The Rod Ferens Interview

Interview by Ben Oleynik. Portraits by David Christian. Plaza Footage by Ryan McGuigan. Footage by Jeremiah Doubt

1. Which do you miss more Winnipeg or Thunder Bay?
I was born in Winnipeg, but grew up in Thunder Bay. Thunder Bay is a sick place to live. If it weren't for Thunder Bay, I may have never started skateboarding. Although Winnipeg had such a sick skate scene back in the day, nobody really knew how sick it really was. To this day most of my favorite skaters still live in Winnipeg, too bad they still don't skate.


2. How's living in Vancouver?
I love Vancouver so much. I don't leave unless I go to Powell River to see my parents. I don't need to leave Van, I have all I need in a city right here. Our scene we have here, especially with the plaza now is ill. Peeps hate on the plaza, but it is seriously the most fun place to skate. It's hard to leave some days.




3. What are you feeling about skateboarding these days?
Skateboarding itself is the raddest thing I could ever do. I feel like I'm more in touch with my board now. Sometimes I don't even want to get off my board or talk to peeps cuz I'm so into it. I like to skate how I think of it in my head and how I want skateboarding to look from all my past skateboarding experience.






4. Dare I ask, what aren't you feeling about skateboarding these days?
I feel skateboarding has lost its heart and soul. People just go skating these days cause of sponsorships, or they feel they can make money or some shit. Then the whole skate industry is nuts man, it's like fuckin' high school. Unless you know the right people, you're doomed! Look at Trav: the dude is a gifted skater, still on distro...what else does it take? 3 more fuckin' crazy parts? Maybe he doesn't jock the right peeps enough or maybe he's still in Canada, or maybe his pants aren't tight enough? Trav should be pro! I could go into this, but that's enough hating.





5. Big changes in the Canucks organization this year huh?
It's so rad to have an NHL team again. I missed having a team since Winnipeg lost its team. I'm so down to back the Canucks, since we do have the best name. I'd like to see Linden get a ring tho! Everybody should back their home teams!

6. You just had a part come out in the Modern Love video last year. How do you think it turned out?
I'm stoked on all the dudes who had shit in there. I think everybody brought a different feel to the vid. It wasn't just a hammertime skate throwdown! My part coulda been better, but it's hard when you work 40 hours a week and try to hang with the girl you love. Plus Ry is hard to get out these days, and since he's the best filmer, I don't wanna fuck with anybody else! I am stoked though on the response I got on my part.





7. So you're practically married huh?
Pretty much! My girl is pretty much my wife. We'll probably make it official soon. We've been together for like 10 years now. I wanna get old with her and be hangin' on the porch when we're like 100 years old! That's what's up!

8. Who do you ride for?
I ride for Nike (Thanks to Nery Sandoval), DGK, Gold, Venture (Thanks to S&J, Jarred, Wade and Stevie), and Headquarter (Thanks to Richardo).




9. Which Nikes are you feeling right now?
I usually like the ones that Huf designs. But, I can always have a good day of skating in Dunks. I know all the shoe nerds will hate this question.




10. What music are you listening to?
Music huh! GHOSTFACE!!!!!!!!!! This dude runs the world! Although I think he does a lot of Coke! The new E-40 is sick as hell also.




11. So I know you work full time. Is it hard to find time to skate?
I work 40 hours a week every week and so does everyone else. So whenever my day off is, the rest of my friends, filmers and photographers are busy. I usually don't bother anymore, I just go skate when I can. So ya it is hard.




12. So if there's a Micky in your freezer, and you have one drink, what are the chances of you not having another drink?
If there is a mickey in my freezer, it usually has a purpose there, and that purpose is to go straight to my liver...all of it. An entire mickey is pretty much is my one drink. Especially Whiskey! It puts my hate in check.

13. So if you're downtown and you want to eat, do you get buck slice or sushi?
Sushi if it's payday, buck slice week before payday. Actually I'll take steak over everything!

14. Top three video parts?
Gino-101
Anything Huf
Anything Keenan





15. Whats the plan for the future?
Have a family, work, skate, get a condo, have fun with my homies. When you get older, shit gets real man.


16. Thank yous?
My family, My Queen, Ben and Geoff for this interview and all my homies (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE), my sponsors, and whatever higher power that is out there.