Upper Decker Interview. Spring 2009
Name age..where you living..
Kevin Krahel, I'll be 35 in May. Currently living in
Clintonville, but who knows for how long. I'm eyeing other areas of the
city.
Lets start from the begining, when did you decide you wanted to
ride a skateboard?
I began skating seriously, with the intention of
"doing tricks" when I was about 12, so that'd be like 1986 or so. Before
that there were boards around that belonged to my older sisters and
uncles, plastic banana boards or whatever. I was rolling down the
driveway on one on my stomach one day, I must have been about 7 or
8, eating a mouth full of grapes. I hit a rock, went straight to my face
chipped a tooth, 4 stitches in my lip, grapes spattered about. That's my
first recollection of a skate injury. The proverbial beginning of the
end.
You've been holding it down in the C-bus for quite a while?
Yeh I'm from the Wheeling area but came here
immediately after high school in 1992. I had been coming up here for a
few years prior to that, riding at the old Sunsports park in Whitehall,
and at Dodge. I had a few friends here when I made the move, so it
wasn't like I made a blind leap. Columbus seemed the logical choice for
me, with a seemingly endless list of skatespots through downtown, and
campus. I skated all day and drank all night, and just seemed to fit in
pretty well. It really didn't take long for Columbus to feel more like
home than where I came from.
Music was a big part of your life at one point, when did the
DJing start?
Music has always played a big role in my life. We had
a jukebox in the house when I was a kid and it seemed to grab me. I have
a great appreciation for and love of music across all genres. I started
spinning records in late 93 I think. I had been going around the club
scene, and took an immediate liking to what I was hearing in the
dance/techno genre. A lot of it wasn't too far of a stretch from what I
was listening to then- industrial stuff like Ministry, Front 242, Skinny
Puppy, Nitzer Ebb, Throbbing Gristle, and 80's pop like Flock of
Seagulls, Thomas Dolby, Echo & the Bunnymen, Tangerine Dream, Devo, and
Depeche Mode. Industrial was hard and aggressive, but techno (more
specificly, house music) seemed to put a little bit of soul into it. I
really appreciated the technolgy too, mountains of synthesizers and drum
machines. When I discovered "house music" I was totally captivated. I
started trying to mix the few records I had with fellow skater and
friend Doug Holmes on his turntables. We were also hanging with people
that were already in the game, trying to learn to properly mix records,
match beats. Just observing their techniques and mimicking what they did
at the club the night before. It wasn't too long before we were playing
small clubs on campus and around the area. We'd set up tables at the
local coffeehouse and play till they kicked us out. Everything
Sno_Balled and all of the sudden I'm playing raves 500 miles away to
1000 people---and getting paid. I played pretty much every club in town
at one point or another between 1995 and 2000. Had a few residencies at
several clubs, and I feel really fortunate to have been a player in the
game when that scene was in it's prime. I have tons of stories about
being lost looking for parties in snowstorms, crazy drug induced lunacy,
and general debauchery. I don't regret a thing.
When did you decide to give it up?
Fall of 2000 I'd had enough of everything. Along with
the good times, there is the bad side. All of the political shit
surrounding clubs and parties, not to mention shows like 20/20 and
Dateline doing expose's on the "rave" scene and the ecstacy epidemic,
everything was going to shit. I picked up my shit and under
questionable circumstances, moved to Texas. I played 2 or 3 shows right
after I got there, but it wasn't long till I politely bowed out of the
scene completely. 9 months later I moved back to Columbus, but never
really felt the desire to get back in it. Moving forward, you know?
Besides, by then I had a new son and my priorities were extremely
diffrent.
I know you recently did a show, any plans on
getting back behind the turn tables?
I dunno. Not really. I bumped into an old friend and
he asked me to play at Bristol bar in March, so I agreed. The show I
played was a lot of fun, but I'm so out of touch with the music now. I
haven't bought any records in nearly a decade, and that whole spinnin
CD's thing freaks me the fuck out-- I'm scared of it. I might do a spot
here or there if I'm ever asked again, but I'm not actively seeking
shows. Maybe I'd like to dj in a band or something, that might be more
interesting.
70-71.com
I remember when I first started skating this site was like the first
Columbus zine- videos, pics of people shredding, it is definetly an
outlet to let people know Columbus scene is strong, when did the site
come about and how long has 70-71 been around?
I think in it's first form, 70-71 started around
2003. I was just skating around having a good time, taking pictures here
and there, and thought I'd write about what was going on. It began on
one of those free Tripod webbuilder sites, and after a few months or so,
I was getting enough traffic that I'd exceed the monthly bandwith in a
few days. I bought the 70-71.com domain and havent looked back. The site
has gone through many transformations, but the minimal look I have going
now is super easy to maintain and add new content to, so I'm sticking
with it. I try to add new content regularly, but it dosen't always
happen. Sometimes it's weeks, months between updates, then I'll update 3
times the next week. It's however I feel and whats going on. I'm trying
to provide a little insight into what's happening around me. I don't
really care who looks or dosen't. If people don't like what I have to
say, that's fine. It's skateboarding from my perspective. I also post
other things that I'm into like bands/shows, motorcycle events and
whatever else. I tried for a while to get other people involved and
provide an outlet for their work/art. Fuckers promised content then
flaked out, so I stopped trying. If I do shit myself there's no one to
let me down but myself. At least I'm used to that.
You been holding it down for Five Points for an minute what
board setup you rolling with?
Um, I'm not really sure. I guess my board is about
9", some random shape with a square tail. That's pretty much my only
requirement. If I need a board, I tell Tim and he shapes me something
up. I think I had the 2nd or 3rd one he made and aside from a few gimmee
boards, I've rode nothing but Five Points since. He's one of my closest
bros, and we work deals for boards. I'll feed our incredible BW3
addiction or help haul some mulch or some shit in exchange for boards.
