10 years ago I met Jaden Easton-Ellett as he was barely 9 years old and had just started skateboarding. He came to one of my Skateboard Camps at the Cloverdale Skate Park in Surrey. Just another tall, skinny kid covered head to toe in skate pads and a helmet, it might have even been a bike helmet. But right away in that set of lessons I recognized some things about Jaden. He had a natural ability to learn and adapt quickly, and he was somewhat fearless, or clueless to danger, whichever one it was. Jaden learned a lot in that camp and he was signed up in another one a couple weeks later. I figured I was going to see a lot of him and I thought that was cool.
Jaden started coming to almost every camp or lesson I had scheduled for Cloverdale and I was always teaching him so many tricks. Since each lesson begins the same by teaching all the basics to a bunch of newcomers, I would just send Jaden off on his own and watch what he was trying. Then later I’d go over and give him some stuff to try that related to his interests. He was learning fast and his creative side was showing. This went on for years, and Jaden would sign up for tons of lessons and camps and come out to all the Hippie Mike’s Tour de Surrey Contests and it just evolved into a really awesome relationship between us. When he turned 14 he was super sad because he wasn’t going to be able to come to the lessons anymore since the age category maxed out at 13. So I hired him as a Volunteer and he began to help out at the lessons. He was good at it too, so the next year we started paying him when we could until eventually he took over teaching the camps as the main instructor.
Jaden always showed a good sense of responsibility and had a lot of self-motivational drive inside him. Then one day he told me that he designs websites and would like to set one up for Protest. So we did – that was in a about 2010. As Jaden’s knowledge with internet and website management was growing, he was learning about how the website could actually begin to produce income. So last year we decided to take our friendship to a whole new level and work together to help make Protest Skateboards Website a place where the skateboard world can stay connected with what’s happening in the Lower Mainland and we made some changes. Jaden became a partner in the business, and invested some funds into it, but wasn’t legally old enough to sign on as a full partner, until now.
I’d like to congratulate Jaden Easton-Ellett on his 19th birthday on all of his accomplishments and officially welcome him on as my full Business Partner to Protest Skateboards.
To many more years of great friendship and success…
For those of you who don’t receive the Protest Site’s Facebook Updates, maybe you need to push the LIKE Button on the site, or maybe were just too busy being crazy the past couple weeks, we’re gonna give you the low down on Andy Anderson’s trip to Costa Mesa to compete in the Damn Am Contest held at the Volcom Warehouse in Costa Mesa.
Andy is about to turn a big 17 years old next month and is trying to get his name out there in more places than just the lower mainland. Andy has been on a skateboarding rampage for many years, he’s actually been skating for over 12 years and he’s been hanging out and learning from Hippie Mike since he was 7. Andy has won his fair share of competitions and awards in many different categories and styles of skateboarding over the years. He can place in a street contest, a pool or coping bowl, the original old school bowls, or even at Freestyle Contests, and all on his custom old school shaped deck and setup. He took home the prestigious King of the Bowls Trophy at age 15 and won the King of Surrey Plaque the same year. Last year he got around a little more and participated in tons of different events and seemed to win some dollar bills at most of the ones he showed up to. So it was time for Andy Anderson to head down to Cali and compete against a whole new crowd of Amateur Skateboarders that raise the bar to a whole new level – The Damn Am.
Andy had a great time down there and got to meet, and make friendships with lots of other amazing skaters around the same age as him, like Curren Caples and Louie Lopez, who happened to place 1st and 2nd in the contest. Andy had a killer run in the qualifiers, flawless of course, and the crowd was super stoked on his unique style and technical tricks. But unfortunately Andy didn’t make the cut of the 30 people out of 200 who made it to the Finals. He did however get his whole run filmed and published by Nigel Alexander and even did a small interview afterwards. The classic part of everything is Andy had himself registered on his profile as Andre Anderso and now he keeps getting all this publicity with that name on it, hilarious… but in the actual videos it states his real name. He represented well down there for all of his sponsors, including Skull Skates, Monke Hardware, The Dry Spot, Vans, Kilian Clothing, and of course Protest Skateboards, and the experience that Andy got from his first “real contest” is irreplaceable. Now with the knowledge of what to expect from a competition in this setting, Andy will attempt again to qualify at the Damn Am in Atlanta coming up in a few weeks. Top 12 go to Tampa.
