Memory Screen: Guy Mariano
This one needed to happen. Few professional skateboarders have cultivated as much excitement and mystery around their careers as Guy Mariano and being able to look back at that whole arch – spanning from Ban This 30+ years ago to the Nike SB x Welcome edit from January – is just an absolute treat (and really makes you wonder how he manages to remain at the top of his game at 47). The fact that our friends at Dickies (who are launching his new clothing line today) managed to help us ask him a few questions about things/people that helped shape his journey is also a nice touch!
Spots:
Given you’ve lived in or around LA most of your life, we’d be interested in hearing how your approach to choosing what you skate/where you film has evolved over the years…
I used to hang out at the same schoolyards and famous ledges, like USC. The familiarity gives you a great sense of comfort and helps you progress on your board. But now I like the hunt for new skate spots. It’s a different kind of motivation and creativity for me. I have hundreds of photos in my phone of benches, curbs, and banks. I’ll probably never get to all of them. I usually find them taking a wrong turn or going to a new library with my daughter.
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All time favourite spot and why?
I could never pick one favourite skate spot, but LA is the biggest and best skatepark in the world and undoubtedly my favourite city to skate in.
Gear:
Given this is getting released in the context of your Dickies capsule, and that fashion/skate fashion trends tends to come back around cyclically, which era from your past would you say influences you the most today in terms of clothing? And has that seeped into what you decided to design?
There’s a lot of ‘90s fashion showing back up with brands right now and I’m loving it. The ‘90s, with its impact on skateboarding, music, and my life in general, remains a favourite era of mine. This influence was a natural choice for my capsule collection with Dickies.
If you could pick one skate photo or clip from anyone you looked up to growing up/look up to today based on what they were wearing, what would it be?
I’ve looked up to Mark Gonzales through every era of my life. He’s a fashion icon in my eyes. From the Gonz at Ohio Skateout in 1988 wearing Vision Street Wear pants, flannel, and a Laker hat to when I saw him last week at his art show in LA, he consistently has style and unique flavour. Also, growing up I loved Matt Hensley’s look in his Hokus Pokus video part. The cargo shorts, chain wallet, Vans Chukka boots, and white tee. Loved him and his style.
And on the flipside looking back at all your parts or photos you had in mags, is there anything where you’re a bit like ‘oooof don’t know what we were thinking back then…’?
In 2003 there were a lot of tight pants and big graphic t’s in skate fashion. A lot of these looks show up in my Fully Flared part and haunt me still today. I also fractured my wrist at that time and was wearing a wrist guard. Extra big oooof.
Influences (skating):
Who are the skaters you’ve been the most influenced by over the years? How would you say they’ve influenced your skating?
One of my biggest influences in skateboarding is an LA skater, Gabriel Rodriguez. He was the first to skate many of LA’s iconic spots. He introduced me to some of the rawest skateboarding in the late ‘80s and ‘90s. Every time I do a 360 nose grab it’s in dedication to him. That was his trick. Also, Mark Gonzales and Natas Kaupas are the pioneers of modern-day street skateboarding. Everything that I do comes back to them in some form or way – through skateboarding and fashion.
Do you watch a lot of the skating that comes out every week? Are there skaters/crews that you may not have necessarily spent time with / skated with in person that get you hyped?
I do watch a lot of skating. Tom Knox’s videos get me hyped. He does incredibly hard tricks and lines down tight brick pathways that sound and look incredible on film. I get very inspired by that style of content.
Influences (personalities):
What are some of the fondest memories you have of working with the people you love on video projects?
I’m so grateful to have so many great memories working on skate projects. Stacy Peralta was responsible for my first breakthrough video part and changed my life. Spike Jonze stands out for his unique vision and creativity. And Ty Evans with his unwavering dedication and talent which has always brought out the best in me.
If you could choose one person from a past project to work with on a new one, who would it be and why?
Spike Jonze for the nostalgia.
Kickflip to fakie Skateboarder cover in 2000. Ph. Spike Jones
Video parts:
Video part you’re the most proud of and why?
Mouse. It’s a classic mid ‘90s skate video of me at my prime and a fan favourite.
Are there any clips of yours that you look back on and are not stoked on or you think didn’t age well or anything like that?
Although they were very respected parts of mine and I’m very proud of them, in Fully Flared and Pretty Sweet I did a lot of technical skating that I felt lacked some style. In my opinion hard tricks don’t always look good. Been trying to keep it a little more simple since then.
Any tricks that got away whilst working for parts that you still think about today?
They don’t get away, they’re just not done yet.
