When did arts and skating really mix for you?
That sounds super corny. I generally hate the “Art World” pretty bad. When I think Art World I always think of this one teacher I had at SFAI, he was like a famous artist and would have exhibits at some of the biggest galleries in SF, NY, London Paris, etc., and all he ever did was like a shmear on a canvas. He had like this unique way of HOW he shmeared, but it was more or less literally a solid color just “shmeared” over each canvas, but in the middle of it — as if the little shmear he did was like a “sight to see” or some shit. It made me sick, the fact that he was a famous working artist and even had the audacity to hang that garbage in a gallery. Ironically, the dude failed me in his class and that was the end of my schooling career as my Dad had made it very clear that he would cut me off completely as far as helping with school if I ever failed a class… if I ever see that teacher prick again it’s game over for him. He was just some yuppy who thought he was so “in” in the Art World. I always hated that shit so much. I think my hatred towards the Art World and that whole corny scene was kinda what fueled the fire for me to start just bombing. It was kinda like a rebellion against all that corny shit. After the SFAI fiasco I just went nuts bombing and doing graffiti. I used to stay up every night ’till 6am, just going around on my moto on solo missions hitting gnarly spots. I had some pretty rad spots in the city at one point. I’d say 2001/2/3 were my best years. A lot of the spots are still running. It’s dope when I go back to the city — that place is like a museum of memories and epic times for me.
How does your creative process work? Can you explain it?
I just get in my zone — my “home” if you will — put on some motivation (music), and work with whatever comes out at the time, whatever I’m feeling. The work will sometimes reflect on whatever issues or personal problems I’m dealing with at the time. Sometimes it can help me come to terms with that kinda stuff, so the anger and harsh vibes don’t affect me as negatively.
What was/is your obsession with apples? Why do you want to be an apple?
Um, I like the taste of apples. I think it’s one of the better fruits. Ha ha. No umm, The Apples that Fell Far from the Tree was an old skate film Pat and I did that was named by BJ Burnheart. A very good old friend of mine. The Apple was a fictional story of ONE apple done by the same dudes who made THE apples… it was made as just a stepping stone or documentation of where rollerblading was at the time, and some of the issues that pro rollerbladers have had to deal with: no money, no future, girl problems, constant harassment by hipster kooks, etc. It was a movie meant to be for non-bladers and just like regular people as like an art-nouveau film, but we all busted our asses for it and really shredded hard, so it was something you had to see it if you blade, so most bladers saw it. It was a pretty basic idea I thought, but then when bladers all saw it they thought it was a documentary of ME personally or some shit. It was REALLY annoying. Anyone who knows me personally would know that I don’t give a fuck if there’s no money in blading. I’m not a materialistic person, and if anything I think it’s dope as fuck how underground blading is and the fact that there’s literally nobody who does it anymore because it’s not considered “hip” or whatever. But I cannot take cred for the name, that would be the OG BJ Bernhart.
Did I ever tell you that the Life+ ‘house skating’ edit is one of my favorites of all time? There, I did now. It’s on the record!
Thanks. Blood well spilled.
I mentioned your reputation before, but let’s revisit. Like, in the recent past there was an occurrence after Blading Cup. You got into with JJ over spray painting ramp pieces you thought were being thrown away. But that was hardly your first beef. What’s the most drama you’ve gotten caught up in — clear the air or set the record straight!
I’d say the most drama has definitely been the two run-ins I’ve had with Jon. He really is the president of blading and it’s not cool having beef with him, not to mention I’ve always kinda looked up to him in a way. So it’s not cool when I’ve pissed him off somehow. Like I said, I can’t be angry at all for what happened. If I was in his shoes at that time I would be pissed too. I think of Jon as an old buddy and I hope he knows the truth behind what happened in both situations and knows that I’m on his team and would never do anything to disrespect him or do anything menacing — ESPECIALLY towards something that I feel is a positive and good thing for the blading movement itself. I like Jon and I appreciate what he has done for us in the past and what he does for blading. I think my past is a bit much for Jon to handle or be involved with, given what he has heard or whatever. I’m just too much of a liability for him to get involved with, which I understand. In both cases it was just a misunderstanding that a good chat over a beer would have solved and I hope some day we have that chance.