We wish him the best of luck.
Until then have a look at some of the publicity that came out of this attempt
It was one of the first big contests of the 2013 season, and Dan Pageau couldn’t have chosen a better date. The Spring Kickoff Contest at Pitt Meadows lived up to it’s name by being on a beautiful Spring Day, and the day the clocks move ahead. Tons of kids showed up, lots of Locals for Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge, and lots of the One Love Skate Shop Crew. Lanny Deboer and Andre Tsougrianis both hung out and skated a bit, Lanny won the highest air contest out of the bowl, and then MC’d a bunch of the contest. But we had a full sized crew show up from Surrey and Delta, including Jordan Strong, Brendan Nielsen, Ryan Barron, Jacob Drescher, Mathew McCauley, and JR Barron, along with Hippie Mike, Carrie Williams and Jaden Easton-Ellett with the Protest Skateboards Tent.
It was a solid competition, everyone was throwing down. In the beginner category there were lots of little rippers all doing different tricks left right and centre. JR Barron shredded it in the qualifier run and then smashed his face on his first trick in the finals chipping a tooth. But he just bounced up and fought through the pain to finish an unstoppable run, winning the Beginner competition. That’s how we train these kids in Surrey.
Jacob Drescher showed everyone how Delta does it as Chis Sommerville from Street Dreamz Board Shop sat and watched him beat out all the Intermediates with ease.
Ryan Lepore kept Delta’s reputation of amazing ledge and rail skating in full effect as he terrorized the entire course in both runs. The way it worked was you got to skate until you fell off your board twice. It took over 3 minutes for Ryan to slip up twice in the finals, beating out some tough skaters like Jordan Repin, Jesse Holland, Dominic Devries and Ryan Prasad.
Tsawwassen Represent!
They decided to have a Master’s/Senior’s division for people 30 years and over, so Hippie Mike got in there with Carrie Williams, Jonathan Reichert, Tim R and Dan Pageau. After complaining all day about his injured back and how hard it was to move, Hippie Mike went to town when it was his turn, utilizing the entire park and lasted a long time before falling twice. Of course his second fall was a crash hard enough to rock a nation.
Hippie Mike takin’ it home for Surrey!
It was a great event and I think everyone had a blast. We sold some gear, hung out with lots of dudes we haven’t seen in a while, and skated.
Here are some photos from throughout the day, mostly of the younger kids since they ripped it so hard.
Thanks to Dan Pageau and One Love Skateboard Shop for hosting the event. Support your local businesses
Way back at the end of January, during that nasty spell of Cold and Foggy Winter, I met up with Ty Williamson, aka Tyler the Film Creator at Chuck Bailey Skate Pak and filmed this little montage. It was a tough day for filming as the entire park was soaked when he arrived. I threw down a couple quick tricks on the mini barrier and then proceeded over to the flat bank where I tripped over my own feet after landing primo and knocked my knee slightly out of place. This happens often when you don’t have an MCL. We finished off filming anyway and later that night the old knee popped back into its proper position.
I know I’m not the best skateboarder out there anymore and it’s difficult to compete with the crazy kids of today, but I will point out that I haven’t seen anyone do 95% of the tricks in this montage. Especially when there’s ice on the ground….
The times are always changin’ and it gets tough to keep up sometimes, but one thing that’s always kept me goin’ is my skateboard. After many years of living life as a skater I’ve always been able to adjust with the changes. As I get older, I get wiser, but I also seem to get bigger and slower. And it makes it tough to be who you were back when you were just growing up annihilating the streets and livin’ life in your Glory Daze. But I always find my way home.
Surrey is the place I call home, and I’m very proud of what I have helped to create in this city for the skateboard community to enjoy. But as the population of skateboarders seemed to be constantly growing here in Surrey, the population of Skate Shops was diminishing. And now there is only 1 true “Skater Owned and Operated” Skateboard Shop left in this city.
So I went on a search to find that little shop hidden away in the heart of Cloverdale, venturing through the streets and skate parks of surrey until I finally got there. It was calling my name to come home.
I found my destination, took off my jacket and prepared to stay a while.
