31. Rockin’ up LTS
He was the interviewee, I was the interviewer, can I make it any more obvious? Since 2002 the world has been consumed by the question: who is Sk8er Boi? Of course, this refers to the subject of Avril Lavigne’s hit 2002 single, Sk8er Boi. ‘Twas a tale of the loss and triumph intertwined in the forbidden love of a rocker boy who wasn’t good enough for the ballerina.
For confidentiality purposes, the subject of this interview has remained under their renowned alias, Sk8er Boi. I recently sat down with Sk8er Boi to discuss the fame 22 years on, and the inclusion of skateboarding as a sport in the Paris Olympics.
A couple of blocks from the LA classic Beachwood Cafe we sit in, you’ll find a bustling skatepark. “I know these streets like the back of my board” Sk8er Boi chuckles as we sip what Americans consider coffee. Sk8er Boi didn’t have to do much before his “usual” was delivered to our table by the smiling waitstaff; an indication he spends many days off here where he can. “It’s ironic, isn’t it? The Sk8er Boi became a health and safety officer. But I can honestly tell you that I enjoy it, being able to work with the MTV team from back in the day also keeps me amongst the action - just from the sidelines this time.”
Being involved with MTV allows his music-loving heart to have his finger on the pulse of the newest band the kids love. “You wouldn’t consider me the young rockstar anymore, but I don’t mind. I’m in the beautiful part of life where I’ve got my family, amazing wife and 5 kids, I get to go to work and still be involved in skateboarding, just without the helmet and kneepads” he chuckles as his hand grazes over his scar-stricken knees.
I ask what the worst injury while skating was as Sk8er Bo bashfully admits it was his broken heart, at the expense of a pop song, Sk8er Boi’s life was turned upside down. What he thought was an innocent act of asking a certain young woman out for a burger after his Thursday afternoon skate session, became a rejection that would lead him to love regardless, just not with the the ballerina. “I wasn’t too surprised she turned me down, I mean she was so classy, and I had old, bloody bandaids all over me. I had to take a chance though.”
Several months later, it was the musical retelling of this tale that he felt he couldn’t escape. Sk8er Boi shakes his head reminiscing on the rollercoaster that was, “I was in a supportive relationship by the time it was playing on the radio” he shifts in his chair, “I hope she’s well all these years on.”
With the Olympics underway in Paris, who better for NBC to choose as their skateboarding correspondent than the wicked-talented Sk8er Boi? “I am so humbled to have this opportunity. Skateboarding means so much to me and so many others so to have it recognised at the Olympics finally is something very special. They’re going to rock it down there.” Having worked closely with one of the Men’s Park stakeboarders, Gavin Bottger, throughout the years, Sk8er Boi sees a lot of himself in Gavin. “Gav’s the best, he has a lot to offer at such a young age. I tell him to focus on the sport, but also not to be afraid of taking a chance with the cute person on the sidelines” he smirks, “You just never know where it’s going to take you”. You can catch Sk8er Boi at the 2024 Olympics with his talent for keeping the USA athletes safe.
”I do have her to thank for a portion of my success”, Sk8er Boi’s face lights up, thinking of Avril. “Let alone meeting my beautiful music producer wife, Lauren. Everything works out how it’s supposed to”. The Los Angeles sun warms my face on the way to the cab and I can’t help but ask my driver to pass me the aux cord, and the song rocks my world more than ever before.
