I had a sweet intro written up for this interview, detailing how awesome Big Dave is and how much inspiration and stoke he generates by just being Dave; but after looking at the rad pics I ended up getting and after receiving Dave’s answers to my interview questions, I decided to shit-can my intro and let you see for yourself what my man Dave is all about.
What’s Somos?
It’s a recreational mindgasm where we create rad skateboards for the sake of enjoying their luscious curves and time traveling properties. We shape wood for functional fun and are able to really get loose with design and production as well as propaganda…
What’s the Sunset sliders got going on, how and when did if form, and what can people do to get involved?
Oh dude, if you want to get down just come on out and get live. Sunset sliders was literally created in the mind, in a cabin deep under snow in the Sierras. The goal was to come home after the field season and organize a truly community driven skateboarding crew that shreds San Francisco - the city of hills and epicenter of skateboarding excellence for many moons. The crew picked up members by exploring the urban landscape with their skateboards and finding commraderie in other goofballs bombing hills or thrashing tranny, etc. Our vibe has never been myopic with respect to style, in that we encourage an all-terrain approach to skateboarding. It’s by no means a disjointed crew where only some people skate some things—we literally marraude on all terrain and everyone gets a taste of everything. This is reflected by the multi-disciplinary approach in our monhly events which occur every month in 2011 and each one holds a different flavor of Sunset Sliders funk. We’ve had downhill races, skatepark slalom courses, technical drifting time trials, Zombie Apocalypse slide jam/death races—the list goes on and on. Each event is based on an immensely simple principle being: 1) get rad people together in a rad place with radness on the mind and watch the radness grow 2) then BBQ. Every event is free with a BBQ after the “contest” followed by a jam until the sun sets. We secrete swag to the masses in an effort to stimulate the oozing onset of skateboarding skills that the Bay Area posseses. We’re succeeding in building stong friendships between communities so that anyone traveling within or through the Bay has a great place to stay with friendly skaters and multitudenous destination for skate spots. Honestly Marcus man, you’ve just got to come rawdog it with the Sunset Sliders to get a feel for the slippery serpent approach to stylin’…
Tell us what ya do you do for a living?
I am thrilled and blessed to be a wildlife biologist. More specifically I am a herpetologist (not a reference to the organisms betwixt my loins). Meaning: I catch/count/mark/handle wild snakes, frogs, lizards, newts, toads etc. I specialize in snakes, but we handle everything from rattle snakes to tree frogs; and I’ve seen Bald Eagles hunting, been hunted by mountain lions, handled giant weasels, and seen snakes eat and puke up other snakes their same size. Science and specifically Ecology are intrinsic parts of my heart and soul and I derive a lot of happiness, joy, and nerd hard-ons from adventuring with Mutha Nature on the daily. . . wanna come catch some snakes? They’ve got hemipenes dude, that means 2 of them—way rad!
Where are you from?
I was born on the tough streets of sub-urban South San Jose where I spent my youthful years playing soccer and jumping from high buildings. I grew up with a great group of friends that fostered witty artistic bullshitting and a resilient sense of character. My best buddy O’balls and I used to bomb hills on our wanker, pedal-stop-bikes just to get going mach-speed and slam the brakes to see who could deposit the dopest rubber trail until our tires blew up. O’balls is who got me skating and I truly owe a metric ton of thank-yous to that grimey little irish bugger.
Why San Fransisco?
Oh dude, you know exactly why, have you heard of Polk Street? Where else can you pick up a good lookin’ lady that’s actually a dude, but in the day-time is an investment banker that pulls more cash than Jesus, and at night he’s hookin’ and making twice as much—God Bless America. In all reality, I didn’t ever see myself stymied out in some uber urban metropolis because of my dirty hippie heart, and wildlife biology necessitating some open spaces. My Lovely Lady and I came here for her career as a modern dancer and decided that it wasn’t the worst place to be engrossed for a few years. I draw magical powers from the presence of others, so having some hustle and bustle around does a lot to get the mind spinning and opening new doors. There are a enough colors, people, thoughts, ideas, art, trash, pimps, crackheads, hills, banks, driveways and more to keep any visitor astounded—come on out and get some! Although San Francisco is by far the most beautiful and damn coolest big city in the country it still has it’s pitfalls—living here has been beyond humbling as I meander through the metropolitan muck and see those that have been discarded by society or feel so given up on that they’ve given up on themselves. Hadn’t ever seen a dude shoot heroin until living here, but my main man was singing a song about cornbread the whole time—cool as a fan and happy as a clam at high tide—AND riding a bumpy ass bus, and lord knows that takes confidence and commitment.
Longboarding or skateboarding?
wiggleboarding till I die dude. . . and surfstyle all the way—all four on the floor
Sport or art?
