What are you vitals?
I was born in Pittsburgh in 1984 so I am 23 and I been living in the city for the past four years.

What made you move to Pittsburgh?
Well right after high school I wanted to move here, but for other reasons, I stayed in my home town area until I was 19. I would come to the city all the time on the weekends, my brother was living and skating here two years before me. It was a move that needed to be made. In senior high I had plans to go to Temple and move to Philly, but I changed my mind.

Did you know of or even look up to Matt Reason and Kevin Taylor?
I knew of these guys when I was skating for less than a year, so my knowledge for a thirteen year old was pretty good. I caught on quick to all the east coast heads. Yes, I looked up to Reason a bunch. He is in my top five but I think really the top three for me.

You have some superman pop, did you work at it or was it genetic?
Well learned ollies the first day of skating practically. I would set things up and ollie over them, then I began ollieing up stuff. I kept progressing, for some reason I just loved to ollie and get better at em. When I moved to my mums I started skating with my friend Kris and he could ollie real high. So I think that pushed me. We would always ollie up picknic tables and push all over town. I rode big boards so my legs were just strong. Honestly I feel I need to fine tune my ollie and pop even more. It is good to know there is room for improvement.

What is some of the more fun things you do on your skateboard?
I love front 180's, ollies, kickflips, no complies, a good 360 flip, switch
shifties, frontside half cabs. Skating fucked up shit that isn't easy, something
that might make you bitch but when you power through it and make it work
it is an accomplishment. Those tricks and that type of skating I enjoy.



Kickflip.

How did you get in involved with Pennswood Manufacturing?
Damn, this goes way back. I remember seeing Joe Mcdonald at events or parks when I just started skating.
His wood shop was 20 minutes from Titusville (where I went to school). All my friends would usually buy
boards from him. I began riding them when my friend gave me one. I then started seeing Joe at contest in
Ohio and PIttsburgh. I went to skate his ramp at his shop a few times before this. So we were familiar with
each other. Then I would send him tapes to send to companies, I don't know if he ever did though. Maybe
he sent one to Roots, not sure. He began sending me and my brother Nick boards. When I moved back to
my mums at age of 16 I began working at his woodshop. He also taught me how to print in a production
manner. Do to fire number one his shop, it moved to my town, I worked there and printed my clothing all through high school. Five months after I graduated, that shop burned down. Now it is 20 minutes from Titusville and 90 minutes from me now. I still see them once a month or so. Crazy chain of events. Also I had a house fire before his burned down and now just a month ago my mums same house burned to the ground, trust me these were all shitty accidents, nobodies fault.

How did you get started with Direction East Clothing?
Well when I was fourteen, I wanted to do a company because I felt I wanted to rep the east coast. I made some homemade stickers and one iron on tee and the company was East Coast Society. I quickly knew that wasn't it, so I then thought of Direction East. I printed some home made stuff and made fliers. I was computer illiterate, I had to learn how to use computers and the right programs so I could create what I knew I needed to do. Like I said I began printing at Pennswood. I been doing this on my own since then. Someday it will reach the goals I have set for it.

How did you wind up riding for Traffic?
This is where everything falls into place in a weird way. Growing up I looked up to you and my friend Kris more than any other skaters. Kris moved on and I don't get to see him that much. Then one random day, I was working at Pennswood and he showed up and asked me if I wanted to go to Buffalo to skate with you and a couple locals. I was like damn, a weekend to just skate with a few dudes and especially my favorite skater in a city I never been to. I was in. There is a story behind how Kris knew Jp and you did too, Kris called you out of the blue to ask you something and then you said you were going to Buffalo to skate with JP, what a coincidence that you two know the same JP. From there you, me, Frankie, JP and Kris started talking about Resolve mag and it lead to Pennswood talks. You picked my brain a bit about making boards. This was when I was 19 right before I moved to the city. I started riding Traffic boards from Pennswood and I remember going to One UP skateshopand my fried Jerry said you wanted to start hooking us up with boards. That is when I first caught wind that you wanted to hook me up. We just began talking more and I eventually had the opportunity to go on the Spotseeker tour. After that things kept spiraling. I never thought I would be in the position I am now.

You are the one responsible for linking up Traffic with Pennswood, was that by coincidence?
Like the question before, there is some belief I have that some things just are meant to be or fall into place. I have seen them happen little by little. I believe there is energy that some of us have and when it is put together you can accomplish amazing things. I think living, skating and making a living off skating on the east coast, you definitely need all the pieces of the puzzle. I think we are re-building a proper puzzle. Coincidence? No.

