Thrasher Journal – Jessyka Bailey’s “Ruining Skateboarding” Interview by Jaime Reyes

Jessyka dealt with enterprise from AZ to NYC and acquired the THERE professional mannequin to indicate for it. Do not miss this half

Hello, Jessyka. How are you?
I’m doing good, simply chilling, ingesting some espresso

The place are you from?
I’m from Phoenix, Arizona. Phoenix is form of like LA the place there’s lots of smaller cities surrounding it. I’m from the Tempe space.

Did you ever skate with Nika Washington?
No, Nika is from Phoenix correct. I grew up about half-hour from the place she’s from. Erik Ellington is definitely from Tempe.

I believed Ellington was from Alaska.
He may be however he went to highschool in Tempe. Each time we see one another we’ve the identical dialog: “Oh yeah, you went to the identical highschool as my dad.” After which he asks me, “What yr did he graduate?” And I’m like “Dude, there’s no approach you had been part of his graduating class.”

Might he be, although? How previous is your dad?
Effectively, I’m 32, so he’s like 60 one thing.

Oh yeah, I don’t assume Ellington is that previous. So what acquired you into skateboarding?
I began skating as a result of we had been shifting round lots after I was 16. I moved to a distinct a part of Arizona and I didn’t have any buddies. My brother had a skateboard, so I simply stole it and he acquired tremendous pissed. He was like, “You’ll by no means be capable to skate!” And I used to be like, Alright, dude, I’ll present you. However then we ended up turning into actually shut and he would drive me round each Saturday and we’d skate each skatepark in Arizona.

That’s superior. Does your brother nonetheless skate?
No, he doesn’t skate. He was born with spina bifida so it was form of a miracle that he was doing the drops that he was. He would ollie into ten-foot bowls and shit, you recognize? And he has a rod in his again and if it broke it might actually kill him, so my mother was all the time actually protecting of him when he was youthful. However as soon as he reached 18 he simply did no matter he wished. However as he aged his spina bifida prevented him from persevering with his journey.

Superb nollie bottom flips identical to Ellington, should be a Tempe factor

Effectively, at the least he acquired to skate and you bought to develop up skating together with your brother. That’s superior. So that you’re 32 and also you began skating round 16 due to your brother. Who was your first sponsor?
I attempted for a very very long time to get sponsors. The Arizona scene was simply not likely having it, after which lastly I met this skater and his mother and father owned a skateshop in Mesa, Arizona. I keep in mind they had been from California and their names had been Jim, Bob and Heather. And this dude had a bald head and goatee and simply seemed actually gnarly. I used to be like, Dang, dude, these individuals are so sick. So I might simply go there on a regular basis and so they had been like, “We need to sponsor you,” and that was my first sponsor ever. I believe it was truthfully known as BBQ. They had been actually solely round for a few yr after which they went beneath.

Effectively, shit occurs.
Yeah, it’s a tough market.

Who’re you sponsors now?
I’m circulation for Vans, Mob, Spitfire and a few Deluxe stuff. After which I skate for KCDC skateshop and clearly THERE skateboards.

So that you’re a school graduate, right? What did you research?
Yeah, I graduated from school. I’ve a level in trend advertising and marketing. Mainly what I realized is learn how to construct web sites and every thing about trend, however largely simply learn how to use Adobe Illustrator and every thing that comes together with beginning a enterprise—from scratch to it opening its doorways.

So if I want any enterprise ideas I can hit you up, proper?
Oh, I might positively offer you recommendation, particularly concerning web sites, search-engine optimization or any laptop stuff.

Alright, you’re my lady. So what made you progress out to New York?
It was only a dream of mine for a very very long time. I all the time wished to stay out right here. After I was youthful I used to be like, Oh, I’m gonna transfer to California. However then I went to California and it’s so near Arizona. However I saved going there and I used to be like, I don’t actually know if that is me. Then it was identical to, I’m simply going to maneuver to New York. I used to be making an attempt to do one thing with my diploma, and truthfully shifting to New York from Arizona was simply an enormous eye-opener.

I’m comfortable you moved to New York. You realize, I met you on Mulberry Avenue in New York. Do you keep in mind that?
Sure, I do keep in mind assembly you. I keep in mind displaying up and also you had been with Leo. I used to be like, Oh my gosh, each of my heroes are right here proper now. I recorded the complete panel you guys had been doing and was like, That is the best factor and the closest I’ve ever been to anyone I look as much as.

Let me see that footage!
Now I’m gonna need to undergo and discover it. I’m not mendacity. I nonetheless have it on my cellphone. I don’t delete something.

