1. How long have you been skateboarding?
I have been skateboarding since 1986. I went pro in 1994.

2. What got you started or interested in skateboarding?
I was playing basketball one day when I saw a kid roll across the court on his skateboard. I asked him if I could try it. For Christmas that year, I asked my mom for a skateboard. My brother got a board around the same time and we would skate together. My first real board was a Powell Lance Mountain.

3. What kind of injuries have you had because of this sport and what was the worst one?
My worst injury while skateboarding was a broken ankle. Since then, numerous rolled ankles have kept me off my board.

4. What's the biggest award you've ever won, and which one means the most to you?
I guess my greatest achievement has been winning the World Cup overall combined title for the past seven years. The award that meant the most to me was winning the 1998 Transworld Readers Poll for the Best Overall Skater.

5. Can I have your board?
I get asked this at contests alot and the answer is "No. If I give you my board, how am I supposed to skate the contest?"

6. Have you traveled anywhere because of this sport, if yes, where?
My skateboarding travels have taken me to all but two states in the United States (Alaska and South Dakota), to most of Canada and Eastern Europe, and to Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Japan, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Scandinavia and the Middle East.

7. What's the biggest plus about being big in skateboarding?
I get paid to do what I love to do.

8. Any advice for people who are interested in starting skateboarding?
Simple advice: Recognize that skateboarding is very hard to do and everyone learns at their own pace. Don't get caught up in what is cool, what is not, or what tricks you should learn. Do whatever makes you happy. Most importantly and above all else, have fun and enjoy it.

9. Who are your sponsors?
Positive Skateboards, SoBe, Airwalk, Verizon Wireless, Bern helmets, Flybar, and Eastern Boarder. You can find links to their websites on my Sponsors page.

10. Will you spit on my shirt?
Actually, I was only asked this once, but I thought it was funny. And no, I didn't spit on the kid's shirt, I shared some of my sweat with him instead.