Daewon song.

One thing that amazes me is just how much you skate. You skate more than any other pro your age that I know. What's your usual skate schedule?

Get up in the morning, think about what kind of donuts I'm gonna get. Usually I stay away from bear claws and cinnamon rolls. Those are too heavy. I focus more on the French crueller and a coffee, and then I'm off. Skate all day, pretty much. Stop for lunch; eat that. Skate a little more, and then take a break for dinner. Usually after that we go and skate this closed used-car dealership until about 10 pm or 11 pm. On Thursdays we start a little earlier because that's the day my friend Jon has off, so we try and take advantage.

When we get together to shoot a photo, you usually have skated for a few hours before that, and then you'll skate later that night too?

Yeah. I skate every day, but sometimes I'll take a break and go get some tasty ribs. You like ribs, right?

After all these years have you ever had problems staying motivated?

Yeah, sometimes you'll find yourself in some dusty ditch with trash and cuts and you haven't landed anything in three hours, and you think, "Wow. I'm really unmotivated." But at the same time it took some motivation and vision to get you there so you might as well go for it. It's not really a problem for me. It seems like I just get up in the morning and I'm thinking about skating. Maybe I sound like a little kid, hut that's usually all I can think about: getting on my board and finding a curb cut to do a huge method off of

What keeps you from getting bored?

For some people they see skating like a new girlfriend. They're real into it at first, but then they get it figured out and get real bored. I have nothing against people who have moved on to different things from skating, but for me I found a girl and I got married. That's what I'm doing now. I love it. I've noticed in some of the other mags there's been a real nostalgia for the early '90s, especially some of the stuff that you and your friends were doing. Is it strange to see someone write 1,500 words about Duc and

Jon or the manual pad at the World park?

It is kind of strange, but one good thing is that it's cool to show some of the guys from the early '90s who paved the way for what we do today. Things have gotten a lot bigger and crazier these days, but the early- to mid-'90s was when most of the stuff got invented. I think that they were the most innovative years. I saw so much change during that time.

Do you think the kids care, or do you think they look at it like we looked at the skaters from the '70s?

They probably don't care, but I think there's a handful of kids who look at it and think it's pretty cool that Mark Gonzales noseslid the Wilshire rail before they were even born. When was that? 1990?

Some see the early World Industries era as the end of skateboarding's innocence. Was there ever stuff you saw as a kid that shocked you? You came from a strict household so were you freaked out when your team manager was getting you strippers and things like that?

Nah, just because I was a kid. I was pumped! I thought, "This is the life!" I was thinking, "I'm only am. I wonder what you get when you're pro?" It was pretty damn wild in those days. I just happened to be sponsored by one of the crazier companies at the time with Steve Rocco. It was 100-dollar bills, Porsches, boat rides, strippers, and the occasional other surprises. Where I grew up I had a buddy who wasn't even allowed to cross the street. We were 14 and he would be in big trouble if he crossed the street. I thought I was hot shit because I was allowed to. When my morn was still around it was really strict. I had to do quizzes before I was allowed to go outside, and had my hands smashed in piano keys. "Play better! Whoa!" They thought I was going to be some kind of doctor or architect-every parent's dream. They were all, "Computers, computers," because back then was before they were so common. You were lucky to figure out a Commodore 64. That was hot. So yeah, it was crazy to go from piano practice to the Rocco pleasure cruise. It was like, "Wow, this is the life!"

Do you remember Rocco or those guys giving you advice that now seems kind of crazy?

Of course. I remember one time I couldn't go on a tour because I had to go to summer school. Rocco pulled me aside and told me, "Hey, man, I never finished school and look at me! School never got me anywhere. Forget summer school, we need you on this tour." It was pretty wild because it was completely opposite of what a parent would do, but at the same time it was like, hey, this dude's really got my back. My parents would say school first and skateboarding last. With Rocco it was skateboarding first, strippers second, then pleasure cruises and shopping sprees. School last.

Did the decadence of the Rocco era ever have any negative consequences for kids who weren't as grounded as you?

The second Blind team that came in, like Henry, Tim Gavin, and Guy Mariano, those guys were the ones that really pushed it. Rocco spoiled those guys. Talk about a pleasure cruise. It was like a pleasure cruise to Pleasure Island. It was pretty raw. We got so used to it. A lot of us got so spoiled and it caught up to a lot of people. After a few years of being hot shit and getting all the treats it was like Rocco turned around and said, "Okay, now give me something." Some dudes couldn't handle it.

Did Sanchez really demand ownership of half of World, and then punch Rocco in the face?

I'm not exactly sure about that incident. I think there might have been something with a girl, too. Sanchez was the guy that all of us thought was the most innovative. He was sort of the leader of Blind for awhile. I guess he decided he deserved half the company. Rocco refused, and got a nice donut on his face.

To put it in perspective, even though the company you rode for was the hottest thing in skateboarding, what was an average paycheck for you?

Back then skateboarding was taking a dump, so even though I was on World and it was the hottest thing I was getting about $500 a month. Maybe after two years of being on the company it went up to $800.

