For this episode 22 the Then and Now Blading Podcast I interview legendary Los Angeles Skater Gonzalo Gonzo Jaquez. Gonzo was one of my favorite skaters in the early to mid-2000s and I was lucky enough to be able to film with him for my video United Front 2 - Trash. Known for his style, he was easily one of the greatest tech skaters of his era. - Jan Welch.

This interview is also available as a podcast on all major streaming services. Just search for “Then And Now Blading”.

Welcome to episode 1 of Face to Face with Robert Guerrero, where we sit down together and discuss his past, present, and future in rollerblading. Robert is currently in Drummondville, Quebec, a two-hour drive from me here in Vermont, where I recently visited him to skate and create content for this channel. We sat down to reminisce on our past, discuss what he’s been up to, and find out his future. We cover how we first met and dig into his early years of skating in Austin, Texas, and San Jose, California, with people like Jason Howard, Jon Julio, Jayson Reduta, and Erick Garcia.

We talk about how his first crew kicked him out and how this made him focus on becoming the best skater in San Jose. Then we go over some highlights from the two sections we filmed together in Urban Decay and DBV5 No One’s Children. We get into the misguided practice of forcing your feet in skates too small for you. Robert then reveals why he is in Quebec, where he was before, and his plans to go to Europe and stay with Ricardo Lino, Mirek from Hedonskate, and then instruct at Blading Camp in Spain. To finish the episode, we watch and react to footage I filmed of him in the mid-90s and his sections in Urban Decay and DBV5 No One’s Children.

Robert Guerrero - DBV5, No One’s Children Section (2002)

This is the Robert Guerrero section from Daily Bread Magazine Video #5 “No Ones Children” from 2002.

Robert Guerrero (18) - Urban Decay Section (1998)

This is the Robert Guerrero section from the Video Urban Decay released in 1998. It was filmed entirely in Nor Cal when Lonnie Gallegos and Jan Welch made a road trip to there from Texas. Filmed by Jan Welch & Lonnie Gallegos, edited by Jan Welch. Urban Decay, Full Video: PLAY.

Who the Fudge Is Adrian Deck (2022) by Ricardo Lino (Interview + Skating Clips).

Thumbnail Photo by Bee Amour.

With this week’s edition Ivo Vegter presents a new format, Behind The Brand, a interview format with the owners of leading brands within our industry. In this Video Ivo met up with Andy Wegener from the skate brand Razors - PLAY.

Brazilionaire is back! Here is his new podcast, featuring Chris Haffey. “Chris Haffey is a World Champion Pro In-Line Skater with multiple X-Games Gold Medals. In this interview Chris shares how he overcame the mental & physical obstacles on his way to the top”.

For the third episode of the Then and Now Interview Series, I chat with Chad Hornish. I first met Chad back in 1997, when we drove to Phoenix, Arizona to introduce the Nimh team at Revolutions Skateshop’s Thursday night skate. I filmed an edit of that trip that featured the Nimh Team and Phoenix locals, including Dustin Latimer and Chad. Shortly after he was added to the Team and we invited him on our California Tour with Montre Livingston, Brian Shima, Jon Elliott, Joey Chase, Adam, and Keith Brierley, and Casey MacFarland.

In recent years Chad has been a force to be reckoned with on the competition scene, has produced numerous sections, and is now pro for Iqon Skate Brand. We discuss, Iqon, his skating, his sections, his travels, and more in this episode. If you enjoy this video, make sure to hit the like button and don’t forget to subscribe to this channel to see more. This interview is also available as a podcast on all major streaming services. Just search for “Then And Now Blading”. - Jan Welch.

Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 00:44 - Backstory 04:09 - Boschi Pope Contest 07:07 - When we met, NIMH Skates 10:00 - Nimh Tour 12:53 - Montre and getting on Iqon 15:44 - Iqon Team and the Iqon Frames 18:56 - Big Wheel Blading 20:21 - Iqon skate and team get together 22:38 - Traveling during COVID for skating 25:54 - Anti-Rocker 26:56 - Pink Video Series 30:28 - Making money today as a blader 33:23 - Favorite trips 35:18 - Competition Skating 37:05 - Street Contests 40:18 - Comps you want to skate? 44:39 - Current video projects 45:47 - Iqon Wheels 48:21 - Going viral on Instagram 56:11 - New England Blade and Camp 56:42 - Until we meet again 59:52 - Outro

Visit Thenandnowblading.com.

Bonjour! Vous parlez francais? Tant mieux! L’interview est dispo ici en FR.

Here is Sofiane Kefane of the Rolling Monkeys, a crew from Nantes, France. Let me take you for a ride. Baguettes & croissants are on me.

Exhibit #01, 2RATZ1CUP - below: Photo by Maxime Hillairaud.

Septembre 2017, the 2 RATZ 1 CUP contest takes place in Nantes, Victor Daum takes 1st place and Sofiane wins the Rookie title ; Sofiane is on fire, and launch a monster trick of his own: PLAY (trick is at 2:05 ; edit by DeLaDuch Studio).

Sofiane: At the time, the frontflip was my signature trick. I followed my good friend Léo, we both pushed each others, the rest is what on you can see on this edit.

Exhibit #02, 540 Barbecue (switch) in the flames of hell, courtesy of par Jonathan Mabileau

Quoting Sofiane: The 540 Barbecue was a child dream, something I always wanted to do: experiencing a fly through fire! My friend Jojo was geared for it ; at that moment, I noticed that the gathering nearby was turning to a riot, it was now or never, this would be perfect on tape!

