ONE Staff / August 6th, 2009 / Blade Life
BLADE LIFE: An Interview with Tracy White

From one Midwesterner-west coast transplant to another, I’d like to start off by saying thanks for doing this interview. I’d also like to start off by having you remind our readers who the brainchild behind 4DUB was, is and has yet to be—who is Tracy White?

A “Blade Head.”

What exactly is Bearings & Bruises?

Bearings & Bruises is a bike, skateboard and rollerblade contest put on by the Rockford Park District.org and Fat Wallet.com. In celebration of the Rockford Park District’s 100 years of parks, play and fun.

What motivated you to take part in this project?

For the most part, to give back to my hometown’s action sports community. But my main passion is getting more kids to put rollerblades on their feet. Also, putting rollerblading in the lime light with the other sports is the right thing to do. Represent for the Midwest bladin’ community.

Is there anything that you’d like to do differently from LA ALL DAY with Bearings & Bruises?

No.

You seem to have an uncanny ability to get blades onto new kids’ feet. Do you think this contest might open up some of the youngsters who are competing in the boards and bikes divisions to rollerblading?

Absolutely, the more you get bladin’ out there these days, the better. Some kids have never seen it before, all they have heard is people diss, but have never tried it out for themselves. They might not know anyone who blades to make a logical opinion of a blader, without someone else influencing their opinion for them. Today, I was at the park with about 12 bladers and I had extra skates for kids to use. I didn’t even have to ask if the kids wanted to try it, they asked me. They all had fun, and everyone who tried it said they were coming to the comp. One kid came with his board and blades and was ripping on both it, was great.

The photos and clips I’ve seen of the new park at the Flodin Boys and Girls club (where the contest is being held) are sick. The skatepark looks like it is very well-built, and filled with a great deal of fun lines and obstacles. Did you have any say in the design aspect of the park?

I was a consultant for the project, and helped with the design and all the other nuances of building a park for a public funded agency like the RPD.

What was Daniel Kinney’s involvement in this whole operation?

DK did our web site, and the videos of the grand opening and clinics. He emceed the bladin’ portion of the ribbon cutting of the park, with all the media and politicians of Rockford present. He promoted the event, and taught kids how to blade at our clinics. He’s a “Blade Head.”

You’ve been in the blade game for a long time. Making the transition from traveling pro, to seasoned veteran, and now skatepark director and event organizer; you’ve seen rollerblading in its glory days and with its face to the ground. How has your view of the industry changed over time?

Do not depend on anyone to make stuff happen for you. You have to make your own place in this industry; there is no single path to make it in this industry, or make a living at this. Create your own thing, something worthwhile, give it your all, never give up, be proud to be a blader, otherwise do something else. That’s how my view has changed from ten or fifteen years ago; I thought my elders and mentors were going to keep this thing going, do the right things, stay committed. I was wrong. Do it because you care, because you love it, not because you think you’re going to get rich. That’s just the tip of the iceberg on that subject, but enough for now.

Contests like Bearings & Bruises and LA ALL DAY really help to better rollerblading as a whole and offer proof that there are still kids out there that believe in blading. Yet it is common knowledge these days that there is little money to be made in our industry. What was it that made you want to become a pro rollerblader when you were coming up?

Team Rollerblade. I never thought about money, it never meant much in my family. Just do what you love, and if you can get paid to do it, even better. I always wanted to do something different. When I started blading, I had to tell people what those things on my feet were. “Rollerblades” I would say. I never stopped. I always admired those guys, they got paid to blade and travel the world. That is what I wanted to do. The people I’ve meet along the way have changed my life, rollerblading has changed my life. I want to give back to rollerblading so it can change other kids’ lives, and people all over the world can become “Blade Heads” too.

Does the Mexican food of Rockford, Illinois compare in any way to the edible orgasms being served at Fiesta Bravo in Santa Monica?

Sorry Rockford, but no.

Tracy, before we wrap things up, I hope everything goes well this weekend and wish I could be there. Any last words that you want the readers to take from this, or anyone you’d like to thank?

Thanks to The Rockford Park District, Fat Wallet, and Jay Sandine for bringing me back to my hometown for Bearings & Bruises. My wife Heather, Dad, Mom, Granny, Amanda, Carlos Kessell. DK, Ian Brumprey, Joe Tallman for helping with the clinics and the event. ONE, Rat Tail, Jin Joint, Roller Warehouse, Valo, Them Goods, and Intgrated Distribution for sponsoring the event. Jason Ney for letting me help with the new park.

Questions © 2009 Ben Karris

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