Now that's what an am might get from their clothing sponsor.

Yeah. I would have been better off taking three paper routes. Except I couldn't afford a bike.

Is it weird to see these kids who did good in a contest or have a flashy new haircut make all these demands from the companies?

It's totally weird to see that. I'm not trying to sound like the old guy, but in my day if you won a contest they would be like, "Nice job, we're going to treat you to dinner." They weren't going to buy you a car or something like that. Maybe you'd get a shopping spree at The Gap. "What do you think? Huh? Maybe you can ride in my Porsche and see what it's like if you stick with it. Even though you're 15, how about we get you a lady friend? Huh?" Nowadays it's the opposite. The kids are in it for two years and they've got Benzes, money, sunglasses. Really nice sunglasses. Don't get me wrong, I've had some Vuarnets, but not until later. You can't hate on it. Hey, if I'd had that much money I probably would have had a live octopus with me at all times in a tank. We didn't get those privileges that kids get now. Some kids know how to handle it. They get a nice car and a nice lady friend. Nothing wrong with that. But some kids forget why they have all that stuff. Oh yeah, from skating; that's where you got your money. You can't forget about the skating. I don't judge anybody, but for me I can't live without skating. I'm not trying to make up an R&B song right now, but I need to skate. When I wake up in the morning I think about where I'm going to skate. It trips me out how you can see a kid one day with Invader trucks and the worst board, and then they win a contest and you see them with the best board, the finest trucks, and you're behind them in line at the Starbuck's drive-thru. They've got jewelry. Actually, I can't say much about that since I had a jewelry-related manual accident one time.

What?

I was a big fan of jewelry at one time until it chipped my tooth. I had a chain with a cross on it, and it happened to have a few sparklies in it. I was doing a fakie manual and I guess I was smiling. Bad idea. You've got to keep your mouth closed when you skate. The chain shot up and chipped my tooth. After that I had to switch to those string necklaces, like the hippie necklaces.

I know you're pretty particular with how your photos and footage look. What are some of your pet peeves when it comes to that?

I hate it when my chest hair pops out of my turtleneck. I got the photos back and saw that, did a little trim, and we re-shot it. I also hate to admit it but sometimes I do the Hosoi lips. I'm not going to blame anyone. I happen to like it. I'm a big fan of Hosoi, but I feel like he's the only one who can do it. When I do it it's like when you were going for your first kiss. Thanks for the opportunity to discuss this.

What was the horrific ankle injury you had when you were younger, and what were some of the unorthodox treatments you did for it?

My ankle injury was from a judo air off a one-foot high jump ramp at the old World park in 1993. I came down and put my foot on wrong, and my ankle just busted right there. I go home and I wrap it, and I look for some Salonpas. You might have Bengay, but at my house all we had was Salonpas. It was either that or rub some kimchi on my ankle, and you know how that can burn. So I never went to the doctor and kept it wrapped up. I was on crutches. The funny thing I did next was take a bunch of calcium pills. "Hey, let's just work around this. The doctor would have probably given me calcium pills anyway." I started taking those babies and after six or seven weeks it didn't feel too bad, and I started to roll around. I rubbed around on my ankle and could feel the bone because it never healed right. Still to this day it can hurt after I jump on it for awhile. It says something to me. Once I used a razor blade and put a little slit in my ankle, and then rubbed in the Bengay so it would get in my system so I could skate. Then in Australia I blew my knee out and my whole deal was, "I'm just going to Duct-tape and wrap this thing and it'll be fine." I was older so I had access to Bengay. I didn't have to use the Salonpas anymore. I rubbed that stuff all over my knee, my legs, my back. I was using Bengay like tanning oil. I felt like a goddamn mint. It worked, though; I didn't feel anything after that.

If you got hurt today, would you still do that stuff or would you go to a doctor?

I might. I'm almost out of those calcium pills.

Is the competition between you and Rodney real or just a marketing tool?

It's real, but it's not like we're against each other. What you have to realize about Rodney is that he brought me in when I wanted to be a total Z-Boy. I had the Dickies, white t-shirts, and wanted to fight. I went from that to World boards and Z-Roller trucks. I overheard Jason Lee ask Rodney what was up with this kid riding World boards and Z-Roller trucks. He said I had to cut it out. But I was thinking, "Yeah, but who's grinding longer?" Shortly after I realized I wasn't grinding at all. I'd been rolling all those years. No disrespect to anyone who's backing Z-Rollers. I'm still a strong believer in Z-Rollers. And Z-Skins.

What tricks are the cornerstones of your skating?

I do a lot of fakie manuals, and I'm sure there are a lot of people who think, "Hey, can you ease off of those back wheels, Daewon?" I ask myself, "Should I quit?" But you know what? I enjoy a tasty donut even if it's not good for me. Three, four, five--so I'm going to keep doing the fakie manual. Three-sixty flips, fakie 360 flips. I do a lot of 180 fakie manuals, tre flips, noseblunt slides for awhile. I do a lot of damn blunts, too.

