Thrasher Magazine

As you know this is the interview issue. And when I was asked, “Is there anybody you want to interview?” I said, “Yeah, I’d love to interview Mark Gonzales.” Only one problem: I had no idea how to get ahold of him. So I did what anybody would do: I opened up the phone book and flipped to the G pages. Turns out there are 17 listings for Mark Gonzales in Austin, TX. Fuck it. Might as well call the first one. So here’s an interview with a guy named Mark Gonzales. –Michael Sieben

Ring, ring…
Hello.

Hey, is this the Gonz?
I’m sorry, who is this?

Hey, Mark, it’s Sieben from Thrasher. What’s up?! So stoked to be talking to you!
Steven?

No, Sieben. Hey, how’s Krooked doing? I’m stoked you guys turned Sebo pro.
Are you speaking English?

Dude, you’re funny. Anyway, how’s the art stuff going?
Art? I don’t make art.

Right, right. Well, visual poetry. Illustrated storytelling. Whatever you want to call it.
I’m sorry, who is this again?

Ha! Okay, run me through the first time you ollied the Gonz Gap at EMB.
Gap? Is this a credit-card solicitation? Because…

No, dude. That’s funny, though. Okay, so what about when you kickflipped it? That was ‘93, right?
Who were you trying to call?

Nah, I get it. You want to talk about current stuff. I respect that. Okay, so run me through your day to day.
My what?

What’s a normal day like in the life of Mark Gonzales?
What was my day like?

Yeah, your normal day. What do you do?
Well, I get up early, go jogging, make breakfast, go to work, come home, make dinner, maybe have a glass of wine and watch a movie, read a bit and then go to bed. For real, though, who is this?


Hmm, I thought it might be weirder. Well, when do you skate?
What’s that?

Are you gonna have a full part in the adidas video?
I honestly have no idea what…

Hippy jump!
Huh?

Anyway, so be totally honest with me. Back in the day, do you think you could ollie higher than Natas?
What’s a nottus?

Playing it cool. Classy. Okay, so you were kinda on the ground floor of this whole ATV thing, right? I mean, you could skate vert and street and you obviously helped usher in the whole freestyle-influenced aspect of street skating, right?
I’m sorry. I’m really confused right now.

Man, I’d heard you were kinda hard to pin down, but this is honestly one of the hardest interviews I’ve ever done. Okay, let’s switch gears. What do you want to talk about?
Wait, you’re interviewing me? Is this being recorded?

Yeah, for the interview issue.
Of what?

Thrasher, dude!
Trasher?

Ha! You’re killing me! Okay, so what’s your favorite video part?
Video part? Like a movie?

Whatever you want to call it, dude!
Probably Blame it on Rio.

I’ve never seen it.
It’s got Michael Caine in it. It’s set in Brazil…

Oh, snap! Like Carlos Ribeiro and those dudes!
What’s that?

I’m down with that scene. Those dudes are rad.
Who is rad?

Brazilians!
Oh. Yeah. So, okay. Well, I need to go pick up my dry cleaning now. What was this for again?

Mark, for real, this was every bit as strange as I’d hoped it would be. Thanks for the interview. So stoked you’re still in the game and killing it. Hey, one last question: do I look like a street skater?
Click.