1. Name / Instagram Account
Chad Knapp chad_knapp_art
2. Age?
47
3. Where are you from?
Aurora CO, currently Phoenix AZ
4. What’s your history with skateboarding? What role does it serve in your life today?
In 84-85 my friend and I got what we called fat skateboards. I had a Nash Executioner. My first real complete was a Neil Blender Coffee Break with Trackers and Slimeballs, plus all the rails and guards that I could add. We didn’t have parks or ramps other than launch ramps or boxes. Mostly skated behind strip malls or the occasional trek to Sessions or Jamaica Jim’s. Stepped away for a bit playing hockey, came back around the time Questionable video came out, got dogged a bunch for still doing step offs. Got really into snowboarding. The stopping and starting became a pattern, but always had a set up. For a while one of my board’s primary purpose was to haul band equipment.
Today I like riding for the stoke, the remembering, exercise, and the positivity I get from my friends. Riding by myself is rad for meditation, but riding with friends is the best.
5. What’s your set-up, including shoes?
Park: Matt Hensley H-Street 8.75, Slappy Hollow 156, T Bones 58mm
Street: Russell Creature 8.6, Thunder 151, Dragons 58mm
Vans High Top Pro, extra insole.
6. What terrain do you like to skate?
Parks, mostly pool or bowl area, Back yard pool, downtown Phoenix streets and parking garages.
7. What stokes you out in skating?
Being outside, being with friends, being supportive and hyping up friends, making progress and accomplishing goals. I’m grateful for having met the AZPX crew, the Tempe Morning Weather report crew, and everybody in the ODSC AZ community. I’m super appreciative of their positive energy, showing me new stuff or helping me relearn old tricks. I’m stoked to have the opportunity to develop and grow.
8. What could be better in skateboarding?
Park Maintenance opening the gates on time. (it gets hot in phx)
People leaving their trash all over the place.
Garbage tags and throw ups. I don’t want to skate a punk venue bathroom. I like graffiti, just not crap graffiti. Shakes cane at sky.
9. What inspires you, in skateboarding, and life?
I teach high school art and my kids inspire me, they show me a perspective that I can forget in my progressing age. Also the people I skate with, there are rippers everywhere young and old and I get ideas and encouragement to work on from them. My family.
10. What bands/music do you like?
High Vis, Drain, Meat Wave, Mindforce, Czarface, JFA, the Faction, a lot of punk and hardcore from the 90s. Some rocksteady and occasionally French synth pop.
11. What makes you laugh?
When I fall down, unless it’s when I fall down and really hurt myself, then I don’t laugh.
12. Favorite books/movies/tabloids?
The Road Cormac McMarthy
Bridge on the River Kwai
Caddyshack
Over the edge
13. Major injuries?
I’ve been fortunate to not have had any crazy injuries, mostly tons of rolled and fractured ankles, bruised or broken ribs.
14. Outside of skating, any other passions/interests?
My Vespa’s, I’m in the Geezers S.C. We go on rallies and rides. Promoting my students in art exhibits. This last year nine of my advanced kids sanded down old, donated decks, regripped them with their own designs and painted the bottom. They were in a gallery for a month. Record collecting. Sill looking for the Odd Man Out lp. Not paying 300 bones to some dude in Japan on discogs that seems to be the only one holding.
15. Skating as a kid vs. skating as an adult over 40…talk about the differences and similarities.
As a kid: The movie Stand by Me, but instead of a dead body we were looking for a ditch to skate.
As an adult: How much Tylenol is too much Tylenol. Also, I can buy boards and trucks and wheels whenever because I have a job.
16. Favorite skate videos?
Summer Sessions Sure Grip
Search for Animal Chin
Wheels of Fire
Hokus Pokus
Questionable
The End
17. Favorite skaters?
Matt Hensley
Ray Barbee
Natas
Jason Adams
18. Favorite skate graphics? Worst skate graphics?
Grosso Forever
Jesse Martinez Handshake
Neil Blender Coffee Break
Hensley Street Swinger
Creature has been putting out some sick metal hardcore looking graphics.
19. Who should we interview for the next episode of the Zero Club?
Shannon Tommy Harris
20. Last words?
The pit goes counterclockwise.