That’s rad. Had been you stoked while you moved to New York to simply go skate all over the place?
Really, I’m not gonna lie—I don’t assume that I used to be actually skating that a lot as a result of I assume I felt actually discouraged skating in Arizona. I acquired to a degree the place each single certainly one of my buddies had stopped skating, so each time I used to be going out I used to be going alone. So after I moved to New York I used to be not likely skating, you recognize? And what occurred was I began this internship the place I used to be mainly working 30 hours every week for a 200-dollar stipend and I used to be actually going loopy. I used to be like, I can’t do that anymore. I simply began getting actually in my head. I didn’t have any buddies and I really feel like that simply occurs to all people. And I used to be like, Dude, I simply want my skateboard. So I began skating and truthfully it revived me; it awoken me.

I really feel like skateboarding has executed that for lots of people, as a result of I finished skating for slightly bit and Jeffrey additionally stopped skating for slightly bit. However all of us return to skateboarding. That makes me comfortable.
Positively. I imply, skateboarding is truthfully our comfortable place.

Skateboarding is the very best drug
It’s; it truly is.

So that you began to get again into skating whereas being in New York. Who did you begin skating with?
I simply began going to skateparks alone.

Jessyka swap frontside flips above her comfortable place     Picture: McGuire

That’s okay. Solo missions are all good. That’s the way you make buddies.
Yeah, I used to be solo missioning it virtually each single day after I acquired off work and I simply began assembly individuals. And there have been much more feminine skaters out right here—greater than I’d ever seen in Arizona. It blew my thoughts. I used to be like, That is so insane. That is so superior. Can we be buddies? Am I coming off too sturdy proper now?! However yeah, I made a few buddies and we simply began skating on a regular basis. It was nice occasions.

I’m stoked for you—stoked you’re in skateboarding and stoked to observe you skate.
Aw, thanks. I’m stoked to skate.

Do you continue to have a nine-to-five day job or do you simply skate?
No, I want. Are you kidding? I want I might simply skate. I work at a Michelin star restaurant in SOHO and it’s actually a lot. I didn’t actually understand after I acquired the job, however while you’re working in a Michelin star restaurant you might be working with individuals who that’s their profession, you recognize? Whereas earlier than I used to be working at a restaurant and all people had one thing else occurring. I used to be working with actors and performers who had been working round singing. All people had one thing occurring however at this job all people is rather like, That is what I do. And that’s tremendous cool. I admire that however it’s lots of work inside and out of doors of the job.

What restaurant do you’re employed at? I like fancy eating places; I like to deal with myself.
This certainly one of three Michelin star restaurant with a feminine chef. It’s known as The Musket Room. The chef is queer and it’s actually sick, so I used to be hyped to work there. They’ve a feminine Black pastry chef and that’s simply actually unprecedented in meals, which is insane as a result of I’m like, How have males even dominated this house when girls have all the time been cooking? So it’s actually cool {that a} lady runs it.

So that you wait tables?
Yeah, I’m a server; I wait tables. It’s good cash. I solely work two or three days every week.

I’m wanting on the menu proper now. When me and my wifey come out to New York we have to eat there as a result of these scallops look wonderful. Oh, and the oysters too.
A few of that stuff isn’t on the menu proper now as a result of it’s seasonal. It’s a prefixed menu, which is fairly cool, so that you get seven programs. I’m actually promoting you on this proper now.

So you’re employed two days every week and also you get to skate lots. That’s wonderful. You talked about your girlfriend earlier. How lengthy have you ever and your lady been collectively?
We simply had our five-year anniversary. I met her in Arizona a month earlier than I left and I used to be identical to, That is the very best individual I’ve ever met in my total life. I want to offer this a shot. And we did and we’re nonetheless collectively.

Bottom flip from excessive to low in Solar Metropolis    Picture: Bravenec

Rad. Is she psyched in your skateboarding? Is she supportive?
In fact. One-hundred %. It’s nice. She doesn’t skate and she or he has her personal pursuits so we are able to vent to one another about our issues that we’re excited about and our struggles. And he or she’s simply actually supportive and form of the alternative of how I’m—she’s actually calm and articulate and is aware of learn how to talk her feelings, whereas typically I’m form of all over. I’m like, I don’t know the way I really feel proper now. Ahh!

I believe that’s each skateboarder proper there—all over. As a result of I’ve that. My wifey, she’ll ask me one thing and I’m like, I don’t know; no matter you need. What’s your favourite trick proper now?
This isn’t even that cool of a trick, however I’ve been doing nollie bottom disasters on transition however I hadn’t been bonking the nostril—I’d simply been doing the pivot model for therefore lengthy. I lastly realized learn how to bonk the nostril and I’m like, Dude, this feels so good. It’s a type of tips that feels actually superior.

Yeah, typically the only tips are the very best feeling tips ever.
That’s how I’ve been feeling. I’m like, Okay, I’m gonna do that 100 occasions right this moment. I simply love the sensation.

