We got to ask some of the DC shoes fellas a few quick fire questions during their recent UK Special Delivery Tour where they had a special release of the DC Lynx OG reissue at Slam City Skates. We chatted cuisine, skulling bevoirs, slang, DC’s, Droors, Kalis and much more with Tiago Lemos, John Shanahan, Madars Apse, Leo Valls and Anto Lopez.
Interviews by: Heywood Ward
Illustrations by: Martyn Hill
Madars Apse
Favourite English beverage? And why?
English Tea! It’s great in the mornings and also great to have all day. Just because its a good way to pass the time.
Favourite English food? And why?
I love Fish and chips a lot.
Favourite English slang word?
Wanker! Just because I didn’t know how to pronounce it at first.
Favourite U.K. city so far? And why?
I’ve only been to two it seems like. So…Bristol is very nice. Bristol and London…you can’t compare the two yunno, they’re so different.
Favourite U.K. spot so far? And why?
Mile End. Its a skatepark but its a good one. I used to skate around there a lot when I lived in London.
Thoughts on the new DC Lynx OG reissue?
Its awesome, an amazing shoe and makes me want to skate it. I’m used to skating smaller kind of shoes but its cool to try something new. Something new which everyone skated in the 90’s.
Would you skull (drink) a beer out of the new DC lynx OG reissue or prefer the OG version to do this?
The new ones for sure! Skull it out of the shoe…Lets go!
If so what would be the preferred beverage?
Water I’d say…then freshly squeezed juice of any kind of fruit.
Which teammates shoe would you not want to drink a beer out of after a session and why (If you had to)?
Wes Kremer cause he’s got something mysterious in his shoes.
Are you hyped on the Droors clothing comeback?
Fuck yes, I’m hyped. I like the old 90’s style a lot. The logo is sick and brings attention to the 90’s hip-hop culture and street culture of New York and Philly. It feels real!
Can we expect to see more from Droors in the future and will you be reppin’ it?
Definitely yes!
Anything else that you personally would like to see DC bring back? Given that there are so many reissues happening it seems.
I can’t decide!
When and will we see more episodes of ‘Mad world’?
More episodes of Mad World coming 2019 hopefully! I sure hope so. Gotta bring out the camera and edit down the footage. It feels good to not be filming and actually just skating instead of thinking about things on tour. Its great not to be filming but yeah I want it to come back. Maybe its gonna work, lets see!?
How was your KOTR experience!?
It was great! It was super entertaining everyday. We started at 10am and we finish at 2am. We were always doing challenges from city to city not knowing where the next destination was gonna be! Always just trying to get points and take out the other teams. It was like 10 trips in one you could say. Super stoked to be part of that! One experience that was insane was getting in a coffin with Bam Margera in 69 position where the coffin gets screwed closed and getting pushed into a 4 meter bowl. Yeah, that felt good but kinda strange!
Leo Valls
Favourite English beverage? And why?
Obviously a beer, a fresh beer. I don’t know much about beer cause I’m from Bordeaux, I would drink red wine yunno? I’m really into red wine as I grew up with it. I should know more about English beer!
Favourite English food? And why?
Fish and Chips. Its a classic, I just had a vegan fish and chips today it was actually amazing. Really, really good!
Favourite English slang word?
Okay so as French we use the word to make fun of English slang we use the word ‘cunt’ a lot although I think its bad in a lot of countries. My wife is from America, she is from California. She hates when I use this word but in England its more like something normal.
Favourite U.K. city so far? And why?
I did a trip with Magenta in 2015 around the UK and we went to Bristol, Manchester and London and I remember really enjoying Manchester, it reminded me of New York City a lot. Yeah I really like Manchester, I need to go back!
Favourite U.K. spot so far? And why?
It’s not going to be a specific spot. I just like the vibe of sidewalks and walls in London. It’s really cool, just pushing around. I like to skate non-spots really. I don’t have a specific spot I just like the vibe in London…downtown in the city!
Thoughts on the new DC Lynx OG reissue?
Its awesome, they came up with bringing the past back again and the colourway is really sick.
Would you skull (drink) a beer out of the new DC lynx OG reissue or prefer the OG version to do this?
I don’t know (chuckles)…probably the reissue!
If so what would be the preferred beverage?
I’d say red wine might not be good in a shoe? It would probably be cola!
Which teammates shoe would you not want to drink a beer out of after a session and why (If you had to)?
Damn! Erm (chuckles) I don’t know! I think they’re all going to be pretty sweaty so theres no winner there!
Are you hyped on the Droors clothing comeback?
Yeah that shits awesome, I’ve been a huge fan of 90’s skate videos and seeing the clothing in old skate videos in the East Coast videos. It was really inspiring for me and I never got to really wear any Droors clothing as I started skating in 2000. I’m still heavily interested by 90’s skating I think its really cool.
Can we expect to see more from Droors in the future and will you be reppin’ it?
I’ll rock it for sure!
Anything else that you personally would like to see DC bring back? Given that there are so many reissues happening it seems.
Yeah I feel like the cargo tracksuits they used to do back in the 90’s are on the verge of coming back. Pretty excited about that!
Anything else you’d like to add?
I just realised the need to come back to London more often cause now the event (Special Delivery Tour) is over, you realise how good the city is, its incredible for street skating.
The DC boys’ common interest. ~ Illustration by: Martyn Hill
Anto Lopez
Favourite English beverage? And why?
Uh, its gonna be hard as I can’t remember the name of that English Beer!
