Lodge Guest, Gabe Clement

Gabe Clement

Gabe Clement

Name: Gabe Clement

Current: Job / school: Facilitator  / RatKingSkateboards / Grizzly Grip Tape / Street League Skateboarding Competition Manager / Tampa AM/Pro Guest Services / SensiChew / Marketing Manager / Event Manager / Athlete Management / One Bald Head, Many Hats

Where are you from? Simi Valley, Ca.

Where do you currently live?  Redondo Beach, Ca.

Family status: Amazing wife and 1 son

Age: 42

Sponsors: RatKing Skateboards

Years of skateboarding: 34

Board size: 8.5”

Wheel size: 54 – 56

Trucks:  Independent 159

I change set up every: couple months, once my board starts noodling out it is time for some crispy wood

Current Board trend: Stencil art work, custom 1 off graphics for RatKing Skateboards, Stencil art on Grizzly Grip Tape

 

Gabe rock and roll

Gabe rock and roll, foto: Seu Trinh

Please state your type of terrain on your board in %

Street: 10%

(Skatepark) Flow Street : 40%

Miniramp: 10%

Bowl: 40%

 

How are you doing at the moment? Sitting at JiffyLube getting the oil changed in my car, getting life things handled.

How is your body at the moment , (injuries, knees, and so so ) ?  Body is feeling pretty good at the moment (knock on wood!) been body surfing in the ocean a lot lately and I think that has been helping me. Def helps me mentally. My body is always sore, joints, etc. Always needing to stretch.

Please comment your feelings about Skateboarding in  the 

80s – Just started I was full of curiosity and stoke. Skateboarding and Punk Rock infect me

90s- Skating, Skating, Skating – friends, progression, working at my local skate shop, playing in a band, traveling and living in a skate house, mini ramp in the garage, and then I am called into an actual JOB as Sales Manager @ Matix Clothing in ’98, on to the 2000’s!

2000 – Skating, Traveling, Amazing opportunities and projects with both DVS Shoe Co. and Matix Clothing. New friends, new countries, new states and constantly learning. Good decisions, bad decisions, Love Skateboarding, Hate what skateboarding is doing in the retail world. If I don’t figure out how to stay in the mix and make the Fun/Business relationship in skateboarding work , some one else will and I am out. needless to say I came to terms with my feelings and approach. Skateboarding at this point continues to stoke me out and progress, I would not change a thing!

2010+ – It has been a pretty intense 5 years. The Skateboard/Action Sports Industry has gone thru a lot of changes to say the least.

I have been through two lay offs due to budgets cuts, but fortunately still had some opportunity to travel and be involved with some cool skateboard events/contests.

Onto bigger and better things. over the last 5 years I have been skateboarding more than ever with my son Zephyr, and the homies. Skateboarding events (Contests/Gatherings/Parties/Sessions) are better than ever. So many people and weirdos involved with amazing new ways of looking at the potentials in spots, parks, cities, events etc… it is a FUN time to be alive and watching the kids take skateboarding to a new place.

When I chill, I chill with, – My wife Jen, my son Zephyr, skate friends, new friends, old friends.

I’m have been on a mission lately in (with) – keeping the bills paid.

Dream session would be,  – Never Ending

Lately I have been working on, – RatKing Skateboards, getting a couple old tricks back under my feet, and keeping up with my son.

When I was little I would like to, – run my fingers through my hair.

When im home I like to, – enjoy the time with my family, listen to records

I normally call my homies for, – Music leads, questions about collections (Skateboards, Bikes, Antiques etc) , just to say “hello” , ask how the surf is, find out where the skate session is.

Your homies are, 

I enjoy going to,  other countries, cities, states. Skateparks. Live music shows in small venues. places far away from the city, deserted beaches and thick forests. Visiting family in Northern Cal and in Phoenix, AZ.

Favorite drink is, – Water/ Beer

Favorite food is, – Mexican, Indian, Mediterranean, Sushi ………. I like food.

