You're pretty well know around these parts, but for those people who have been asleep, do you think you can sum yourself up?
Sam Bruce:
I'm from London and have been skateboarding for around 7-8 years now. I'm a little crazy and have turned in to pretty much a lazy skater. I love to travel, so come 2010 i've got plans to enter all the girls comps in Europe.
Hooked:
One of the first girl UK skate scene videos is about to launch, thanks to Jenna Selby at Rogue Skateboards, how did the project come about? and who else is involved?
Sam Bruce:
I asked Jenna the same question, here's her response:
"Urm basically I broke both the bones in my ankle last october, got stuck in Austria for a few weeks as I wasn't allowed to fly home after an op = much pins and plateage. Had the Mega Mission tour footage tapes with me and friends who do the Yama videos over there taught me the basics of Final Cut and I put my first vid together. Then I got made redundant and decided to make the video. It was something I'd been meaning to do for some years and felt it was finally the right time with so many good riders now around the UK. Started off as a team video then expanded it to a UK girls skate video to just showcase the talent we have here.
I've done a lot of the filming, along the way other people offered there services the guys from Sidewalk, Michael MacInally, James Strutt and Paul Silvester. A good skate friend Neil Szymanski very kindly has donated his evenings and weekends to do the titles in zero amount of time. That's it really.
Nikita and Rubicon have just put up money towards the showing which will be on the 12th December in Soho."
Hooked:
Was the filming process a blast? Any tales to tell?
Sam Bruce:
I only started filming with Jenna not so long ago, and have only been out a few times, so have had to cram a lot in. The weather has been pretty crap which is a downer but skating with Helena Long always makes it a much more pleasent experience. That girl is just full of beans and up for anything! No tales to tell i'm afraid... sorry for being a bit boring.
Hooked:
You've skated a few comps this year, how do you find them? Are you super consistent under pressure or do the nerves get in the way?
Sam Bruce:
I love skate comps. They get me so amped! It's the only time when i get to have a proper skate and when i actually get the hammers out. I always start off really nervous. I hate people watching me skate, but when the adrenaline takes over, i go in to my own little world.
Hooked:
What trick have you got in your bag that shuts people down in a game of skate?
Sam Bruce:
It used to be an ollie late shuv-it, but nowadays the kids just keep biting back.
Hooked:
You get asked to do interviews a lot, apart from spending time having to think of crazy answers, what else do you spend your spare time doing?
Sam Bruce:
I've just got back from a surf trip to Morocco which was amazing and am planning to prepare myself for what the British sea's have got to give. I also study British sign language and am planning on taking up salsa again.
Hooked:
Are you still living, working between Southampton and London? How do you find it?
Sam Bruce:
No. I lived in Winchester for University and worked in Southampton at the same time, but then dropped my studies and moved back to London in 2008. London is my home and just has more to offer, although my friends still live in Southampton and i always make time to go and have a good old party with them!
Hooked:
Where are you skating mainly? Got any favourite hang outs?
Sam Bruce:
I'm quite lucky in the way that i have 3 skate parks just round the corner from me. I've been skating Royal Oak (Meanwhile 2) quite a bit but i would say Stockwell would be my usual hangout. There's going to be a new indoor skatepark opening in London by the end of the year, so i'll be sure to be hitting that up come these cold winter nights.
View Meanwhile 2 Skatepark in a larger map
Hooked:
It can be intimidating turning up at a skate spot and being the only girl, what keeps you pushing forward through the testosterone filled spots?
Sam Bruce:
It used to be quite intimidating for the first part, but as you grow older times change, you become more tolerable and you make great friends along the way. After all these years i'm just starting to establish my 'skate group'. The people who make me feel part of the family and really push you to skate. You just feed off each others energy.
Hooked:
What's the worse bail you've ever experienced?
Sam Bruce:
Skateboarding drunk at Notting Hill carnival a few months ago! We were on our way to a house party and we saw this rad drop in next to a set of stairs. I and one other were convinced we could make it.... Half an hour waiting for the ambulance, 3 hours in A&E and hey presto. I walk out with a fractured elbow. No fun!
Hooked:
Being sponsored is the 'sacred land' of a lot of skaters, how did Gallaz then Vans catch your talent?
Sam Bruce:
Gallaz were my first ever sponsor. A friend of mine mentioned me to someone who worked for them at the time and she came and watched me skate and so hooked me up. Then a year later i had won my local comp, been to quite a few comps and just generally made myself known and that's when Vans offered me to be on their flow team. You've just got to get yourself out there really.
Hooked:
You surf too, do you prefer to skate or surf?
Sam Bruce:
Surfing is pretty much a new experience for me. I've done it a few times before, but as i mentioned before, i went to Morocco last week and that's the first time i've surfed everyday non-stop. I'm hooked! To be honest the two can't be compared to each other. Obviously skating is pretty much second nature to me but i'm hoping that surifing will be on a par with it. It's so much more physically demanding. My body is used to just pushing with my legs all the time and with surfing you need to 'push' with your arms. I'm hoping with surfing i'm not going to come away with as many bruises...
Hooked:
Who have you noticed recently coming up on the girl skate scene?
Sam Bruce:
Helena Long has just been getting better and better, but i've noticed that after a well deserved break Lucy Adams seems to be on top form again. It's really hard to say, but i reckon in 2010 you'll see a lot of new names cropping up.
Hooked:
We're about to hit the New Year, what plans have you got for 2010?
Sam Bruce:
A lot of European competitions. I've got my eyes set on Italy, Switzerland, Czech Republic and who ever else will let me in to their country! I can't wait!
Hooked:
