Interview: Don Brown

Part 11 of our short interview series could not have been timed better. With today being ‘Go Skateboarding Day’ who better top speak to than it’s founder, Don Brown. Originally from Brighton, UK. He moved to the USA in 1984 with a one way ticket to check it out, where in his words he ‘got accidentally sponsored by Vision/Independent’. He has been there ever since and has called Southern California his home for the past 37 years.

 

He has spent the past 30 years working with his good friend Pierre Andre, building Etnies, éS, Emerica, Sheep, ThirtyTwo and Altamont. But that is far from Don’s sole (I know he will appreciate that pun) contribution to skateboarding.  With the work he does with various skateboarding non-profits, the continual growth of Go Skateboarding Day and the surge in popularity with skater owned shoe brands finally returning, Don is being kept very busy. Top that with the reunification of éS with Tom Penny, these are exciting times in the Sole Tech camp. 

 

 

What are you currently working on?

All these damn questions you just gave to me, haha. Lots happening at Sole Tech as skateboarding is booming and skaters are coming back to skater owned brands… business is really strong, skate shops are healthy, there’s a tonne of new young skaters coming in to our world. 1 in 3 skateboarders today is female, and there’s also a resurgence in over 35 year old skaters bring back their youth. Outside of Sole Tech I’m involved with helping leading a non-profit for skateboarding called IASC (International Assc of Skateboard Companies)… right now we’re working on setting up the next Hall of Fame which has been tricky due to Covid 19…. also Go Skateboarding Day is a day I created which is coming up so planning on events for that as the world gets healthier.

 

 

Favourite skate related possession?

I have British skateboard called a Surf Flyer. This was the first board I ever owned in 1976, I have it close to my bed and every day I wake up – there it is. It reminds me of the unexpected and amazing journey that this piece of wood with 4 wheels has taken me on. The places it’s taken me, the friendships it has created, the mental and psychological challenges that it’s allowed me to lose and win. My journey was never planned and I’m grateful to trust in my commitment and passion of skateboarding to lead me in the right direction.

 

Something about you that is not related to skateboarding that people might not know?

A few years back ran a couple of marathons getting 3:28 as my best time. You learn a lot about yourself physically and mentally when you push yourself to total exertion. There’s also a lot or parallels in preparation as we should think about in skating such as building a strong foundation before pushing too much and always getting injured.

 

 

What did you do yesterday?

Drove back from a weekend family trip to Central Coast California. I had fun exploring the beaches and skating with my two kids.

 

 

Favourite period in skate history that isn’t right now?

I liked looking at photos in magazines of the 1970’s in California. Seeing photos of Tony Alva, Jay Adams, the Logan Family, Laura Thornhill always looked so gnarly and untouchable as a kid. I remember going to a skate shop in Brighton in the late 70’s… the smell of the griptape, the look of the clear urethane wheels always hit all the senses, especially as a kid that never had any money so this stuff was all a dream.  It also seemed like a time for individuals to pioneer the industry with new tricks so it seemed really exciting.

 

 

Favourite skate spot of all time past or present?

Huntington Beach Pier in the 80’s always had a special place in my heart. It’s not always the physical spot but who you meet there, and HB pier had skaters visiting from all over the world that have become friends for life: Ed Templeton, Pierre-Andre, Bob Schmelter, Fabian Kravetz, Russ Howell, Stefan Johnasson, Hazze Lingren and so many more. I even met my wife there! It’s funny I mentioned HB Pier, as growing up in Brighton the main skate spots were around the two piers there and then I end up work with a guy called Pier-re, haha.

 

 

What’s next in skateboarding?

Skateboarding is going to continuously progress and expand. It’s connected from the core niche skateboarding all the way out to the mainstream street fashion. With the Olympics happening it’s going to create a divide of skateboarders who love the rawness of the streets, and 8 year old skaters that are being coached to be Olympic champions.  It will get more generational based on age groups where we’ll have it from the new entrants all the way to the old men like us! For almost 40 years I’ve seen every angle of skateboarding… no matter where it goes let’s try our best to keep skateboarding in the hands of skateboarders….then we’ll know it’s going to roll in the right direction.

Follow Don on Insta at www.instagram.com/don_brown