We had the opportunity to have a funversation with Mr Yardwaste a couple weeks ago. He tells us about his first Danger Bay, falling in love with skateboarding and apparently MIDS is the American Yardwaste. Eh?
Khaleeq Alfred photo
Hello Troy, how are you?
AWESOME!
Having a fun week?
Yes! I did a whole lot of “Wrongboarding” this week. Skating gaps, rails and ledges…
Evo in a pool?
I got one, and I would definitely shred it in a pool!
How wrong can you board?
I don’t know if I ever “right” board….
Where are you from?
ABBOTSFORD, BRITISH COLUMBIA!
Fun place to grow up?
VERY! Great friends, Hills and Skateparks!
Are you Troy CAPPS?
I’m not CAPPS all the time, BUT SOMETIMES I AM! I definitely get it from Striker! HE WRITES EVERYTHING IN CAPPS!
What else have you gotten from Striker?
Striker created the bread, butter and reason I love this sport so much. COAST LONGBOARDING!!! The greatest family ever! As well as giving me CARIBOO BEER every now and then haha.
When did you get into skating?
The kids on my block would always be seshing this box they made and put in the middle of the cul de sac. I was only 3 years old at the time. So my dad built me a skateboard out of 2×10 and drilled some trucks that one of my friends gave me from his “wal-mart deck” on it, and away I went.
Matt Urbanek photo
How important is safety to you?
It’s very important to me! But I do have the short boarder skatepark mentality when not going down a hill.
When did you start going down hills?
I would bomb small hills with my friends on our regular boards, but then my dad found this board with big soft wheels and a huge deck at a garage sale. I was so stoked how smooth and fast it was. I started to use it to go to school. Then I started going down the hills with my new “longboard” and got hooked!!
Is there a big community in ABBOTSFORD?
There is a GREAT community in ABBOTSFORD!!!! It is the originating town of “YARDWASTE.” A group of 9 dudes all from abbotsford who started hanging out with each other the summer of 2010. There used to be a HUGE crew of kids that got together every saturday. But all of our Abbotsford groms have dropped off the face of the earth…. People do come from all around to visit us (Yardwaste) and our hills often though!
Your groms turned to stone?
Some of them had to ditch Longboarding cause they were getting hurt too often and trying to play school sports… Some lost interest but there are still a couple groms that KILL IT!!
Old_child_media
When did you first skate hills?
Grade 8. Which would mean about 8 years ago now.
Have you had any breaks since then?
Both wrists, couple foot bones, knuckles, fingers, tore my ankle and knee, and I think i broke my arm once too.
Wow. What’s the longest you’ve been out for?
Last year I was out from Britannia till almost the end of the BC race season. I tore my knee real good.
Why did you decide to tear your knee?
It was a result of very tight racing! Scott Muir “El Beasto” took a better line on the inside of me coming into “The bridge” at The Britania Classic and held his line, while my line was getting drawn right to the hay bails. My left front wheel caught the bail, I spun around and my left knee caught the hay bail too and tore her right up. Note: I DID FINISH MY RUN!
What is Yardwaste?
Yardwaste is a group of 9 guys. All from abbotsford who started to hangout in Jordan Yardwaste’s basement. Jonny moved in with him and the same group of guys would seem to hangout with each other all the time at Jordan’s place. We then slowly started aquiring the people necessary to form a super gnarly get out of our way, were the shit, don’t mess with us, best boarders in abby team haha. Since then we’ve been getting “Yardwasted” and having fun not caring what people think of us and helping each other out. Like real bros do!
Celine Phillion photo
Is there any radioactive waste?
Yeah, there’s 1, his name is Junior Jaca Yardwaste. He’s from Puerto Rico and he RIPS! I met him when I went in 2013. He was one of the first people I met from the island. He helped me with EVERYTHING! I left him with my complete daisy, and he was doing stand up slides in 2 days. This year he killed the junior division at Guajataka Downhill, if it wasnt for kicking his own wheel on the push in semi-finals. He would have been a serious candidate for podium! He’s my main man in PR!
What are you guys known for?
Yardwaste is, I guess you could say “Infamous.” We look like a bunch of Punks who are out to cause trouble. People have actually refrained from ever inviting us anywhere, cause they think we JUST want to wreck everything and always get drunk and go crazy! But really… we’re super fun loving guys that get along with everyone and enjoy doing things that don’t always have to do with destruction. But I assure you. If you want stuff broken, or to get in trouble. We can do that.. haha.
Is there a uniform?
No, but most of us rock vests covered in patches and we’ve got the same Yardwaste patch on our leathers. You could consider COAST LONGBOARDING HOODIES as our uniform!
Curtis Hildebrand Photography
Do you have super powers?
Super powers eh. One of my super powers is that every time I leave Canada and talk with people, I make them laugh and smile! Cause of our kooky Canadian accents eh?!? haha
What’s the typical phrase?
What’s crapenin’ eh? Yah Hoser!?
Do you remember the first event you went to?
