Skippy
Aug 31 2010 | 406 views | Comments
By Carla Visser – Photos by Werner Lamprecht
Name, age, location?
I’m Charl Steyn, I’m 22 and live in
Years skating?
Going on 11 years.
What first drew you to skateboarding and what keeps you getting back on your board?
My brother Joe got me into skateboarding. Landing tricks and having fun with friends is what keeps me getting back on my board. I also love the freedom skateboarding gives me.
On the Plankie video Awe you really stood out; who would you say has influenced your style the most?
I guess most of the people that I skate with have had an influence on my style. Joubert van Staden, for example, has pushed me to skate bigger obstacles, JP du Preez has been a great help with skating hand rails and Brett Lewis with tech, etc
When no one is filming, what is your skating like?
I enjoy cruising around doing flat-land tricks, not getting hurt, just having a lot of fun and flowing.
Do you compete at all?
Not really, I have skated a few comps but I mainly hit the streets.
In your trick vocabulary which one is the hardest to land?
Back-tail-impossible to fakies.
What’s your favourite trick?
Back smith.
How often do you skate?
About three to four times a week.
I know you’ve been having a lot of trouble with your back lately, do you think you’ll take a break from skating and let it heal properly?
My back has been sore for about six months; it’s getting better now. I still can’t fully bend down, but when im skating it’s actually fine.
So both you and your older brother Joe skate, what does your mom have to say about the sport you guys have chosen?
My mom has always supported me in EVERY single way possible. She thinks it keeps us out of trouble when, actually, it’s landed us in a lot of trouble at times, but she likes skateboarding a lot.
Give some advice to the parents reading this article?
Don’t always assume skateboarders are big druggies; its good exercise and loads of fun. Yes one does get hurt, but when you’re a kid you heal quickly.
Do you have any sponsors?
I’m sponsored by Plankie Plankie, Monster Energy Drink and DVS shoes.
What are your hobbies outside of skateboarding?
Art, playing guitar and chilling with friends.
Tell me about your raddest session?
About ten years ago, Collin, Smiley, Joe, Waldo, Jacques, Johan, Lorenzo and I skated in Secunda, we were having a night session at the magistrates offices. I landed front side 180’s the entire night, off a long ledge which was really narrow to ride. It was rad.
Favourites
Bands? – Animal Collective and The Black Snake Moan sound track.
Skate spots? – Skinner in
Things to eat? – Crispy Chicken Deluxe from McDonald’s and Barbeque Spare Rib and Mushroom pizza from Romans.
Drink? – Beer and Milk.
If you were a Star Wars character, which one would it be?
Yoda.
How are things going with the ladies?
Negative, I’m a solo pilot.
For the future, where do you see yourself going?
I just want to skate more - hopefully my body holds out. I also want to continue drawing. I’m going to study graphic design so hopefully that turns out all good. And … just live I guess.
What’s the best part about being Skippy?
He’s smooth, not crunchy.
What’s the worst part about being Skippy?
Everybody asks you why you are called Skippy.
Why are you called Skippy?
Conrad Spaumer couldn’t remember the nick name I had at the time so he just called me Skippy . . . and then so did the rest of the world. They then started adding things on like Skipperoni, Skip-skop, Skipperoni beef or palonie, haha!
Awehness?
Thanks to my brada Joe, awehness, hou die handjies hoog, to my mom for supporting me and my dad for chilling at home always, my sister Monja, and my other brother Jay. Thanks to Plankie Plankie goeie-tif goeie-tif, hou die Afrikaans se naam maar hoog, JP, Jansen, Joubert, and all the Thrashers people. Thanks to all the brahs hierso by Menlyn; Nathan, Carol en Marcel. And to all the kids reading this just keep skating and having fun don’t think about sponsors and trying to be cool – Just skate!
For the full article click here to view the mag.