Wassup? An Interview with the Blvd Skate Team

From 'Kids' to 'Bully', film director Larry Clark is known for finding young talent. As the movies blow up so do the young talent, not necessarily because of their acting but just because they're so real. That is definitely the case with the crew from his film 'Wassup Rockers' who are better referred to as Blvd Skateboards Co.

I first emailed Porky and asked if he'd be interested in doing an interview and a few days later I received a call from Danny. I talked to him to set things up and he was like, "Let's do this, let's make this happen." I felt his energy over the phone already, so I couldn't wait to get going. 

Soon after I met the guys on Hollywood Blvd., threw my camera equipment on my back and we just went skating everywhere. All the guys' attitudes were positive and you could see how much a 7-ply piece of wood really meant to them. We met up with Oscar who took the metro from the hood just to come skate and planned to hit a secret bank tucked away off Sunset Blvd., and then the Santa Monica 12. 

Seeing the guys throw themselves up the 2 ft. wide bank with all their power, energy, and heart was an awesome sight. I was feeling a little more comfortable with their tricks and techniques as the hours passed, so I decided to take closer shots and took out the wide angle and got up closer to the ollies and flips. I can't forget the time when Kico was doing his thing and slipped out of his trick, shooting his board at my fisheye. Let's just say it's a good thing Canon made a metal hood on my lens or it would have been trashed. I just bent it back and I was off shooting again. We were soon escorted off by security but they were cool when we asked to do one last trick.

Over the many times we met and at all of the great spots we got to skate, I learned more and more about the guys. They are just a group of close friends that truly have one passion in life: to skate. No matter where they all came from, be it nice or rough, skating is what they do and what they do best. So when they call me and say, "Hey Adam, its time to skate," you can bet that the flashes, tripods, and all my camera gear are just a kickflip behind, just trying to capture the magic that happens between these passionate fellas and the pavement they call the BLVD.

Interview with Danny Minnick

Lat34: Who rides for Blvd Skateboards?

Danny: Kico, Danny Minick, Reemo, Rob G, Sesai, Porky, Eddie, Johnson, Oscar.

Lat34: How did Blvd Skateboards Co. come about?

Danny: We are just a group of friends that started a skateboard company that skate, film, and have fun. We get our boards free and we sell some. I directed a skate documentary a few years back called "The Blvd." The guys really liked my work on the film so we just decided to make the team name Blvd Skateboards Co.

Lat34: How did you come up with the name Blvd?

Danny: When I came out with the name Blvd, my film was kinda based around Hollywood Blvd. I didn't think of the name till the film was about done. Then I thought, hey the "Blvd" fit. It was perfect. It's like James Dean and 'Boulevard Of Broken Dreams'. Its the streets, its raw, I think alot of kids can relate to it. Its just a nice title I love it.

Lat34: What does skateboarding mean to you?

Danny: Going out with friends and having fun, that's just what it's about.

Lat34: Is there anyone in the crew that just stands out?

 
Danny: There's not one person that stands out in the crew. They all stand out to me. Each one has their own unique style. Porky is chill, he does tricks without even thinking about it. Kico just wants to go really big he is just a 100% skateboarder. Sessi is so dope & his style is so original, his skating is so original. Oscar is 15 and already has the biggest backside flip. None of the guys are cocky or obnoxious.

They're all very down-to-earth and that's what's so great about them. Everyone is just out to have fun. Eddie has the sickest style, he is just so good. Jonathan too. Reemo is just a monster man, the first time I met him on set he wanted to film he was just trying to treflip the 16 like its nothing. Anything over 12 steps is a big set you know. Another person that is super dope is Rob-G, Porky's younger brother. He just started skating again and he just attacks obstacles.

Lat34: How did you guys all meet?

Danny: Rob G. was who all the guys looked up to because he was dope and raw. He started coming around as well as the other guys came cuz of Kico. He was like, 'Hey, I have some guy you have to check out. They want to come skate and film with us." The first time we filmed with Sisai he was so cool, I mean he is beyond cool, he is such an amazing human being.

All those guy skate around because they all skate in the hood and I live in Hollywood. So they brought out Oscar, and he was like so good man so fucken good its unreal. He is like 15 and he is just so good backside flipping the Wilshire 15 like nothing. Everyone in the crew just was so tight. We would skate every week and they would just bring someone in. An since then its been on.

Lat34: I heard you have a new skate video in the works?

Danny: Yeah that video is looking very good. Yeah is really looking good but I have been so busy with work and shit. I only have like one day a week to film with the team. They want to film everyday, but I am there only filmer. So it just taking longer to finish the movie than expected. But its going to be super dope when its done.

The message: The Blvd is a tight group of friends that started a company because skating is what we've always

wanted to do. You could do it to, if you really want it. There are plenty of skaters out there that are not sponsored and they are just doing this for the true essence of skating. We did our own thing, started our own team, and now it seems like this is just what we were supposed to be doing.

Team Sponsors: Emerica, Blvd Skateboard Co.
Contact: http://www.myspace.com/theblvdskateboardco

-Adam Nelson