Madonna could learn something about reinvention from Chris Edwards. In the 20 years that he’s been skating, he’s been a prude, a preacher, a star, a stoner, a father, a hippie – well, pretty much any label you can conceive. When he first burst onto the inline scene as a 13-year-old ingenue in Escondido, Calif., he was a born again Christian, a youth pastor in his local church. He was Chris Denton then, but he changed his name just in time to sign his first Rollerblade contract…
For the next 10 years, rollerblading was an unconquerable empire and Edwards was the reigning Caesar. He started rollerblading’s first clothing company, Birth (back when Senate was just making wheels and cold-rolled steel grind plates). He helped develop the first pro model skate, the Tarmac CE for Rollerblade. He doubled Cory Haim in “Prayer of the Rollerboys.” He made “Airborne” a Hollywood success story as stunt double for the main character, Mitchell Goosen as well as his own character, Walt (if you haven’t seen “Airborne,” rent it; it’s worth it for Edwards’ over-the-top acting alone). Not to mention numerous stunt roles in “Mighty Ducks,” “Mighty Ducks 2” and every commercial that featured rollerblading from 1987 to 1996.
Over the past two decades, Edwards has sired four children. He has owned a farm in Minnesota, tended bar in Pennsylvania and traveled the world as an ambassador of rollerblading. There isn’t a pro alive today who hasn’t been inspired by Chris Edwards. His words are skate gospel. These are his words:
Tell me about rollerblading.
I’ve spent 20 years beating myself up. Now, I live the lifestyle of a bear. I hibernate in the winter. I wake up in the spring, attack during the summer, and in the fall, I collect my nuts.
Have you woken up yet this year?
I just woke up for Bitter Cold. This year, I skated in a suit to celebrate my 20th year as a professional. I was rolling around, enjoying watching everyone skate, giving my encouragement and love and appreciation to everyone who was pushing the envelope: Aragon, Haffey, Franky, Stockwell. … I didn’t compete or anything. I just got in the way.
After 20 years in the business, what have you learned?
If you’re not having fun rollerblading, you might as well put your skates in the closet. Skating is beautiful. It’s amazing how we’ve all been able to grow from each other, how one moment influences the next. The progression of skating is jaw-dropping and inspiring. We show as much athleticism as any other sport on the planet, if not more, but it’s our presentation that’s hurting us.
Read the rest of Chris Mitchell’s riveting interview with Chris Edwards in ONE Issue #4, out now!
This is what I’m talking about. This is why ONE is the new voice of blading. Seeing Edwards here — and seeing pics from when I started blading (and yes, Airborne must be watched) — it’s great to see such great writing summing up the career and life of the pioneer.
All hail Caesar! All hail ONE!
That’s the fucking champ right there, man… The reason i started skating 16 years ago, hehe
I GOT HIS AUTOGRAPH TODAY IN ILLINOIS> WIF THIS MAGAZINE HE GAVE IT TO ME AND SIGNED IT AND I SHOKE HIS HAND 3 TIMES
Back in the day when he had his skate park in San Marcos, I called him out of the phone book to find out info on the park. He told us he was comming down to open it. My buddies and I sessioned with CE and saw him tear the fuckng place apart. later the ESCO crew came down ( they were kids back then) Ask your self if in any other sport in the world, would the king of that sport session with a bunch of groms?? Speaks volumes for CE and what he skated for. Thanks Chris.
Chris Edwards is one of the few true pioneers of the sport. When I saw him with his crew on MTV sports, Dare to Air and in Airborne, I was hooked. It was truly the beginning of my journey to learn and live the passion of rolling. Not many people have influenced me the way he did, even to this day. God bless you C.E.
Jesus Christ. We had a drink together in front of our tent back in the old days at the Lausanne-Competition. I did drive seven hours to Austria, just to see the Rollerblade-Team perform. I think, i saw every Video-Tape that he skated for. I absolutely agree, that none of the Skaters today is not inspired by his skating. Even if other Guys are pushing the sport to incredible limits today, he was the beginning of Halfpipe-Skaing and he will allways stay THE ICON of this business. Thanks for all that, Chris.
HAIL TO THE KING!
Yeah i was chilling with him today. Cool dude
Undoubtedly the most influential skater of all time. I must have watched dare to air a thousand times in the early 90’s – he was so good, so far ahead of everyone. Everything we have today stems from his skating.
I remember meeting him in ’93 when he came to my local bowl in australia with the groove guys filming the bottom line. just me, ten other groms, and the best goddamned skater on the planet. He didnt care, he was just happy we came down to skate with him. fucking legend.
I met that guy the first time when he was on tour with Rollerblade going through atlanta, and then again at camp woodward when I was in 8th grade ( back in like 97′-98′), he was one of the nicest pro’s i ever met. But i always concidered Him and Arlo to both be the grandfathers of the sport- Arlo would be the one that got you drunk or molested you though……….jk
All Hail to the AIR MAN! The king of Blading! Airborne, MTV Sports, Dare to Air, this man changed my life. I was instantly glued to the TV when I saw him blading for the first time. It’s good to see everyone still supporting him and leaving great comments. I got to hang with him this year a little bit at BCSD! Great energy, the true soul of skating. He reminds you of why you are doing all of this in the first place… for the FUN!!! – Peace
R E S P E C T !
Now im skate 25 years ! But
Chris Edwards IS Someone who i never forgat! who curage me and give me energy!
i only have to say
R E S P E C T !
-Nino
WELL , IVE GOT LIKE 5 PAIRS OF ROLLERBLADES, LIGHTINGS , 2 LIGHTNING TRS, CE CHOCOLATE AND BOXCAR, WHY SO MANY??
CUZ THEY WERE THE ZHIT BACK THEN, AND THE LIGHTNING TRS WERE THE ONES HE WORE ON AIRBORNE..AND I WANTED TO COLLECT THEM, SINCE THEY WERE CLASSIC AND PRICEY SKATES , IM 26 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE BEEN A CHRIS EDWARDS FAN SINCE 93, HE INSPIRED ME TO ROLLERBLADE.. AND I DONT THINK IM GOIN TO GIVE IT UP… THANX CHRIS , YOU WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED…I HOPE ONE DAY I CAN MEET YOU..PEACEE
Chris Edwards is not the Tony Hawk of rollerblading, he’s CHRIS EDWARDS the GOD of this skate heaven immortalized
this guy is a legend! he came all the way downunder and we watched him skate at prahran bowl in melbourne – got his autograph on my t. It was the time that we were watching Dare to I can resite that word for word. We even made our own imitation video of it – go team apex!!! if only there was youtube 20 years ago 😉
son chingones carnales rollers
