Trà Đá #16

“People will come to love their oppression, to adore the technologies that undo their capacities to think.”

▲ Mai Xuân Nguyên – FS Grab

Aldous Huxley (1894 - 1963)

“Thành is 16 years old now. He is a skater living an homeless life at the skate spots. His mom and dad died when he was 7 or 8. He has been skating for 4 years already. His life probably got a little better when he met the skateboard community at Vincom. They help him with food and clothes. Everyday he sleeps in the streets at Vincom square, and sometimes hopefully at friends house.”

Liêm Đặng

Hey Thanh, it is a pleasure to finally have the opportunity to interview you! When and how did you start skateboarding?

It has been four years already. I started when I was 12.

At that time, I was wandering around D1 hood and randomly bump into some skateboarders there. I was curious about that discipline and decided to learn more about it, then started skateboarding from then on.

▲ Half Cab Noseslide

How do you live in your everyday life in the street, to get food, to sleep? Regarding skateboarding, all the locals give you skate and shoes?

My situation is not one other people who don't surrounding.

I got skateboarders bros who financing some tools and

of the luckiest, as per lots of have families or closed ones the chance to have these helped and supported me in shoes for skating.

I have been working at some places but not for long term. The reason is that I don't have any ID which makes it difficult to get a stable job.

Do you find a kind of brotherhood community thanks to skateboarding?

▲ Nollie Heelflip

The people who supported me a lot are Anh Thông, Anh Liêm, Anh Six, Anh Vén and several more skateboarders.

I consider this community as a replacement for the relatives I didn't have, considering them as my closed ones. Everyone in the skateboarding environment is friendly with one another.

Who are your favorite skateboarders in Vietnam?

My favourite ones are Anh Trần (Cutis) , Anh Liêm , Anh Thông , Phú Đỗ , Huy Luu Gia , Nam Lê.

Have you been studying at school?

I studied until grade 6 but could not afford to pursue further, so had to put studies on hold.

What would you like to do in the future?

In the future, I would like to get a job that would help me to have a more stable life. I also hope that skateboarding gets to grow and expand more.

Anything you would like to add?

I hope to have one day a skatepark in Ho Chi Minh City, the city I have been living in, so that skateboarders can improve more and have a dedicated place for. Cause at the moment there's a few spots, where we usually get kicked out of.

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I had the opportunity of chatting with Gershon the 1st place winner of Tampa Pro’s 1999 street contest. Since then he really hasn’t slowed down, absent from the lime light of the skateboard industry. Gershon has been keeping video parts, social media clips, artistic ideas and projects developing with like minded friends. From Santa Cruz Skateboards, Powell Skateboard, A-Team or Blind he’s still skateboarding around.

Good day, how are you?

Can't complain.

Where are you located in California?

Eureka, California. Humboldt county

How do you like the area compared to past cities and towns you have lived in?

Scenic wise it's probably the best area I've stayed in, trees, mountains and the ocean offer relaxing views.

I can’t image living in that kind of environment on a daily bases, what is an average day to you?

I've never really lived by a rigid schedule, but an average day usually consists of some reading, writing/typing, listening to music, editing, skateboarding and learning about new things.

What’s the latest thing you have discovered or found interesting?

Baking, it's simple, but something that I never spent much time doing.

What have you been baking lately or what has caught your interest, food wise?

Bread, mostly raisin.

Any tips or techniques with baking it?

Just like skateboarding, if one is actually interested, he/she will form positive habits of what works and learn to adapt ideas for better outcomes. With tenacity, one eventual should succeed at any task taken.

Have you excepted or adapted to anything that wasn’t present before covid19? Has anything changed for you?

Technology, socializing, traveling?

No, I pretty much live as I have, other than staying away from scary people.

Scary people? Do tell People that believe propaganda.

Why do you believe people are engaging propaganda?

I don't believe, reality speaks.

Sounds like you have been looking behind the curtain of current society. How do you view the world today as a society?

The world as a society? Can't honestly see it.

Have you been writing any spoken words, filming or any other projects coming soon?

I write/type almost daily, but rarely recite any. I've been working with a couple people through a project deemed -LDRS-(Logical Drive Results Success), which has in the short time of it's existence(about six months) been productive.

Sean Weikel is someone who's instrumental, he as well can video, shoot photos, edit, but also play/produce music. We have made various edits, ads(web based) to promote t-shirts, hooded sweatshirts and so far two of my skateboards with artists Sonny Wong(Humboldt) and Dialer(New Mexico/Venice), but there is plans for a full project maybe before September.

How were you creatively say.....1992 vs 2022?

with

people

in

let’s

Thinking and adaptation of it, there's proof people can research, better seen or heard rather than now spoken about.

Knowledge is very tangible in 2022, so why are people not informed?

Because they probably do not want to be.

I see, for some ignorance can be comfortable. You mentioned a few projects and working with several talented individuals. What is the difference between working with individuals in 2002 vs 2022? Also is there a difference?

I can't say, I don't know the "methods" of other producers. The difference now is that most of the people aren't industry(full sponsors), so few aspire for higher ambitions, at least around where I stay currently.

Your most recent graphic has a skull with what appears to be a North American head dress, what company is it under?

American Indian(aboriginal), -LDRS-(Logical Drive Results Success). It is a label that creatives can build under and is not so much a brand, just thoughts put into action.

You have lived in multiple parts of the United States of North America. What part of the country did LDRS evolve from?

The idea formed through The oBtuseconcept during my stay in the Midwest(KCMO), which is pretty much just my vision, so there needed to be a construct better for collaborations. I brought the concept to fruition after meeting Sean Weikel about six months ago(after waiting a year for the first graphic) in Eureka.

Sounds like you have been focused and determined to stick with the graphics, does it have any sentimental value to you?

For the -LDRS- project working with other productive people is the focus. My sentiment is put in, it is not for me to collect.

Seeing that we are 6 months into the year, is there anything you would like to accomplish before the year is over?

Accomplishments are always in the works, they're to be talked about later.

Last question of this interview is…for individuals looking to keep up with your projects and skateboarding.

Where can they follow you or take a look into your projects? ldrs746373645.WordPress.com, @logical_drive_results_success @gershonmosley,@therealobt

Any last statements or questions for the public before we finish this inquisition?

I remember days when businesses would be closed, we rode, owned our code operated from to date, but obviously not many keep it moving today. Most people just play, minus aim wandering about specialty concrete laid. There always seems to be a lot of hype surrounding new names, yet quickly they fade, being that their fuel is outside backing. More than a habit maintained, well nurtured skills overshadow claims consistently, proof, what occurs, then talk about legacy. Edgy because grinds work best where sides meet, friction depletes through practiced assaults upon the streets. Wasn't made to be skated?

So be it, onslaughts test whether or not that statement holds truth versus excuses spoken as to why civilians flock in cages. Manifested, a different perspective, currency is but a tool, nothing worth being coveted, how it's used is more significant. Plans are only fully stated after fruition, faux competitors lay in wait for fresh ideas, see their images steadily get rearranged every archetype presented. Kept simplistic, ignored statistics living in the moment with forethought integrated, this journey continues, added chapters left later to inform the youth about actual value.

-Circles are hollow without the perpetual roles-

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