WHO

Andrew Drury, vocalist in Baptists, bassist in Erosion. I've lived in Vancouver for almost 20 years. Before that, I lived in Langley. I got kicked out of my house when I was 17 and built a skatepark inside an abandoned lumber yard. I moved into that warehouse, slept on a shelf and skated all day. I then moved to a farm with my friend, Snake and skated 10 KM to get to the local skatepark, where a local skateshop offered to sponsor me. I moved into an apartment with two dudes that were also sponsored by the shop and they basically became my guardians. If it wasn't for Snake, Justin, Tom and my sponsors, I'd most-likely be dead or in jail. Now I work at the courthouse as a System Negotiator and try to keep people from getting into trouble.

MEMORY LANE

How and when did you get involved with skateboarding?

Luckily, my brother got me into skateboarding and punk at the same time. I'm not exactly sure when it was, but I was either 8 or 9. I'm lucky to have been introduced to that stuff at that age and am forever grateful. 

First trick you learned or struggled with the most?

I learned shuvits before ollies and my main struggle was frontside flips. I wanted to learn them so bad and it took too long, but I got them.

Best/worst memory in your skateboarding history?

When I was in grade 9, me and my friends went to a 10 set on lunch break from high school. I ollied it first and then tried to kickflip it. I smashed my head so bad. It made the craziest thump. I was fully concussed. We recorded it on my family's camcorder. When I showed my mom, she laughed so hard and said I "had it coming." 

Ever been in a skategang? What is/was it called?

I was sponsored by a couple local shops in Langley, but we never had a gang-mentality. When I filmed a part for Langley The Movie, I basically felt like I was in a gang, cause we were giant idiots that did whatever we wanted. Gangs suck.

STYLE

How would you describe your skating?

Weak.

What kind of spots do you prefer?

I like curbs, barriers and hills.

What kind of skateboard setup do you have?

Right now I have a Jenny board, Thunder trucks, Spitfire wheels and Bones Reds. I rode Indys for so long and then my bandmate, Danny basically forced me to try Thunders and I'll never go back.

Favorite trick?

Back tail on a ledge. Nothing looks better.

PHILOSOPHY

How has skateboarding changed the way you perceive the world?

The world is shit. Bad people make a lot of money and those that deny it are ignorant. Skateboarding made me learn that you sometimes gotta do what you want, whenever you can. It makes you physically and mentally tough. If someone's in your way, you gotta powerslide through them.

Has skateboarding affected the way you make music or other things?

No, but that question makes me think that I need to write a song about skateboarding. Nothing is cooler than skateboarding. All songs about skateboarding are cheesy, so I guess I'll just go to bed.

How do you see skateboarding as a culture now or compared to when you started skating?

It's commercialized now and it makes me want to slap the face of the people that are making it that way. In a few years their debts will slap them harder than I ever could, so I don't have to receive an assault charge. I hope it dies again. I'm stoked on all the little companies that are starting, but I feel bad for the original core companies that aren't doing so well, cause of the influx of new brands. Such is life.

ART

What music have you discovered through skateboarding?

Oh man, I don't think I'd have ever heard 93 'til Infinity if it wasn't for skateboarding. That song hauls. I was born and raised a punk, but hearing good hip hop always got me stoked. This Forum Snowboard video had, Hieroglyphics – At The Helm and that song blew my mind. Check it.

Favorite song to skate to?

I hate wearing headphones while skating, but if you're blasting something from a speaker, I'd want it to be the whole Disfear - Live The Storm album.

Who are the skaters/musicians you look up to?

I don't really look up to anyone, but I had the privilege of growing up with Jon West. He's good at everything. We've been friends for like 20 years and I'm still semi-intimidated when we hang. He's a literal genius. I guess I look up to my friends that are a million times better than me at skateboarding. I used to bully this kid, Dan Udell. We became friends and I love his skateboarding so damn much. My friends Sheldon Meleshinski, Magnus Hanson and Bradley Sheppard really inspire me too. Those 5 dudes are actually all the sweetest peeps, so maybe I do look up to people. 

Favorite skateboard graphics of all time?

I had this Danny Way Plan B board that was an Everslick with a Hannibal Lecter graphic that changed when you boardslid it. That was cool.

Favorite skate video or part of all time?

I don't have a favourite part, but I'll name some shit that I like best. Pat Duffy in Virtual Reality. That is one of the most iconic parts ever made. He was way beyond anyone at that time. Antihero - Cow, 1998 was so fucked. The first 2 Eastern Exposure videos. I learned switch shiftys the day I watched Ricky Oyola do them and it's still one of my go-to tricks. All 90's Tum Yeto videos. Here's a hot take, Shorty's - Fulfill The Dream. I watched that like a thousand times. Arto Saari's Menikmati part was game-changing. I think I paid $40 for that red VHS. I'd pay $40 to have it again. Song rips too. Anything that Jon West made or skated in. Anthony Van Engelen - The DC Video. He went from tech to charging in that one. Slash - Pigwood. He has the best kickflip in history and he skates to Girlschool. Fuck, his kickflips are cool in that. I'll leave it at that.

HEALTH

Have you had any bad injuries?

It's not skateboarding-related, but my left leg was chopped off and sewn back together. I was in the hospital for over a month and for the first couple weeks was told that they were going to remove it. I was also told that I'd never walk again without assistance. I had an artery grafted from my other leg and over 10 surgeries. It took me a year to walk without a cane. I did physio almost every day for that year and all I thought about was skateboarding again.I don't have an ACL, MCL or PCL in that knee. It's basically all held together by a super-thick skin graft. I really shouldn't be skating, but it's my favourite thing on the planet and it's worth the endless nerve pain that I get in my foot. I actually just stepped in a hole at the dog park this week and am now back on the cane. I went to the surgeon two days ago and she referred me to a neurologist and pain management doctor. Apparently BOTOX will help my nerve pain. Let's see. 

Beverage of choice when skating?

Vodka, Budweiser and water. Good mix.

How do you take care of your body before and after skating if you do that at all?

Naproxen, vodka, Budweiser and water. 

Final words of wisdom or motivation for the young ones:

Skate 'till your legs fall off, you little shits.