Why do you think a lot of the other rollerbladers have a fixed belief of you that you are an asshole and don’t really want to have to deal with you?
I don’t know, I can be kind of a dick I guess? And bladers talk a lot and basically just follow the majority and shit. I’m very one-track minded when it comes to blade projects I’m working on. Sometimes it’s hard to consider everyone’s feelings and rights and what not, and have the proper respect that I would normally have. I’m very selective of the riders I get involved with. We have to really have a similar vision for skating and where we need to take it, trick-wise as well as as a movement. But I have always kinda done what I can to whip my fellow bladers into shape, which sometimes can be a bit brash I guess. Sometimes I feel like I carry the weight of rollerbladers due to the fact that it seems there are very few with the right ideas of what we need to be doing in order to make this thing be a source of stability for us. A lot of people just don’t care enough ’cause they’re just in their own sheltered little corny-ass world of video games and weed and skating and shit. Sometimes I feel like it’s my duty to make sure they don’t act like sheltered little bitches. I’ve been low key called Sargent Slaughter, like dude from Full Metal Jacket, ha ha. But most lil’ blader dudes are just little twerps who think they are hot shit and could give a fuck about anything except their next spliff, so it’s just annoying and frustrating for them to have to face the music sometimes. Life is so much simpler when you can just continue to live in a soft little bubble and pretend the real world doesn’t exist, you know? But I got love for the homeys though.
Who is your favorite person to watch blade?
Damn tough question… a lot of dudes are killing it. Bill is shredding sick right now, getting me pumped to go rip and shit. And a lot of dudes are ripping, stoked that a lot of the younger homeys are finally getting it. But I think it’s annoying how some dudes are only doing all these stylish little moves and shit and not really getting too buck. I think it’s important to take advantage of the fact that we are on blades, and we have the ability to go bigger than bikes, skateboards or anything else besides, like, snow-related… obviously, ’cause snow is way softer than concrete. But on blades you are able to have more control than anything else. It’s pretty much just man with wheels under feet, so logically we should be able to do more gnar moves. But I’m also stoked on the progression in clarity of self expression through gnar trick type shit too, if that makes sense?
Who is your favorite person filming blading?
Umm, that dude Dustin Werbeski makes some rad videos and I think Richie Eisler does them with him too? Not too sure, but those dudes are pretty awesome.
Who is your favorite person to be filmed by?
P Lennen back in the day.
What’s a time the rollerblading community did something collectively awesome together?
All the little jams and events are awesome, always super fun. Really, anytime we collectively get together and rep in a public location is what we need to do more. And we need to do advertised public demos in trendy neighborhoods and shit. I think anyone who’s into genuinely cool shit will be into blading and start rocking our gear and shit and become interested in blading, ’cause it’s fucking cool shit. I don’t think you have to actually blade in order to be into blading. A couple of my ex gf’s and a lot of homeys of mine have gotten really into blading but have no interest in even actually skating. Any person who can appreciate really fucking radical shit can dig it, you know.
How about the opposite, a time the blade world acted like punk bitches?
Pretty much any time anyone goes on those message boards and shit and starts hating, especially when they won’t even put their real name. Such as the people you see below this exact article you are reading, ha ha.
Speaking of filming, what’s your current setup in the camera department?
I don’t own a camera. Never really have, minus the lil’ Canon I had for a couple months while filming for the Inri video. Even through all the Apple vids I was collabing with people who had cameras and we would use theirs.
Is there another Seany Sea video on the horizon?
Yup, wrapping up Bladegeist Volume 2 and working on the new Apple DVD.
Anything else exciting to share?
“You wanna see who your real friends are? Go commit a crime and give yourself a prison sentence.” — Bukowski
“If you feel like your soul is depleting, that means you still have some sole left to lose.”
Okay well this went longer than I expected, but I guess that’s what happens when you talk to an institution like Dr. Sea. Thanks, man. Keep it up.
I really hope you don’t effect those poor girls in a negative way, it’s one thing to fuck up your own life but those girls didn’t choose for you to be their father.
Hope you act responsibly for their sake.
some ill skating!
