Levi Hawken, frontside ollie. Photo: David Chami.
Levi Hawken, a true New Zealand skate legend, heads up this weeks TTT.
D.O.B
23/12/75.
I spent my first day on earth in?
Delivered at home onto a piece of black tarp, in a state house, Pt. England, Glen Innes, Eastside Auckland, New Zealand. Real flash!
Currently I reside in?
Dunedin, AKA the D.
Because?
I have a genetic disorder called Ectodermal Displasia and I hardly sweat, so the weather is nice and cold here and I can skate way harder than I ever have. Also, there are a lot of really individual free thinking people to hang with. It has the smoothest footpaths, roads and big hills which is great for commuting about by board. The architecture is old school and inspiring. Just a few reasons.
People that keep threads on my back are?
ABC, Trash Skates, Adidas and Quest
Backside wallride, Dunedin. Photo: William van der Vliet
Last item you purchased?
A set of Bones 58mm SPF Miller wheels and Bones reds for my Hosoi Hammerhead. Peow!
Last video part that made you go skate?
Eric Dressen section in Speed Freaks.
Things that annoy you while skating?
Rain, unless Sam Robbie lets us skate the Trash ramp.
Best meal?
Salad with eye fillet, feta, seeds, roast veges and fresh juicy crunchy stuff. Even better if my mum makes it!
Worst meal?
Meat pies, I guess, but I’m not known for turning down free food.
Frontside Smith grind, Queenstown. Photo: William van der Vliet
Favourite non-skate sponsor you’d back?
Tanuki’s Cave if they were keen!?
Top five YouTube clips in current rotation?
I don’t have the internet at the mo’ so aint been trawling, but these are some classics I like:
Jason Dill – Photosynthesis
Eric Dressen – Speed Freaks
I’m backing Hootman!
The Skeptics – AFFCO
Thirston Howl Tha 3rd – Con Calma
Favourite album?
This is hard as I get a favorite and thrash it to death then move on. But I’ll say Kool Keith – Diesel Truckers.
Vices?
Trying to eliminate all vices except skating, fitness and art right now. It’s going really well too. Just trying to slow down and breathe. Applying some discipline so I can skate better for longer.
One meal for the rest of your life. What would it be?
Salad grinds.
Last time you got nervous?
For the last few weeks it’s been on and off. 20/20 have done a piece on me that airs this Thursday night at 9:30pm on TV2, pretty nervous about it.
Top five board graphics of all time?
Justin Girard New Deal fairy tale graphic (Humpty, 3 pigs, bad wolf etc.) I think by Jose Gomez
Natas panther series (all of them but especially the psycho kruger claws)
Eric Dressen Puppy Dog Mini by Jim Phillips
Danny Sargent New Deal, monkey with a bomb by Andy Howell
Mike Vallely World Industries- Please don’t eat my friends
Classic Dog Town graphics like that of Eric Dressen or Aaron Murray
Most overused word in your vocabulary?
I.
Stalefish, Dunedin. Photo: William van der Vliet.
What is one thing you can’t live without?
It’s still my skateboard.
One thing you want to accomplish in 2011?
Be stronger, flexible, healthier, balanced and unleash the person I’ve always wanted to be