Favorite drug, – Alcohol

Favorite music, Punk, Reggae, Heavy Metal, Speed Metal, Indie Rock, Blues, Jazz, Classic Rock

Favorite skateboarders, – Lance Mountain, Grant Taylor, John Cardiel, Wade Speyer, Alan Peterson, Karma Tsocheff, Jeff Grosso, Lucero, Neil Blender, Evan Smith, Torey Pudwill. too many to list…… ATV skaters are my favorite.

Favorite skate film, – Anti Hero FuckTards, Consolidated  Kings Of Promotion

Favorite skatepark, – Faellendparken, Copenhagen

Favorite spot, – Target curbs, Big-O Montreal

Favorite woman / men  (blond, fat, thin, big, small) – with a pulse and not needy. I like a little meat on the bones.

When I cook, I cook, – grilled cheese sandwich with tomato, red onion, bell peppers on sourdough bread

To go to resturant is, – Giulianos in Gardena

To go to trick is, – frontside grinds

To go to trick when you are farked is, – sit down and watch

To go to trick when you are winning is, – blunt to back side disaster

TOP 3 Cities, – Los Angeles, Copenhagen, Playa Negra Costa Rica

When I travel, I always bring, – cannabis

Best travel advice I can give is, – you don’t live there! treat people and the city with respect.

Best travel memory you want to share?  – I have met so many amazing people traveling, my favorite memory is when I arrive some where and see some one I didn’t expect to see or have not seen in a long time. that is a great feeling and memory. One top memory is riding bikes thru the city of Copenhagen with my Wife in 2013

When I do not skateboard I, – surf, listen to music, cultivate ideas, collect skateboards, tweak on bikes, hang with family.

My fitness program is, – try not to eat a bunch of shitty food, skate and swim in the ocean

When I get old I want to, – stay positive and happy. enjoy time with my son and wife. possibly live far away from a large city??

I would NEVER, – disrespect you.

Where do you stand & please comment with skateboarding in the olympics  ? – It is going to happen regardless of what I think. Embrace it or don’t. Skateboarding has grown large enough at this point that the “Core” of the sport will always live in the streets and parks all over the world. A few people will be in the Olympics, 4 days every 4 years, we will embrace it, talk shit about it, then move on with our lives, and back to what skating means to us personally.

At least good skaters/people are involved with the Olympic Committee. You don’t like it, don’t watch it.

Get off the message boards, off your ass and go do something good for skateboarding. Skateboarding does not Owe us anything. You get out what you put in.

I would like to see more of, – Love in this world.

That one time where I was in jail because of, – Never have been, never will. That is a business in America that I don’t support.

I should do more of, – work on RatKing Skateboards

My future looks like,  – fuck if I knew I would be making money in a different way.

I dream of,  – skating still , all of the time.

The book I currently read is, – Mike Matheny – The Matheny Manifesto

The best travel I have been on, – Between skate tours and traveling with my family, Life is the best Travel I have been on.

The world travel(s) I have been on was, – DVS Tours – 2000-2013 / Matix Tours with Tony Evjenth, CPH contest trips, QDT trips to Costa Rica

On Netflix I watch,  –  VICELAND TV

If I could change the world I would, – get rid of racism , sexism and pull ALL and Any outside funding to our political system, also hold all elected officials responsible for their actions and legalize Marijuana

Everybody should own a, – record player. 

I will never get rid of, my punk rock roots.

Any regrets in life so far ? – yes, not learning Spanish in school.

I currently follow (social media, instagram twitter, Facebook) – Instagram and Facebook. Sucking the life out of me, what a shitty addiction.

Life advise so far ? – Treat People how you would like to be treated.

Anything else, 

Thanks, – this list would be way too long, so many amazing people in my life.

Skateboarding, Music, Jennifer Clement, Zephyr Clement, Mom, Dad Water and Oxygen

 

Gabe, USA, Smithgrind

Gabe, USA, Smithgrind Foto: unknown, credit coming

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2 Responses

  1. JeanCherie says:

    That’s my boy…..I’m so proud!

  2. Lenin says:

    Nicest, most genuine guy ever!

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