Behind the Scene: Jimmy Hake I-view - 07/07/11

From now until the end of the summer Be-mag will bring you regular features on Camp Woodward in Pennsylvania. These features are intended to keep those who have been to Woodward informed on what’s going on, and let those who might want to come know what Woodward is all about.

Although there are many notable things about camp, what really make Woodward a great place for rollerbladers are the dedicated staff and pros that work here supporting and promoting rollerblading. So, what better way to find out about the camp than to ask one of our visiting pros what he thinks about it?

For our first Woodward feature we have an interview with Jimmy Hake. Jimmy comes from Youngstown, Ohio and rides for Razors and Identity Clothing. He is no stranger to park skating, having worked at Vertigo Skatepark for several years, as well winning the 2004 MTL Classic and going ASA pro in 2005. We are fortunate enough to have Jimmy volunteer his time to instruct an inline group each week. Here’s what he had to say about camp and rollerblading:



What brings you to Woodward?
Hold on, let me eat this Reese’s cup first. You gotta write that. (Jimmy eats his Reese’s cup). So what brings me to Woodward? How about the amazing skate life here? It’s basically a skater’s dream to come to Woodward, and I’m lucky enough to be here. I’ve been trying forever to come as a visiting pro, but every year it never worked out. But this year at BCSD [Mike] Bennett asked me if I wanted to come out and I was like, hell yeah!

What was your first impression of camp?
Amazing, basically. It’s Camp Woodward – that explains itself (laughs). Hey, you gotta put the chuckles in there too, you know? (more laughs)

How is having Ross Anthony as a roommate?
Ross is simply gnar-buckets. Not just in skating. There’s not a day that goes by that he doesn’t do something crazy or different. I wouldn’t want any other roommate.
Having worked at Vertigo and building pretty much that whole park, what do you think of the parks here?
The ramps are definitely better here; they’re made a lot more professionally. I don’t consider myself a professional builder by any means. Nate Wessell built most of the parks here, and I learned to build from Will Morris learned from Nate, so I use the same techniques.

A lot of the stuff here was made by BMXers with BMXers in mind, but all that stuff is good for rollerblading too; it makes you go bigger. I wish there was a longer rollerblading-oriented handrail here, but there’s so much other stuff to skate it doesn’t really matter.



What’s your favourite park here?
I don’t really have a favourite park; I’m so sporadic, I’m always moving around. But as far as ramps, the Cloud-9 spine is my favourite. It is the most perfect mini-ramp I’ve ever skated.

What do you think of the interaction between skateboarders, rollerbladers and BMXers here at camp?
You tend to see rivalries between sports, like between skateboarders and rollerbladers, because so many skateboarders and rollerbladers are so close together. But I hate it, I wish it would just end. If you just sit down and talk you realise it doesn’t make a difference; I’ve made a lot of friends with skateboarders, both old and young. The majority of kids all get along, anyway. That’s another good thing about coming to camp; although you might notice the stupid skateboarding-rollerblading rivalry, you really have an opportunity to get to know about other sports you may not have been properly exposed to. We’re really all just trying to do the same thing, just with different styles.

How do you like instructing?
I totally love it, I love skating with the kids. It’s all about the kids. They’re the future of rollerblading.

What do you think of the kids here? Any future Haffeys or Shimas?
Definitely seen a few eye-catchers. Blake Kelly who was in my instruction group is one of them; watch out for him in a few years. Sam Moore, Chris Smith and David Sizemore from Atlanta were here. They’re awesome. This kid, Mike Booker was here too. He’s tight, I know him from Vertigo. And of course all the kids that were here for the Playstation Am-Jam finals: Jordan Smith, Cooper Ficara, Cody Porche, Randall Ruiz, and Andrew Hendrichs. They’re all amazing rippers, you’ll definitely be seeing more of them.

What is your favourite thing about being at camp?
Making friends and skating with them. It helps you learn. If you skate with your friends it makes you have a more positive attitude about skating. And of course watching the next generation of rollerbladers learning to skate.

Being part Cherokee Indian, do you have an Indian name? If not, what would it be if you did?
I think Chief Gnar-Buckets is pretty tight. But that probably suits Ross more. I don’t know, something about my long hair?

Hey Mark (skateboard director), if you were going to give Jimmy an Indian name what would it be?
Long hair, big smile.

Jimmy: Yeah, I like it. Chief Fun Hair Big Smile.

He said “long hair” not “fun hair.”
Oh, whatever. It’s still good.

Although I don’t know if it really exists anymore, why do you think there used to be a stigma surrounding park skating?
I don’t know why it existed really, but I notice it less these days. Regardless, I think the concept of being a “real street” skater is pretty dumb. If you skate, you skate, on anything. If you really love skating you’ll skate whatever; it’s all fun.

On a scale of one to ten how fun is Woodward Camp?
Do you even have to ask? Definitely a ten. But it should be on a bigger scale. It’s just mega fun.

How do you think Woodward fits into the grand scheme of rollerblading?
I think it’s important; it’s one of the few places that kids can come and really learn a lot of new tricks in a short period of time. It’s a unique experience; where else do you get to go and skate everyday with your friends and learn from pros? The rollerbladers that come to Woodward are more likely to continue skating for a long time; Woodward really cultivates your love for rollerblading.

Anything else?
Just a big thanks to all the great inline staff here at camp!

Tags: behind the scene interview jimmy hake razors woodward