Tucked away in the middle of Florida is Gainesville. It’s the town that helped me reluctantly find a love for journalism and the town that Billy Rohan, friend of the mag and early 2000s New York fixture, grew up skating around.
When I first met Billy I was unaware of the long history he had in skateboarding and the mental health challenges that ushered both his return to Florida and retirement from pro skating. However, I was promptly educated on the lore, like the nollie hardflip at courthouse, strong friendship with Harold Hunter and unfortunate arrests (if you don’t know what I’m talking about, watch Billy’s Epicly Later’d).
While a markedly novel dude, through my eyes he has always been a community oriented, kind and important facet of skateboarding in my college town, so on a free day back home I drove up to kick it with Billy and check out his skateshop Samurai.
While there, we skated at a Buddhist temple, got dangerously close to alligators and took in the joys of a free day in Florida. Perhaps said by Billy best “From Tompkins to Swampkins. Wu-tang.”
Related Posts
-
JENKEM LABS: WE TRIED TO MAKE OUR OWN SKATE WHEELS
It turns out any idiot can buy liquid urethane online and try to pour their own skateboard wheel.
-
SHOP TALK AT DLX SKATE SHOP IN SAN FRANCISCO
We flew from coast to coast to hear some takes from the SF locals.
-
JAMAICAN SKATEBOARDING THROUGH THE EYES OF A LOCAL NAMED FROGGBOSS
Take a look into how a local Jamaican skater traverses through the jungle-clad hills outside of Kingston.
-
CHECKING OUT A HIDDEN DIY FINGERBOARD PARK IN QUEENS
When we heard about a mysterious concrete fingerboard park hiding in Brooklyn, we knew we had to go find it.
-
CHECKING OUT THE HISTORIC SPOTS OF VIENNA, AUSTRIA
Remember, just because it isn't tagged every other day on IG doesn't mean it isn't worth checking out!
-
PREMIERE: SOUR SOLUTION’S “MENTAL ICE AGE”
Swede-style phone edit featuring Gustav Tønnesen, Albert Nyberg, and the whole Sour gang.
-
MOSHPITS, BURNOUTS & THE ANDERSON FAMILY AT THE 2ND ANNUAL RAPID FEST
We met up with Jake Anderson, Mike Anderson and their parents at Rapid Fest - a skate and hardcore music gathering.
-
THE DEVIL’S PLAYGROUND
After we saw a post by Tom Karangelov breaking down details of a spot in Orange County with supposed ties to Satanism, we got to digging.
Comments
Popular
-
MY HUSBAND TOOK ME TO A SKATE-URBANISM FESTIVAL. HERE’S WHAT I THOUGHT.
"I was headed into one of the most intellectually engaging conferences of my adult life. And, it was hosted by a bunch of skateboarders."
-
A CHAT WITH LUDVIG HAKANSSON, THE OLDEST SOUL IN SKATEBOARDING
The man loves to read Nietzche, skates in some expensive vintage gear, and paints in his own neoclassical-meets-abstract-expressionist style.
-
PREMIERE: STEVEN CUSTOZZO AND MICHAEL FALLER IN “HEIRLOOM”
Unconventional tricks at classic NYC spots.
-
A NEW GENERATION’S TAKE ON WALLENBERG
Toby Ryan and Dylan Jaeb weigh in on whether or not this formidable stair set's reputation holds up today.
-
LOUIE BARLETTA ON HIS CAREER AND THE PUSH INITIATIVE
Louie discusses the challenges of maintaining a pro skate career and his new initiative to help those in need.
March 13, 2024 8:59 pm
I always thought Billy Rohan was a great skater.
Didn’t he have a part in EST 3? Ender was a gap to noseslide in the crowd at MSG. So sick.
March 14, 2024 1:53 pm
Whence came you?