ONE Staff / February 28th, 2007 / Previews
PRINT: V2N1 Ben Schwab Interview

Ben Schwab / Issue 4

Ben Schwab got down for the ONE cameras to bang out his interview in Issue #3, and we’ve got an excerpt from the interview and a few clips that show how it all went down. Check it out!

Ben Schwab © Wes Driver 2007

(The following interview was recorded on Jan. 8, 2007, at 8:21 p.m.)

ONE: Alright, Ben, now this is a big question and I want you to answer it honestly. Who is Ben Schwab?

BS: (Laughing.) Ben Schwab is a 20-year-old skater who moved out to California from the Midwest, who goes to school, works, skates and does everything someone else would do who’s 20 years old.

That was a lot more concise than I had imagined, and you did a good job hitting a couple questions I had, but I’m going to hit them anyway.

OK.

So you’re from Ohio and you moved to California. Tell us about growing up. You grew up somewhere Midwestern-ish?

Yeah, basically I spent ages 10-17 – until I graduated high school – here in Ohio, then as soon as I graduated I left. I wanted to go back to the West Coast, ‘cause that’s where I’m from.

Did you start skating in California or Ohio?

I got into skating when I was about 12-years-old because, actually, Omar Wysong – who you guys all know, I’m sure – kind of had this scene here, and I met them through my brother and a couple of the guys, and I’ve been skating ever since then … even all of them quit.

I heard Omar is starting in plays now.

That’s what I hear, too.

I’m from northeastern Ohio and I remember when Omar starting coming to Am Jams and stuff. There used to be a rumor that there were two twin brothers in southern Ohio – and maybe it was the Bartons – but I think it was you and your brother, and the rumor was that Dustin skated with you guys and called one of you “the one.” Is that true?

He said we were “the one”?

That’s what I heard. That Dustin was on a tour – skated with you guys – then went around telling people he had met “the one.”

I dunno.

Maybe that was just a Midwestern rumor.

I actually don’t think I heard that, but I do remember Dustin coming through town. And, you know, it was a biggest fucking deal ever because that was around the time Dustin was at his prime. I never heard that, but Dustin has always been my inspiration. I always looked up to him and still do now.

It’s definitely a high compliment. I always wondered if it were true. The going back to the West Coast, was it about skating or for other reasons?

Well, it’s more than that. It was really for me, like, I had to fight through high school here. It’s not … I’m from this small town here where people are … for the most part they are into the same kind of things and think the same normal kind of ways, and I was over the whole scene. I wanted to get away. I remember from freshmen year saying to myself, “After high school I’m out of here.” I wanted to get away and see what else was out there.

You do know how much of a twist on “Airborne,” don’t you? Especially given that you’re down in the Cincinnati area.

(Laughing.) I was talking about that today, actually!

You’re such a Mitch. That was the guy, right?

Yeah, Mitch!…

Read the rest of Ben’s interview in ONE V2N1.

Discussion / PRINT: V2N1 Ben Schwab Interview

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  • dka - March 1st, 2007

    Ben is the break in of the year !!! INSANE PROFILE on accidental machines !!!

  • Boris - March 1st, 2007

    Yeah! I agree with you! Ben is definitely the rookie ofy.

  • toldandretold - March 2nd, 2007

    ben isnt a rookie any more, hes as good as all the pros

  • rob schirmer - March 3rd, 2007

    cincinnati 513!! glad to hear of pro finally coming out of southwest ohio..besides omar. ben is the shit and everyone down here is proud as fuck of him

  • tim - March 4th, 2007

    damn that was sick

  • T.j. Gleason - March 23rd, 2007

    Ben, hands down is one of the best. Another Native from Ohio in the spotlight. There are so many here that deserve it. Props Ben Schwab for being ridiculous and for being pro-status!

  • nice skater - March 23rd, 2007

    He’ll be the next generation

  • Ryan Shaffer - January 31st, 2010

    Wow, I went to middle school with Ben and use to skate with him on an occasional basis. He was always better than anyone else in school. Go figure, right?

  • Josh fryer - May 17th, 2012

    YOO ben its a long time since we was in cinci and dyt … how bout our louisville trip and sleepin under the bridge so we could skate in the am i memeber waking up and lookin across the bridge and seeing u gap those stairs at like 7 am … im still in massachusetts if u ever near boston hmu im in worcester
    lol i rememeber chipolte pit -stops and driving all over ohio every day to skate

    take it easy bro and go hard keep up the good work …p.s. im trying to visit cali one of these days so hmu

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