Photograph: McGuireWhen Jessyka’s crew give up skating in Arizona, a transfer to NYC reignited the spark to stack clips and make new associates. Jaime Reyes hops on the road to get the thin on this superior journey—from the Might ’22 problem of the magazine.
Jessyka dealt with enterprise from AZ to NYC and bought the THERE professional mannequin to point out for it. Do not miss this half
Hello, Jessyka. How are you?
I’m doing good, simply chilling, ingesting some espresso
The place are you from?
I’m from Phoenix, Arizona. Phoenix is type of like LA the place there’s a number of smaller cities surrounding it. I’m from the Tempe space.
Did you ever skate with Nika Washington?
No, Nika is from Phoenix correct. I grew up about half-hour from the place she’s from. Erik Ellington is definitely from Tempe.
I believed Ellington was from Alaska.
He is likely to be however he went to highschool in Tempe. Each time we see one another we have now the identical dialog: “Oh yeah, you went to the identical highschool as my dad.” After which he asks me, “What yr did he graduate?” And I’m like “Dude, there’s no manner you had been part of his graduating class.”
May he be, although? How previous is your dad?
Nicely, I’m 32, so he’s like 60 one thing.
Oh yeah, I don’t suppose Ellington is that previous. So what bought you into skateboarding?
I began skating as a result of we had been shifting round rather a lot after I was 16. I moved to a special a part of Arizona and I didn’t have any associates. My brother had a skateboard, so I simply stole it and he bought tremendous pissed. He was like, “You’ll by no means have the ability to skate!” And I used to be like, Alright, dude, I’ll present you. However then we ended up changing into actually shut and he would drive me round each Saturday and we might skate each skatepark in Arizona.
That’s superior. Does your brother nonetheless skate?
No, he doesn’t skate. He was born with spina bifida so it was form of a miracle that he was doing the drops that he was. He would ollie into ten-foot bowls and shit, ? And he has a rod in his again and if it broke it might actually kill him, so my mother was at all times actually protecting of him when he was youthful. However as soon as he reached 18 he simply did no matter he wished. However as he aged his spina bifida prevented him from persevering with his journey.
Wonderful nollie bottom flips similar to Ellington, should be a Tempe factor
Nicely, at the very least he bought to skate and you bought to develop up skating along with your brother. That’s superior. So that you’re 32 and also you began skating round 16 due to your brother. Who was your first sponsor?
I attempted for a very very long time to get sponsors. The Arizona scene was simply probably not having it, after which lastly I met this skater and his dad and mom owned a skateshop in Mesa, Arizona. I bear in mind they had been from California and their names had been Jim, Bob and Heather. And this dude had a bald head and goatee and simply regarded actually gnarly. I used to be like, Dang, dude, these individuals are so sick. So I’d simply go there on a regular basis and so they had been like, “We wish to sponsor you,” and that was my first sponsor ever. I feel it was actually known as BBQ. They had been actually solely round for a few yr after which they went beneath.
Nicely, shit occurs.
Yeah, it’s a tough market.
Who’re you sponsors now?
I’m circulation for Vans, Mob, Spitfire and a few Deluxe stuff. After which I skate for KCDC skateshop and clearly THERE skateboards.
So that you’re a school graduate, right? What did you research?
Yeah, I graduated from school. I’ve a level in trend advertising. Principally what I realized is the way to construct web sites and every part about trend, however principally simply the way to use Adobe Illustrator and every part that comes together with beginning a enterprise—from scratch to it opening its doorways.
So if I want any enterprise ideas I can hit you up, proper?
Oh, I might undoubtedly provide you with recommendation, particularly concerning web sites, search-engine optimization or any pc stuff.
Alright, you’re my lady. So what made you progress out to New York?
It was only a dream of mine for a very very long time. I at all times wished to dwell out right here. Once I was youthful I used to be like, Oh, I’m gonna transfer to California. However then I went to California and it’s so near Arizona. However I stored going there and I used to be like, I don’t actually know if that is me. Then it was similar to, I’m simply going to maneuver to New York. I used to be making an attempt to do one thing with my diploma, and actually shifting to New York from Arizona was simply an enormous eye-opener.
I’m completely happy you moved to New York. , I met you on Mulberry Avenue in New York. Do you keep in mind that?
Sure, I do bear in mind assembly you. I bear in mind exhibiting up and also you had been with Leo. I used to be like, Oh my gosh, each of my heroes are right here proper now. I recorded your entire panel you guys had been doing and was like, That is the best factor and the closest I’ve ever been to anyone I look as much as.
Let me see that footage!
Now I’m gonna must undergo and discover it. I’m not mendacity. I nonetheless have it on my cellphone. I don’t delete something.
That’s rad. Had been you stoked once you moved to New York to simply go skate in all places?
