INTERVIEW with one of the greatest
Interview with Paul Rodriguez also known P-Rod
Paul Rodriguez is one of the most renowned and professional skateboarders through the history of skateboarding. Rodriguez was taken into the Plan B team and has been promoting their products for over 5 years, but is his career coming to an end? Is he going to take of the trucks and hang up the board. With the new brand “PRIMITIVE” skateboards being created and produced by him, is this a sign for an early retirement?
Whereabouts were you born?
I was born in LA, United States of America, The greatest country on earth.
How did you get the nickname of P-Rod and who gave it to you?
The name has been with me for as long as I can remember. It started when I was in grade five or six I can’t remember. My classmates were sick of saying my full name so they made up the abbreviation of P-Rod. Plus it sounds a lot better than the name Paul, I don’t really like that name too much.
So tell me the story of how you started skateboarding and who influenced you to buy your first board.
Well I started skateboarding at a young age, which of course I would do most of my free time. I looked up to all the pro's back then, especially Rodney Mullen, He was the reason I bought my first board. I grew up in a town where skateboarding wasn’t too big but I liked it so much that I basically introduced it to the area. I was so keen that I would skate every day so that I could one day become professional and skate along side of Rodney Mullen and all the pro’s.
What is your favourite flat ground trick so far?
My favourite flat ground trick would have to be………... probably the switch frontside 360, maybe because I land them heaps and they look very nice when landed perfectly. I have heaps of tricks I like to do but that one stands out for me because I’ve known it for so long.
Obviously you have won many competitions in your career and gotten many awards, what is your favourite or most prized award?
My most prized award would be winning in 2005 FTC Flat ground (Street Best Trick). That competition would be a stand out for me because it is the competition where all of the world's best skaters go to and to win out of all of them is an honour.
What trick won you the competition?
The trick that one me that competition was the 360 inward heel, I couldn’t believe I had landed it but i finally got it when it was needed. That trick had taken me ages to land and once I did it, I could never do it twice.
How many competitions have you won?
I have won about 5 major comps and about 10 minor comps
What’s your favourite competition you’ve won so far?
It would probably winning gold in the X - games, that is what every pro skater looks up on doing and yeah that experience came to me a while back when it was getting to the top of my career and from winning that comp, the sponsors poured in straight after the event.
Who are your sponsors and how long have they supported you for?
Well i have heaps of sponsors but my number one sponsor is NIKE SB, I have been with them ever since i went professional and I was the very first one to be sponsored by NIKE SB. They have now sponsored me for more than 6 years and continue to support me through my career.
Lucky last question, are you preparing to retire soon after creating the new Primitive Skateboards?
No way, with the new brand coming out, that has encouraged me to keep going and continue skateboarding until my body can’t anymore. Yeah so i don’t think i will be retiring anytime soon haha.
Well thank you for giving us the opportunity for this interview and all the best for your on going skateboarding future.
Yeah Thank you it was a pleasure.
Whereabouts were you born?
I was born in LA, United States of America, The greatest country on earth.
How did you get the nickname of P-Rod and who gave it to you?
The name has been with me for as long as I can remember. It started when I was in grade five or six I can’t remember. My classmates were sick of saying my full name so they made up the abbreviation of P-Rod. Plus it sounds a lot better than the name Paul, I don’t really like that name too much.
So tell me the story of how you started skateboarding and who influenced you to buy your first board.
Well I started skateboarding at a young age, which of course I would do most of my free time. I looked up to all the pro's back then, especially Rodney Mullen, He was the reason I bought my first board. I grew up in a town where skateboarding wasn’t too big but I liked it so much that I basically introduced it to the area. I was so keen that I would skate every day so that I could one day become professional and skate along side of Rodney Mullen and all the pro’s.
What is your favourite flat ground trick so far?
My favourite flat ground trick would have to be………... probably the switch frontside 360, maybe because I land them heaps and they look very nice when landed perfectly. I have heaps of tricks I like to do but that one stands out for me because I’ve known it for so long.
Obviously you have won many competitions in your career and gotten many awards, what is your favourite or most prized award?
My most prized award would be winning in 2005 FTC Flat ground (Street Best Trick). That competition would be a stand out for me because it is the competition where all of the world's best skaters go to and to win out of all of them is an honour.
What trick won you the competition?
The trick that one me that competition was the 360 inward heel, I couldn’t believe I had landed it but i finally got it when it was needed. That trick had taken me ages to land and once I did it, I could never do it twice.
How many competitions have you won?
I have won about 5 major comps and about 10 minor comps
What’s your favourite competition you’ve won so far?
It would probably winning gold in the X - games, that is what every pro skater looks up on doing and yeah that experience came to me a while back when it was getting to the top of my career and from winning that comp, the sponsors poured in straight after the event.
Who are your sponsors and how long have they supported you for?
Well i have heaps of sponsors but my number one sponsor is NIKE SB, I have been with them ever since i went professional and I was the very first one to be sponsored by NIKE SB. They have now sponsored me for more than 6 years and continue to support me through my career.
Lucky last question, are you preparing to retire soon after creating the new Primitive Skateboards?
No way, with the new brand coming out, that has encouraged me to keep going and continue skateboarding until my body can’t anymore. Yeah so i don’t think i will be retiring anytime soon haha.
Well thank you for giving us the opportunity for this interview and all the best for your on going skateboarding future.
Yeah Thank you it was a pleasure.