YOU Interview Kellen James
Blair Alley
- April 01 2009
- 5,910 views
- 111 comments
Do you know how productive Kellen James is? Due to his parts in last year’s Jus Liv’n Promo, this years Right Foot Forward, and maybe even a part in the Sk8mafia Am Video, we don’t think he’s ever left the house without getting footage. Now we have a stack of photos from him, but we want you to do the honors. Have a look at these photos, and if you were a magazine editor, what would you ask him?
Drop your questions in the comment boxes below and we’ll get Kellen on camera to answer your questions.
Photos by Matt Daughters.
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Half Cab to backside Smith grind. Photo: Daughters.
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Half Cab crooked grind revert. Photos: Daughters.
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Switch 180 to five-0. Photos: Daughters.
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Cab to backside lipslide. Photos: Daughters.
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April 1st, 2009 at 10:58 am
Can’t wait for your part in Right Foot Forward. How was the filming process for the video? Is there more pressure filming for a Transworld video?
April 1st, 2009 at 11:00 am
tell me a bit about how you came up. It seems that nowadays it’s all these little groms that are coming up. You’ve been around for awhile but did’nt really get exposed until you were what 25 years old? I could be off with my info but you were older which is inspiring for alot of dudes still tryig to do this.peace
April 1st, 2009 at 11:10 am
how is it that you are so good with nollie bigspins? That seems to be your trick. You can do it on anything. Did you learn that one early on?
April 1st, 2009 at 11:17 am
After all the videos and coverage comes out all the hype is on you and some BIG offer comes in to ride for another company. How do you handle that ?
April 1st, 2009 at 11:34 am
I saw your Grill Session on VitalSkate before it vanished. It was good to hear you talk about all the companys and people at the ASR that dissed your sponsor videos. WOuld you mind elaborating on that more? I mean, I’m goin on 23 and its good to hear that you can still be noticed at 25/26. It’s inspiring in a way. You see alot of people quit skating between the ages of 18 and 25. Which seems to be from a lack of motivation. Thinking that they’ll never get more than a shop sponsor, seeing 16 year olds practically on the same skill level and the responsibilities of being an adult. But someone like yourself gives people inspiration to keep striving for more. But, let me stop jocking you and ask, when are you gonna come to the east coast? Come through Philly. We’ll be waiting.
April 1st, 2009 at 11:39 am
Everytime I see a new video, the majority of it is filmed on the west coast or overseas. I mean, obviously the western part of the u.s. is booming with potential and new spots. But, when you gonna come to the East coast? Come through Philly, NYC, D.C., Boston. We’ll be waiting with a blunt rolled.
April 1st, 2009 at 11:42 am
who did you come up with back in the day, from skating and filming?
April 1st, 2009 at 11:46 am
what gets you hyped before skating?
April 1st, 2009 at 12:10 pm
what do you know about Romania ? would you come to visit us?
April 1st, 2009 at 12:12 pm
what is your opinion on Jason Dill’s part in Mind Field?
April 1st, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Outside of skating, what are some of the other constants in your life that keep you sane and focused? Do you have other outlets besides skating and do they help motivate you to continue pushing your skating?
Keep ripping
peace
April 1st, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Any trick you’d like to learn soon; ‘r working on?
April 1st, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Hey kellen what do you like too do when your not skating ?
April 1st, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Are you like a never-missing nba player?
April 1st, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Have you ever been mistaken as Denzel Washington?
April 1st, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Hey kellen you do some realy tech tricks that even for you has to take alot of try’s what do you do when you’ve been trying a trick for a while do?
April 1st, 2009 at 1:10 pm
what size board do you ride?
April 1st, 2009 at 1:13 pm
How many blunts a day?
April 1st, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Are you ever scared rollin up to something? If so what do you do, kick out the first time or what?
April 1st, 2009 at 1:16 pm
you got some great steeze, i can definatly tell you got your pre spliff rituals. How HIGHped are you that Cali is gonna legalize it?