Truly, I’m not gonna lie—I don’t suppose that I used to be actually skating that a lot as a result of I suppose I felt actually discouraged skating in Arizona. I bought to some extent the place each single certainly one of my associates had stopped skating, so each time I used to be going out I used to be going alone. So after I moved to New York I used to be probably not skating, ? And what occurred was I began this internship the place I used to be principally working 30 hours every week for a 200-dollar stipend and I used to be actually going loopy. I used to be like, I can’t do that anymore. I simply began getting actually in my head. I didn’t have any associates and I really feel like that simply occurs to all people. And I used to be like, Dude, I simply want my skateboard. So I began skating and actually it revived me; it awoken me.
I really feel like skateboarding has finished that for lots of people, as a result of I ended skating for somewhat bit and Jeffrey additionally stopped skating for somewhat bit. However all of us return to skateboarding. That makes me completely happy.
Undoubtedly. I imply, skateboarding is actually our completely happy place.
Skateboarding is one of the best drug
It’s; it truly is.
So that you began to get again into skating whereas being in New York. Who did you begin skating with?
I simply began going to skateparks alone.
Jessyka swap frontside flips above her completely happy place Photograph: McGuire
That’s okay. Solo missions are all good. That’s the way you make associates.
Yeah, I used to be solo missioning it nearly each single day after I bought off work and I simply began assembly folks. And there have been much more feminine skaters out right here—greater than I’d ever seen in Arizona. It blew my thoughts. I used to be like, That is so insane. That is so superior. Can we be associates? Am I coming off too robust proper now?! However yeah, I made a few associates and we simply began skating on a regular basis. It was nice instances.
I’m stoked for you—stoked you’re in skateboarding and stoked to look at you skate.
Aw, thanks. I’m stoked to skate.
Do you continue to have a nine-to-five day job or do you simply skate?
No, I want. Are you kidding? I want I might simply skate. I work at a Michelin star restaurant in SOHO and it’s actually a lot. I didn’t actually understand after I bought the job, however once you’re working in a Michelin star restaurant you’re working with individuals who that’s their profession, ? Whereas earlier than I used to be working at a restaurant and all people had one thing else happening. I used to be working with actors and performers who had been operating round singing. Everyone had one thing happening however at this job all people is rather like, That is what I do. And that’s tremendous cool. I recognize that however it’s a number of work inside and outdoors of the job.
What restaurant do you’re employed at? I really like fancy eating places; I like to deal with myself.
This certainly one of three Michelin star restaurant with a feminine chef. It’s known as The Musket Room. The chef is queer and it’s actually sick, so I used to be hyped to work there. They’ve a feminine Black pastry chef and that’s simply actually exceptional in meals, which is insane as a result of I’m like, How have males even dominated this house when girls have at all times been cooking? So it’s actually cool {that a} lady runs it.
So that you wait tables?
Yeah, I’m a server; I wait tables. It’s good cash. I solely work two or three days every week.
I’m wanting on the menu proper now. When me and my wifey come out to New York we have to eat there as a result of these scallops look superb. Oh, and the oysters too.
A few of that stuff isn’t on the menu proper now as a result of it’s seasonal. It’s a prefixed menu, which is fairly cool, so that you get seven programs. I’m actually promoting you on this proper now.
So you’re employed two days every week and also you get to skate rather a lot. That’s superb. You talked about your girlfriend earlier. How lengthy have you ever and your lady been collectively?
We simply had our five-year anniversary. I met her in Arizona a month earlier than I left and I used to be similar to, That is one of the best particular person I’ve ever met in my whole life. I want to present this a shot. And we did and we’re nonetheless collectively.
Bottom flip from excessive to low in Solar Metropolis Photograph: Bravenec
Rad. Is she psyched in your skateboarding? Is she supportive?
In fact. One-hundred %. It’s nice. She doesn’t skate and he or she has her personal pursuits so we will vent to one another about our issues that we’re eager about and our struggles. And he or she’s simply actually supportive and form of the alternative of how I’m—she’s actually calm and articulate and is aware of the way to talk her feelings, whereas typically I’m form of everywhere. I’m like, I don’t know the way I really feel proper now. Ahh!
I feel that’s each skateboarder proper there—everywhere. As a result of I’ve that. My wifey, she’ll ask me one thing and I’m like, I don’t know; no matter you need. What’s your favourite trick proper now?
This isn’t even that cool of a trick, however I’ve been doing nollie bottom disasters on transition however I hadn’t been bonking the nostril—I’d simply been doing the pivot model for therefore lengthy. I lastly realized the way to bonk the nostril and I’m like, Dude, this feels so good. It’s a type of methods that feels actually superior.
Yeah, typically the best methods are one of the best feeling methods ever.
That’s how I’ve been feeling. I’m like, Okay, I’m gonna do that 100 instances as we speak. I simply love the sensation.
Who’re your favourite skaters or what’s your dream skate session?