It's a great arrangement.
Any Chris Higgins stories?
Man, he's the greatest asset to the Columbus skate
scene. The ambassador or whatever. Ask him about the plum he got in
Athens.
Your into bikes riding and working on them, what bikes do you
get into?
Yeh, my most recent addiction has been motorcycles.
I had dirtbikes and quads as a kid, but had not been around bikes for
quite a while until a few years ago. I really like Japeneese bikes, and
British iron. I'm not into the whole chopper/raked out/ultra wide rear
tire scene. I'd rather see a $500 homebuilt bike than a $40,000 bike
anyday. I love that guys walk past the line of cookie cutter Harleys at
Quaker Steak to look at my bike that I have $1000 in and built in my
garage. Smaller displacement cafe racers, and streetfighters are where
it's at. I like seeing concept bikes too, anything that reminds me of
Akira is rad.
Ramps and minis are getting very popular are you stoked on that?
Yeh, I grew up skating miniramps, back then everyone
had one. Minis are super rad. I think everything comes in waves though,
you know? Ramps and street and vert, parks, pools. Everything blows up
for a minute than cools off, but there are people skating everything all
the time and being super stoked on it. Whatever makes you smile, bro, go
for it. I can skate a fucking curb for hours and love it.
I've heard good things about Louisville have you been to that
park?
It's been rad in the past, but it's ageing. The
fullpipe is chunky in the bottom, but whatever. We roll through there
once in a while and camp on the hillside, drink and cookout. Rage all
night. The lights are killer, I wish Grove City would get on that.
Wheelings park is really rad and lit too. Athens got lights not so long
ago. Night sessions rule.
I know you have known him a while, is there any thing we should
know about PatChuck, he seems like a real dope dude?
I dunno if "real dope dude" is the correct
description. I grew up in the next town over from his, I was like 2 or 3
years ahead in school, but we all skated and got into mass trouble as
teens. Just random bullshit, you know drinkin, smoking, taking girls in
his parents hot tub. His folks had a pool table, and we'd bet skate gear
all night long. Blind jeans, World Industries shit, whatever was cool in
1991. Airwalks. He's my bro, I talk to him everyday at the same exact
time. We text Geto Boys lyrics to each other all day. For you other
motherfuckers in the atmosphere, I'm sayin' fuck you loud and clear...
Im sure we both seen skate shops come and go any favorites that
you seen move on?
It sucks to see shops close. Sunsports is the
obvious choice, I was going there in like 90 or 91 when Randy Loop was
still around. I miss the fuck outta that park. I still see Kenny and
Nick now and then and they are doing well. I really don't shop at
skateshops much and I know that's not "supporting the scene" but I'm not
exactly the target demographic, Right? I get my boards from Five Points,
and that's only 2 or so a year. Shoes, about the same- everything else
is random. Trucks last me like 4 years, wheels I get through Tim too.
The only thing I regularly buy is fucking shoelaces.
There are alot of West Virginia transplants, were you born and
raised in Ohio?
Yeh right across the river from Wheeling, in
Bridgeport. Literally you could see West Virginia from my high school.
We'd walk out of state on lunch to eat at KFC. Dave Coyne lived right up
the hill, we'd skate lots.
You still get down to the Grove City skate park on Tuesday?
That's about to start up again now that the weather is breking
and it's light past goddamn 5pm. Time changes can suck it. All of us
older guys have been rolling Tuesdays for years. The "Old Man Slam Jam".
We even had shirts made.
What homies make a session just right?
Me and 6 cool Miller beverages.
Are you into street skating at all?
I really can't take much these days. I just don't
have the knees for it. I have a rod in my right leg and too much impact
on it hurts for days. I know, I'm an old fucking codger. Whatever
though. I appreciate it, and like to see it go down. I rock a little
flatland flippy session or a manual pad action for kicks. I still got a
few for you.
Is there an time in skateboarding that sticks out to you the
most?
88-94 was super rad for me, when I was in My prime
or whatever. All the crazy shit was evolving. Super tech with the giant
pants and small wheels. I loved it.
If you could bring back a skate company or two what would they
be?
I don't care, really. Didn't they try that with Plan
B or whatever? I don't really pay attention to much current skate shit.
I'll see a video now and then, but I don't get the magazines.
It seems that skateboarding drives alot of people artisticly are
you into art?
Not so much. I know what I like when I see it, but
I'm not super artsy. The stuff I do for the website is all I do.
Besides, my pants are too loose for that shit.
I asked Mike Newton this are there any 90's pros you liked?
Hensley, Blender, Gonz, Templeton, Ocean Howell.
Daniel Corbett Sergent. There are too many to list, but there's my faves.
Who are you feeling now?
My girlfriend. She's got my attention more than any current skater.
How do you view skateboarding now days, you get into all the
flashy rapper/rockstar attitudes?
I don't know how it is out there, seriously. I'm so
out of touch with what's cool.
Tell me whats on your mind anything you wanna talk about?
Nothing really. I just don't care about much of
anything going on that dosent affect me. I'm the nicest motherfucker in
the world, I'm happy to meet new people and have a good time. Take your
drama somewhere else, I don't give a fuck about shit stirrers.
What do you have lined up for the future, any plans on a 70-71
complilation video?
Nah. I've threatened to make another video for years,
but I have zero footage, so that's not on the radar. I really like
taking photos, even though the most of them suck.
Any last request?
Gimmee a beer.
Give some shout outs?
Thank you to ebay, craigslist, facebook and Bushwick
Motherfucking Bill.