Mental masturbation with a smile and serious consequences.
What’s your pick for top-three most influencial skaters in longboarding?
Wait dude, skateboarding or longboarding or how about longboarders in skating? Im all confused? I’ll just list wiggle boarders:
11teen.) Brad Edwards/Roger Mihalko: Power and grace and truly honed skills.
1.) O’balls and the O.G. crew: More passion for skating than Mother Tereasa for qualudes and the chief progenitors of who I am today.
Triangle.) Anyone trying new things and getting into their own groove without faking the funk. As Awesome Austin would put it: “BONZING!”
Does your girlfriend get bummed ’cause so many skaters kick it at your pad?
More than anyone, she understands the joys of exploring the curvature of space and time which is what we do in skateboarding. Dancing and Skateboarding are connected in this sense because you’re essentially training to be a Ninja Jedi, that is to utilize your body in exactly the manner your brain desires. Whether it’s a perfectly smooth transition within a dance or nailing your fingerflip-boneless footplant off the fire hydrant combo, you’re trying to harness and control your mind-body connection. Because of this she understands the wonderful people that share this expedition with me and is very supportive.
Why do your cats lurk so hard—what are they up to?
BEST question ever asked! They actually own the house dude, they took advantage of the weak real estate market and broke some other pussies in the neighborhood for extra cash. They flipped less than two weeks worth of wet food and some fresh kitty litter for this place and now they like to hang-loose while others enjoy their domocile. They’re glad you guys gave them love, and waking up to Crescent Moon snuggling in Kody’s golden locks was worth millions of dollars. I know Stowaway kept your chest warm while piled-out, and the kitties say you’re all welcome back any time.
If you were to have an interview on Wheelbase what one thing would you want us to ask you, and what’s your answer to that question?
The most prolific question in the history of mankind. Question: If you were a hotdog, and you were starving, would you eat yourself? Answer: Yes! I know I would—I would be delicious all smothered in relish and ketchup. Please toast my buns and be sure to swallow me whole…
Are you a dirty hippie?
Welllllllllll let’s start with the definition of “dirty”. I’ve been told that one can smell me skating miles away, but no one has ever said the smell was bad. As a kid, my girlfriend had a ruthlessly, vicious feral-cat (McCavity) and the first time I ever met him he melted in my hands, so this question can be summed up by girlfriend’s brother’s first impressions: “He has a braid so I know he’s a hippie, but he skates so he’s pretty metal, and then he beastmastered McCavity. I didn’t think that combo was possible but once I met the guy it all made sense”.
What’s your relationship with Purple Skunk?
Support your local Skate Shop! They love you, so love them back! I’ve worked at the Skunk in multiple capacities since late 2008. I enjoy working in the shop to get a pulse for the general community and have a great time getting people excited about skateboarding, whether young, old, male or female, everybody can get them some. These days I spend a majority of my time as ambassador for the shop as well as a liason with companies and the community. I’m involved in bringing in new products/product reviews/ordering and skating a ton with the Skunk Downhill Team.
What’s the story with your long-ass Rapunzle braid? Has it ever got caught in your wheel and made you scorpion in front of a bunch of chicks? Are you hoping that one day a hansom Prince will climb up the braid and give you the love you so desire? Or do you grow it for some serious reason and now I’m about to look like an asshole?
Marcus my man - SOOOO much love shooting in your direction right now - I thought the kitty question was the greatest but this is even sweeter! Firstly, Hell yes! I hope a handsome prince climbs my braid to give me the love I desire because then I’m gonna be sure to not sign any pre-nup and divorce that prince for half of homie’s wealth right after that good lovin’ —this is SF after all. In a truly comedic sense, I have been whapped by my braid while grinding coping—getting the hair-tie straight to the eyeball is always a good reminder that it’s there. As far as a legitimate reason, it has to do with magical powers and emergency toilet paper. MEOW!
Anyway brother, good rapping with ya, and thanks again for showing us around the city and letting us crash at y’all’s pad. Hit us with some closing gems. See ya at Ditch Slap.
Closing gems eh? Skate with a smile and recognize how fortunate we are to wiggleboard. Be sure to skate for your own heart and soul, faking-the-funk to impress others will only lead you to a limp style. Find a dope crew to mash with and naturally drive each other to push your own limits. If you say that there isn’t any crew around you then start one—it may take leg work, but seeing the fruit of the labor in the shiteating-grins of your crew, while bombing past cars at 40 in SF, is worth way more than gold! Don’t forget to slowboard from time to time because being first to the finish line doesn’t mean a thing if you don’t look good while doing it. Don’t litter—your scrotum will turn black and fall off!
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