In the Know: James St Ours - 06/04/12

Hey guys, it's James St. Ours. I'm 25 and I've been skating for 12 or 13 years, and I've recently move to San Francisco California. Fucking love it to death. Some say I drink a lot, I say they don't drink enough. I have a habit of cursing like a god damn sailor especially when I drink or am skating...so I guess that means all the time. Heat, Able, Valo, Kaspa...I like to fall for some reason, pain kind of makes you feel awake. I've been working for Empire since I've moved here and skating a lot. Trying to breathe a little bit of life back into the industry, we just have to do it the right way I suppose. Yes I've been missing in Ohio haha. I'm back though!!! You know that feeling when you drank too much coffee and it's unsettling? Yeah I like that. It's true I like big gaps and big rails to skate preferably over a ledge. Warming up is rediculous, but stretching is not. Ummm I don't know what else too say guys but I'll be more than happy to answer anything you want to throw at me!!! Lates

Avichai asked: Whate some new tricks you've been working on, and when will we be seeing a new section from you?

I'm always trying too learn new things, you just may not always see them because it seems that I'm either doing stunts or falling in videos haha. Speaking of which, the next section will be in the Heat team video dropping this summer/BTS!

Mag10 asked: How do you feel when riding transition?

Um, I feel like a retarted 8 year old whenever I get close to a transition. Gee thanks Tim!
P.S. I'm working on that.

Barbra Streisand asked: Why do you like kinks and what has Empire done for you as a skater?

I like how it feels to grind a kink rail, they are fun as fuck to ride and they are big and scary sometimes. Not a lot of people surf them either so that's cool. Empire has taken care of me really well in the past. It's not just a business relationship, we're a family. Flying me out too shoot ad's or film for movies, going on tour all over and being there if I needed anything.

Big Rolla asked: What's your Able frame going too look like?

It's a new design and from Able...BAD ASS of course!!!

Mbrols asked: Do you feel that many of the new trends in rolling are properly founded (i.e. are people "changing" because that's the real them or are people changing to follow the crowd)?

When you're young and exposed to a lifestyle, such as skating, you may only know what you're shown. Then some people realize they can think on their own and do what they please and get into what they enjoy. A lot of guys have caught shit for doing this, but it's really them. We all are constantly changing. Yet there are some yahoos that are so fucking caught up, that they don't know any better and too feel acceptance, they change up quicker than shit. Everyone figures themselves out eventually.

Diegorico asked: Have you ever lost hope in the rolling world? I've heard your name floating around and have seen you in a couple of clips but does it ever get frustrating to be as good as you are and be in the industry as long as you have and not have more recognition?

You can get a bit frustrated in the way that things are run sometimes, but we're still learning how too do things. We're getting better each year so I'm not concerned. Now for the cheesey part. I've been rolling for 12 or so years, I'm grateful for what I've gotten, it's what I love too death and I'm blessed to be able to do this on this level. Definetly not frustrated.

DK asked: You thrive on stunts and at times it almost looks funny when you are just skating a little ledge or something...you almost look out of place...Anyway...out of all the stunts you have done what one put the most
fear in you? Or what fall made you say to yourself, "damn that was stupid, but I better stand up and try it again".

You sound like Negrete haha...Umm I like that scared feeling you have before you do something you know you may get hurt on you know. Big gaps stand out as the scary ones. The roll too 540 in Road To Nowhere was kind of sketchy. The 180 at the end of Forever Now had a 5 story drop, so if I did'nt clear it I'd fall 50 feet in a parking garage. The worst is the one in DB that I fell on. It's a 14 foot straight gap, then drops 15 feet with a 2 foot grass gap into a parking lot. I had no heel pads in my Xsjado's and I got up the first time and it hurt like hell but I thought I better do it again so I would'nt be scared, then I bruised my heels for a month till I could even put them in shoes again haha.

MKK | s3 asked: Why don't you just get a Be-Mag account nigga?!

Do you think I'd do this without having an account? Seriously??

Basza asked: Tell us about the new Able frame projects, and how it's possible to land those huge 540's you have been doing for some time...peace.

Well we have 2 new frames coming out this year. The first is a Freestyle frame for all of you grinder guys, the second is a Core system style frame that will be better for us flat rocker guys! They both will have a new look and design that's completely different from our other frame style. As for the 540's...Go really fast and make sure you ride flat rocker so you can feel the ground better. It's good to have your friends calling you a pussy or a fucking bitch so you can shut them up when you land it.

I am Neo asked: Why did you leave Roces?

I did'nt leave them by choice, the industry was down at that point and the team had to be cut down. They could'nt afford to pay me as a Pro, but definetly did'nt think I should be put onto the Am team out of respect. No hard feelings, just the business end of our relationship.

ZiM108 asked: What would you do if rollerblading had it's own channel and you could make any show you want for the channel. What would it be about?

Well first I don't think we'd ever have an exclusive channel for us, but maybe a show. I'd make it more of a lifestyle show because outside of our sport, people have a fucked up vision of us. I'd show them how fucking crazy the sport is right now, where we're heading and the people in our industry that are doing the big things to make everything better for all of us. Show comparisons between other sports so they can see that we've squashed most of the stunts skateboarding and biking have tried. We're not copy cats, we've just advanced faster than they have and they are jaded. That's why we need to show them what's up.

Will asked: What do you think makes you a marketable individual?

If you look at other industries, you have personality. The sport side of it is of course a huge deal, but the way they deal with the public and the way the public percieves them matters a lot. No one wants to support a guy who won't talk to other skaters or has an attitude when he goes too competitions. So as cheesey as it sounds, style, personality, looks, skating, relationships all matter.

Be-mag would like to thank James for taking the time to answer these questions.

Photos: Brandon Smith

Middle Right: Fishbrain
Middle Left: Fishbrain Stall
Bottom: Roll to 180

Tags: able brandon smith empire heat james st ours kaspa valo