words
BEN OLEYNIK
photos
SEAN CRONAN
New York City is an interesting one to say the least. The congestion, pollution and exorbitant cost of everything make the place somewhat repulsive. However, the culture, endless opportunities, and sheer magnitude of the five boroughs draw in some of the most talented people from all over the world. As a skateboarder, if you visit New York City, I bet you’ll be back. I’ve lived in NYC for the last five years and every summer the city is inundated by skateboarders from across the globe. My favourites, of course, coming from just north of the border. The ground may be rough in New York, but no worse than Canada. And the spots? Well, you already know they’re amazing. Combine everything that makes NYC what it is with direct five-hour flights from Vancouver and there’s more than enough incentive for Zoo York International Pro Ian Twa to visit every summer. A few months back, Ian did just that, and rolled to NYC for two weeks with Mike Vince to take in all the city had to offer and shred with some of his Zoo York teammates— including Dave Willis and Chaz Ortiz. I still find it crazy how fast two weeks in NYC can go by. Much like every time Ian visits, as he was about to leave the conversation quickly turned to just how magnetic the city truly is. He’s plotting his return, and I’m looking forward to it.
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Frontside half-cab 5-0 revert
How many times have you been to NYC?
About eight times now. I usually come every summer for at least a few weeks.
Where did you end up staying?
I stayed in Brooklyn at the Opera House Lofts. My homie, Taylor Clark, hooks it up. I’ve stayed in the same apartment almost every time I’m in New York.
You must love the city to keep coming back.
It’s just a concrete jungle. You skate the streets and find new shit. It’s a good feeling when you get home from skating and you’ve actually been on your board all day long. 34
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True. You were out here with Vince. What was a typical day like for you guys? Me and Vince have been to New York together a bunch of times. A typical day would be waking up at the Opera House, getting some breakfast, and getting on the J Train. Generally, try to meet up with a filmer and hit one of the boroughs to get some footage. When night hits, we usually meet up with you and Marianne to get some dinner at one of New York’s best spots for Thai food. After dinner we generally go back to your place and chill out or go skate Midtown. That’s an average day in NY. Nothing crazy, but always a really good time.
Front crook to fakie
Do you have a favourite NYC spot now?
I like skating Midtown at night. It can be a little hectic with people and security guards, but the spots in the area are bomb and you’re right in the centre of Manhattan. Up in the mix.
You got a chance to shoot with Zoo York videographer RB Umali and photographer Sean Cronan. What was that like?
It was dope. I’ve been out shooting with Cronan a couple times on previous trips, and I had met RB before, but never filmed anything with him. Both are super down-to-earth dudes, which makes it easier for me.
Chaz Ortiz
frontside 50-50
The tricks you filmed are dropping in the Zoo York video, True East. Are you hyped on the shit you got out here? It’s alright. I only got out with RB a couple times. We got some cool stuff in Midtown one night. For me, I feel like there is so much to skate in NY, I could film at a different spot there everyday for a month. I wish I had some more time, but with short trips you just try to make the best out of what time you got. I am definitely hyped for the video, though.
You also got to skate with some of the Zoo team.
Yeah, the first couple days I went skating with Chaz, who’s super mellow in person, and he definitely has serious moves on his board. I thought it might be kinda weird, but it was cool right away. I also went out with Dave Willis, Jamel Marshall, Kevin Tierney and Andre Beverley. All those guys are super sick. I’ve kicked it with Dave and Jamel a bunch, so it feels like I’m just out with the homies skating.
I’ve been on a number of trips with you and you always seem to have mad energy. What’s the secret? Motivated by the hate [laughs]. Drink water and stretch those legs. Oh yeah, and I drink like five coconut waters a day; better than any energy sports drink on the market.
I hear you. I’m trying to get on it, too. NYC is known for its food. Which spots do you like?
The food in New York is so bomb. We always go to that Thai spot called Klong. They have this tamarind chicken dish that is proper as fuck. And I always go to Junior’s, which is some touristy shit in Times Square, but their cheesecake is the bomb. In Brooklyn, there’s
this chicken place called Pies ‘n’ Thighs, which is different chicken dinners and desserts. And for Canadians, every bodega deli is a goto for lunch or breakfast sandwiches.
It’s crazy because New York summers are so hot, you just skate to get everywhere and just sweat all that shit off. For real [laughs]. That’s what Vince and I were saying.
What about seeing the sites and architecture? Do you partake in the touristy stuff at all?
Not really. I went there with my family once, like nine years ago, and we did a bunch of touristy shit. Went to the top of the Rockefeller Center and hit a bunch of museums. I remember the Natural History Museum being creepy as fuck. All these real animals stuffed and set up in rooms that are depicting their natural habitats.
There’s good shit to skate out front though [laughs]. You get to see all the buildings and bridges and neighbourhoods anyways by just skating all over the boroughs.
Exactly. We had a sick view from the roof of the Opera House. The city is amazing.
Ben Oleynik nose manual
Dave Willis
frontside noseslide
Mike Vince
nollie nosegrind
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Backside kickflip
NYC is also known for its nightlife. You get caught up?
Sometimes I get a little loose. This time I kept it real mellow. But if you wanna go out in New York your possibilities are endless. There is usually some shit cracking off or you can just lurk down to the Max Fish and find some homies there, guaranteed.
If someone is visiting the city, what’s a spot they need to skate?
I’d say the Financial District as a whole is a must-skate area. You can get it in pretty good down there on the weekends. Security and people are so thick on the weekdays, it’s basically a write-off.
Who are your favourite skaters to come from here?
My favourite skaters to come out of New York are Gino, Keenan and Zered. I don’t think Zered was born there, but when I think of New York’s skate scene, he definitely comes to mind.
Definitely. What about artists from here? Big L, Jay Z, Biggie. Those dudes are all mainstream these days, but I grew up listening to all three pretty religiously.
When will you be back?
Hopefully real quick. Maybe next summer I’ll come out for a month or two. Every time I come back it feels fresh for me, so I don’t see myself getting over it anytime soon.
zooyork.com
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