GRIP
GRIP

Jan Trygg

WHO

Jan Trygg, event producer, at the moment unemployed because of COVID-19, living in the deep woods of Kustavi archipelago of the south-western Finland.

MEMORY LANE

How and when did you get involved with skateboarding?

I think it was around 1995/1996 when couple of my friends had these oldschool skateboards. I managed to buy one from my friends big brother and got started from there.

First trick you learned or struggled with the most?

Haha, has to be ollie. Damn it was hard with those oldschool ”fish boards” as we called them.

Best/worst memory in your skateboarding history?

Best memories… hmmm, I guess there’s no one specific memento to recall. The whole thing… skateboarding from morning until it got dark and along that getting to know cool new music/bands from the older local skateboarders. And learning how to smoke cigarettes =)

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

We had a tight crew but didn’t have any name for it… I guess the idea of naming our selves as a gang sounded korny already back then, hahah.

STYLE

How would you describe your skating?

Flip and catch on flat and on ditch.

What kind of spots do you prefer?

Flat and ditch. Loving that sound when skateboarding on tiles, you know… ”klak-klak-klak-klak-klak…”

What kind of a skateboard setup do you have?

I bought a brand new complete from Puerto Rico about six years ago. It was on sale or something. Darkstar deck & Thunder trucks. Haven't used it a lot though. I also have a longboard which I love to ride quite often. Only problem is I don’t know how to slow down with it, hahhah. It’s either foot down to break or jumping off the board. Downhills are quite hazardous for me, but still love to do them.

Favorite trick?

Kickflip, bs half cab flip and the mighty-never-going-out-of-style 360 kickflip. The weirdest trick I did was nollie pressure hardflip.

PHILOSOPHY

How has skateboarding changed the way you perceive the world?

This is a tough one… I guess skateboarding entroduced me to this unbelieveble rush of inspiration that comes along when you have a good run landing on tricks. I got hooked on that feeling and I’ve been chasing that feeling ever since whether it’s related to making music or photographing. That feeling is priceless. The feeling of togetherness was also very unique. Whenever I can nowadays relate to that feeling I’ll savour it the best I can.

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

All that heavy metal and hip hop music I got to know back then at the skateparks or in someones car driving to some long distance skate spots are in my subconsciousness and reflects at some level to all the music I make. Reading skateboard magazines and looking all those great photographs on them has also a really, really strong effect on my own photography. The black and white photographs… those pictures still defines my whole outlook on my own photography.

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

I don’t follow skateboarding that much nowadays but I guess that the tricks are getting quite sick compared to back when I was skateboarding. Maybe a bit more gear orientated nowadays?

GRIP
GRIP

ART

What music have you discovered through skateboarding?

I found heavy metal and hip hop through skateboarding… from the skateparks and from the older skateboarders. I still remember the exact place and time I heard the band called Xysma for the first time at a skatepark in my childhood hometown Naantali. They are a grindcore-pioneer band also from Naantali. The music on skateboarding videos are also priceless.

Favorite song to skate to?

There’s too many to list, but let’s point out ”Vocal Test” by Integrity.

Who are the skaters/musicians you look up to?

Definitely Tommy Guerrero. He has been a great influence on my own music. He’s album ”A Little Bit Of Somethin” is in my all time top 5 albums list.

Favorite skateboard graphics of all time?

WORLD INDUSTRIES!

Favorite skate video or part of all time? 

I like the 411 videos (I still have on VHS), Zero’s ”Misled Youth” was (and is) really iconic, Trilogy (by World Industries, Blind & One O One) and the Emerica film ”Yellow”. My first skateboard VHS is a movie called ”The Dreams of Children”. I bought it from Ponkes skateboard shop around 1996. I remember always watching skateboard videos before and after I went skateboarding. Love them.

HEALTH

Have you had any bad injuries?

No bad injuries. As I got older guitar playing got more and more important to me so I was really careful not to injure my hands. That was probably also the main reason why I got off skateboarding.

Beverage of choice when skating?

Cold water I guess. Definately not anything with alcohol. I never got how some people can drink beer and skate, hahaha! To me alcohol goes straight to the feet and I can’t skate at all.

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

Some stretching maybe. Usually I just take the muscle pain next day after riding longboard or skating hahahah! You know you have done something.

Final words of wisdom or motivation for the young ones:

Don’t drink and skate! Fuck I’m getting old LOL. Also check out my band if you're into some beautiful and crushing downtuned music: Slowenya. All the best!

