Robust Flavor Interviews Bob Burnquist

April 24th, 2008 Posted in Interviews

Robust Flavor is pleased to feature skateboarding innovator Bob Burnquist. From his humble beginnings in Brazil to taking skateboarding to new heights with his switchstance skills, Bob is still focused on creating, inspiring and influencing the progression of the sport. His backyard mega-ramp, vert ramp, full pipe and obstacles on his farm in inland San Diego serves as the testing facility and incubator for what’s next. He is hard at work filming for the upcoming Flip Skateboards video “Extremely Sorry”, to be released later this year.

RF: Tell us about growing up in Brazil:
Bob: Growing up in Brasil was great, I grew up with a very supportive family and was fortunate to get a good education. Went to English speaking schools for a part of my life, played baseball and soccer and eventually started skateboarding. I grew up with 2 sisters, mostly with my Mom. My Dad lived in Rio de Janeiro and we would travel back and forth to visit and hang out in Rio. Got to make a lot of friends there. I mostly grew up in Sao Paulo though, big city kid… with asthma and allergies due to the very unhealthy air of a big city. Learned to live with it to this day, but many memories of having a hard time breathing and trips to the Hospital with my Mom. I was a good kid, in a lot of ways…but I think that I drove my Mom crazy for the most part.

RF: When did you start skateboarding?
Bob: I started skateboarding when I was about 10 years old. I was living in Sao Paulo at the time.

RF: What was your first set-up?
Bob: My first set up was a fiberglass 70’s board. I got it from a friend of mine who had lost a soccer ball I let him borrow. When I went to his house to get the ball back, he didn’t have it and said I could have the skateboard instead. So I was stoked…

RF: What was the skate scene like back then in Brazil?
Bob: The scene in Brazil pretty much followed what went on in the US. There was a bit of a lag with information, no internet, we would get the skate videos and the magazines from friends that were fortunate enough to bring them back from their US visits. Or from specialty international magazine stores. Brazilians pretty much saw skateboarders as nuisances and a big pain, it was very marginalized and people were in general, against it. I remember the mayor of Sao Paulo prohibited skateboarding, period. Couldn’t be seen with one, definitely couldn’t be skating anywhere. It was chaos, so skateboarding was really underground and thrived mostly in skate parks, though the ban nearly closed a lot of our parks. Soon after, the ban was lifted when the new mayor came in and things somewhat normalized. We pretty much had our own industry, kind of forced into it because of the high import taxes attached to the imported skate goods. We made our own everything, somewhat lower quality, like heavier boards, harder to skate with, but skateable nonetheless.

RF: What affects did living in Brazil have on your skateboarding?
Bob: I would say it made me a hungry skateboarder. I learned not to take things for granted and It helped me to understand that anything is possible. I have so many great friends in Brazil, along with a lot of family. Brazil taught me to be humble. When you grow up around all the wild things that go down in a 3rd World country, you learn that just the fact that you skateboard for a living is a blessing beyond belief. I could’ve taken many roads. Skateboarding kept me alive and stoked. I wanted to keep skateboarding, everything else was a sidetrack. I’ve accomplished my dreams and have the opportunity to dream up many more, I remember what it was like to be a Brazilian skateboarding grom, and how hard it was to pull through. So it’s all possible because I believe in it all being possible.

RF: What was the first video you were ever in?
Bob: It was a video part I did for Brazil’s “Dirty Money” ‘3 Mundo’ 1991 Skateboard Video. It was a group of friends and we wanted to do a video. It was Brazil’s first Video Magazine.

RF: When did you first come to the US?
Bob: When I was real young, about 2 years old, we moved to Pleasanton California for a couple of years. Then we went back to Brasil cause my Mom wanted us to grow up down there and my Dad had the job opportunity. After that, I only made it back out again to skateboard in 1992. That was a real fun time, got to check out a lot of famous skateboard spots. Met some pros and just wanted to hang and skate so bad! But I only spent about 2 months and had to go back down to Brasil to finish school before I could pursue skateboarding in the US any further.

RF: We remember you showing up and winning Slam City Jam back in 1995. Was this the official start of your pro career?
Bob: I had already skated a few pro contests in Brazil, even skated the European contests in 1993, though I broke my foot the first day I got there so it sort of didn’t really count. I did enter them though, taped my foot really good and just went for it. It hurt, but I skated. Had worked on video parts and was pretty much a professional skateboarder by then. I had no expectations going into that contest especially with guys like Mike Frazier, Danny Way, Tas Pappas… I actually almost didn’t even go. I wanted to finish high school in Brazil before I left but I decided to go, skate the contest, then get my GED diploma in San Francisco. I guess it worked out pretty good. Anti-Hero had just started and Deluxe was my roof for a few years after that. So symbolically, SLJ 1995 was the kick start of the lifelong contest season career thing.