This in all probability modifications weekly due to Instagram, however for a dream skate session, in all probability Carl Aikens. I actually like the best way he skates. I wouldn’t even be skating as a result of these are folks I’d sit down and watch. Clearly Leo Baker. I simply actually love watching him skate. However a dream session the place I’m really skating—in all probability the THERE crew, simply vibing, hanging out, chilling. That’s the dream. However I’ve so many individuals that I look as much as that I can’t even give it some thought proper now and it actually does change weekly due to Instagram. I’ll be like, Oh, I discovered this new particular person. I simply came upon about Ronnie Kessner. He’s superb. He skates goofy foot so I’m gonna comply with him and take a look at how he does methods.
What are you engaged on proper now?
We’re ending up the THERE video, so we’re filming that. However then I feel we’re gonna work on a spring and summer time video for out right here in New York. Nearly like a Backside Feeder-type of video. I’ve been speaking to Abi, Sam and different queer skaters out right here and I feel we wish to do a very brief East Coast video the place it’s tremendous artistic and actually vibey and shit—and the skating is nice.
Do you want filming?
Yeah, I do. It’s enjoyable. I by no means did it after I was youthful. We simply at all times went to skateparks. Every little thing is absolutely unfold out in Arizona so that you couldn’t simply be like, Oh, let’s go skate at this spot all day.
What does it imply to you to be a professional as of late?
My solely thought of what a professional is meant to be like is what Leo Baker is like. Leo lives the life. He’s at all times filming his subsequent half and understanding and—dude, that’s actually my dream. I simply wanna work out and be filming for my subsequent half. That’d be so sick.
Do you suppose Instagram or social media normally has modified the sport in skating?
Inform me in regards to the day you turn flipped the grate at Flushing.
Nicely, that was my third time being there. Each single time I’d fall. It was a very irritating day as a result of we simply wanted to get it finished. I felt like I simply needed to land the trick. I landed it and— once you’ve simply tried one thing a lot that it simply doesn’t even really feel actual? It’s so constructed up? I used to be similar to, Oh, okay. Let’s go. Bye.
So you weren’t stoked? I’d have been stoked!
I used to be stoked however I used to be similar to, That’s it? That was the sensation? Okay. Flat gaps are bizarre. They’re bizarre and so they don’t really feel good. It’s not like once you ollie down one thing and also you land, crouch and management it. I felt like that hole managed me; the pace was controlling me. I don’t know the way to describe it. It was only a actually bizarre feeling.
Skaters are their very own worst critics. This swap flip at Flushing guidelines
Hey, however the photograph got here out sick.
Yeah, I used to be actually hyped on the photograph. It was actually superior. I noticed the photograph after I was on my approach to work. I used to be like, Okay, dude, I want to search out this Thrasher magazine. I’m getting this journal. So I’m in SOHO. I went to Icon Journal; they didn’t have it. I went to Noah; they didn’t have it. I went to Supreme; they didn’t have it. I known as each single skateshop in New York. I informed Maria to go to each skateshop in Arizona and name skateshops and no one had that journal. It was all offered out so I had to purchase it on-line.
It’s best to have known as me.
You had it?
Sure, I did. And I’d have linked you with the precise folks to get it, too.
Dude, I wanted that connection in that second. However I used to be like, I need this now. That is gonna get me via this shift. And I didn’t get it however it was tremendous. I ended up getting two of them, which I’m actually stoked about.
Will you signal my copy after I see you subsequent time?
In fact. I’d be honored, actually. I’ve to get your cowl—that 360 flip.
Good luck discovering it.
I don’t even know the way I’d have the ability to discover it. Possibly I might go on eBay or one thing. I wager any individual has it. Have you ever tried searching for it?
I bought a replica to donate to the Smithsonian. I used to be asking everybody, like, Dude, how do I get a replica? I talked to the dudes at Thrasher and so they had been like, “That’s a uncommon discover.” They had been maintaining those they’d for his or her archives, and I used to be like, Alright, no matter. After which mysteriously two copies confirmed up within the mail. Somebody appreciated me sufficient that two got here within the mail, so I used to be grateful to them. I lastly bought my copy.
Dang, that’s so sick. Yeah that’d be an superior journal to have.
The place do you see your self in skateboarding 5 years from now?
Actually, the dream would simply be having the ability to skate and happening journeys, not having to fret a few supervisor telling me what to do. However 5 years from now I’d love to simply be skating. I’d wish to be doing extra in the neighborhood with skating, particularly with the queer Black and Brown youngsters in my neighborhood. I’d like to do clinics and stuff like that. I see that ahead of 5 years, although. Yeah, actually simply to not be beneath anyone’s thumb that isn’t in skating—that’s the last word aim.
Whereas nature reclaims the DIY, Jessyka nollie bigspins Photograph: Bravenec
