I grew up with heroes, people who made me aspire to raise my game, to dream bigger and I like to keep it that simple.

Through skateboarding, I have an open line of communication, some common ground and common ground is big man. That enables me to travel around the world and no matter where I am, or who I'm with, connect with other young people, and I can have an instant dialogue and an instant relationship based on the fact that we skateboard, and when I'm doing appearances and demos, that's not lost on me.

Through getting sponsored and becoming a part of the Bones Brigade and Powell Peralta, doors were being opened. The entire culture was shifting from ramps to street, and I sort of became a poster child for that.

I feel like the best thing, as far as what I do with kids, is I treat them like human beings.

I grew up on the Bones Brigade as well. The very first skateboard video I saw was the Bones Brigade Video Show and I'd always valued the Bones Brigade and Powell Peralta as the ultimate in skateboarding.

I'm not going to beat somebody up for talking smack to me, especially another skater.

Where I'm coming from is that nothing I do is from a sense of obligation.