San Diego for life, Sk8mafia for life, Spliff life for life
April 1st, 2009 at 1:17 pm
What is your most fun trick to do?
April 1st, 2009 at 1:18 pm
k?
April 1st, 2009 at 1:28 pm
how are you going to celebrate the up and coming 420?
April 1st, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Whats with the no shoe sponsor? I see you rockin the es…u on the team?
April 1st, 2009 at 1:36 pm
You’ve got nollie back bigspin on lock, do you think it should be changed to “kellen spin” instead?
April 1st, 2009 at 1:36 pm
HEy Kellen…what is it like skatin with nick tucker,larelle gray and oh yeah dorian gray?
April 1st, 2009 at 1:48 pm
Hey K-Jeezay. Nah just messin’. what up kellen, or Mr. James. Anywho I just wanted to ask, how much joy do you get out after landing each trick you do? And also how long do some tricks take to land, and if you get to upset with one do you move on to the next trick? Peace, love, and crabs.
April 1st, 2009 at 2:03 pm
whats it like mashin with sk8mafia all the time, seems like everyone is really cool thats on the team. do you guys just feed off of eachothers tricks?
April 1st, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Im a girl who loves to skateboard,a lotofpeople judge me but a lot of people thinks thats totally cool.What do you think?And what is your advise to me?
April 1st, 2009 at 2:41 pm
If you could go anywhere,would Canada be in the top 10? Us canadians want to know.Thanx.Look forward to seeing you on tv! =)
April 1st, 2009 at 2:48 pm
is it true that larelle and dorian gray had to make out to get on sk8mafia?
April 1st, 2009 at 3:13 pm
what is the the perfect age to get a sponsor?
April 1st, 2009 at 3:25 pm
What’s up with shoe sponsors? Ypu definetly deserve if not a pro modle at least a sponosr…
April 1st, 2009 at 3:26 pm
who were some of your idols when you started skating?
April 1st, 2009 at 3:29 pm
you obviously suck and have terrible style, in full honesty this is not just hate. you are like a black jereme rogers, did you have to practice to be as whack as him or does it come naturally?
April 1st, 2009 at 3:33 pm
Hey Kellen, Do you got love for Mac Dre?
April 1st, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Hey Kellen, Do you got love for Mac Dre?
April 1st, 2009 at 4:23 pm
have you ever smoked weed from egypt
April 1st, 2009 at 4:42 pm
WORD IS BORN!
April 1st, 2009 at 4:43 pm
do you prefer blimpkins or surfers when you blaze?
April 1st, 2009 at 4:55 pm
shazzzamm bangels
April 1st, 2009 at 4:56 pm
what was your favorite spot to skate in sacto and why???
April 1st, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Why do kids always ask you about weed?
April 1st, 2009 at 5:09 pm
How do you deal with security guards?
April 1st, 2009 at 5:34 pm
when you were a kid, were your friends or were there kids at your school that took skateboarding like a popularity contest or took skateboarding like a competition? if so, did u skate with them or did u not care for them?
April 1st, 2009 at 5:35 pm
who was your first sponsor?
April 1st, 2009 at 5:38 pm
How was High School?
n
Have u skated in DC with bobby yet for the new transworld video coming up?
April 1st, 2009 at 5:50 pm
how many pat b’s do you smoke a day
April 1st, 2009 at 6:00 pm
you got some pretty original creative tricks and some killer steez. do you think skating in SD influenced your creativity or it was the other way around? Also, you get tons of bangin clips, enough to put out a killer part in Jus Livn’ and still have enough to put out a throwaway as one of the extras, and have a few clips in the SMF montage. Why do you think your so productive, is it the Sk8mafia mob mentality or are you just that focused on your skating?
April 1st, 2009 at 6:06 pm
HEY KELLEN I JUST WANTED TO KNOW HOW SKATEMAFIA IS DOING FINACIALLY BECAUSE OF THE RECESSION?
