Interview: Oleynik
Portrait: Mikendo
A few years ago I used to work at The Plaza in Vancouver. I had to work early on Saturday mornings and I remember you and your brother would sometimes be the first two people there. Do you guys still get up early and go skating?
Yeah, we usually always get up early on the weekends because that’s when the good street skating goes down, there’s more spots that are less of a bust and we just try and get some shit done. Get a whole day of skating in you know!

Back then I remember days where you guys started the day at The Plaza, then would go street skating and filming all day and then end off skating North Delta park at night. What was it that motivated you to skate so much?
I don’t know man, I just loved skating and couldn’t get enough. I loved learning new tricks and taking em to the streets and then going back to the park or whatever and trying to learn more new shit! Just spending all day on my board, cuz that’s how you get good.


Nollie Heel Photo: Odam
What do your days consist of now?
Same thing pretty much, but times four busyness! Always linking up all sorts of skate sessions with all sorts of people all over or planning the next trip to somewhere to shred! Cleaning up the skate house after gettin home from a trip.

Some of the things you are definitely known for are jumping down big shit and doing really innovative tricks on handrails. What is the process you go through before you try something like say hardflip Hollywood high or impossible noseblunt a handrail?
I just make sure I’ve been on my board for a while that day and that I’m not having a shit day skating. And you just gotta go through the motions, like ollie that shit before or just do some warm up tricks to feel it out. Then you just gotta know you got it, visualize it and confidence.


Smith Photo: Odam
Are you scared when you try that type of stuff?
Not scared on gaps, but I've been skating gaps all my life. Rails are definitely sketchier, but you gotta have confidence too!

How did you go about the nollie down El Toro? Was it something you wanted to do for a while?
I just knew that if I could ollie it, I could nollie it. And I ollied it first try that day, and was like, alright I’m just gonna go a whole lot faster and hit that nose.



I read in Transworld that it took you 10 tries. Did you have to take a couple days off after that?
I think I flew to Montreal the next day and skated around the city with my homies! My legs were a little sore, but it wasn't as bad as a 3 hour session on a 10 stair haha.

I remember times at the Plaza where I would see you or your brother learn a trick, then leave for an hour and come back with a line filmed at Hotspot or some other downtown spot with the trick you just learned in it? You're currently filming for the new Transworld video. Does filming still come that easy? Do you feel more pressure these days?
It’s definitely not like that anymore. Tricks are harder these days and the level is higher. I’m always learning tricks, but it’s always different kinds of shit. Sometimes I just get stoked on different weird spots and doing a basic trick. There’s some pressure, but I try to not let it get to me.

How is your Transworld part coming along?
It’s coming along. I think I was the last person they asked to film a part, but I already had a bit of footage chillin.



So you have a pro model out now, had a Thrasher cover with Scooter, killed it in your Globe part, just had interviews in Thrasher and Transworld. How has your life changed since the days of being a Delta skate rat?
Alot more traveling and contests, but I don’t mind the contests. Gotta shoot ads and be on point to keep the sponsors happy too!

Where have you got to travel over the last few years? What places did you like the best?
I like Spain, Madrid. I went to the Philippines and that was amazing and a culture shock! Tahiti is straight up paradise and I think there’s only one gap on the whole island! haha

Who are the skaters in Canada that you're feeling right now?
There are mad skaters! Spencer Hamilton (if he’s even in Canada right now), John Hanlon, Magnus Hanson, Hashbrown, JS Lapierre, Antoine Asselin, Charles Rivard, and Hugo Balek.

Front Feeble Photo: Odam
You live in Huntington Beach, CA presently. What do you miss about Canada?
I miss the mountains and the fresh air on first thought. But I miss all the homies and the skateparks! And those crackin Canadian beers!

Do you still skate flat ground all the time? What is it that you love about flat?
I skate flatground on the regular. I love playing skate and just trying to get all the tricks on lock because flatground is essential and always steezy!

One time at the Plaza we had the age old discussion of if skating was more of an art or sport. What do you think now? Why?
It’s a mix of both because when you skate you have to be creative in what you choose to do, what obstacles and what tricks. But it’s also a sport kinda because you need to keep your body in shape in order to keep on going and progressing.

Crooks Photo: Mikendo
Congratulations on everything, Ryan. Any last words and thank yous?
Thanks to Ben for this interview, all my sponsors and everyone who has supported my shredding!