NORTHWEST LEAF
THE LIFESTYLE ISSUE
STORY BY PACER STACKTRAIN | PHOTO BY NATE WILLIAMS
BRENT ROYCE
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR CAREER IN SKATEBOARDING?
I’ve been skateboarding for 35 years now and most of it has been unsponsored. When I was younger I did a lot of contests and almost always placed in the top five. I’ve had tricks in a few videos and I have a full part in a video called “The Orange,” years ago. I was on “Flow,” getting boxes from companies like Volcom Clothing, World Industries, Darkstar, Enjoi, Almost, I -Path and Savier. This was back before skaters made money like they do now, so I worked full time and passed up on traveling so I could build my life and career.
HOW DID YOU END UP STARTING YOUR SKATEBOARD COMPANY?
I teamed up with Troy and Stacy Moore to start Gromshop.com way back in the day. It was created for pre-teens and toddlers with skateboarding and snowboarding related stuff. Troy and Stacy had the idea and we used the companies I was skating for as our initial brands. I was lucky to have good friends like Tim Snail who was working at Volcom, so a lot of the initial clothing was little Volcom clothes. Tim now works with me at Odin and Who Oil as the sales director and Troy co-owns owns Oregon’s Finest.
WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO WORKING IN THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY?
I was living out of state doing a lot of snowboarding and snowmobiling and was really missing skateboarding in Portland with my friends. I decided to move back home and started working with my friends at Pure Oregon dispensary. I also started working at a few farms doing whatever I could just to make extra money and learn as much as I could about everything Cannabis. I teamed up with a Washington store called New Vansterdam and oversaw the state of Oregon and built out retail stores for them. I also did all the buying in Oregon and was the vice president of operations for S.B. Ventures in Washington, which is a consulting group. After that, I started Legit Business Solutions, which is a consulting group in Oregon. I am now with Odin and started Odin Wholesale with them and do the buying for Who Oil and Odin Wholesale. Finally, I have a recreational farm just hitting the market called Black Rabbit Cult.
DO YOU USE CANNABIS MEDICALLY TO TREAT THE INJURIES THAT COME WITH SKATEBOARDING? I use Cannabis to treat swelling and pain after a long day of skating or snowboarding. I also use Cannabis to help me sleep at night, since I have insomnia. It’s weird to say this, but I also use it for motivation. Your body can use Cannabis in many ways but what really matters is one’s mindset while you’re using Cannabis, and that will direct the energy of the plant in your body.
FOUNDER | ODIN CO.
Skateboarder & Snowboarder Cannabis business owner
DO YOU THINK SKATEBOARDING CAN BE ENHANCED UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF CANNABIS? DO YOU SMOKE AND SKATE?
I do smoke and skate for sure, like almost every time. Some of the best backcountry lines on my snowboard have been right after smoking a joint with my friends in the trees. I can be tired after skating for a while and just chill and smoke real quick and have all my energy and imagination snap right back.
WHAT DOES A “SMOKE SESSION” LOOK LIKE FOR YOU? DO YOU LIKE TO CONSUME CANNABIS AFTER SKATING? Brent Royce has a career that most would dream of: paychecks from two industries he’s passionate about. He’s been an avid skater and snowboarder throughout his life and worked in that business and now he is working in the Cannabis industry— specifically working with trusted retail storefronts and some of the most popular producers and brands in the Northwest.
44/FEB. 2018 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF
After a long day of skating, my energy levels are high and my brain is firing like crazy. That triggers my insomnia and restless leg syndrome. I’ll bounce back and forth between Treets CBD gummies and Odin CBD pills. I typically use a bong—taking hits of high THC flower or high CBD Who CO2 cartridges. I also enjoy dabbing live resin for the terps.