Above: Derek Swaim dingy SF hotel elevator.
I remember when Eric Tan and Nathan Matthews first came back from a trip to Kamloops and told me about the new, ruling guy they had added to the Model Skateboard team. I was pretty skeptical. They showed me a video clip of Derek messing around on flat and at first I wasn't too impressed. Then they showed me footage of him kickflipping a tennis court net off flat and his technical gap destroying skills. It was crazy. I don't see Derek too often, but every time I do, I am blown away by his incredible technical skill, sick style, and down-to-earth attitude. There are a lot of kids really good at skating nowadays, and everybody thinks their buddy is the next big thing, but I've been around long enough to see these "kids" come and go. Derek is that one in a million guy who has what it takes to make the jump to the big league. I asked Derek's mentor in bad influence - Aaron Long, to do a quick Top 5 list with Derek.
1. Top 5 things that make Kamloops cool
- Walking in the streets anytime the powwow is on
- Price of prostitutes
- Skatepark
- Friends that are still here
- Senior Froggy's
- French kissing
2. Top 5 things about Model Skateboards
- Nate Matthews
- Eric Tan
- The team graphics done by Nate
- The crew
- The French Kissing
Above: Alley-oop nollie heel 180, through a sea of skatestoppers. (Click to enlarge)
3. Top 5 eS shoes
- Accel TT's
- Accel rasta
- Square One
- Bobby Worrest's shoe
- McCrank's Avers
4. Top 5 tool's you used the most this summer
- iPod
- Skate tools
- 5-in-one paint brush and roller
- Coat hanger
- KY jelly
- Fingers
5. Top 5 transitions to hit with friends
- Armstrong, Polson Park
- Kensington
- Leeside
- The Dome (the best)
6. Top 5 transition friends
- Aaron
- Kenny and his boys!
- Matt and Justin
- Darryl, Erik, Dave, Cook
- Anthony, Bill Animal
Above: 5-0 fakie. (Click to enlarge)
7. Top 5 things you have witnessed Aaron throw from a moving vehicle
- Finnigan (dreams can come true)
- 1 litre of yogurt
- Brownie mix
- Eggs
- Soda pop
- Doo-doo
8. Top 5 reasons for riding for who you do
- Friends
- I'm super stoked on them and look up to the skaters involved
- Best wheels, best teams
- Luck
- Hard work
9. Top 5 things you are scared of
- Finnigan
- re-tearing my urethra
- landing in feces
10. Top 5 dumbest things you've seen at the Kamloops park
- Little kid "fights", or kids standing in the middle of the park with no skateboard and not paying any attention
- Kids popping 'E'
- Human shit in the bowl, broken glass every day
- Used condom
- 2 guys, one bowl
Above: Derek's antisocial transit protocol.
11. Top 5 reasons Stacy Gabriel always seems broke
- No Job
- Not slangin' enough product
- Not
- Selling
- Himself, haha
12. Top 5 reasons Matt Berger is going to conquer skateboarding
- He's had the basics since age 8
- Flame helmet
- His talent and he's got the passion!
- Skill, attitude
- Family
13. Top 5 cooks
- Mom
- Grandma
- Bruce
- Bryam
- Aaron on BBQ and Carly's baking
14. Top 5 types of dogs you ate in China
- Poodle
- Chihuahua
- Great Dave Dong
- German shepherd puppy
- Your neighbour's
Above: Derek, Keita, and Watcho - rapid transit medics.
15. Top 5 things about your first trip to S.F.
- Riding the bus
- Riding the subway
- Cruising around seeing rad spots
- People watching
- Mexican food
16. Top 5 hints Glenn Suggitt may not be human
- His driving
- His road rage
- His skating
- The bails he survives
- Definition of gnar
17. Top 5 back-up plans if skating shits the bed
- Brothel ownership
- WNBA
- Feline wrangler
- Sushi chef
- Grow-op
18. Top 5 reasons you have such a good family
- My cat keeps everyone in line
- Genetics, keeps us easy on the eyes
- Inter-racial, keeps it slanted like a hill
- My parents are good people, their parents did a great job raising them too
- Answers not necessarily in that order
Above: The Swaimer.
19. Top 5 best things about your trip to the Berrics
- Koston
- Berra
- The influence the site has on kids
- The smoothest flat ground
- The flatbar
- No rain, hail, sleet, snow, or wind
20. Top 5 worst things about the experience
- Me
- Pressure
- Me and pressure combined
- Only being there for filming purposes
- Not having all my friends there
21. Top 5 reasons to visit Edmonton
- The rising crime rate
- Spots
- Skaters there are fun and I miss them
- Whyte Avenue
- New park looks inviting
22. Top 5 reasons to never do a "Top 5" again
- Feels like homework
- I like the number 3 more
- Not make a fool of myself
- Dog karma
- Can't reveal all the secrets
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