April 1st, 2009 at 6:09 pm
when you were young how many hours did you used to skate.
ps when does skatemafia come to costa rica
April 1st, 2009 at 6:12 pm
how long took you to got sponsors
ps when does skatemafia come to costa rica
April 1st, 2009 at 6:34 pm
ive been watching SMS since the beggining and ive seen the progression in all of you guys(you and the rest of the maf)what keeps you motivated? whos idea was it to start doing the SMS’s? when i watch sk8maf saturdays im like these guys are homies and go out an skate reminds me of me and my homies and thats what sets you guys apart from the other teams out there. oh and why is it so hard to find sk8mafia shirts in xl? send me some? when is the maf coming back to sacramento?come pick me up for the am video premiere? -SM4L
April 1st, 2009 at 6:51 pm
being a san diego head and knowing that cali is famous for it’s mexican food, which would you choose as your favorite burrito joint?
April 1st, 2009 at 6:53 pm
and what would be your ideal meal from said restaurant?
April 1st, 2009 at 7:11 pm
What is your favorite drink and food? Who owns sk8mafia? What is your favorite trick to do?
April 1st, 2009 at 8:16 pm
First off, yeah that is hate and that isn’t even a question. Second, Kellen has sick style. Kellen, my questions for you are how did you learn to shuv-it everything? What do you think about the Gray brothers? Do the sk8mafia boards work well?
April 1st, 2009 at 8:25 pm
yo i checked sponsor info on spot. why don’t you have a shoe sponsor yet homie? you are one of the steezest and techest skaters out there.
April 1st, 2009 at 9:38 pm
I remember the first time i have ever heard of you, and it was that 25 to life interview. I read that whole thing and i see that you are humble ass dude. Now i watch everything your end. But i want to know what motivates you and pushes you to skate? If you get this can you give a shout to Zak Newman in the ATL, GA for me.
April 1st, 2009 at 11:22 pm
what was your favorite spot in sacto to skate and why?
April 2nd, 2009 at 1:29 am
do you miss the old chula vista court house day?
April 2nd, 2009 at 2:35 am
hey kellen after your succesful video of your just luvin what is your feeling or learning that you get after?
April 2nd, 2009 at 2:48 am
how come you left adidas?
April 2nd, 2009 at 4:18 am
what pro did u look up to growing up
April 2nd, 2009 at 5:30 am
you got bangin trick
April 2nd, 2009 at 5:43 am
peter smolik owns da maf nigga
April 2nd, 2009 at 5:48 am
can u get sk8mafia to cum to da east? NY to be exact, i know yall niggas wil puncture napp-E mutha fukkahs, haha
April 2nd, 2009 at 7:43 am
whos smokin a bowl in the background of the half cab crook revert????
April 2nd, 2009 at 8:11 am
whos your filmer? there a big part of why a person came up in skateboarding.
April 2nd, 2009 at 9:25 am
have u ever done a wizard staff? if u did how tall was it?
April 2nd, 2009 at 9:30 am
when u coming up to seattle?
April 2nd, 2009 at 9:44 am
Every new up and comming skater now has a story to tell, Its not that easy anymore to keep it up.How did you get yourself to get to the top, and how is it to try to keep up with the rate at which skating is going.
April 2nd, 2009 at 9:44 am
who was the first one ever to throw up the sk8mafia with there hands?
April 2nd, 2009 at 9:45 am
Every new up and comming skater now has a story to tell, Its not that easy anymore to keep it up.How did you get yourself to get to the top, and how is it to try to keep up with the rate at which skating is going.
April 2nd, 2009 at 10:44 am
How does it feel to be in a Transworld video? Are you stressed out?
April 2nd, 2009 at 2:06 pm
dude, i got a few questions for ya…
1.)you and smolik should make a shoe sponsor, because you rip, but no love =[
2.)i have this trick that i know you’d think is rad…front smith to front blunt…can you do it? i am not good at skating at alll, but i love it to death
3.)have you ever chilled with stevie williams or kareem campbell? thats a sick line up, you three, right there… peace dude.