Who’re your favourite skaters or what’s your dream skate session?
This most likely adjustments weekly due to Instagram, however for a dream skate session, most likely Carl Aikens. I actually like the best way he skates. I wouldn’t even be skating as a result of these are individuals I might sit down and watch. Clearly Leo Baker. I simply actually love watching him skate. However a dream session the place I’m really skating—most likely the THERE workforce, simply vibing, hanging out, chilling. That’s the dream. However I’ve so many individuals that I look as much as that I can’t even give it some thought proper now and it actually does change weekly due to Instagram. I’ll be like, Oh, I discovered this new individual. I simply discovered about Ronnie Kessner. He’s wonderful. He skates goofy foot so I’m gonna comply with him and take a look at how he does tips.

What are you engaged on proper now?
We’re ending up the THERE video, so we’re filming that. However then I believe we’re gonna work on a spring and summer time video for out right here in New York. Virtually like a Backside Feeder-type of video. I’ve been speaking to Abi, Sam and different queer skaters out right here and I believe we need to do a very brief East Coast video the place it’s tremendous inventive and actually vibey and shit—and the skating is sweet.

Do you want filming?
Yeah, I do. It’s enjoyable. I by no means did it after I was youthful. We simply all the time went to skateparks. The whole lot is de facto unfold out in Arizona so that you couldn’t simply be like, Oh, let’s go skate at this spot all day.

What does it imply to you to be a professional lately?
My solely thought of what a professional is meant to be like is what Leo Baker is like. Leo lives the life. He’s all the time filming his subsequent half and understanding and—dude, that’s actually my dream. I simply wanna work out and be filming for my subsequent half. That’d be so sick.

Do you assume Instagram or social media generally has modified the sport in skating?

It 100% has modified the sport. With out Instagram we wouldn’t be as far and skateboarding wouldn’t have been compelled to vary, you recognize?

 

Inform me concerning the day you turn flipped the grate at Flushing.

Effectively, that was my third time being there. Each single time I might fall. It was a very irritating day as a result of we simply wanted to get it executed. I felt like I simply needed to land the trick. I landed it and—you recognize while you’ve simply tried one thing a lot that it simply doesn’t even really feel actual? It’s so constructed up? I used to be identical to, Oh, okay. Let’s go. Bye.

 

So you weren’t stoked? I might have been stoked!

I used to be stoked however I used to be identical to, That’s it? That was the sensation? Okay. Flat gaps are bizarre. They’re bizarre and so they don’t really feel good. It’s not like while you ollie down one thing and also you land, crouch and management it. I felt like that hole managed me; the velocity was controlling me. I don’t know learn how to describe it. It was only a actually bizarre feeling.

 

Skaters are their very own worst critics. This swap flip at Flushing guidelines

 

Hey, however the picture got here out sick.

Yeah, I used to be actually hyped on the picture. It was actually superior. I noticed the picture after I was on my approach to work. I used to be like, Okay, dude, I want to seek out this Thrasher magazine. I’m getting this journal. So I’m in SOHO. I went to Icon Journal; they didn’t have it. I went to Noah; they didn’t have it. I went to Supreme; they didn’t have it. I known as each single skateshop in New York. I instructed Maria to go to each skateshop in Arizona and name skateshops and no person had that journal. It was all bought out so I had to purchase it on-line.

 

It’s best to have known as me.

You had it?

 

Sure, I did. And I might have linked you with the best individuals to get it, too.

Dude, I wanted that connection in that second. However I used to be like, I would like this now. That is gonna get me by means of this shift. And I didn’t get it nevertheless it was high-quality. I ended up getting two of them, which I’m actually stoked about.

 

Will you signal my copy after I see you subsequent time?

In fact. I’d be honored, truthfully. I’ve to get your cowl—that 360 flip.

 

Good luck discovering it. 

I don’t even know the way I’d be capable to discover it. Perhaps I might go on eBay or one thing. I guess any person has it. Have you ever tried on the lookout for it?

 

I acquired a replica to donate to the Smithsonian. I used to be asking everybody, like, Dude, how do I get a replica? I talked to the dudes at Thrasher and so they had been like, “That’s a uncommon discover.” They had been conserving those that they had for his or her archives, and I used to be like, Alright, no matter. After which mysteriously two copies confirmed up within the mail. Somebody appreciated me sufficient that two got here within the mail, so I used to be grateful to them. I lastly acquired my copy.

Dang, that’s so sick. Yeah that’d be an superior journal to have.

 

The place do you see your self in skateboarding 5 years from now?

Truthfully, the dream would simply be with the ability to skate and occurring journeys, not having to fret a few supervisor telling me what to do. However 5 years from now I’d love to simply be skating. I’d wish to be doing extra in the neighborhood with skating, particularly with the queer Black and Brown youngsters in my neighborhood. I’d like to do clinics and stuff like that. I see that ahead of 5 years, although. Yeah, actually simply to not be beneath anyone’s thumb that isn’t in skating—that’s the last word objective.

Whereas nature reclaims the DIY, Jessyka nollie bigspins     Picture: Bravenec