Switch Ollie into bank.

Now you and couple friends started your own printing company called Pure, what is the purpose behind it and how do you manage your time between all the things you do?
Well, for the past few years I always said I would like to get a building and have many things be run out of it. Just so happens screenprinting which is one of my strong points, canpay the rent. This space is meant to be a positive atmosphere where you can skate a ramp in the winter and year round, have art shows, work on video projects, photos the whole nine. Just a place where we can meet and keep on the same page in Pittsburgh. This will be the place to host out of towners as well. The location can not get any better there is no way. Pure is my idea. It is a print shop that uses eco friendly printing and cleaning. We print for anyone, especially Direction East and now Traffic. I want to promote Organic tactics to people that are not too familiar with it. Pure is the only eco print shop in the city. The second part of the question is, I needed to stop traveling 90 minutes and staying at Pennswood just to make money. So I thought if we can do something here, which can have all these positives that will help the city and our skating plus maybe help us make money personally than that is what I needed to do. Starting Pure is simply to make things better for myself so I can skate and manage a better clothing company. Just as importantly help the city of Pittsburgh and the skate scene. My close friends as well. I want to give people an opportunity to be the best they can and inspire people. It is hard right now, but it will work out.

You get shoes from Vox, what is the status there?
I remember seeing the first ad from Vox and I was excited to see what they had to offer. I actually liked there slogan so to speak "this is your voice". I felt like I related to that. Basically you got hooked up with them and watched out for me. I got a sample pair in September of 05. So I been skating them for over two years I think. My status is getting better, but it is slow process. I really need to just meet the rest of the team and travel with them I suppose. I think I have somethingdifferent to offer Vox and I would like to see a bigger presence of the brand on the east coast. I haven't been all over the world so I don't know the presence Vox has in other places. I believe I can help Vox because I know the east rather well, but I think in other areas I can be an asset as well.

On our Traffic/Vox summer tour you tweaked your ankle pretty bad, how has it come along since?
Mmmh, Got launched off a tall rainbow rail with a kink. Folded my leg. Compound fractured my tibula(small leg bone) and dislocated my ankle. It has been five months and one day since surgery. This happened in Chattagnooga TN. I have been skating when the weather permits. I can finally say I feel almost 100%. But it is hard to judge because I am making a comeback in the winter. The cold kills your joints and your legs get weak. But I have been street skating and tried to film some stuff yesterday. I got a line and I think it would have been the only one that would have worked but the filmer must not of had it on record because it didn't show up. Not worried though I'll get some shit. Our ramp aint quite done yet, so I have to wait about a week before I will be skating everyday. Can't wait to get endurance and strength all back.

In the Burgh, who do you skate with mostly?
Well I usually skate with Nick my brother and Chris who shoots photos, more than anyone. I skate with Jeremy, Greg and any of the One Up heads. Honestly though, I like finding new spots and skating them solo most the time. I talk about spots with this other photographer Lenk, quite a bit. When we get the ramp done, that will log many good times of skating with all my friends.


Lien to tail.

What are your plans for 2008?
I really just want to skate more than I ever have. I want to travel so bad. I want to seriously just get footy and test myself. I have yet to show people what I really can do and that is a serious burden I have and now it creates pressure. I want to film and skate period. When I need a breath of fresh air, I will work on Direction East. I skimped out on a buch in 07 and I don't want that to ever happen again. So I have some new product that should be hitting some real shops this spring.

Where are some of the places you would like to travel to this coming year?
I would like to hit Toronto back up this spring. I really want to go to Europe more than anything. I would love to go to Spain and Japan the most. Anywhere where productivity and creativity would be in abundance. Also the ground, I never skate good ground so the pop will be easier, that don't sound right though, having something easy.

Give everyone your list of sponsors?
Well, I don't like to call them sponsors, that term is lame. I represent; Traffic Skateboards, Direction East ltd. Clothing, One Up skateshop, Vox and I get free mob grip. that is it. Thanks to anyone and everyone that has helped me out. A little help will go a long way with me. I am very particular with things and have high expectations but I do appreciate any help. I know what it is like trying to help someone.


Street gap ollie.

Check out Henry's Out of the Blue part in Black & Blue Volume Two and the Traffic video.

Related Links:
Traffic Skateboards
Direction East
Focus Skateboard Mag