Exhibit #03, Backflip Gap, Chartrons Skatepark, Bordeaux

Sofiane: Initially I started with a 180 transition that went smoothly, so I decided to try it 360: first try! Why stop here, I laced the 540 but I could not stop, the backflip idea crossed my mind, and I laced it.. first try… I was pretty satisfied, as nobody done the trick before!

Chapter 1 - Sofiane Kefane - Genesis

Sofiane Kefane follows the path of his two brothers: Yacine is a skateboarder, Kevin is rollerblading. Sofiane is only 4 but his choice his made, rollerblades it is.

Day after day, Sofiane practices his moves on the sidewalk ; he also like to try (quoting Sofiane): “completely stupid gaps” where he lands his tricks on the grass, on pebbles or on the sand (can’t stop thinking about that massive gap at the 2 RATZ 1 CUP 2017 contest!).

Sofiane is now 10, his family moves away from the countryside and lands in “Le Mans”, a medium sized town in France not too far from Paris ; the skatepark there is quite an upgrade, it’s not Woodward, but for starter it has a roof! If he behaves, Sofiane spend his wednesday evening at the park. He quickly gets a pair of Roces 5th Element.

At 12, Sofiane moves again, and skates at ‘Le Hangar’ skatepark ; 5300 square meters of freedom to express his creativity. He met his life time friends, and join a crew, his crew, the Rolling Monkeys.

Which skaters helped you build the rider you are today ? BONUS: Give us a skating section.

My sensei was: Gregory Breger AKA the bronze surfer, with crazy back backslides. Those who know Gregory will surely know which tricks I borrowed from him (hint: there is a lot)! Hahaha. Section: Gregory Breger - Quebec 2013 by Pierre Ollivier - PLAY.

Here comes Virgile Dos Santos, digusting tricks on disgusting spots, such a lovely combination! Slams at each session, no downtime allowed with Virgile!. Section: Virgile Dos Santos - dob 4 by Pierre Ollivier & Ronan Algalarrondo - PLAY.

It’s impossible not to mention Gaston Michel (who came back in Nantes). You had to be there, because each session with Gaston was intense! He made me love mizous & playing with words, the provocative way. I’m so thankful, thanks again Dad!

Damien Gerard left us in august. Damien was a friend, I met him when i was 13 years old at the Bling Bling Contest in Nantes ; he was a unique rider, with a huge personality. Damien helped me pushing my limits, he was there for me in Bordeaux. Rest in peace my friend.

Note: I had to cut the list short, it was way too huge! Kudos goes to Raphael Chevallier, the skate with no switch, Lucas Spenle, Romeo Stocchi, Nicolas Auroux, Papi and a lot more.

Chapter 2, Freestyle Rap - French Edition

Sofiane is in love with words, here is a title he wrote “HD Time”, recorded march 2021. Sofiane speaks about his friends and his adventures at the Nantes skatepark. HD, stands for “Hôtel Dieu”, the name of the place (litteraly Hostel God): (PLAY) ; you can check the title on Soundcloud and more titles here: Soundcloud.com/sofiane-kefane.

Sofiane: I’m from the rap school! I quickly understood that skating and rap was compatible ; i started to write when i heard my brother Juda rapping for his 16th birthday ; it was about, you guessed it, friends and rollerblading! I knew i had to rap! The next day, I wrote my first one, I was 15. And it was contagious, the next thing you know, my whole crew, the Rolling Monkeys started writing, we had war cries, our own hymns.

Team Video: Rolling Monkeys - The crew from Nantes (France) releases his team video in 2017, filmed by Franck Steve, Christian Degiovanni & Léo Capoulade. The video featured songs from the team, it’s a real pleasure for your eyes & ears. Featuring: Esther Ehanno, Christian Degiovanni, Sofiane Kefane, Arthur Badia, Rémy Leusch, Raphael Chevallier, Franck Steve, Olenn Somah, William Pierre, and, Léo Capoulade, Félix Maheo, Maxime Buaud, Fab Edwood, Roméo Stocchi.

Sofiane is working on a new section: “I’m planning to release a street video with some childhood friends, people who know the blading scene from Nantes won’t be disappointed!” WAIT & SEE!

You can follow Sofiane on Instagram, his musical prods are available on Soundcloud.

X-Games gold medalist/ professional rollerblader and BJJ (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) blue belt, Jaren -The Monster- Grob has always had a niche for danger. Between his professional career in rollerblading or getting on the mats in a BJJ tournament, Grob is always looking to test his limits as an athlete. Grob joins MyMMANews to discuss the cross-culture of skating and Jiu Jitsu, competing in two vastly different sports and so much more! Article on Mymmanews.com.

Nils Jansons is recognized as the best roller skater in the world! Is 30 years a new beginning for the next success or the end of what started at the age of 20? This mini restrospective/ interview was done for the Ghetto Games 2021 event, that took place July 23-25 (Results).

Latvian language ; you can activate the subtitles on the video player.

Rollerblade Pro, Razors Pro and Adapt pro, The Atlanta local, Julian Bah has been a top pro aggressive inline skater since the early 2000s and he is still going strong.

My first memory of Julian Bah, was “this kid doing a huge 180 in a street contest in Atlanta”, a few months went by and he was announced as a SKATEPILE team skater, a few more months and Julian was part of team Rollerblade and Fiziks frames, this was only the beginning. Julian’s skate career has been full of ups and downs, from amazing video parts in several videos to some “blade drama”.

In 2018 he is still on top of the game and I’m excited to share this Skate Talk with all of you. Why did you got fired from rollerblade? What happened between you and Coco Sanchez? How was it living in the Razors house? How did you become part of the Adapt skates pro team? All of these and lot more questions were answered during this 100 minutes skate talk with one of the most influential skating individuals in 2018.

Video on Youtube | Visit Jvaughn.co.