Skate pioneer Drake Jones talks roots
- Text by Robin Nierynck
- Photography by See captions
San Francisco’s Drake Jones was one of the 90s’ most iconic skateboarders, who painted the scene of modern street skating culture.
Now he’s being honoured, together with three other skate icons Kareem Campbell, Joey Bast and Richard Angelides, by adidas’ Honor Your Roots tribute series. Check out the gallery above for shots of each of the four legends killing it in their prime years, which have found their way onto tees celebrating each rider’s legacy.
A launch event is taking place 30 May at FTC in San Francisco, featuring projections of archival footage of the four riders, 90s skate video music, and a photography exhibition.
Huck caught up with the now retired Drake Jones to talk about roots and never taking anything for granted.
What do roots mean to you?
Besides the fact that I used to wear a navy blue sweatshirt with ‘Roots’ written on it everywhere I went until I left it at a Slam City Jam in Vancouver one year… It just means being grounded and having knowledge of what has come before you.
(I was informed on Instagram that a skate shop owner from the OC found my sweatshirt that day and didn’t know it was mine, still has it and is willing to give it back to me if I need it. I told him that’s rad and thank you but it’s yours now.)
How do you feel about being considered an icon?
An icon? I don’t think I’ve heard that one before… An icon to me is someone like a Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods – where people from different cultures around the world can easily recognise your name and know what you have done. But saying that, I am more than honoured to be a part of this adidas Skateboarding collab’ and can’t thank them and skateboarding enough for helping me become who I was as a skater back in the day.
What are the most important things you’ve learned on your journey? What do you feel is the most important knowledge you can pass to the next generation just coming up?
Never take anything for granted and be thankful for the people that you meet throughout your life. I started skateboarding over 27 years ago and never dreamed any of this was ever going to happen. I didn’t do everything right, and sad to see some of my friends that did it wrong aren’t around anymore, but I know we all started skating for the same reason… ‘cause it was fun and wasn’t a structured sport. Seems like today the majority of kids want to start skating for the wrong reasons – which would be fortune and fame, not fun and freedom. If you want to skate learn all the basics before nollie late flipping out of a trick, or into it for that matter.
Find out more about the Respect Your Roots series at adidas Skateboarding.
You might like
Nottingham’s forbidden skaters are repaving the city’s landscape
Skate Nottingham — Having once been a UK skateboarding hub, a Y2K bylaw banned the sport in the city’s public areas. Now, a new generation is demonstrating the value that they bring to the local area, and recalibrating attitudes across the board.
Written by: Molly Baker
“Moment of escape”: Maen Hammad’s defiant West Bank skate photos
Landing — Choosing to return to Palestine after growing up in the USA, the photographer found himself drawn to Ramallah’s burgeoning skate scene. His debut monograph explores the city’s rebellious youth, who pull tricks in the face of occupation.
Written by: Miss Rosen
The Ukrainian skatepark sanctuary on the frontlines of war
Krytka — In Okhtyrka, just 50km from the border with Russia, a crew of young skaters, musicians and friends gutted out an abandoned factory, filling it with ramps and music equipment to create a shelter of community and resilience.
Written by: Isaac Muk
At Belgium’s Horst, electronic music, skate and community collide
More than a festival — With art exhibitions, youth projects and a brand new skatepark, the Vilvoorde-Brussels weekender is demonstrating how music events can have an impact all year round.
Written by: Isaac Muk
Volcom teams up with Bob Mollema for the latest in its Featured Artist Series
True to This — The boardsports lifestyle brand will host an art show in Biarritz to celebrate the Dutch illustrators’ second capsule collection.
Written by: Huck
In Baghdad, skater girls are reshaping Iraqi womanhood
Baghdad is rad — As the city’s first skatepark opens, the new space is providing a blank canvas for its board culture. Dalia Dawood speaks to the people looking to make its ramps and rails a safe haven for women and girls.
Written by: Dalia Dawood