RF: Which sponsors have you had throughout your career?
Bob: I’ve had several sponsors throughout my career…starting with my Brazilian Sponsors: Momento Angular, then “Slide”, Urgh! Skateboards, Cush Skateboards, Lifestyle Skateboards. Then I got on Real for a month or two, onto to Anti-Hero and the Deluxe group of sponsors, then Firm and the Blitz crew. And finally Flip where I stand and where I’m really stoked. I also rode for a Billabong, then Hurley… Etnies then Es and now Ipath! Really stoked on the combination of sponsors that I ended up with. It’s really fitting and it makes it easier to get things done in a real cool way when your connected to the right group of people. I’ve also had a few corporate sponsors and I gotta say Toyota is the coolest one of all those.

RF: Tell us about your backyard skate wonderland:
Bob: I love my backyard. It’s a collection of dreams . It’s amazing to be able to cruise by all the crazy twisted wood and just re-live the tricks that were done. And also continue to learn new tricks, all the while filming for different projects and still getting work done while at home! I truly am blessed and I know it.

RF: Where in the world has skateboarding taken you?
Bob: Skateboarding has taken me all around the World, has made so many things possible in my life that I can hardly imagine my life without a skateboard. I’ve met so many people and made so many friends all around the World that the connection that I feel, couldn’t be attained in any other way.

RF: Are you easy to work with?
Bob: That depends on who I’m working with! But for the most part, I’m probably the easiest guy to work with. I do have a lot going on and I manage to stay in touch with everyone and I make sure all my sponsors got what they need and what’s physically possible for me to provide. I am a bit of a perfectionist and I pay attention to detail. And when it comes to my skateboarding. It’s all about having fun and getting things done. If I think I can do it, I probably can.

RF: Most memorable skateboarding memories?
Bob: Lot’s of good memories skating with my bros at the Ultra skatepark. Also just cruising around my neighborhood right when I started skating. It was so fresh and exciting in my mind that I remember a lot of sessions with my first skate bros. 360s on the ground and ollies were favorites… I also have lots of great memories skating in SF bombing hills and getting to know and enjoy the US skateboarding scene, with all it’s great spots and cool heads around. Can’t forget the memorable backyard sessions I’ve had here as well. One-on-ones with all my favorite skateboarders… just fun, no craziness. Well, actually some crazy shit went down which made it all even more FUN!

RF: What’s your favorite place?
Bob: My backyard to skate , stay in shape and just relax in between all the traveling.

RF: Who or what inspires you?
Bob: Life inspires me… good people inspire me. Skateboarding and it’s limitless inspires. Danny Way has always been a huge influence throughout my skateboarding life. I also get inspired by music and just enjoying a day with Lotus. Kids are a big inspiration, anything is possible when you’re a kid! So… remain a kid forever!

RF: Any favorite skateboarders?
Bob: Chris Miller, Danny Way, Rodrigo TX, Heath Kirchart, John Cardiel. Mark Gonzales. Lincoln Ueda, Jake Brown…

RF: What else do you do for fun outside of skateboarding?
Bob: I’ve gotten myself into a lot of things lately, all because of skateboarding. Flying planes, skydiving, surfing, playing music… working out, riding horses with Lotus, working on the computer… all a big dance to keep a smile on my face.

RF: Describe a typical Bob Burnquist day:
Bob: Wake up, get Lotus ready for school, take her to school, have breakfast, get started on the gym bike or cruise around on my mountain bike around the house. Make a good power smoothie…. get in the office for a bit, make calls, check emails, look at what’s on the table and go after it to make it happen. Call the filmers, or photographers to set up a session. Then pick up Lotus, come back and skate, while she’s doing her homework and getting ready to ride her horse. When I’m done, i hit the jacuzzi, then grab dinner. Play the guitar for Lotus to sleep and I’ll grab a book or watch a movie. I’ve been on the book tip lately. I’ll sit on my massage chair and dream about skating the next day!

RF: What is next for 2008?
Bob: Being a Dad again with my Brazilian girlfriend Veronica, and I’m am nervous and stoked all over again.

RF: Shout outs?
Bob: To my whole family, to my Brazilian Girlfriend Veronica and our new baby, Jasmine… to Lotus cause she is Daddy’s princess and I love her so much. To all the skateboarders out there who are making sure skateboarding is alive and manifesting in so many amazing ways.

Bob is sponsored by Flip skateboards, Hurley international, Ipath shoes, Toyota, Oakley eyewear, Activision, Ogio bags, Nixon watches, Burnquist Organics, Pro-tec helmets, Ricta Wheels, Fury Trucks, Mob Grip and Sambazon beverages. For a chance to win A Bob Burnquist autographed skateboard, click here.