April 2nd, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Hey Kellen i always thought you were the sickest dude ever after i saw your last trick in the jus livin dvd that full cab back tall backside flip WHATTTT! but dude got and advice on how to start learning switch tricks i can do mostly anytrick regualr but switch seems way to hard?
April 2nd, 2009 at 6:06 pm
How do you feel about your own part in “Right Foot Foward”? Do you think you skated up to your full potential? And the same question for your “4.20″ part with sk8mafia.
April 2nd, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Are you excited about being in two upcoming videos? and what was it like filming for 2?
April 2nd, 2009 at 7:15 pm
All your parts in every video tear up, how do you manage to stay so focused when you skate?
April 2nd, 2009 at 7:44 pm
are you happy you got to skate in Modesto? :]
April 2nd, 2009 at 11:15 pm
if someone offered you seven figures to guit skating would you, why or why not?
April 3rd, 2009 at 3:22 am
CANNABIS!
April 3rd, 2009 at 9:15 am
i love you
April 3rd, 2009 at 9:52 am
bowls or blunts?
April 3rd, 2009 at 9:57 am
does sk8mafia distribute their decks to shops outside the SoCal area? im from the valley (stockton, CA) and I cant show the mafia any love and cant buy em online. =/
April 3rd, 2009 at 11:55 am
do you back skate mafia starting snow mafia???
April 3rd, 2009 at 2:33 pm
what made you switch from adidas to eS?
the exclusivity of the three stripes?
or was eS just more your thing?
April 3rd, 2009 at 4:31 pm
ganja
April 4th, 2009 at 1:12 am
yo KJ, how many days did it take for you to film your “Like Brothers” part?
April 4th, 2009 at 6:56 am
have you ever slept with an asian chick ?
April 4th, 2009 at 11:16 am
Hey Kellen…What trick u don’t know to do???
April 4th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
have u tryd skating on lsd or mushrooms????? i have and i skated amazing on the rite dose u shood try, they expand ur mind like weed :D, slo mo , deeper thinking, i love ur creative tech, ur good inspiration im 20 woulda been sponsord but had surugyr when i wuz 17 after fuking up my ankle at 16, EVER HAVE ANY SERIOUS INJURYS OR HAVE BAD JOINTS ??? my ankles wierd still lol but im progressing still
just making new trix ive never witnessed n i see u with combos ive never seen so fresh keep it up much love
April 5th, 2009 at 10:17 am
What would you do with 7 figures to keep the skateboard tradition alive?
April 5th, 2009 at 10:24 am
What put that first skateboard between ya feet & the concrete?
April 5th, 2009 at 10:34 am
What is the biggest impact skateboarding has had on you growing up?
April 5th, 2009 at 10:36 am
What inspires you to progress in skateboarding the most?
April 6th, 2009 at 8:54 am
how much weed do you think you smoke a day?
April 7th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
Modesto is tight right?
April 9th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
Describe the struggles you had growing up around skateboarding, did your parents support your skating even when you were 20? I’m turning 19 and i’m bout ready to get kicked out, downtown sd here i come!
April 11th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
how did you meet larelle grey?
April 11th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
how did you get so good at skating?did it just come natural to you or did you really have to practice alot and push yourself.
April 13th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
what do you love about sk8mafia
April 15th, 2009 at 11:59 am
have you ever had ur beard as long as tom hanks in castaway?
April 16th, 2009 at 6:03 am
blunts yo everyone would choose that
April 17th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
what’s marijuana?
April 21st, 2009 at 7:13 pm
may i have sex with your mother?
May 7th, 2009 at 10:21 am
Blunt or Bong??
May 25th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
Kellen man, i've been watching sk8mafia saturdays for a couple years now. Just wanted to say you have an awesome style and some pretty damn original tricks. Can't wait to see you in Battle at the Berrics 2 man, keep it up. Oh, and what skaters did you look up to as a kid?
July 12th, 2009 at 3:03 am
what is your favourite skate video to watch?
July 22nd, 2009 at 7:26 pm
How long do you think before doing a new video for different sponsers?