Lodge Guest, Tobias Wilner

What is your name ?

Tobias Wilner

Where do you live and where are you from ?

I just moved back to Copenhagen after 8 years in NYC. I grew up in Copenhagen, Østerbro and Nørrebro. My mom wasn’t living far from Mischa Gundmann so we grew up skating together in the 80th.

What size set up do you currently ride ?

8.5 deck. indy 149’s and 56mm wheels.

Any sponsors ?

Ableton music, but no skateboard sponsors, just hustling. So far I have been hooked up through the music work I have done for Numbers, Almost and Converse. Some free boards and shoes.

Family status ?

Husband and dad with 2 girls. My oldest daughter Hannah, skates and was a part of the NYC girl crew Skate Kitchen. I have brought her on skate missions since she was little in NYC and L.A. I remember her running around with Colin Kennedy’s kid at the Korean Radio spot in downtown L.A. when she was 8-9 years old. She wasn’t really interested in skateboarding until she turned 12 and started to skate at the Chelsea Piers skatepark. She’s more into poolskating than me. We always argue where to go.

School, work or both ?

Music producer, composer, singer, video director and photographer. Been living from music since I was 20. I try to balance my life between touring, composing for films and TV shows and working as a visual artist. After doing music for a living for several years, I needed something else in my life and I took up photography again and that turned into directing music videos. It’s important for me to constantly learning.

Ollie at Brower Park in Brooklyn taken by my wife Sara Savery a random weekend. The Berrics was doing a feature about me and Blue Foundation and they asked for a skateshot for the article that day. I didn’t have any time to get a skate photographer out so she took it for me. The angle is actually pretty good.

How is a great normal day looking for you ?

A normal day starts with a green juice every morning. Wake up the kids and make them ready for school. Answering emails for 2 hours. Do some work for 4-5 hours. Go skate for 2 hours. Since I moved back it has been a little less skateboarding because of the weather in Denmark. Cook food. Get the youngest to bed. Work again until 11-12 pm. Before I go to bed I stretch and use my foam roller.

Tell us how a good long weekend is looking for you

I don’t really drink or go out when I’m home. With my job you need to keep alcohol and drugs down to a healthy level or else it can easily goes sideways. A good weekend is hanging out with my girls and skate a bunch. I normally work too.

How is your fall coming along and how has it been so far ?

It’s cool. I just moved back from NYC to CPH. Has spend most of my time in France and China though but have been hooking up with Søren Enevoldsen and Anton Jul and rest of the crew from the Red Square. I have had a bunch of sessions with William in CPH skatehall in the morning before work.

Any projects you got going you wanna talk about ?

Skateboard related. We have a new music video in February for a Blue Foundation song by skateboard video director Colin Kennedy. We have done a lot of work together for Numbers, Almost and the Berrics. This is his second music video for us. I’m very excited about it. It looks great as always.

Do you read books ? if so, what do you read ?

I read books. Just finished “Die Blendung” by Elias Canetti for the second time. Love that book. Will start to re-read Per Hultberg’s novels.

Who are you hanging out with at the moment ?

When I’m in CPH I hang out with Søren Enevoldsen, Anton Jul, Mischa and William. NYC mostly Jeremy Cohan and his crew, some of the Jenkem guys or the kids from Brower park. When I’m in L.A. Colin Kennedy, Danny Garcia and their friends.

Tell us about the great crew you are bringing to the session next time…

In the future hopefull a lot of girls and queer skaters. There is to much straight cocks in the skateworld. Fucking boring.

How great is your crew really end of the day ?

I think we all know we sucks, but we’re trying anyway and sometimes we try hard.

Do you plan any fall or winter skatemissions ?

Yeah. I’m planning to head to California and France. Talked a little about going to Spain too.

Who and what is your motivation at the moment ?

Everyone that puts themselves out there and take chances.

How do you think your future will look like ?

No idea. I hope for an alien invasion.

What else is going on ?

Just played a concert in Aarhus as part of their finale as The Culture City of Europe. It was pretty weird but awesome.

What do you do besides skateboarding ?

Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll & Dad. Just kidding…….

What is your to go to restaurants ?

In NYC I eat a lot at The Island on Washington Ave. and at Puerto Viejo on Grand Ave. In CPH I mostly cook myself but sometimes I go to my friends restaurant Selfish. Pretty much the only plays to eat sushi in CPH.

Whats your top 3 favorite meals ?

To many but I can’t say no to a homemade great Jerk Chicken, Tacos and of course an avocado.

Whats your top 3 favorite drinks ?

I’m a bourbon guy. So a double on the rocks with a half lemon squeezed in.

How do you see the future of skateboarding ?

When I see young skaters as Hugo Boserup and some of the other young rippers I think the skateboard future is in good hands. Skateboard popularity goes in circles and it will probably get even bigger over the next 10 years, I think that’s the masterplan by the big companies, but that scene has nothing to do with me. I just skate for myself and to have fun. I don’t really care about the industry other than I make some money once in a while selling my music to skate videos or commercials. Anyway I hope a lot of people will start skating and join the fun. I don’t really care about SLS, X Games but I don’t judge it either. I hate judgmental people.

I can’t really bitch about the big companies taken over. Of course I’m glad that my friends are making some money out of skateboarding, that’s awesome, and I’m glad that the shoes is finally worth skating. Big companies are always without soul and for the most sucks, but end of the day who gives a shit about shoe brands, as long they feel and look good and is not made by small kids in a factory….. I hope guys like Mischa can find a way to survive with the growing online sales. I think skateshops like Circus Circus is important for the community. But the nature of capitalism can be ruthless. For me skateboard will always be a rad and fun thing, and I will probably alway skate as long my body will let me, but end of the day there is so much more to life too.

Do you you have other hobbys besides skateboarding ?

I’m not much of a hobby guy. Sometimes I goes to a shooting range and shoot but I don’t consider it a hobby, just fucking around.

Who do we need to interview on the lodge ?

My homies Danny Garcia, Colin Kennedy or Jake Johnson.

Christmas is here soon, Do you have any christmas wishes ?

To be honest I just try to get through it. Last year I had a great Christmass though. I started smoking grass for the first time in 10 years. I was pretty much stoned for a week cooking food and having a great time with my kids. I normally get stressed out and feel a bit claustrophobic. The down side is that self medications isn’t a great thing. I really don’t like being high around my kids. But for once in a while it’s ok.

Come on, tell us a slippery story.

Can’t do that. We have codes.

THANK YOU ? Family and friends