Focus Skateboard Magazine

 
Words: Eric Witmer
Photos: Luke Darigan

It’s been really funny watching this kid grow up. I remember the first time I met Anthony was at the skatepark. I was filming with my buddy, and Anthony came over and asked if he could have my friend Kevin film his sponsor me tape. We didn’t even know who the kid was, but from there we went to Philly and got some footage. Looking back, the tricks he got were so disgusting looking. It was full of lopsided kickflips and a bunch of toe drags. Now, Anthony skates with full confidence. He lands his tricks bolts and doesn’t settle for anything less. It’s actually an honor to be able to interview this guy because he is definitely going somewhere in the skate world.

What’s up, Anthony? How have you been man?

Eric, I have been good man. Trying to skate and manage school.

Your new video part just dropped and it came out amazing. Are you hyped on it?

Thanks dude! Honestly my part does not compare to Kevin Liedtke’s or my one friend Evan Dittig. Watch out for those parts, they’re insane. To be honest, I did not get a chance to film everything I wanted and my part was cut short. Things just didn’t work out towards the end. Jake Todd worked really hard with everything so give it up to him.

What’s it like to see your video part up on Vianouzzzzz’s YouTube channel?

I am one of the biggest skateboard nerds out there. I literally have watched every video that Vianouzzzzz has ever put up. I was not aware that it was sent to him. When I got home from school, I looked and my name came up! My video does not compare to most but for me it has been goal for a while. I’m hyped I accomplished it.

Better than Vianouzzzzz, what’s it like to see that Ishod posted your video on his Facebook wall?

Ishod is one of the best skateboarders out there. I literally clicked on the video link five times to make sure it was actually my video hahaha. I feel like my part does not deserve that kind of attention, but I look up to Ishod a lot and it got me hyped to see that.

So I heard Fairman’s just put you on their team! Congratulations man, you deserve it. How are you feeling about that?

I have always been a West Chester kid. I guess you could call me a West Goshen park rat. Chris Mathis, Neil Herrick, Matt Militano and everyone else at their shop kills it. It is awesome to ride for a shop like that.

How was it skating in your first shop contest this past Saturday at York park?

York Park is one of the best concrete parks I have ever been too. It’s kind of hard to skate when there is literally five-hundred people and Nik Stain is skating a hundred miles an hour haha. Everyone killed it. I like the layout and the fact that I can skate with guys I look up to.

What’s the deal with Voyage? Are you getting boards from them now or any time soon?

Angel Acevedo who is one of the best skateboarders and a dude I look up to mentioned it. This is still up in the air; it is mostly all talk I think. Voyage is one of my favorite companies and I like the direction it’s headed in. Also Brian Douglass, in my opinion is one the most underrated skateboarders.

There are three tricks in your part that really stood out to me. Let’s discuss them. The beginning fifty fifty on that eleven stair handrail, the front lip to noseblunt on the two stair ledge and the backside heelflip down the Drexel five block. How long did those tricks take to land and how pumped were you on how they turned out?

The 50-50 on the eleven stair handrail is at Cabrini College. Probably the gnarliest and steepest handrail I have thrown myself down. I had tried it the day prior and slammed pretty hard. That next day Luke Darigan asked to go shoot it. I was hyped that I got an opportunity to go out and shoot it. Luckily it worked out. The front lip to noseblunt I filmed two times. The second time I got it way better and Jake liked the angle more. Unfortunately right after I got it, I tried another trick and dislocated my knee. Lastly, the Backside heelflip down Drexel five block was completely random. That was my first day skating Philly, and our last spot and Kevin did a perfect switch frontside bigspin down the stairs third try. He got me hyped to skate it and things just worked out!

Stepping aside from the skateboarding questions for a moment, what’s a typical day for Anthony Parisi?

I am a very boring person. I literally wake up and watch Vianouzzzzz’s YouTube channel or whatever else that is in my subscription box. I try to eat a healthy breakfast. Work on some homework and then try to skate. If no one hits me up then I usually go to West Goshen Skate Park. Then I come home and study and leave my facebook up, hoping a
girl will chat me.

How’s the girl situation? I heard you have like nine girls chasing you ever since your part dropped.

Hahaha, definitely not that many girls. To be completely honest, for the people that do not know me, I rarely talk to girls. For a fact I have never hugged or kissed a girl and I am 17. I have had some opportunities but I do not take them. I guess I am just waiting for the right one.

Are cardigans the ultimate way to steal a hipster girl’s heart? How many do you own?

Well now everyone is going to know my secret hahaha. Cardigans are the best. I own seven asof right now (thanks Mom)! When I wear them to school at least four girls say they like my outfit. The ultimate way to steal a hipster’s heart is rolling your pants up.

Between getting with girls, filming solid tricks, and not being mainstream… how do
you find time to maintain your 4.0 GPA?

It’s a challenge. I look up to my sister a lot. She has helped me along the way. I definitely try to use my time wisely. I make sure school comes before skating.

Back to skating. Who do you look up to in skateboarding? Any favorites?

My favorite skateboarders are George Moreno, Ian Coughlan, Zak DePiero, Sheehan O’Connell, Ryan Reyes, David Loy, Tom Knox, Dave Abair, and Tom Karangelov. Hahaha I have a lot of favorites but I mainly look for style. I like skateboarders that can skate cool spots and can make skateboarding look fun. Everyone I mentioned constantly
kills it, and I could name a lot more.

What happened to your obsession over Cory Kennedy?

I used to have the biggest crush on Cory Kennedy’s skating. I liked watching him when he wasn’t pro. I like watching skateboarders who haven’t made it and skate for fun. Cory has one of largest bags of tricks and is awesome to watch.

Generally speaking, who do you roll with when you go out skating?

As of right now I am usually skating with Matt Steindl, Matt Militano, Cj Cassidy, Tim Hewczuk, and Luke Darigan. I skate with so many people so I am definitely leaving a lot of names out.

Do you have any plans for the future with skateboarding?

I just plan to keep skateboarding as much as I can and see what happens. Everyone in skateboarding is amazing now, so it is hard to say. I hope to eventually get to skate San Francisco. It definitely is my favorite place to watch great skateboarders come out of.

Time to come to a close, any last shout outs?

I would like to thank you, Eric, for the opportunity for an interview. Also my mom, sister, all the family for supporting me, Matt Steindl, Luke Darigan, Jake Todd, Matt Militano, Tim Hewczuk, Raymond Porreca, Angel Acevedo, Jason Hornung, and all the girls that are going to send me a friend request when this goes up!
 

Filmed and edited by Jake Todd.