Depending on how old you are—or, really, when you got into skating—you know first hand that Arto Saari was one of those skaters growing up. His video parts stuck with you. His skating (and slams) gave us the chills. And his style was one we all tried to replicate. The dude was simply raw, real and ripping.
From Flip’s iconic videos Sorry and Really Sorry, or better yet, his timeless part in Menikmati, Arto’s style and power were unmatched—and in fairness, they still hold up. Arto recently sat down on Living Proof Radio to talk about the golden years of his skateboarding career, life after the fact, photography and so much more. It’s a must-watch for any Arto fans out there, that’s for sure. Get there:
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Beyond skating, Arto opens up about his current routine—saunas, cold plunges, photography, and how shooting photos helped him find balance after life on the board (even though he was still ripping pools for a while, which was the plot twist we didn’t know we needed, but glad we got).
And on the heels of that, if you’ve followed his journey, you already know he’s built a legit career in photography, shooting everything from pro skaters and hometown heroes to the music and fashion worlds, and has even released photo books like Bike Path, which captures everyday life on the North Shore of Oahu. He has an eye for it, that’s for sure.
Related: First Look: Arto Saari’s éS Pro Model Returns—Reimagined with the Classic Accel OG
But again, what’s really always stood out about Arto to me—aside from his gnarly skating—is how real he is. He doesn’t sugarcoat things. He talks openly about the ups and downs, injuries and lifestyle changes, finding a new rhythm after being such an admired and respected pro. He’s still connected to skateboarding—don’t get it twisted—but in his own, grounded way.
Living Proof continues to crank out solid episodes, and this one’s up there with the best of them. I’m barely scratching the surface here, too. Great conversation! Again, if you’ve an Arto fan, this is a must-watch.
