New DGK Video + Collin Slew Interviewed by the DGK Team

We got the DGK team, who knows Collin best, to hit him with some follow up questions. Get familiar with Slewdacris and watch Dubs In The Chat:

Liam Annis: Name? Where you at? Where you been? Where are you going?
Collin Slew, at the crib, been chillin, about to go skate.

Growing up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, how did the local environment and community shape your early experiences with skateboarding?
When I first started skating the older homies would be like, “You gotta manual from this crack to that crack before you can skate with us,” so I got good at manuals, haha.

Boo Johnson: What does it mean to you to put a project together like this DGK video part? Is it sentimental or more just fun for you?

To be honest, that shit is humbling. It’s definitely fun, but it’s a huge responsibility to be trusted to rep a legacy like DGK.

Does becoming a professional skateboarder nowadays, compared to the early 2000s, seem any different?

I feel the biggest difference is everything moves so fast today that video parts don’t have a chance to leave as big of an impact as they did in the past. Back then you had to go buy a DVD or VHS from your local skateshop, or from a mag and you watched that shit so much you could close your eyes and know what trick happened when and where and you could quote the entire video word for word and trick for trick. Now skating feels a little more superficial, because of the over saturation. But let’s be clear, you gotta have some level of passion or insanity to get good at skating, ’cause the shit can be painful, and these days there isn’t as much money going around. So salute to everyone chasing their passion.

What does it mean to be a part of such an iconic team like DGK, and being on a team with Stevie Williams?

This year is 23 years of DGK, I don’t take that lightly, it’s an honor to ride for such an iconic brand. And Stevie being around reminds me of a big brother. He pushes you to be great, not just for the brand, but for your own personal legacy, While giving you a platform and opportunity to share your shit on the world stage.

Dane Vaughn: Who’s the better skaters, regular or goofy footers?

Ah man, most of my favorite skaters are goofy which made me learn how to skate switch, but the world is more structured for goofy skaters so they have it easier, so regular is better, haha.

What got you into skateboarding?
My brother said I stole his board from him when I was two, but I don’t remember that. The thing that kept me skating when I got older was I found the family I never had.

Who gave you your most influence in skateboarding?
Eric Fletcher.

Liam Annis: When did you start skating, when/where did you get your first board? How did that shape you?
I started in elementary school, but was on some standard lil kid shit where you skate one day, then play football, ride bikes and ding dong ditch the next. It wasn’t ’til the summer going into seventh grade that I realized all I wanted to do was skate. My best friend and neighbor from down the block was a kid named Mark, he had a World Industries complete when we first started in like fourth or fifth grade so we took turns skating it and one day he just gave it to me and told me not to take it to his house ’cause he was gunna tell his mom it got stolen so he could get a new one. haha. That shit was lit, his parents would buy him completes all the time, and whenever I could finesse some bread, I would buy one off him for like fifteen dollars. I grew up broke af so if it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t have been able to keep skating.

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Where did you get your first real board?
First board I bought was from this shop called Xtreme Sports that was in the basement of the mall.

Working with Brad Rosado and Beagle on projects like Amen and Shrimp Blunt must have been two unique experiences. How did each’s filming style influence your performance and creativity on the board? Or was there even a difference?
Haha working with them is a trip even to this day. When I first started filming with both of them, I had no sponsors to put the footy out through, which felt kinda pointless. So I prayed for opportunities to put our footy to use.
One day about three years later, I’m out skating with Theotis Beasley and everyone, when Shane (Heyl) walked up and offered me a spot on Shake Junt and mentioned they’re working on a new SJ video and he wanted me to be a part of it. Literally like a minute later, Beagle walks up saying he got accepted to his new apartment. We were all trippin’ ’cause Beagle’s new apartment happened to be across the street from my apartment at the time, and he got accepted on the same day Shane put me on SJ.

I’d always wanted to skate for DGK, and a year later, almost to the day of getting on SJ, finally came the chance to make that a reality. One of the highlights of filming for Amen was when DGK flew Brad, Liam, Will Mazzari, Brian Reid, Nick Diaz and myself to Barcy for two weeks. That shit was insane. One of my biggest dreams has always been to skate Barcelona, especially to go with a team working towards a project.

Brad has a more reserved personality, super chill but always down to joke around, bounce ideas and give advice. Beagle is hilarious, it used to be hard to film with him ’cause I’d catch him doing some funny shit out my peripheral and start laughing mid trick. Both of them just make skating fun. They have the same type of low-stress and down-for-the-mission vibe, while still somehow bringing the best outta you. We all sometimes throw out some outlandish trick selections that we laugh off, but it helps get the ideas flowing.

You’ve mentioned the importance of health, including stretching and eating organic foods. How has this focus on wellness impacted your skating and overall lifestyle?
That shit is unfortunately important, I hate stretching and love junk food, but stretching and the foam roller before skating will have the legs on point. What you eat is important too, but I still enjoy some sweets in morning with my coffee and probably have cake and ice cream most nights, haha. But between the sweets, I try to eat as healthy as possible by shopping at the farmers’ markets and cooking at home. I’m trying to skate until I physically can’t anymore, so my focus is on longevity, which overall wellness plays a big role in.

In your journey, how have your personal experiences and background influenced your identity and expression as a skateboarder? Have there been any moments where skateboarding has really helped you get through a rough time?
Growing up, my family was fucked—mom was on drugs, then went to prison, dad was broke and distracted with his girlfriend. My oldest brother was in the army and I rarely saw him, second oldest was gang bangin’ and in prison, and I never knew my sister until high school, so skating was the only thing to keep me sane.
In eighth grade I started hanging more with the homies that were gang-banging ’cause skaters and gang bangers were the only people I could relate to. Then one day the homie pulled me aside and told me I’m always good whenever I’m around, but to stick to the skating shit and not to get pulled under by the bullshit in the streets. A month later he caught a five year sentence. Low-key skateboarding got me through every rough patch in life since I started, either ’cause it gave me something to mentally block everything out, or because it gave me a physical out.

Looking ahead, are there any specific projects or goals you’re excited about pursuing in your skateboarding career or outside of skateboarding?
For skating, I just wanna see how far we can take it. Where I’m from, the position I’m currently in is already impossible to get to, so just seeing what’s the next impossible thing to accomplish is exciting. It would be sick to turn pro, to show the kids back home this shit is really possible. I also want the board and shoes with my name on them as a personal milestone, like damn, we really did it. Outside of skating, I wanna restore old Chevys. Build some lowriders and muscle cars.

If you could skate any spot in the world that you haven’t yet, where would it be and why?
Sheesh… that’s tough.. I’m a plaza kinda guy and every country has their own unique plazas that look fun to skate. I’m kinda simple, give me granite or marble to skate on in a country with some fire food and I’m happy.