Who do you think does the best noseblunt slides?

Ed Templeton. He has the best noseblunt slide. I went to Huntington High School when I was a kid just to wait for him to show up. All of a sudden he'd fly by followed by his little lady friend by the name of Deanna. He'd fly by fast but then she'd give you some stickers. He has the best noseblunt slides by far.

When you were doing all the table stuff and difficult manuals, was it just as fun as when I see you skating at Channel Street?

It was just as fun because everything I like I see it as reading a new book. That table time was like picking up a new book and reading it to the end. I'd show up at a school and move all their tables. They weighed a ton. Imagine me doing all that by myself. I had an incident where three tables collapsed on me and I was trapped for 14 hours. Finally a lady spotted me and called 911. The fire department had to come with a crane. But the tables were great. During the time it was amazing, and it was fun. A lot of wax and a lot of plastic.

How has Channel Street skatepark in San Pedro changed your life?

It's one of the best places you could go skate. Rob and Andy and the San Pedro Skatepark Association have a great thing going down there. It's finally a place where I can skate and I won't get hassled, and they have the harsh trannies that I've always loved. All the locals are cool and there's a donut shop right next to it. That's unbelievable. It's a place I can wake up and drive straight there. Sometimes I'm still asleep on the drive over.

Why do some people think that you live in your car?

Maybe because a kid walked up and I was eating a Hungry Man and he had no idea where I heated it up. Or it might be the 14 boxes of clothes, generator, and boards in the back. Some kid told me it looked like I hadn't swept my car out for 15 years--but I've only had it for five ... so I don't know why people would think I was living in there.

I know you're a very generous person, and you have a hard time turning people down. Does this ever become a problem?

I don't mind. Occasionally a kid will approach you and you'll meet his parents and everything is cool and nice and so you might give them your email or your number, because they're locals and it's all mellow. Then the kid calls you everyday, five times a day. And then he asks you to come to his birthday, which happens six times in one year. That's when I caught on that maybe I have to draw the line occasionally But in general I have respect for anyone who has respect for me and what I do. If a kid comes up and wants to talk to me, I feel as honored as they do. But sometimes a kid comes up to me while I'm eating a donut and messes with my flow. I had an incident with a maple bar one time that really ended badly. I was about to lose it. In general, I'm down to talk to anyone. When I was a kid I went up to Hosoi at a contest at the Galleria Mall, and told him, "Hosoi, man, your judos are huge." He was real cool and said thanks and nice to meet you. I remember that.

What happened with Sheckler?

I think he had other things in mind and other things that he wanted to do. At Almost we're all pretty close and we've got a lot of tours planned and other projects. It seemed like he had a bunch of other stuff he wanted to pursue, like reality shows. He's great, but if someone's not 100-percent down for a company they should do something else. I'm glad for him that he's having all these opportunities, and I wish him the best with all of it. There's nothing wrong with the X-Games and all of that, but I'm not a fan of it myself. It's a good way for people who don't know anything about it to see skateboarding. That's fine. Rodney's the one who got Sheclder for Almost, and between those two they already had a long talk about it and worked it all out.

What do you think about companies like Nike and surf companies getting involved in skateboarding?

It bummed me out at first. They can come in and spend all kinds of money on things that companies who depend on selling just skateboard stuff can't. But then I saw that Nike got guys like Chet Childress and Daniel Shimizu, and I think for those guys it's great that they've got an opportunity and are getting treated well. It's good, because they can make a living out of it for awhile. They're sick skaters and deserve it. I get bummed out still, though. You see a lot of those companies come in, try and make some money, and then get out. Then they'll try again and come back in again. It seems like with skateboarding you should either be in or you're out. The companies who have been in it forever are losing out. Some are even going out of business. It's getting cutthroat out there.

Who are three skaters you admire?

I would say Rodney Mullen, of course, because he's still doing it and he's helped me out a lot. The second is my friend Jon. He works at the airline, has three kids, is married with a mortgage, and still makes the time to skate. Sometimes I get jealous because it seems like he loves skating more than me. He went from barely being able to skate a mini-ramp to doing blunt kickflips in one year. Jon's amazing. Who else? A new guy that I love is Chris Haslam. He's always pushing himself and doing incredible things. Since we got him on Deca I've realized that he can do pretty much anything he wants on a skateboard. I can't wait to see what he comes up with for his Thrasher interview.

When you skate with him, does it ever make you want to grow a beard?

Actually I do, but it's tough. If I wanted something like that I'd have to grow mine seven times, cut it, and braid it in with the rest. I could grow a long skinny one, but that wouldn't be the same.

Do you see yourself pro when you're 40?

I don't look at a calendar, and I never really think about my age. You know, I just want to learn more things. There's so much more to learn. I won't be ready to quit until I've learned all of it, which will never happen. Forty? I want to go until I'm 50. The other day we were skating with Salba in a pool and he was doing stuff I could never dream of doing. How old is he? I've still got so much to learn. I'm still motivated. I still have stuff I need to figure out. Every morning I wake up and think about where I'm going to go skate.