↑

Jan Trygg

WHO

Jan Trygg, event producer, at the moment unemployed because of COVID-19, living in the deep woods of Kustavi archipelago of the south-western Finland.

MEMORY LANE

How and when did you get involved with skateboarding?

I think it was around 1995/1996 when couple of my friends had these oldschool skateboards. I managed to buy one from my friends big brother and got started from there.

First trick you learned or struggled with the most?

Haha, has to be ollie. Damn it was hard with those oldschool ”fish boards” as we called them.

Best/worst memory in your skateboarding history?

Best memories… hmmm, I guess there’s no one specific memento to recall. The whole thing… skateboarding from morning until it got dark and along that getting to know cool new music/bands from the older local skateboarders. And learning how to smoke cigarettes =)

Ever been in a skategang? What is/was it called?
We had a tight crew but didn’t have any name for it… I guess the idea of naming our selves as a gang sounded korny already back then, hahah.

GRIP

STYLE

How would you describe your skating?

Flip and catch on flat and on ditch.

What kind of spots do you prefer?

Flat and ditch. Loving that sound when skateboarding on tiles, you know… ”klak-klak-klak-klak-klak…”

What kind of a skateboard setup do you have?

I bought a brand new complete from Puerto Rico about six years ago. It was on sale or something. Darkstar deck & Thunder trucks. Haven’t used it a lot though. I also have a longboard which I love to ride quite often. Only problem is I don’t know how to slow down with it, hahhah. It’s either foot down to break or jumping off the board. Downhills are quite hazardous for me, but still love to do them.

Favorite trick?

Kickflip, bs half cab flip and the mighty-never-going-out-of-style 360 kickflip. The weirdest trick I did was nollie pressure hardflip.

PHILOSOPHY

How has skateboarding changed the way you perceive the world?

This is a tough one… I guess skateboarding entroduced me to this unbelieveble rush of inspiration that comes along when you have a good run landing on tricks. I got hooked on that feeling and I’ve been chasing that feeling ever since whether it’s related to making music or photographing. That feeling is priceless. The feeling of togetherness was also very unique. Whenever I can nowadays relate to that feeling I’ll savour it the best I can.

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

All that heavy metal and hip hop music I got to know back then at the skateparks or in someones car driving to some long distance skate spots are in my subconsciousness and reflects at some level to all the music I make. Reading skateboard magazines and looking all those great photographs on them has also a really, really strong effect on my own photography. The black and white photographs… those pictures still defines my whole outlook on my own photography.

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

I don’t follow skateboarding that much nowadays but I guess that the tricks are getting quite sick compared to back when I was skateboarding. Maybe a bit more gear orientated nowadays?

GRIP

ART

What music have you discovered through skateboarding?

I found heavy metal and hip hop through skateboarding… from the skateparks and from the older skateboarders. I still remember the exact place and time I heard the band called Xysma for the first time at a skatepark in my childhood hometown Naantali. They are a grindcore-pioneer band also from Naantali. The music on skateboarding videos are also priceless.

Favorite song to skate to?

There’s too many to list, but let’s point out ”Vocal Test” by Integrity.

Who are the skaters/musicians you look up to?

Definitely Tommy Guerrero. He has been a great influence on my own music. He’s album ”A Little Bit Of Somethin” is in my all time top 5 albums list.

Favorite skateboard graphics of all time?

WORLD INDUSTRIES!

Favorite skate video or part of all time? 

I like the 411 videos (I still have on VHS), Zero’s ”Misled Youth” was (and is) really iconic, Trilogy (by World Industries, Blind & One O One) and the Emerica film ”Yellow”. My first skateboard VHS is a movie called ”The Dreams of Children”. I bought it from Ponkes skateboard shop around 1996. I remember always watching skateboard videos before and after I went skateboarding. Love them.

HEALTH

Have you had any bad injuries?

No bad injuries. As I got older guitar playing got more and more important to me so I was really careful not to injure my hands. That was probably also the main reason why I got off skateboarding.

Beverage of choice when skating?

Cold water I guess. Definately not anything with alcohol. I never got how some people can drink beer and skate, hahaha! To me alcohol goes straight to the feet and I can’t skate at all.

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

Some stretching maybe. Usually I just take the muscle pain next day after riding longboard or skating hahahah! You know you have done something.

Final words of wisdom or motivation for the young ones:

Don’t drink and skate! Fuck I’m getting old LOL. Also check out my band if you're into some beautiful and crushing downtuned music: Slowenya. All the best!

↑