On a recent trip to South Africa, I got to know a lot about Willis. Beyond being a multi-talented ATV (just peep his FWIL part for reference), he’s lived in Italy, Bermuda, Oregon, California, his truck, and recently did a year in his wife’s home country of Finland. He’s got a new part dropping on Halloween, so we picked his brain for insight on several spooky subjects.—Blair Alley
What’s Willis Kimbel up to in 2015?
2015 is ruling. Let’s see, went pro which I like a lot, been living in Finland and skating all over Europe for most of the year. Got married to a beautiful little Finnish wild child. Broke my collarbone this summer in London on a rad Nike trip with good homies and got some stitches in Estonia. Learned about Loimu Lohi. Look it up. Didn’t drive a vehicle for nine months after living in one. Got to see South Africa. Now back in the US in Portland for not sure how long just trying to skate and travel as much as possible to wherever is next and keep the inspiration and fire a-burning.
What are your top 5 tracks to play in the tour van? What song just bums you out?
1. Free Gator, Grindline the band.
2. TV Eye, Stooges.
3. Streetboy, Sixto Rodriguez.
4. Loaded to the Gills, Michael Liggins and the Super Souls.
5. Aqua de Beber, Astrud Gilberto.
6. Fuck this shit I’m out, not sure of artist.
Bum out song: That collab between Puddle of Mud, Staind and Godsmack, I think its called Quivering Brown Eye For A Mouth.
What can we expect from this new video part? You keeping the ATV vibe going?
I’d expect some skateboarding. I’m interested to see what it is because I’ve been bouncing around so much and filming with so many people I don’t really know what is going to actually show up and make it in there. These days the variety of cameras are so insane too. Always ATV 'til I die. Too much awesome stuff to run over on your skateboard not to wanna touch it all.
How did you get so good at tranny and big rails? Which did you start skating first?
Definitely more tranny. On tranny I feel pretty comfortable probably from the countless hours and sessions with rad homies. I wouldn’t say I’m good at big rails but I will try them to find out if I can do them and it’s fun when it works. I definitely get served and fail frequently on rails but I can’t turn down the feeling of hill bombing a grind.
When did you learn all the flip tricks on your back? Ever taken a board to the face?
when I was younger I got my elbow focused by a bully at school and had already injured my other wrist. The elbow cast and weak paw made it impossible to balance on a board so I took an old Jerry Hsu Maple board that had only grip on it, it was 6 p.m. so boom. Put The Simpsons on the tele, made some chocolate milk and then put on a hockey helmet and just had it dialed since day one. I couldn’t use my arms when I “bailed” so I dinged up the mask a bit but after a few days it was easy. Never taken one to the grill. Have seen countless homies try it though and check their chicklets.
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With your extensive globetrotting, which country seems to be the most skate friendly? And the least?
I think Copenhagen is pretty unreal in terms of skate friendly vibes. Maybe not weather wise. Least, Antarctica has a pretty weak skate scene I think. But you never know.
Describe the Dirtbike setup you brought to South Africa:
10’’ squaretail Lobster Creature board, 169 hollow Indys, 75mm OJ Thunder juice Wheels, Bronson Bearings, Mob grip. It’s the ultimate on the road for hustling to the store, skating rough shit, or looking for spots around the block real quick while the homies are lolly gagging. It’s good for skating pools when barging because its quiet and the wide wheels dry up that little puddle in the bottom like a squeegee. It will also humble and kill you with speed and girth. I love it.
How many setups do you currently possess? What is your favorite and your least favorite?
Probably about five right now. I had way more but rambling makes you much less materialistic and when someone shows interest or gets attached to a particular one I’ll give it to them when I set out. Fave: It changes weekly but 9” Creature Popsicle shape with 169s and 55mm OJ wheels and Bronson bearings. Least fave: This one that I stepped in a hefty dog turd and directly onto that has a nail in the tire and no back bottom bushing and termites and SARS in the wheel wells.
What setup idea did you have the ended up being a terrible idea?
75mm wheels with too low of riser pads. I got wittled and scalped. For some reason it took me several hellacious wheel biting carcass tosses to figure out that this board was a death trap. No bueno.
What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen at Burnside? Skating or non skating.
One time I saw a guy, we’ll just call him Ralph Wiggum, get another guy, we’ll call Dock Ellis, to sit on the front of his car and then gas it up the bank wall like he was blunt to fakie-ing with his vehicle. Ralph gunned it so high up the wall that Dock almost hit the bottom of the bridge and then Jake Browned it to flat in between the twinkie and the hip. The car got so inverted I couldn’t believe it didn’t flip backwards. I was filming it through a super 8 camera and it didn’t seem real. He began snoring with his eyes open all bloody and you can imagine the rest. He ended up being okay a few weeks later but God damn. When I got the footage developed the film happened to end right as the car started gassing it. Dock Ellis had his board in his hand though when he was on the front of the car so technically he was pretty much skating. I miss watching Tim Dorfus skate there. That's a crazy thing every time.
Favorites list:
Skate video:
Don’t have a favorite but first ones to pop in my head were Sight Unseen and Why Wouldn’t You.
Thing to do in Portland when it’s raining:
Guitar, hang out in a garage and tinker on projects, skate the Nike park or Silas’ Grotto. Try and cook new food and put way too much of everything in it 'til it just tastes like the color brown. Hang out with a wonderful woman named Jenni. The rain can get you for sure if you don’t find a side track. It’s mellow compared to a Finnish winter though. I’ve seen a lot of good friends move to Portland after an unreal summer of great weather and fun and spiral so hard into the dark side. It’s growing at a rate right now though that isn’t sending me the vibes Portland had. Condos everywhere, ugly ones right next to beautiful old buildings, paying for parking if you’re even lucky enough to find a spot that doesn’t have a God damn Hummer with Cali plates. My favorite restaurants have raised prices. That kind of thing. I still think it’s a beautiful city but after all those rabid animals got out of the zoo and bred with the rats I just don’t feel as comfortable, ya know? Move there everyone. It’s your city. Make sure you throw your trash out of your idling car’s window while you're on the freeway too so you don’t get homesick.
Strip club:
My bedroom with my wife. That place rules.
Beach in the world:
Tobacco Bay in Bermuda. I grew up there and never want to stop going back.
Person to skate with:
Willy Akers.
Quote:
“And how would you like your steak with that lobster?” That’s always a pleasure to hear.
Thing to do for a friend:
Call 'em out when they’re blowing it and stoke 'em out when they’re killing it. Scratch that. Real friends buy friends immense amounts of lobster tails and pints of lemon butter and then more lobster and maybe sautéed scallops. True amigos style.
David Gravette trick done:
I still think that 50-50 to pop over the wall he did in And Now is one of the studliest things I’ve ever seen. He probably thinks otherwise but that’s my favorite one.
Portland bar:
They’re all just bars. I’m outta the loop on them. They all are good and bad. Whichever one has the least barstool promisers mumbling into their beer bubbles. Shrunken Head isn’t a bar but it rules and it’s next to Robo Taco on 6th and Morrisson where you can get homie-made burritos and booze if want. Try faux pork al pastor there.
Thing about being a pro skater:
Getting to travel, “work” and play and share new experiences and meet new people consistently all at the same time. I feel incredibly fortunate to get to do what I love and appreciate everyone and every influence that has shaped my life to where it is now. I love life more than ever and skateboarding is greatly responsible. And doing backside airs all day is unreal [laughs]. Kiitos.
Willis Kimbel 5 Trick Fix
