Lodge Guest, Greg Nowik

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Where do you currently live and where are you from ?

Born and Bred Southampton, England. Where the Titanic sailed from…..

Tell us a little bit about your past ?

Just an average kid who found a skateboard and got hooked. Asides from a year or so in the 90’s where I came of age and Drink and Drugs were more important than skateboarding, it has always been in my life. I have done do grown up stuff, relationships, mortgage, job etc, but the 4 wheeled plank has literally taken me around the world, enabled me to meet so many awesome people and enriched my life with so many experiences – and it continues to do so today. Who’d of thought that all of this would come from playing on a toy!

Why skateboarding ? How did it start for you ?

Well I used to ride BMX and my friend had a skateboard as well as his bike. I kept on badgering him to bring the skateboard out when we were riding. One time we were riding at a school and this mystical figure (who I later found out to be 80\’s UK Street Legend Don Brider) rolled through and did a wall ride – I was like ‘Woah! – I wanna do that!’. The board came out more and more, and then soon after I smashed my face in on my bike. After that it was Skateboarding only as it was ‘safer’! 2 Weeks later I broke my leg on the skateboard, but couldn’t wait to get back on it as I already had the bug.

What size set up, wheels & trucks do you currently ride ?

I’m Tommy 2 set ups! For Vert 8.5\for street 8.25

Do you have any setup rituals, we need to know about ?

More OCD than ritual – I love a board with a Yellow top ply. Dunno why, but does something for me pychologically! Also always white wheels, and it has to be plain black griptape…

Any sponsors ?

Wight Trash Skateboards

What kind of skateboarding do you prefer ?

Tranny

Do you have a great skate spot in your home town you can recommend ?

Only if you like shit spots!!

Who is your favorite skateboarders, under and over 30 ?

Too Many! Under 30’s – George O’Neill, Jimmy WIlkins, Jed Cullen, Sam Beckett |

Over 30’s – Danny Way, Sean Goff, Daewon, Hawk, Nicky Guererro, Jocke Olsson, Bucky, Rune

School, work, not working or other occupation ?

I work for AIrbus as an IT Demand Manager – Been there on and off since 1999…… Its a good company to work for, it is flexible and funds my skateboarding travel habits!

 

Backside Air on the crust revealed by removal of the 'new' bowl at Southsea Skatepark | Photo - Paul Scott @oldskoolpaul

Backside Air on the crust revealed by removal of the ‘new’ bowl at Southsea Skatepark | Photo – Paul Scott @oldskoolpaul

 

How is a normal day looking for you ? 

Tuesdays: Wake up at 0700hrs, Stretch out with a bit of yoga, get ready and go to work. Sit in the car and meditate for 15 mins, then go to work for the day. Work entails, Meetings, Calls, emails and coffee. FInish work, go home get changed. Eat some dinner and wait for my friend to come round. Drive for an hour and a quater to skate Vert at Caterham (Tuesday nights is session night). Drive back home stocked and knackered!

Tell us how a good long great weekend should look for you

Have the friday off work. Be hyped to be hooking up with friends to go away for a contest event. Meet and see loads of people, have a laugh, watch some insane skating, and have a good skate myself. Come home buzzing and waiting for the next one. – Equally, have a long weekend away with my wife Charlie. We both lead equally busy lives so it is amazing when we get enough time to hang out properly.

Any big plans for 2019 ?

Skate as much as I can. Looking at trips to Barcelona and Portugal. Will see what else comes up. Also, fingers crossed have a baby (not me, my wife!)

Who are you hanging out with at the moment ?

Marc Churchill and whoever is out skating!

 

 

 

 

Who and what is your motivation at the moment ?

Sean Goff. He inspires me in the fact that he is still smashing it at the ripe old age of 54, but coming back and pushing through inury. Still hungry, still keen, That motivates me as I look at Sean and think, I’ve still got (hopefully) at least 9 year from when he stops….

Last country you visited ? and what happened there ?

Technically Denmark, but went to Sweden for Vert Attack. More the case what didn\’t happen there!! Was off the charts…..

What was the last gnarly thing you witnessed ?

Most of the skating at VA! Also Jens Andersson being Jens Andersson!

What was the last item you bought ?

Ice Cream – 3 Boxes as they were on offer….. Trouble is it means that I eat loads more.

What do you do besides skateboarding, do you have other hobbies, other interests ?

Mostly stuff to elongate how long I can skate for an improve my mental wellbeing! On the advice of Dave Allen, I took up Running to improve my aerobic fitness for skateboarding and it has helped massively, and it turns out I really enjoy it too! I also practice yoga on a daily basis, and Vipassana Meditation.

What is your to go to restaurant, you wanna share ?

If I’m being lazy, The Anatolian. It’s a turkish retaurant about 400m from my house.

When you cook food, what do you cook ?

If is just for me, I’m pretty partial to an omlette. If I have guests, maybe a Souffle Suissese to start, follwed by a Pork or Beef Wellington with Potato Dauphinoise

Whats your top 3 favorite drinks ?

Coffee, Water, Diet Coke

How do you see the future of skateboarding ?

Even more mindblowing that it already is. Bigger badder. More people skating everything and being amazing in all areas – bit like D Way and Colin McK were BITD.

Who do we need to interview on the lodge ?

TV’s Marc Churchill | John Cattle

Do you ever think about a future with no skateboarding ?

Skateboarding isn’t going anywhere for someting yet. It’s just about to hit another growth time with the Olympics and all. A future with me not being able to do it? I will have to deal with that when it comes.

Last words, thank yous, other, did we miss anything ?

Thank you Skateboarding. Without you, I would have had a pretty much less colourful life! Thanks to everyone I have met on the way. May all beings Be Happy.

 

Madonna at Skaterham Skatepark | Photo - Nathan Livingston

Madonna at Skaterham Skatepark | Photo – Nathan Livingston

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