HEART

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I come from the generation of skateboarding when it was still relatively underground and not widely accepted by media and parents. It was still sort of a vehicle for these unruly street kids to make something of themselves. A time when you would have to fight your parents to just go and sit at the local shop to watch some videos. My friend had posted a story about how Lance Mountain was dumbfounded when he witnessed a dad trying to bribe his kid to skate. The sport used to be an act of rebellion and now it's become the "cool" thing to do. I feel like I don't see that many younger kids these days that are just genuinely stoked and humbled by the success and opportunities that skateboarding might afford them; which is precisely why when you do run across a great one, they shine even brighter. Theotis always has a huge smile on his face and will go out of his way to shake your hand. You can feel the excitement and gratitude radiating from him. It may sound totally unremarkable to you, but it's something entirely refreshing for me in this industry.

Dustin Dollin says it best... "All these fancy superstar skaters out there beware. I've never heard about anyone with so many opportunities being so humble and positive. His life, I imagine, is somewhat different from the average yuppie rich kid whose mum and dad buy them everything and then they turn pro and expect more from their sponsors than mummy and daddy could ever offer. I doubt that happened for him. He used to have to stay at the Baker house when shit was too ghetto where he grew up. Imagine sending your kid to our crazy-arse party Baker pad because it was safer. Sketchy."

Scanned from the Transworld February 2011 issue introducing the skaters for their next video.