BEHIND THE COVER
Photos & Words: Natalie Grakovski
Nathaniel Dean, at home, reflecting upon his accolades. He manifested this achievement earlier in 2020 — the mind is everything. Every thought, feeling, and belief, manifests itself into the real world.
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“IN MY ROOM” on 120 film
current skateshoes:nikesbzoomblazermid
nathaniel on the cover of king mag
vol. 12 issue 1
Well, first off, [Nathaniel] congratulations on the cover! How does it feel?
I’m honestly so surprised, it’s an honor, and a pleasure, to be on the cover of King Mag. It’s been a childhood dream of mine.
Well deserved! This is your intro to the scene; where did you grow up skating?
I started skating seriously in Ajax, where I went to school. After high school graduation, I moved into the city of Toronto and began skating even more.
Is that where you met your crew?
Yep, all the good people I met are from the city; Curtis (who shot the cover photo), and Gabe (who films most skate videos).
Are we going to see the clip behind the cover photo?
The clip will be released in a project I’m currently working on! It’s called, “Token Part 1” – keep an eye out. I’m super hyped on it.
Nice man, we’ll keep an eye out. How was the come up in the industry? What were some obstacles you faced on your way to success?
The biggest hurdle was juggling work, relationships, skating, and keeping a healthy balanced lifestyle. Skate life is truly all about balance. Nowadays, everyone is so good at what they do, so you need to constantly be on your “A” game to really stand out, and stay relevant.
I hear you; it can be difficult getting a grip on things, but you handle it well. Were your parents ever supportive of your career path?
HAHA, definitely not! This is a silly game to them. They don’t really understand how one makes a living doing something
like this, but they support whatever makes me happy. For now, I have their blessings, and I’m thankful for that.
That’s beautiful. Can you tell us a bit more about your inspiration behind this photo?
Well, it was more of an impromptu skate day. We had no real plan. It was just a normal, “clip-stacking-photo-shooting day”. I’ve been thinking of doing this trick for a while, and we had to go back twice for the perfect lighting. I’m so glad we put in the work.
Time well spent; the photo is beautiful. Do you draw inspiration from any skaters?
Of course! My list is long, but I’ll try to keep it short and sweet. I love Ishod Wair’s smooth style, Brandon Westgate’s power, and Jeremy Leabres’ trick selection. I like to think that I draw out the best qualities of my favorite skaters and make that into my own, personal style.
So, what are some of your dream sponsors?
The ultimate would be Nike SB, Bones Wheels, April Skateboards, and Independent Trucks. I hope they’re reading this.
Anything is possible! So, how has the industry changed since you started?
I started skating before Instagram; just go skate to be social, and have fun. You’d hit the streets with those skaters you met at the park, and make a video to send to sponsors. Hopefully, the clip would make the cut, and be in a brand’s video, then get sponsors to start your professional career. In a way, that challenge made skateboarding more attractive. It’s this weird conundrum of an unattainable, but very possible goal. The main thing that has changed in the industry is the volume and speed of receiving content. At one point, I was patiently waiting for content to drop in magazines, and looking forward to YouTube videos. You’d have to wait to see the new skaters on print, websites, or a brand’s platform. I kind of miss the anticipation of your favorite skater’s part drop; it adds impact to what we do. Nowadays, we’re constantly bombarded with footage from Instagram and TikTok. A skater’s entire platform is Instagram, and you’re overexposed. For example, it’s like over extracting your espresso, and then it tastes bitter.
Nathaniel Dean, Toronto, CA. 2020. (P) Natalie Grakovski
It’s crazy to see that change. What’s the one thing that you would want to change about the industry?
Unfortunately, Canada’s skate scene is extremely underfunded. There are no incentives, few sponsors, and no one takes it seriously (even though it’s become an Olympic sport). For example, with soccer, kids get sent to a professional academy with a roof, food, and coaches. There’s a good chance at excelling if you’ve got financial and physical support. I couldn’t skate 24/7 because I had to work fulltime to pay my bills. Canada doesn’t have enough training facilities or recreational spaces. The few skate parks we do have are so spread apart, with little to no variety of obstacles. The obstacles don’t feel good, and aren’t up to par with the Olympic skate parks. It’s still illegal everywhere outside of the contest space to skate street, and the subculture is still frowned upon. I wish there was more support
Any advice for new kids growing up with social media [being a huge factor of success]?
Social media is tough, you need to work twice as hard. Sponsors and people following you are always hungry for more content. There’s no more mystery, because the industry has evolved to where you can’t just be an athlete. You need to be a well-rounded content creator as well. It’s not necessarily a negative, it teaches kids skills that can help with their future. Anyways, my advice is to post the average stuff on social media and save the good content for video projects and magazines. Good call. Thoughts on YouTube skaters or untraditional skate careers?
If it works for you, then by all means! I feel like the industry is also evolving into a space where gate-keeping is becoming harder. I think it’s becoming a more
positive space because not everyone fits into the mold of a traditional, “proskater”. People have different talents, visions, and ideas, that can really add to the growth of skateboarding. Lots of oldschool skate dudes have a weird notion of being exclusive and/or “cool”. Frankly, I find it childish, and it shows their smallmindedness. As a collective, we need to come from a place of abundance, not scarcity.
How are you making a difference in the skate community?
I’m glad you asked. The main concept behind, “Token Part 1” is to highlight tokenism withing the skate community. When I was growing up, skating wasn’t really accepted in Black communities, or even in the skate world, people see you as the “Black skater” doing “Black tricks”, instead of a skater doing skate tricks. I decided to own it, and to uplift every tokenized group of people within my community, and allow them to express themselves outside of that box the industry (and society) tries to paint them in. The world is harsh enough already. We don’t need stereotypes and labels in a sport meant for all types of people from all walks of life.
A true visionary. So, any injuries you’re currently healing from?
Always. I’m a few years out from an ACL reconstructive surgery. It still feels a little weak but I’m working on it! Also, ingrown toenails are nagging lately. I think it’s an old guy thing...
How old are you anyway?
I’m 28, so I guess I’m considered a bit old in the skate world.
Old is gold, my friend. Got any plans post skateboarding?
Yes, I realized that as an athlete, your time is limited. I’ve achieved every dream I’ve dreamed of, so working on my long-term career goals, and figuring things out has been on my mind lately. I’m really into cars, so that’s the direction I’m headed towards. I’m going to become a mechanic and open my own shop.
Amazing, dude! Any advice for old heads transitioning into a “normy” lifestyle?
Yes, it’s inevitable. I think it’s important for skaters to realize the industry only wants you for a certain time, and the sponsors will only be there for you if you’re producing footage, and content. As soon as that’s over, you’re pretty much on your own. My advice is to never stop being curious, discover new passions, and don’t be afraid to take up a new skill. Remember that knowledge is power.
Final thoughts?
Thank you, King Magazine, for this interview. I’d like to thank my sponsors, my mom, girlfriend, and all my good homies for always supporting me. I love my tribe, and I love my people. I want to thank the most high for allowing me to exist at this time in history. To all the Black and Brown kids coming up behind me, I wish them nothing but love. If y’all need anything, e-mail me. Haha, seriously.
nategordon75@gmail.com.
As a collective, we need to come from a place of abundance, not scarcity.
Cover: Nathaniel Dean, Crooked Grind, Toronto, CA. 2020. (P) Curtis Rothney
Here: Nathaniel Dean, Ollie-Up, Toronto, CA. 2020. (P) Curtis Rothney
Nathaniel Dean, Ashbridges Bay, Toronto, CA. 2020. (P) Natalie Grakovski
