We managed to interupt Kristian Svitak from skateboarding and asked him if he wanted to answer some letters. Kristian said he'd love to. So keep sending us all this stuff, and we'll keep rounding up answers, a'ight? TransWorld SKATEboarding, 353 Airport Road, Oceanside, California 92054. E-mail? Skatemag@twsnet.com.¿Shad
SCHOOL OR SKATING? 'Sup, TransWorld? I'm just wondering if there are any pro skaters who went to high school and actually graduated? I want to become pro, but my parents want me to go to college. Could you list some pros that actually made it past high school? Do you guys think there is a possibility to become pro and still be in school? I just want to skate, have fun, and get sponsored when I'm ready.¿Jonathan via e-mail
Jonathan, I once felt like you did when I was in high school. It seemed like every pro interview I read they talked about how they were dropouts, and it seemed very discouraging to me. I never dropped out¿I graduated but never went to college. I have friends that who dropped out and are more successful than I will probably ever be, but I suggest having a back-up plan because turning pro is not an easy thing. I was very fortunate to have landed my dream job as a professional skateboarder, but before that I had a very good job as a printer. Just do what you have to do to take care of yourself. Keep skating, have fun, and whatever is meant to be will be.¿Kristian Svitak
FUNK THE POLICE Okay, me and my friend were skateboarding at a local school. We were told not to skate on that side of the school, but that we could skate on the other side. So we found a shitty wall and were doing wallrides on it (keeping in mind they were painting the school and this wasn't painted yet). Then we got bored and left. The next day I heard a knock on the door and it was the cops. They said I was being charged with destruction of public property for the wall they were going to paint in two days. So I would like you to run an article about how f¿ked up that is. Thanks for your time.¿Chris Clark
Chris, I don't know if TransWorld is going to write an article about it, but I have to agree that is pretty f¿ked up, and I hope everything works out in your situation. The joys of being a skateboarder, you gotta love it!¿Kristian
TAIWAN HOMIE Hello! I come from Taiwan. I skate over two years, but why am I always a loser? Someone just skate for five or six months, and they're even better than me! I try my best to skate every day and I never lose my confidence. But why am I always a loser? Please help me. I wanna skate better.¿via e-mail
I can definitely identify with you. I guess I must be doing something right to end up where I am right now with my skating, but I've been skating for thirteen years, and I still feel like I suck! I skate every day, all day, and most of the good tricks I pull take every ounce of energy and concentration I've got. Skating doesn't come easy to me at all. I seriously have to put a lot of hard work into it. In other words, I'm no Koston or McCrank, but I love skating, and no matter how much I suck I'll never stop! I know skating is not all about tricks that you can do. It's about hanging on the streets with your friends and having fun. So don't worry about the tricks, that's only a small percentage of what being a good skater is all about.¿Kristian
BIG BALLS? I've just got one question. How the hell do all these pros get the balls to do that crazy stuff? Like every time I stand at the top of a six-stair rail, I'm too scared to try it! Is there anything I can do to get myself to try it?¿Larry Haley, Bend, Oregon
Hey, Larry. I'll tell you my methods for doing big, crazy stuff. First I make sure I have the proper skills to do the big stunt. Then I either get really amped by listening to Slayer or some other fast, violent music and say, "F¿k the world" and do it. Or I do the complete opposite: get a really melllow song in my head, relax, smile, and have a good time. Hope this helps.¿Kristian
SHOE SPEW Why do people charge so much for shoes? My parents won't buy me new skate shoes, and then when I buy them they wear out in less then two months. Then I don't have the money to buy a new board or anything. I just don't think they should charge so much for shoes because it doesn't cost them much to make them. So I just think they should lower the price for all skaters' sakes.¿Chris, Ohio
Chris, I feel your pain. I was in a shop the other day and happened to ask how much they charged for shoes¿I was shocked! The last time I had to pay for shoes they ran around 50 dollars. I'm not much of a businessman and don't know the reasons shoes are so expensive these days, but I do know a few stylish ways to make shoes last longer. I know all the "cool guys" you see in the see in videos and magazines don't do it (because they don't have to), but a little duct-tape and Shoe Goo can go a long way. Try it, it might work for you.¿Kristian Svitak
LITTERBOX IS WACK The consistent theme of the Litterbox is image and ego. I love to skate, but I would never claim to be good nor would I spout off about kids less skilled. So what I have to say is this: you gapers who are more concerned with how well you fit the skater image than your actual enjoyment of the sport haven't noticed that the ultra-sound skaters are just happy to skate. They rip a rail and keep riding. You look in the mirror and don't like what you see, you don't even enjoy the thing you claim to love the most. Some advice: don't worry about the rich sponsors, the word TransWorld can't print getting dropped off by their moms at the Vans parks, or the kids with flameboy T-shirts on. Put your head down and skate.¿Chris via e-mail
Thanks for this letter! This is something I deal with on a daily basis coming from Cleveland to San Diego. You see, skating is not sitting behind a desk writing about it, having all the newest gear, skating a few hours a week at the local skatepark, or what cool pros you know. Actual skating doesn't have anything to do with the "industry" and your sunglasses! It's about thinking it, dreaming it, eating it, living it, and bleeding for it! "God save skateboarding."¿Kristian
GO SKATE I'm always reading letters by so-called skaters about tricks labeled the wrong way in your mag, or how the kid down the street wears skate gear but can't skate. Is it just me or is everyone missing the true meaning of skating: TO HAVE FUN! Anyway, just thought I would share my hostility with everyone else. Keep it real, and quit worrying about the meaning of mongo footers or why Joe f¿kin' Schmoe is wearing a Zero shirt.¿Paul Jacob via e-mail
Hey, kids! Read this letter a few more times then, go skate!¿Kristian
