So now that you’re back with USD, should we expect any other old familiar faces to pop up on the roster? Should bladers get ready for a Feinberg resurgence?

If I did not know better, I would think we have leak in our house! Well, there is much speculation on the direction of USD for the future, and quite honestly, I have always been the disinformation master, and always ready to “sensationalize” almost anything, but my intention is simple — I will lead USD back to strength. Even poeple in my own camp ask me “Well, what does that mean exactly?” Well, for one, it means we wash our clothes in our own house. We have respect for ourseleves and others, we never forget our USD pioneers legends, and we never settle for just ok, we innovate as we did back in the day until we are putting out quality in all things, we also don’t sponsor “just anybody.” These days are over! You don’t come up the ranks and you don’t rep like your life depends on it, you won’t make the cut. Our future contains unity, at all levels, loyalty and dedication, a positive and can-do attitude, be yourself, but be mindful of your responsibilities to your brand, your leaders, and your legends. And my job remains to enforce this as such. To fully answer the question though, there will be changes, so put on your seatbelts and enjoy the ride.

Since you were last super involved with USD and Conference there’s been much discussion on whether Europe or North America was a larger part of the global blade community — and subsequently those impressions impacted how companies split up their ad dollars and promotional efforts. What kind of picture are you looking at in that regard?

Well, to be as clear as possible on that, I will simply put it as honestly as I possibly can — if The Conference is generating and maintaining sales in the US, a potential budget grows. As that budget grows, the opportunities will be abundent, and things can be done. Quite simply, if you ain’t got it going on, you can not advertise as such. If you don’t believe me, ask all of the companies that have gone under; great ads, no future. Big hype, no content. “Good intentions,” no plan of action. Being honest as I always am, you may see some rollerblaing companies die this year, as they do every year for exactly the same reasons. As Forrest Gump would say “It’s a skater sickness.” All kinds of great marketing savvy, no plan to cover the costs of it. I mean, really, some of the media itself is to blame. Again, “good intentions.” I remember back in the day, skate companies paid huge amounts for ads in magazines, then you would see a full page poop-butt ad for some new “clothing brand” or “curb wax” or “innovative” wheel brand, and we would think “Damn, where did they get the money for that?” Well, the mags were giving “newcomer butt buddy” discounts, and shortly thereafter these “wonderbrands” were dead and buried. But I guess since they are “keeping it real” it is ok. As I have said many times before, don’t believe the hype. I am all for “skater owned,” but really, take off the packaging and have a real hard look at the content before you drink the Kool-Aid. Damn, again on the ranting. I promised myself I wouldn’t do this. So, back to answering the question. If I do my job right and the team I have behind me does as well, we should be looking good in the ad catagory in the future.

When or what was a high-water mark for your previous blade career?

That is simple, Jon Julio took a picture of me doing a (sloppy) miszou in Paris once. I saw it on a website, (I think it was even Valo’s site) so that was the height (or high water mark as you call it). I am a terrible skater; I do love it though. Since I am 41 now (and an Army Reserve Soldier as well) it is hard to find time to practice, but I have started back up again as my 6-year-old has taken a liking to Rolling and I have enough skills to show him the ropes, so that is good enough for me. I know that some of my past USD Crew members have some very embarassing footage of me rolling, so that might be well left in the closet.