Chris Hamrock Is In The House

Let's start with the usual basics- age, location, years skating, sponsors:

Well I am 25 years old, Born in Whittier, grew up with the Sun, Sand andSmog of Southern California, got stitches in my chin going down a hill whenI was 5 so been riding at least since then. Never made any kinda 'sponsorme' shit, but Pocket Pistols Skates and Attic Skate Shop hook me up withsome free crap and sometimes help with gas and beer money if I travelanywhere to skate.

Favorite things other than skating?

Well I been rockin out with my chick Megan, she's pretty fukn rad. We rideour beach cruisers around blasting a boombox lookin like creeps and gettingdirty looks from all the fukn 'Beach Bitches' on the boardwalks. I do a lotof listening to and collecting of music and records. Sometimes I try anplay guitar, I pretty much fukn suck, but it's fun. Once in a while I try toget all art fag and do some shit like that, but I can barely draw so most ofit is probably considered plagarism. It's all mixed media's though, mostlytrash I come across that I think I could make even trashier by adding paintor more trash or scribbles on to it. I dont know if it's one of myfavorites, but I work a lot at this place called Screamin' Inc. that screenprints skateboards. My boss Chicken has done this shit for almost 20 yearsnow. Other than that it's just mostly hangin' out with friends or going to see some bands.

Where your parents supportive of you skating?

My parents weren't always cool with all the shit I do, but I was luckyenough that both my Dad and Mom surfed so I grew up going to parties,surfing and just being a beach rat. And at some point they both skated inthe 70's bombing hills and shit so they were always cool with me skating,just not all the trouble with the cops that comes with hoping fences anddestruction of private and public property. Fuck it though they could havebeen way worse. I got off easy with them for sure.

If you had one last trick you could do and never be able to skate again,what trick and why?

Shit, I am thankful every morning when I wake up and can move on my own. Icouldn't even imagine not skating. One of my good friends, Lee, woke up onemorning and had troubles standing and walking. He was diagnosed with MS andcan't skate now. How the fuck are you supposed to deal with the reality ofpotentially having a 'Last Trick'? I dont even know. If I had one lasttrick though it'd probably be trying to jump the Snake River like EvelKneviel, or dropping in on the Nuclear Tits at San Onofre or something whereI'd die so I dont gotta live with out skating.

What some stuff that gets you stoked to get gnarly?

Friends, Beers, Burgers and Music all get me hyped on a session. I likeskating with people not against them. Fuck contest's and shit where you getjudged. I just wanna have fun.

What would your "dream" skate session be?

I'd say I am pretty lucky and get to skate with some of my favorite skaterspretty regularly, but I'd have loved to session with Cardiel in Australia.All those parks look so fun there. I have had some pretty epic sessions inCosta Rica that practically were a dream. Using the deep end of the bowl toblock the wind so we could spark up with monkey's in the tree's and sunset'sbeyond description. Then you go jump in the ocean to rinse off. Prettymuch would love to get back there with some friends and session again.

Favorite spots/parks to skate?

I love shallow, steep, janky shit. I skate Channel Street a lot. Lyle andBecky's Burger Bowl is like my second backyard. This homey Marco had acrazy fucking bowl he built outside of Fresno area that was really fun.Transitions that weren't meant to be skated are always great. I think thewhole world would be a better place if buildings weren't built perpendicularto the ground, but had transitions connecting them. It'd be less harshvisually and i think it would reduce the overall stress in the world. Wellmaybe not, but at least it's be fukn killer to skate.

Things that keep you entertained when you cant skate?

If I can't skate I am probably either watching some movies, reading,listening to music or chillin with my girl. If I can't skate I gotta stayaway from skate flicks though. That shit will drive me insane watching itand not being able to skate.