That was extremely lame. Those clips were tighter when you posted them on instagram.
hey ‘jsf” r u referring to the video? I didn’t make that, please do not try and reflect your own daddy issues onto me or my girls. hey dickhead-fuk off. Thx -Sea
That INRI 2013 promo was fuckin badass! Love from the UK
You are just an aging hipster who has burned all your bridges. Your skating wouldn’t be so bad if you weren’t such a fag
Dog, come on. You know you’re ice.
The Scrub team video is due for a re-issue, I think.
Thank you @JSF.
has anyone else noticed the fact that each one of the photos in this article are literally better than any cover that one mag has ever had? anyone who knows whats up would easily agree. rollerblading is wack.
This guy Sean is a real scumbag. He is beyond irresponsible. Someone call child services for his kids. He lost his dog. An 85 year old man found his dog and cared him only to have this pos fail to pay the $5,000 reward he offered and went on to publicly bash an 85 year old man and entire community stating that people in Eagle Rock and Highland Park have no morals and are garbage. Look at this dirty loser, screw him.
How can you sleep at night Sean, one word KARMA. http://highlandpark-ca.patch.com/groups/around-town/p/how-a-lostandfound-dog-is-giving-its-81yearold-rescuer-heartaches
You are the worst person I have ever heard of.
Clearly a filthy liar – it also seems quite clear you had no intention of paying anyone $5,000.
Do us all a favor and stay in the OC with your stupid fucking rollerblades.
What a dork, this Sean. Total loser.
Lowest of the low. Yes, by all means stay in OC where you belong. What kind of idiot drives off and doesn’t miss his dog and returns “hours later” looking for him. Clearly stupid as a stone.
Oh my god… If I was his dog, I’d want to get away from him based solely on him being a douche. Way to go, dickhead! Keep on talking sh*t on NELA you goofy ungrateful fruitbooter… Or better yet, take your myopic ways back to the OC you effin’ sheep.
“perhaps you heard the one from Schude about when someone vandalized my moto? I went to his house, punched through the window, kidnapped his dog and held it ransom ’till he paid me in full for the bike. That one always makes me laugh when I think about it. My roommate’s asking me after like three days of the dog at our house, “Dude how long are you planning on keeping the dog?!” “UNTIL HE FUCKIN’ PAYS ME!!” Dude finally caved and I got my money. ” You are a piece of shit. Ransoming someone’s dog? I read that thing about your own lost dog. I feel sorry for your dog, your kids and that old man. You ought to do the world a favor and disappear.
You pathetic waste of life. Your a straight up con-man, your day will come Sean Your adorable girls will become women with hard core daddy issues, hooking up with men that FUCKING lie all the time. Karma will suit you well.
You’re 37. It’s 2015. The only ‘whip’ u ever had was your moms red saturn or whatever you could barrow steal. Never come up toSF. YOU ARE PURE EVIL AND JUST LYING SHIT.
MATT M.
barbie AKA “Sharpie’ Aka Matt AKA “Susan’ AKA ‘Matt M
Don’t bother wasting any more of your time obsessing over this interview. Anybody and everybody knows it’s just some butt hurt psycho ex of Sean’s leaving all the fucked up comments; it’s really obvious : / . But great job trying to justify leaving a good looking guy with mad heart for a really ugly douchey guy just because he has more money…thanks for your kooky opinions that clearly serve nothing except your own self interest to nullify guilt for hurting innocent children but you may wanna get your facts straight so it’s not so obvious that it’s some psycho heartbroken ex gf of his. I know Sean very well and I know all the shit you say is straight bullshit, you make really obvious..I know Sean is only 34 and it’s 2016. I’m just sayin if you are gonna spend a bunch of time obsessing of your ex mans interviews leaving comments u may wanna at least get your facts straight. It’ll make your comments prove to be more legit and considering it sounds like you don’t know the guy; make it less obvious why you got dumped. His Mum has never had a “red Saturn” in her life and Sean has owned literally over 100″whips” since he first became obsessed with making money ( and cars) by buying/selling used cars at age 19 after going to the SF police auction and seeing you could buy nice running cars for next to nothing am resell then for profit. He had owned a brand new Jaguar for years I know till he sold it recently and before that he’s had about 6 or 7 jags total…so yeah your comments are just getting really dumb, rollerblading is a really small community and most bladers that would ever read this know Sean. And therefore know he always has nice cars etc