Welcome to Episode 8 of GLORY DAZE with Hippie Mike. Today we’re chillin’ out at Bonsor Skate Park in Metrotown with the kid I simply call “The Dominator”. He’s young and full of talent, and wins a lot of competitions. His sponsors include Chance Skateboards, Volcom and Vans Shoes. He recently won Wild in the Parks last year and was also named King of Surrey for winning the most Hippie Mike’s Tour de Surrey contests in 2012, give it up for Dominic Devries!!
Hippie Mike: Welcome Dominic. Please, tell the world how old you are and how long you’ve been skateboarding
Dominic Devries: I’m 16 years old and started skating when I was 9
HM: What was the first experience you remember as the moment you decided that you loved skateboarding?
Dominic: Um, my cousin got me a Hulk Skateboard on my 9th birthday and I just had a lot of fun with that. And I just kept skating since then
HM: You just broke your arm for the second time last September, what are some of the worst injuries you’ve had?
Dominic: Well, those are probably the worst, but I’ve broken my elbow twice too. Yeah, and my foot
HM: Ouch… Do you ever just feel warn out and tired, and not want to skate anymore?
Dominic: No, never
HM: Tell us the best accomplishment you’ve had as a skater
Dominic: Probably the biggest one was winning the “Element – Make it Count” contest here at Bonsor
HM: Cool. Who are the people that influence you the most?
Dominic: Um, I don’t know, I like watching Micky Papa skate. He stokes me up to do new tricks and stuff
HM: Okay, I notice in the contests that the other kids cheer for everyone but you during the runs, almost like they’re more depressed when you land stuff than excited. Does that hurt your feelings at all?
Dominic: Not at all
HM: Does it pump you up?
Dominic: It doesn’t pump me up, or stoke me up, it’s just…
HM: Just Life?
Dominic: Yeah, it’s just life…
HM: Do you think you’ll ever become a Top Name Pro?
Dominic: I don’t know, no idea. Hopefully, that would be pretty cool (laughs)
HM: Are we gonna see Dominic Devries on the TV tearing up X Games or Street League some day?
Dominic: Maybe (laughs)
HM: So I gave you the nickname “The Dominator” a couple years ago. Do you like it?
Dominic: Uh, yeah. It’s cool, but… sometimes people make fun of me for it (laughs)
HM: Last year you won your share of competitions, and you finally accomplished winning the King of Surrey Trophy at my Series with three 1st Place and two 2nd Place finishes out of the 5 contests. How did that feel?
Dominic: It felt good. That was one of my goals last year
HM: Name your 3 favourite Skate Parks
Dominic: Probably Bonsor, Chuck Bailey and Plaza
HM: 3 favourite Street Spots
Dominic: Granville 8, and uh… Terry Fox Plaza, and maybe… Hot Spot
HM: 3 Best Tricks you’ve ever landed
Dominic: Probably Tre Flip down the 12, and Kickflip Front Board down Bricktown 10, and…. maybe front blunt shove on Granville 8
HM: Nice!, and the 3 coolest people you’ve ever skated with
Dominic: Mark Appleyard, Chad Tim Tim, and, and I saw Nyjah Huston for a bit (smiles)
HM: Nice. So, what’s next for The Dominator in 2013?
Dominic: Uh, skating a lot, going to lots of contests, and filming lots
HM: Okay. Well Dominic, I’d like to thank you for being on GLORY DAZE with Hippie Mike. I’ve been watching you grow up as a skateboarder for a few years now and I am always stoked when you show up. You’re one of my favourite people to watch skate and I know a lot of kids look up to you. I wish you all the best in your future and really hope to see you on the TV someday getting paid for doing what you love – The Dominator everybody!!
Check out the montage of 2012 Summer from The Dominator
Hi, and welcome to Episode 7 of GLORY DAZE with Hippie Mike. Today we’re hanging out with a Canadian Legend in the skateboard community. He’s a Technical Wizard on his skateboard and has been blowing minds with his skills for many years. From “Nollie Lazerflip Bluntslides”to “Fakie Bigspin Tweezer Flips”, he’s the Rodney Mullen of Canada. The owner of One Love Skateboard Shop– give it up for Dan Pageau!!