I know your really into music. Name 3 bands/singer for people to check out:

Well lately I have been listening to a lot of Nikki Sudden's music like TheJacobites, or some instumental shit like Link Wray or some surf music. Alsobeen rockin a lot of old dirty 60's rock'n'roll shit. Some weird drugcrazed, endless highway, sex filled, voodoo influenced Americana. Otherthan that just all the regular shit, Thunders, Strummer, Damned, Cramps,Turbonegro, some old Dub & Reggae. There is so much great music out there.You just gotta find it and not take this fucking crap they try to sell youas music. Even most of the shit people claim is different is so safe andbor-ing or just plain unoriginal. You dont gotta be original to be good,but if you think you are doing something new you are probably just rippingsomething off and trying to repackage it as yours. And usually it blows.

Most memorable thing youve done in skating so far?

There's been way too many good times to single one out. All my friends inArizona are fucking great and we have had a couple of hectic missionstogether. Duane and I have had some crazy sessions too. It's all aboutskaters for skaters and being in the midst of some shit together and whetherit turns out good or bad enjoying it all is what matters.

Whats your favorite tattoo(s) you have and plan on getting any new ones soon?

I dont really got a favorite at this point. They all are there and none ofthem are going anywhere anytime soon so you gotta enjoy them. I just beenlagging on getting more put on my skin. I already got a bunch of idea's inmy head, but it's just a matter of going and getting them. the guy thatdoes them for me, Joe Kowalski, is pretty fukn good. i like his shit andthe shop he works at, All American, has gotta good thing going. I actuallywent up there last night and set up an appointment. I am starting to getserious and put some time to the side to get more done soon. I gotta saythe skull on my elbow is fucking ripping when I get a Swellbow and it blowsup all giant. My artist just shakes his head, he knows what he's dealingwith.

How is it skating for PPS?

The Pistols are good fucking boards. Good shapes and they last me a fewsessions. The graphics are starting to really come together. They got thewhole Jim Phillips and VCJ thing going, that shit is pretty damn good artwise and there are definitely some people that are super hyped on theirgraphics. They also got some pretty legendary riders like Lee Ralph, BenSchroeder, Remy has been killing it recently, plus some of the kids thatride for them have been destroying it lately like these two Matt Miskell andShane Porter. They been pretty on it. We are going to start focusing ongetting a video out and some tours together pretty soon too so it should begood. I think it's starting to really build up some momentum. Hopefully itfucking starts rocking hard. I dont really care about all the shit liketrying to be a professional or any of that crap. I just ike to skate, butsince they did put out a board with my name on it I want it to do good.

Tell us alittle about your car:

Well the hood doesnt really open right now, the driver window doesnt rolldown, I am a mark for the police, and it gets gallons to the mile not milesto the gallon. So it basically is a haggard fucking mess, but I love it anddrive it as much as possible. It was Lucero's and he gave it to Duanebecause he wanted it and John was probably glad to get it off his hands. DPgave it to his nephew Worthless and then took it back gave Worthless the'Trucster', one of Corey's Town car's, and gave me the black beast. It'sbeen good to me though. I have driven it back and forth through the Arizonadesert and both the car and I survived it. So hopefully oneday I'll makesome serious fucking cash and fix it up a little bit. If not and my lifefalls apart, at least it's big enough to lay all the way out in the back andsleep in it.


Any thanks/shout outs?

I gotta say R.I.P. to my friend Chess, he got in a car accident and waskilled. He was only 20 years old. Fucking sucks. Also keep on jammin to myman Lee Bender, stay strong homie. Everyone who's hooked me up with freeshit or helped me out with photos, thanx. Attic in Costa Mesa, PocketPistols too. My girl Megs. My sister's are fucking bad ass. And #1 goes tomy pops, he puts up with a bunch of bullshit from me all the time. He isfucking epic and if there are any ladies out there lookin for a good olderdude you should for sure hit him up. He's down at the beach surfing everyweekend in Bolsa Chica. Look him up girly's, he's got the same last name as me. Go figure..