Tony Manfre: "you have to use your imagination" - Heads_Manfre - skaters - Interview

How old are you?

Thirteen. I've been skating for two and a half years, you know, rippin' it up. Chillin'. No, I'm 20. Skating for nine years. That's scary.

Who do you ride for?

I ride for Powell and Bones Swiss. Clif Bar hooks it up.

Tell me about that, because you've been rocking Clif Bar for a while.

My friend Cassie hooks me up on this friends and family plan. Clif Bars are good, and good for you.

What's up with Sonoma?

It's my home. I skate all over with my homies. We all grew up skating together. We still skate together and have tons of fun at the skatepark or wherever we end up going.

You come down here to Santa Barbara a lot, too?

Yeah, my girlfriend Lindsay goes to college here. I met her here. I come and kick it with her and all my homies. SB is cool. I like being all over but I have pride in where I'm from, Sonoma.

Who inspires you?

People that I grew up skating with like Taka Gilmore and Nino Vicors, and people that I looked up to when I was learning how to skate. People like Pat Duffy, Colin McKay, Danny Way, Mike Carroll, Gonz, Keith Hufnagel, Jason Lee, Dune. The whole SF/EMB era inspires me.

How do you decide what to wear in the morning? I see you wearing some crazy gear, like in the Thrasher video.

I usually just put on whatever.

Have you ever worn the hat, your Budweiser sweater, the crazy plaid pants, and Adidas together in an outfit?

Yeah, I was feelin' it one time but my girlfriend made me take it off. She wasn't feeling it at all.

You'll skate anything, right?

Yeah, even if it's gnarly I'm usually down to skate it. There was this pool made out of Asbestos concrete that we skated. It was horrible to breathe. We put shirts over our mouths and skated for three days. But I especially like the streets, pools, and fullpipes, because they aren't made for skating so you have to use your imagination to figure out how to skate them.

You told me you wanted to talk shit in your first interview.

I'd like to talk shit about something, but I can't think of anything to talk shit about.

What about music?

Jazz and Soul, because everything branches off of that. The old school innovators like Zep, Kraftwerk, some old jazz like Donald Byrd and Freddie Hubbard. I'm also digging some of your stuff, like the Sea and Cake.

You are anti-technology. Why are you like that?

I don't like new stuff because it doesn't have any feeling. I'm diggin' more of the old analog style, real photography, tapes and records. I'm tired of all this digital bullshit.

Does your eye for art and photography help you pick what would be a good photo?

Sometimes, but I can be annoying by telling my friend who's taking the photo that I want him to use a different angle or something. I like being really involved with what's going on--that way, when you're hurt or whatever, you can still be involved with skating.

Favorite skate spots?

I'd say Barcelona, because no one cares and the spots are perfect. Everyone is really chill and having a good time, minding their own business. Union Square and EMB for the sentimental value. Skating in The City seven years back was really good-- awesome spots that weren't fixed to be unskateable. It isn't what it used to be.

What were you like in high school?

I was a dork. My school had a lot of jocks, and I was friends with mostly skaters.

Did anyone ever call you Stoney Manfre?

No.

What's up with the "O" face?

I don't know man, you made that shit up.

It's when you're skating and your face turns into an "O". It looks like you're sucking on a straw that isn't there.

I never really noticed it because I'm concentrating on skating. But whatever, I guess I make a weird face.

Who do you want to thank?

My parents; they've helped me so much. All my friends from Sonoma for helping me progress and have fun, all the people I met skating as a kid and at skatecamp, and Deluxe for helping me out for so long. My girlfriend. Eric Olsen fur hooking me up in SB with Powell.

Do you want to say anything to the kids out there?

I want kids to stay stoked on skating and have fun.

You got anything else for Wallenberg?

We'll see.

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