Hippie Mike: So Dan, can you give a brief bit of history by telling us how old you are, why you started skateboarding and where you lived at that time
Dan Pageau: Yeah, I’m 32 years old, I started skateboarding in Montrealwhen I was about 5 years old, and since then I haven’t stopped
HM: And when did you go Pro?
Dan: I turned pro in 1995 is what I remember. I did the Ramp Rage in Montreal, that was my first pro contest. I guess there was a bunch of Pros there, first time they came into town – Kareem Campbelland I think Rob Dyrdekwas there, and anyways I ended up getting 1st Place and it was sweet
HM: Sick. Who was your first sponsor?
Dan: Well I had like Shop Sponsors. I rode for EQwhich I think is still around, and then I rode for Radical Skate Shopwhich was this skate shop by Peace Park in Montreal. And basically the owner of that shop is Edward Law, and he owned True Skateboards
HM: Were you born and raised in Montreal?
Dan: Yeah, like kinda on the outskirts, but yeah
HM: What was it like trying to make it as a recognized skateboarder from Canada?
Dan: What was it like trying to make it? Uhhh, I don’t know. Like at first I didn’t really try to make it, I would just kind of show up and skate the park. I remember when I was like 8 years old, we went to Jarry Parkwhich was the local park at the time and just put on a bunch of sweaters and skate this 6′ ramp with vert and just skate that and learned how to do a bunch of stuff and from that I guess people noticed me and started sponsoring me and stuff. So it was never really something I looked for, being sponsored…
HM: Was it hard to get into the scene, like with America?
Dan: Well I guess from being sponsored with True Skateboards, we started travelling a little bit. I went to Tampa Pro, and I also went to Europe with Max Dufour and Pierre-Luc Gagnon. So I was kind of just staying in their hotel room and smooching off their Vans sponsorship(laughs), but yeah, like even in 1997they had the Vans Warped Tourwhich I did a bunch of the competitions, like I went into Boston… so we showed up their and I won 1st Place, PLG won Vertand we got free tickets to California. So that’s kind of where it started to become a little more serious for me with doing all the travelling and stuff. Yeah besides that it was just, um, for me just being really dedicated and just wanting to be everywhere and just going to all the Professional Events. I never really sent promos or tried to get sponsored, I just went to places and started shredding and then eventually uh, I think it was either Ronnie Creageror Rodney Mullennoticed me and yeah…
HM: Yeah, 2 crazy’s… (Laughs) Who’s your favourite Canadian Skateboarderright now?
Dan: My favourite Canadian Skateboarder, first thing that comes to mind would be Grant Patterson
HM: I remember seeing clips of you in videos like 411during the 90’s but I’d have to say the moment I realized how good you were was when I saw the video Underworld – Underratedin the early 2000’s. Your part in that video was mind-blowing and anyone who has never watched it needs to go watch it. What was it like to see Underworld Skate Shop expand across Canada?
Dan: well I thought it was pretty cool. I grew up with Alex skating, we used to go skate his school when I was like 9 years old. And basically, Alex is a real skateboarder. I don’t know if anybody knows this but when I didn’t even know what switch stance was, he was doing switch kick flips, and backside noseblunts on mini rampand stuff, and he’s always been really supportive and we’ve always been good buddies and just to see where he’s taken his business and how dedicated he is really impressive. Like that whole Under Attack Tour…
HM: Was that part of your inspiration to open your own Skateboard Shop?
Dan: Yeah it was actually, yeah for sure. Before the skate shop I did a wheel company called Traction Wheelsand that was really fun. For me having a Skateboard Companyis not really about making money, it’s about having the Team together and making something happen. And the one thing I didn’t particularly like was calling stores and being like, you know, you wanna get my stuff in? Most stores did support it and stuff but I just got really tired of like calling and calling and calling. So I figured you know, if I just do a shop then it’s like more people coming to you. It’s not really about the money and selling product, it’s more like about who’s involved in it right now, Like Andre Tsougrianisand Lanny DeBoerand Micky Papa, and right now we’ve got Dave Jonssonand Ryan Prasadriding for us. All those guys are just insane. And to work with them, and the attitude, and the fun that we have together, and we come up with ideas. ‘Cause at first when I had One Loveit was just me and I was just bouncing ideas off the wall and had nobody really helping me out with ideas and stuff and now with one Love how it’s set up we can work together. We got a new Filmer – Ty Williamson and it’s just really amazing and he’s helping us out a lot (Check out Ty’s videos at www.youtube.com/tylerthefilmcreator )
HM: Your Pro for Monke Skateboards right now. How long have you known Ben Chibberand how did you end up sponsored by Monke?
