Stuart Kleinsmith: For the love of Skating

Posted by Brian Blakely on 19 May 2010 | 0 Comments

Tags: Skateboarding, Interviews

Pegging a title on a dude like Stuart is just one of those things that can't be done. He's a skateboarder, so I mean, I'll definitely give him that, but I'm sure you're wondering, "what the fuck makes him worthy of an interview and not me (yourself)," and the answer is actually quite simple: Stuart just doesn't give a fuck, and the dude lives skateboarding.

A casualty to the American economy, Stuart was dropped from Urban Board Shop's staff a few months back, leaving him with no job, no where to go, and all day to get there. This also meant a shit-load of skateboarding. 

But the real irony behind Stuart's story in this issue is the fact that I only gave Stuart about ten days notice to go out and shoot photos and to get the interview. It just so happen that two friends of his were heading up to the San Jose area, along with Santa Barbara and a few other stops for the weekend. With two cameras, and a handful of sunny coastal spots in mind, Stuart came out with worthy photos and more than just a few high-fives. And after being flaked on by more than one dude prior to Stuart, my deadline was up and to say the least, I wasn't.

I don't really know too many dudes that I could have hit up explaining they had 10 days to get as many photos as they possibly could, meet up to get an interview, and literally complete about 3 months worth of work in those ten days, and in the end, actually pull through with it. I really don't. But Stuart was literally the first dude I hit up (at 7:30 on a Tuesday morning by the way), explaining the bummer situation, and he showed pure sincerity the second I explained. We topped it off with a, "fuck yeah, I'm down," and now folks, here we are.  

Despite the time it took to wrap this entire thing up, I'm more than content to have done this on Stuart. He really is just a true, ripping skateboarder, and he's living proof that the sponsored kids aren't always the only ones killing it. Actually, to be honest, I'm so hyped on the kids who rip just as hard, or sometimes harder than the kid with the sponsor, strictly because they're down for the fucking cause of skateboarding.

There are way too many kooks in the skate world, and the industry, and just not enough space, man. We need more rippers like Stuart in skateboarding-Green lungs, gangster-ass pop, and a fine example of a kid living that "shred life."

You walk into Stuart's room and the smell of freshly lit goods always tickle your nose. The sound of snapping skateboards are always heard from his T.V., and the walls are devoured with graffiti.

It makes sense to see Stuart up in here. The rad thing about Soggybones is the fact that we support un-heard, un-noticed talent. We want you to be hyped on the fish that glows in the dark at the bottom of the ocean, instead of your everyday, typical, goldfish... you know? I know that goldfish brings comfort, but that glow leaves you in awe.

Stuart is definitely that fish at the bottom of the ocean you see glowing in the dark. His talent shines and when dudes are happy while they skate, it really shows. The trick always speaks for itself, obviously, but a smile says a million words.

Might I add that judging Stuart's skateboarding off of these few selected photos would be the wrong thing to do entirely. I'm hyped on Stuart for handling business for me, but I'm seriously beyond impressed that he did this all literally for the sake of just doing it. All the dude does is skate, and I respect him for that beyond belief.

Well if you have any Bone Thugs N' Harmony, I suggest you start bumping that shit right about now. If you're down for the hazy movement, then light one up... but above all, tune in hard. Stuart is a fucking G! It wouldn't have been right to do this any other way.

BB: So can you guess what my first question is going to be?

SK:(Laughs) Um, probably who I am?

BB: You're on the money! So you're name is Stuart Kleinsmith. You're 20 years old, and you stay posted in Vista, CA., correct? Tell me something else about yourself.

SK:Well as of right now I'm posted in San Jose trying to get some photos for this interview. But yeah, Vista is where I live my days.

 

BB: What's it like living in Vista?

SK: Life in Vista is dope. I got Pepper Tree and Sonic within skating distance from my house so I'm set on food... and there are spots to skate everywhere you look.

 

BB: Were you born there, and if not, where were you born?

SK: Yeah, I was born at Tri City Hospital with a board already in my hands. (laughs)

 

BB: Have you ever moved?

SK:I moved out to San Marcos in the 5th grade and then ended up moving back to Vista in the 11th grade. So I've basically always grown up around vista.

 

BB: Well when I called you, I dropped a heap of shit on you. Despite you're crunched-ass deadline, how did you manage to find the time and motivation to shoot this interview out, along with the photos that support it?

SK: Well this is my first interview for anything so that's what got me pretty hyped which in actuality took all the stress away from having to get a handful of photos in a week.

BB: Right on, dude. Well what are you doing right this second?

SK: Right this second I'm in the Valencia Hotel in San Jose typing this out but being distracted by gay club music down below us (laughing).

 

BB: Define skateboarding for me:

SK: Pure fun. No matter how much I eat shit or don't land a trick... it never gets old. It's always a challenge and always a reason to get off the couch.