Favourite English food? And why?
Fish and chips!
Favourite English slang word?
I would just say “mate”!
Favourite U.K. city so far? And why?
London for the art and the graffiti. Probably the best I’ve seen in the UK so far.
Favourite U.K. spot so far? And why?
Southbank.
Thoughts on the new DC Lynx OG reissue?
This is probably the best thing to happen in the company. I think I started with it and we’re bringing it back, they’re amazing shoes. It doesn’t look like anyone else’s company shoes. We’re so happy to have it back!
Would you skull (drink) a beer out of the new DC lynx OG reissue or prefer the OG version to do this?
I think the new versions.
If so what would be the preferred beverage?
Mojito!
Which teammates shoe would you not want to drink a beer out of after a session and why (If you had to)?
Thats I hard one…I can’t say (chuckles)!
Are you hyped on the Droors clothing comeback?
Yes I’m hyped!
Can we expect to see more from Droors in the future and will you be reppin’ it?
I will for sure!
Anything else that you personally would like to see DC bring back? Given that there are so many reissues happening it seems.
Yeah yes definitely. The Stevie Williams pro model and some of the first Josh Kalis shoes.
Beer filled Lynx OG. ~ Illustration by: Martyn Hill
Tiago Lemos
Favourite English beverage? And why?
Ginger beer!
Favourite English food? And why?
Fish and Chips (chuckles).
Favourite English slang word?
(Chuckles) Not sure yet, I’ve not been here long enough.
Favourite U.K. city so far? And why?
London.
Favourite U.K. spot so far? And why?
Southbank.
Thoughts on the new DC Lynx OG reissue?
Beautiful!
Would you skull (drink) a beer out of the new DC lynx OG reissue or prefer the OG version to do this?
The OG one for sure.
If so what would be the preferred beverage?
Just a beer (Chuckles)!
Which teammates shoe would you not want to drink a beer out of after a session and why (If you had to)?
Can’t decide!
Are you hyped on the Droors clothing comeback?
Yeah, yeah can’t wait to see more clothes from them.
Can we expect to see more from Droors in the future and will you be reppin’ it?
Oh yeah, all day, everyday.
Anything else that you personally would like to see DC bring back? Given that there are so many reissues happening it seems.
All the OG clothes, the pants. All the OG stuff!
How did you get your switch pop game so strong?
Rice and beans everyday. Thats it!
If you could only do backtails and front crooks in one stance for the rest of your life which stance would it be?
Switch for sure.
Are you going to take on Wade again at the Dime glory challenge or is that done with? Rematch?
No, no I’m too scared. (chuckles)
John Shanahan
Favourite English beverage? And why?
I don’t even know!?
Favourite English food? And why?
Chicken and chips or fried chicken and fries.
Favourite English slang word?
“Keen”, they saying “keen” a lot! I’ve never heard anyone say that so much. Thats funny!
Favourite U.K. city so far? And why?
I like the downtown areas, I like London. You don’t get to skate that much downtown actually because its so hectic during the week.
Favourite U.K. spot so far? And why?
I guess that spot, I forget the area name its like a spot with a brick volcano with a rail on top. Theres mad spots in this area (Clapham Estate).
Thoughts on the new DC Lynx OG reissue?
It’s the best thing DC has done in a while. Thats what the people want, to me and a lot of people that’s what DC is. I think they need to be bringing more shit like that back. It just represents the brand in a way.
Would you skull (drink) a beer out of the new DC lynx OG reissue or prefer the OG version to do this?
The OG version every time!
If so what would be the preferred beverage?
I guess a root beer or a lemonade.
Which teammates shoe would you not want to drink a beer out of after a session and why (If you had to)?
Definitely T-Funk because he came here with some nasty ass corn on his foot. (Chuckles) He got some crazy infection on his toe, like some corn or something. And then like he rolled his ankle…he’s all fucked up!
Are you hyped on the Droors clothing comeback?
Yeah of course.
Can we expect to see more from Droors in the future and will you be reppin’ it?
Yeah definitely, we’re working on some shit and definitely will be repping. They’re kinda low key about it but I get a little box of shirts. They’re mainly going to bring back the stuff one by one and not really make new versions of it. So all the stuff that has been made they will bring back.
Anything else that you personally would like to see DC bring back? Given that there are so many reissues happening it seems.
Theres mad different shoe models which I’d like them to bring back. But some that stick out, some that they can’t bring back out cause they’re pro skaters who aren’t on DC anymore like the Rick Howard shoe.
A lot of people say you remind them of a new age Kalis. How is it to have that comparison and do you ever fan out on it?
Its like kinda a compliment to me as everyone loves Josh Kalis. He’s like one of the illest people to ride a skateboard. I’m trying to switch it up too yunno, I’m not trying to copy him but like obviously I respect the dude and I get a lot of influence from him. I’m not mad at it, nah definitely not.
How is it having Kalis as your sensei Jedi master?
Its actually really sick, he’s a good dude. He just keeps it real and he’s cool as shit to anybody. He’s funny and he just hooks it up!
Favourite Kalis trick?
360 flip.
Favourite trick you can do which Kalis can’t?
Shit I dunno, Kalis can do a lot of tricks which you think he wouldn’t be he can. I dunno…I’ve never seen him do a pop-shuv it. He can definitely do em but I’ll just say pop-shuv it. Yeah I don’t think I’ve seen one, I can’t think of one!? I’ll just say that (chuckles).
