JDZ) Who do you ride for? It should be, “Who do you work for?” and the answer is Skatepark of Tampa.
JDZ) How long have you been on the team? Been working there just over four years.
JDZ) Where are you from? I’ve been a Tampa resident for about 19 years. Before that I lived in Jersey and before that I was in Philly.
JDZ) How long have you been skating? 16 years.
JDZ) What is your favorite spot? Bro Bowl in downtown Tampa, Brandon Banks, Jay’s pool (only one day), and of course SPoT.
JDZ) What do you think of Christian Hosoi being arrested? Well, trafficking drugs is against the law and those are the rules of our society. So if you break the rules, then you must pay. From what I’ve read, he seems to be a changed man and hopefully he’ll follow through with his claims of philanthropy when he is freed.
JDZ) What is your favorite music? Hot Water Music, Avail, Metallica…all kinds of shit.
JDZ) Who do you think is the most influential skater? My most influential skaters are the guys that I’ve skated with over the years or still skate with today. Anyone that I’ve had a fun session with is influential to me. On the scale of influential to skateboarding, there are just so many, but to name a few: Hawk, Alva, Vallely, Salman…
JDZ) Who inspired you when you were younger? Mike V., my friend Jeb Stewart
JDZ) Do you have a nickname? Not that I know of.
JDZ) Favorite tricks? Pivots to fakie and backside disasters…the same tricks that all old, fat skaters do. I also like manuals and frontside smiths.
JDZ) Do you like skating in contests? I used to love it, now I could care less.
JDZ) What would you like people to know about you? I’m smarter than I look.
JDZ) What do you do besides skate? It should state, “What do you do besides work?” If that’s the case, then I skate a couple of times per week, work around the house, and try to spend time with my family and friends.
JDZ) Do you have any pets? Two cats.
JDZ) Can you play any instruments? No musical talent whatsoever.
JDZ) How would you tell a kid to get sponsored? Kids ask me how to get sponsored on a regular basis, but I always say the same thing: If you rip, someone is going to notice, and above all, have a great attitude.
JDZ) Do you have any tattoos? Too many and still want more.
JDZ) Are there any up and coming skaters you'd like to mention? We’ve managed in the past to have some rippers come out of Tampa, and the new generation seems to be Abdias Rivera, Matt Giles…I’m sure there are more that I can’t think of at the moment.
JDZ) What is the best trick you've ever seen? Brian Schaefer trying the loop. How he lived is the craziest trick ever pulled!
JDZ) Can you do a sal flip? Nope.
JDZ) What do you think the best trick is you've ever done? There’s nothing that particularly sticks out in my head. Every time I skate, if something felt good, then that’s the thought I concentrate on afterwards.
JDZ) What tricks have you been working on? Nothing in particular. Just making sure that I give it a valiant effort when I get the chance to skate.
JDZ) How do you feel about big corporations getting involved in skateboarding? I’ve dealt with this personally at SPoT, and I don’t see anything wrong with it or consider it selling out. As long as the person receiving the money, sponsorship, etc. is being fairly compensated and still giving back to skateboarding, then corporate dollars can be a positive thing. The catch is to have the corporations work under our guidelines…we make the rules; they follow our rules.
JDZ) Do you get mad when teammates quit? Business, never personal.
JDZ) How do you pick up on chicks? Hot moms at the Skatepark of Tampa. That’s how I met my wife.
JDZ) Do you have any advice on girls? Don’t waste your teenage years with a steady girlfriend. Spend your time hanging with your bros and skating, because in the end, you’re going to be married and not skating and hanging out like you used to.
JDZ) Have you ever been arrested? Thrown in the car, but never arrested. My record is clean for my future political career.
JDZ) Do you have any questions you'd like to ask yourself? I constantly question myself as to the purpose of doing things the way I do.
JDZ) How did you like the magazine? Compared to some of the large skate mags, it’s more readable.
JDZ) Have you ever heard of it? I get the email newsletters.
JDZ) Famous Last Words? Be prepared.