Dan: Well how I met Ben was, a longtime ago we did Slam City Jamand we had a booth which was Premium Skateboards, Monke Skateboardsand Traction Wheels, so we did business like that and we started selling stuff. Yeah prior to that I just always thought Monke Skateboards was awesome. I remember going to Slam City Jam and being like whoa, who’s that guy? And like who’s that guy? Every guy that was like incredible talent was on Monke Skateboards. I didn’t know who they were but they were awesome
HM: Trevor Houlihan
Dan: Yeah Houlihan, and Steve Strangand um…. Ted DeGros. So me just being from Montreal, and I was already Pro before that, and just seeing those guys I thought whoa man, these Monke Skateboardguys are awesome. And I just always had this thing in the back of my mind where I wanted to ride for them. So I don’t know how it really happened but just like hangin’ out with Ben and just being like, yeah okay, let’s do it…
HM: Well I know how much Ben Chibberthinks about you, and he definitely thinks you deserve more recognition so he’s gonna be there to help you at any given moment, I know that…
Dan: And that’s the thing, i just want to be loyal. Like if I get any other offers, I don’t really care if there’s more money, i’m just going to be loyal to Monke Skateboards
HM: Cool. Who else are you sponsored by right now?
Dan: I got Monke Skateboards, United Clothingthrough Bruce, and I’m getting some shoes through Globewhich is awesome. I’m not necessarily on the Team or anything but they’ve been kind enough to send me the shoes that I like, so
HM: What’s your favourite trick to do?
Dan: Favourite trick to do would be a 360 flip
HM: Name 3 people that influenced you to be who you are today
Dan: Okay, I guess my Dad, he would be one. Um, Jesus, just how he is and the way he dealt with situations, and um, maybe Danny Way
HM: Yeah, I hear that. What’s the best trick you ever landed?
Dan: (Laughs) Best Trick I ever landed… What comes to mind right now as the best thing I can think of is the Switch Noseblunt Cabellarial Kick Flipwhich I did in the Progression Video #5in the year 2000
HM: Nice. Well, thanks a lot Dan for being a guest on GLORY DAZE with Hippie Mike. You’re an amazing skater who helped open some big doors for the future Canadian Rippersand we thank you for that. Respect him as a skateboarder, a legend, and a true man. Type his name into Youtubeand support his shop One Love
Last Friday Dave Stevens came out to Chuck Bailey Skate Park to do a little of what he does best – film and edit a montage with some of the locals. Francois LeBlanc, Calvin Dignard, Jordan Zazula, Magnus Hansen, Hippie Mike and Kory Laan all represent in style utilizing the majority of the skate park. The day was gorgeous and you would actually believe it was the middle of summer if everyone wasn’t decked out in toques and winter jackets. It was actually -2 degrees out there, which in this neighbourhood is extremely cold and definitely takes away your desire to really go for stuff. But shit went down, like always. Kory Laan even shut the session down with a couple banger bigspins over the big gap.
Andy Anderson, one of the most talented on the Protest Skateboards Team spends a day at the infamous Cloverdale Skate Park located on the Country Side of Surrey. This park is rough and tough, and is actually going to be removed next year once the New Cloverdale Skate Park is fully constructed and opened. The old park has been around since about the year 2000 and has always been a bit of a hit and miss spot. Some of the obstacles are really awesome and taught lots of today’s top amateurs, and even some of the local pros quite a few tricks, and then there’s the other obstacles that you look at, shake your head a bit and say, “What the F were they doing??”
Of course Andy Anderson picks all of those obstacles to skate so it’s pretty sick to see how he rips them up.
Some of Cloverdale’s Ollie North Skate Shop team showed up at Surrey’s best skate park Chuck Bailey to ring in the New Year on January 1st, 2013 with a cold and nasty night session. The air was thick, the ground was slick, and the boys were layin’ down tricks.
Jordan Strong, Ryan Barron, Matt Cook, Shawn Beaupre, Mitch Salter and Shawn J – representin’!!