 

BB: You used to work at Urban Board Shop, right? What was your role there, and how did you like it?

SK: Yeah, good times at Urban. I was basically just a helper, always worked with my manager and when no one would cruise in I'd shred [the boxes and flatbars] out front.

 

BB: Any sick MILFS cruise through?

SK: Oh the Milfs were an everyday thing at urban since there was a "swim school" in the same parking lot. Just go sit out front for ten minutes and you'll see for yourself.

 

BB: How do you feel about skateboarding these days? Like, how do you feel about our generation of skateboarding, as apposed to the dudes before us, or what it's becoming?

SK: Skating has always been dope even when it was about carving banks an doing flat ground 900's... but now our generation is taking it to a whole new level. It's all about handrails, stairs, getting crazy tech on ledges and doing fifty-foot gaps on the mega ramp. I don't think the Z-boys could've pictured this back in their days.

 

BB: This question is getting asked everywhere, but I am curious: What do you think about skateboarding possibly being in the Olympics?

SK: It would be dope but then again there's already the X-games which basically is the Olympics of skating.

 

BB: Why did you even start skateboarding, and when did you start?

SK: I'd have to say it was in the 4th grade when I started and I started because I saw my older brother doing it and like all little brothers I wanted to be cool like him.

BB:What's your favorite terrain to rip? Like... ledges, manual pads, stairs, gaps, rails, banks, curbs... 

SK: The red curbs are always a blast to skate but I'd have to say ledges because I've always had a box to skate so that's what I grew up liking.

 

BB: What's MHC?

MHC is a skate crue that Waylon (Hendricks) and I made up in high school and its still going to this day. I couldn't exactly tell you who's all in it but I consider all my homies a part of it.

 

BB: Give me a ballpark estimate on how many Tweakers there are in Vista?

SK: (Laughing) Oh man, a shit-load. I wouldn't even be able to give you an estimate because there's just too many.

 

BB: Now do the same for how many skateboarders there are?

SK: A grip! Take a look around and I bet you'll see kids shredding wherever you go in Vista.

 

BB: Have you been doing any traveling lately?

SK: Well, before this trip to San Jose not really. I usually go down to downtown San Diego with the homies every weekend so I'm hyped to be out here (San Jose) skating new spots and seeing a different part of California.

 

BB: Right on. Are you filming for anything?

SK: I'm currently not filming for anything. I've got a "daddy cam" to get tricks when they need to be filmed but for now I'm just trying to skate and have fun.

 

BB: It's all about those three letters man: F-U-N. Give me a crazy story you have from skateboarding?

SK: Well since we've been talking about tweakers and Vista in this interview, I might as well tell this story: I was trying to grind this brick out-ledge and this tweaker comes walking down to street talking shit. He was telling me how he was going to laugh when I get hit by a car and die. He was also talkin shit to you and Ben. When we started to talk shit back he let the tweak take control and pushed you and walked off (laughing). That's vista for you.

BB: (Laughing) That dude was psycho, I'm hyped I got the entire thing on film though. When was the last time you got broke off?

SK: I ate mad shit trying to bomb this hill in shorts and a white-T, probably the dumbest thing I've done in a while. I ended up with road rash on both palms, elbows, my knee, my ankle, my back and my ass. And then a couple days later I ended up with this interview and more photos to get with my broke off body.

 

BB: What type of music do you listen to?

SK: Bone Thugs and Sabbath is all I need to get by but I'm down for everything except country and techno.

 

BB: Who are some dudes in skateboarding that inspire you?

SK: I'd have to say all of them. I wouldn't be able to choose because everyone has their own style of creativity.

 

BB: Agreed. So why no sponsors, man? You're more than good enough.

SK: I don't know. I was kind of on Urban and I don't know how that's going now but I have no filmer and I'm not to worried about it. I've got my hookups and I don't need to stress on turning in footy tapes all the time

BB: Can you touch your toes?

SK: (Laughing) Nope I'd break my back if I tried.

 

BB: Since none of us are psychic... let's hear what the future has in store for you?

SK: More skating and more traveling.

 

BB: Sounds good enough to me... Now give me as many shout-outs as you can:

SK: Thanks to MHC, SwampAss, and Soggybones... thanks to Waylon, Frankie, Jake, Beacher, Charlie, green goods, You, Bobby J, and Anthony at Vox. Alax P., Baby Dome, Ben Cano and Black Chris for the photos, all the homies that cruise to SD, Pepper Tree, Sonic Burger, VISTA!!!! Sabbath, Arizona iced tea, Alex at Target (laughing), friends, family and who ever else I missed just picture your name here ________.

Photos Courtesy of the following cats | Charlie Nunez | Chris Dietrich | Paulo Cano | Ben Cano | Robert Johnson.