The Albion Issue 6

conflicting values is interesting to observe. The yards of the adjoining houses are only separated by a low chainlink fence, making it easy to see what’s going on inside. From the deck of the ramp it’s possible to peer into the neighbour’s living room. Inside the family are sat around a table playing a very civilized game of cards, while back in Tom’s house people are hooting and screaming as they fly around the ramp, they’re drinking beers, playing drums, making fires and smashing up anything combustible. They really are two very different – and unfortunately polar opposite – worlds.

Most of the 20 people in The Kansas house do get drunk every night, however Tom himself doesn’t join in. He doesn’t need alcohol to get weird, he has enough mischief and excitement running through his veins already. When quizzed on his choice not to drink he says “I just fucking hate beer. I’ve just never been one to get drunk, I’ve only been drunk a handful of times.”

From what little I did know of Tom before staying with him, I was expecting him to be well up for a drunken party in town, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.

“I do feel bad sometimes. When homies are in town I usually feel like a bitch. They’ll be like “let’s go out downtown, I’m only here for 48 hours, let’s party!” and I’m just like “No way.” I fucking hate downtown, I fucking hate the bars so bad. I can’t stand it so I usually don’t even fuck with it.”

My hatred for Tom is growing – he’s so damn happy all the time. He doesn’t need beer to escape reality. He has no need to be anywhere else, for his is a reality that you’d never want to leave. Rather than drinking himself into a blind stupor he prefers to spend his time being productive. He spends his evening with his close friends – riding, longboarding, playing music, building ramps and hanging out with cute girls.

His youth, vitality and motivation, although frustratingly sickening to me, are annoyingly and weirdly infectious. One evening during my stay I found myself stuffed into the boot of a car with six longboards head banging to Metallica as we drove to a multi-story car park. We ran all the way to the top floor then raced down through the empty levels on the soft-wheeled decks. It was gone midnight and there wasn’t a soul around, it was a great time. I’d almost forgotten that it was possible to have fun sober after 12. Just look at the little shit laughing and smiling as he goes down the hill with his friends on that skateboard, not forced, not contrived, just good ol’ wholesome fun.

It’s enough to make me sick!

Tom likes to surround himself with people. If the house is empty then he’ll not stay there by himself. During my time there ten people were staying at the house, and apparently that was a quiet week. It’s not uncommon for there to be 20 riders calling the place home at any one time. Sleeping randomly wherever they fall. Scattered all-over like people shaped pepperoni pieces on a giant floor-plan pizza. The fulltime residents are all from Kansas, which is the state from where Tom himself hails.

He grew up just outside of Wichita and first found BMX when he was nine years old. He raced at first and won the first ever race he entered (of course he did). From there he moved on to dirt jumping, trails and eventually, skateparks. Back then his idol was Phil Wasson, the stylish and flowy FBM rider who came into the limelight in the early 2000s. Living in the same town, Tom would attempt to emulate Phil’s style and his influence set him on the high and stylish path he now pioneers.

Another of his early inspirations was Chase Hawk. The parallels between the two – slight build, blond hair, brakeless, pegless, concrete, street and trails demi-gods – are undeniable but for all their similarities the two don’t see eye to eye. I’d heard from a couple of people that Chase doesn’t much like Tom. I ask if there was any rivalry between the two of them. “I don’t know how he looks at it, but he’s been one of my top inspirations growing up, I used to try to do things just like 59