Q & A | Team Rider - Joe Uva
What’s your earliest memory of skateboarding? How did you get started and what has your come up been like?
"Earliest memory was I found a beat up old Element board with some tiny wheels; they had to be like 35 mm it was in the trash at my parents apt complex. I started traveling the contest circuit with my dad all over the country when they had the Dew Tours, Gatorade AM Opens and such. Coming up in the era I came up in was wild, it was the birth of a new age of skating."
What’s your favorite memory of skating? Related to you, and also in general in all of the skateboarding world?
"Damn, that’s hard honestly... I’m thankful to have so many favorite memories in skateboarding and I think it was maybe the first time I had touched love park with my board. I saw it as a small kid for years in videos, and skating the place just made everything feel so real it was rad."
You are obviously very much into music, how has that helped shape your career in skating?
"I think it’s helped the way I skate in a sense of growing up into a metal head. You really don’t give a shit what people think, so I think that’s why I skated the way I do. I do what I want on my board, and if people don’t like it, well then kick rocks. I think the music I’m into has definitely helped me skate more aggressive in a sense."
Favorite video and favorite part?
"Definitely any video part from Zero New Blood and also Chris Cole’s part in Ride the Sky."
Was there ever a time you wanted to quit? Why?
"There have been a few... But more so over outside reasons. I had a few years where my girlfriend and friends at the time took my focus away from skating in a negative way. But once I got away from those people I realized I was a kook for not skating as much, and I really haven’t stopped since."
What are some of your hobbies outside of skating?
"Definitely going to metal shows and hardcore shows and occasionally I will DJ some shows at goth events around Philadelphia. Me and my lady normally just go to different restaurants and go look at old antiques and shit."
What advice would you give to someone who wanted to get into skating or just getting into it?
"Literally, it’s cliche, but just do it for you dude. Skating’s a rewarding thing in itself to accomplish on an ever progressing personal basis."
Who has been your biggest influence?
"Now that’s hard I have so many influences but at the end of the day gotta be guys like Chris Cole and Corey Duffel. Those dudes developed my sense of skating big shit and dressing punk."
How did skating help define who you are as a person?
"I think it definitely gives me a different view of the world. It’s also vastly helped me develop social skills and friendships that have stood the test of time. It’s shown me in any aspect of life to always commit."
Give any shoutouts to anyone you want here!
"Definitely Zucca Skateboards, Zembo Skateshop, Boardy Cakes Wheels, Brunswick Grip, Ethik of course, all the homies from Middletown Skate Park, Bobby D, Wombat, the love of my life Kailie I wouldn’t be where I am without her, Mitch Hartman, Greg Pachell you red headed beauty, the entire Zembo team, Ethan Todt, Tnells, and anyone else I missed you know who you are.. Thank you."