position a dude wanted to attain because the sponsorship for an AM, and the respect you got as an AM, meant you were on the way to becoming PRO. Now, the idea of AM and the concept of sponsorship just means less in general.
After Pow Wow
Along that same line, let’s talk about your personal standards for skating. How do they compare to the industry standards for style, tricks, etc? And when does a trick count?
I’m going to try and answer this question as best as possible because I’m not entirely sure what you mean. I don’t really know what the industry’s “standards” for style mean, especially nowadays. I like good solid skating though. Spins or grabs in and out of tricks, and lines are really important. Demonstrating absolute control on skates is extremely important. As for tricks not counting, I’d just so much rather see someone steez out a backslide with a solid grab than a pencil 5 to grind.
I’ve been told some people have a hard time filming with you because of your perfectionist tendencies. That true; and if so, why?
I don’t think that is true necessarily. Usually when I’m filming it’s for a particular project that I want to be happy with, so I just like to be thorough. I feel as if it’s been a while since I’ve seriously filmed anything, so I guess it all depends on whom you ask.
What bladers influenced you the most when you were a younger shredder, and how did you adapt that influence into your own skating?
When I was younger I always got juiced off Rob Thompson, Feinberg, Latimer, Lennon, and Julio (and still do). I was more inclined to huck things when I was little and skate the biggest rails I could find. Nowadays, I just try to be solid and smooth and really enjoy a good transition. I really like the way Broskow, Bolino, Eisler, and Montre are skating too. I’m also trying to blade for as long as possible, so I’ve started to focus more on technique — Eisler and Julio are definitely inspiring in that respect.
AO Topsoul
You’re a dude from Louisville, Kentucky. Before you, who was the biggest blading name out of Louisville? Can you tell us how you made a name for yourself hailing from the land of baseball bats and horse races?
The biggest blading name out of Kentucky before me was Jordan Dale. Jordan definitely killed it back in the day but since then hasn’t really been around much. Other than that, I’ve always really looked up to all the bikers in Louisville who I’d basically see every day shredding the incredible skate park there. Jimmy Levan (owner of Metal Bikes), I believe, is originally from Louisville and he killed it and set the bar really high in terms of being a badass. My only problem with Louisville is that not too many people actually skate there even though it literally has one of the best parks in the world (free, 24 hour, huge), and awesome street. I always had to travel to skate with other people and, in terms of exposure, traveling was the only way.
Anyone who’s ever watched you blade (especially in person) knows you skate really fucking hard. Where do you get the motivation and determination to push yourself like you do?
First off, I wouldn’t say all that. I’m flattered that people think I skate hard all the time, but the majority of the time I’m just glad to go out, skate and have fun, and not get hurt. I usually skate my hardest when I’m filming for some particular project. I get juiced off the feeling of skating really well a few times a week and I think that feeling is what keeps me going, and will keep me going until I’m really old. Music is also a big influence on my whole thought process for “bigger” tricks and skating in general. I really like Hendrix and Zeppelin, and just focus on getting in this meditative trance when I’m listening to them blading, biking, or chilling.
Switch Topsoul
You skate for Denial so no doubt you’ve spent a lot of time with Chris Majette. Can you describe your relationship with Chris and tell us what you think about his entire being and existence?
Denial is the illest and Majette and Killgore have been down since the beginning.
Have you gotten to do much cool traveling from skating? If so, tell us about the best place you’ve gotten to go?
I’ve had a really decent run with some of the rollerblading traveling I’ve been able to do, and I’m just so juiced to do more for that reason. The craziest, coolest traveling experience of my life was my first rollerblading related international trip to Ecuador. I was riding for Remz at the time and ended up meeting Kenny Owens, Jero, Fish, and Demetrios down there. It was February in South America which meant Carnival. It was wild and definitely life-changing.