Danger Bay 8! I remember it like it was yesterday! King Brian ended up coming into the local skateshop that I was working at. I had just bought the “Landyachtz EVO” the day before cause I wanted to go FASTER! He told me about a race that was held EVERY YEAR on the sunshine coast. I was so stunned… THEY RACED THESE BOARDS!?!?! So I quickly YouTubed “Danger bay,” and what I saw, I couldn’t prepare myself for. This was destiny! Going fast down a hill that was closed for us!! I was there! So I rushed home after work and told both my parents. They saw that I was going to do whatever I could to get there. Since I was about 16 years old at the time, they were not letting me go by myself to the Sunshine Coast for some random race… SO! My mom and dad rented an RV. Me, my mom, my dad, my sister, her friend and my German exchange student were on our way to the race! When we got there. I SHIT MY PANTS!!! People were drunk everywhere, some were asking my parents for mushrooms and acid. THIS WAS NUTS! So we just hid in our RV and waited to go to sleep… UNTIL!!! The metal and punk bands started playing right behind our RV!!! WHOA WAS IT LOUD! I told my mom the next day, I wanted to leave… I wanted nothing more to do with this craziness! But she said to go make some friends and chill out. I had already paid… I went and met Taylor Riley and he took me to the Dump hill. I skated and hung out and race day came along. I didn’t make it past first round… Scoot and Mischo were in my first heat ever…. Didn’t help that I was stink bugging it all the way through carnage corner. Since then, I’ve never looked back and never regretted getting into this. This is my favorite story!
Rad Train
Who would you be if you hadn’t gone to that race?
I would still be a skatepark rat, probably have a pretty decent job by now. And probably be doing some stupid things with some stupid people. Longboarding definitely pushed me on the right course with all the support and rad people from the COAST LONGBOARDING and YARDWASTE family.
What other events did you attend that year?
That was it. I heard of Vernon DH, Sullivan Challenge and the other races but had no money saved up to attend any of them. After DB8, I knew I had to start saving!
Did you do any skating aside from events?
Skate park every day from 3pm until dark. Me and friends would go bomb this straight hill next to the skatepark every now and then. But for the most part, I was a kook going down hills on a board that was too big with soft wheels.
“I spend every second I can on my skateboard, and if I’m not doing it, I’m editing it, watching it, filming it, teaching it, thinking about it, basically… I LIVE FOR SKATEBOARDING!”
Why do you spend so much time on your board?
BECAUSE I LOVE SKATEBOARDING! I spend every second I can on my skateboard, and if I’m not doing it, I’m editing it, watching it, filming it, teaching it, thinking about it, basically… I LIVE FOR SKATEBOARDING!!! I haven’t stopped thinking about it since I was 3 years old. Every christmas, birthday or celebration had to do with skateboarding or getting something to do with it.
Stretch baker photograph
Are you still a kook?
Yes! Now instead of my longboard being “useless” at a skatepark. It’s the main board I use for everything! haha!!!
How was your 2012?
2012….. I was hitting all the BC races I could attend and skating hard with Yardwaste!
What camera work do you do?
I love filming! Pictures are cool, I just suck at taking them and suck even more at editing them! I prefer to lay down a really rad video edit with some cool music.
Do you have more fun on your board or behind the lens?
BOARD! Not even a competition. I do enjoy filming though!
What videos have you made so far?
LOTS of videos for Yardwaste, videos for friends and their sponsors and also lots of videos for groms. Check out www.Vimeo.com/yardwastedh for most of my work!
Khaleeq Alfred photo
Which is your favourite?
I always love watching the Yardwaste “Shenanigans” videos, cause all of our best fun footage is compiled for a while, and then put out. But anything that involves anyone skating or having lots of fun is awesome!
“MIDS IS THE AMERICAN ANSWER TO YARDWASTE!”
Are you guys the Canadian answer to MIDS?
HAHAHAHA! MIDS IS THE AMERICAN ANSWER TO YARDWASTE!! YARDWASTE est. 2010!!!!! HAHAHA!!!
When are you going to have a Shenanigan off?
Mids vs. Yardwaste… That would be soooo much fun! I could see it getting pretty crazy and gnarly.. haha Definitely something that should be done!
Khaleeq Alfred photo
What do you want people watching your video to see?
SKATING! GNAR! FUN! EXCITEMENT! FAMILY! FRIENDS! ADVENTURE! DRAMA! BEER! COAST LONGBOARDING! YARDWASTE! CRAZINESS! RANDOMNESS! EPIC FOOTY! B-ROLL! PARTYING! RACING!
What are you riding right now?
Currently going between a Sector 9 Daisy and Sector 9 Proto Deck. I ride Paris trucks for everything! Rolling on Sector 9 wheels and Hollow Point Bearings!! And standing on Light Speed Division griptape by Paradox! Push Culture also helps make sure I’m swagged out with all new longboarding clothes and gear.
Are any of those your sponsors?
All of them are! @ReplayBoardshop @ParisTruckco. @Sector9 @TimeshipRacing @PushCulture @HollowPoint @LightSpeedDivision @RockLouie @CoastLongboarding
When did you first get sponsored?
My first sponsor was Flow from Sector 9 Canada. This was right before Danger Bay 9, I had been practicing all year and was ready to kill it this year!
Jacko_Gnarsteeze
How important are sponsors to your skating?
VERY! They are what help keep me on a board 365 days a year. Making sure I have wheels and bearings to roll on, a deck to stand on and clothes and gear to keep warm and stylish!
What did you get up to last year?
Last year was my first BIG year. I flew down to Puerto Rico at the start of the year in January and it got better and better from there! After travelling PR for a couple weeks, I went back home and hit the Outlaw Races hard! I went to Angies Curves and got broke off by tearing my ankle… I went to every race in BC and even races all over western US. Catalina was my favorite! I can’t wait to go back this year!
How was PR?
PR was the nuttiest and craziest place to go! They needed some serious improvements from 2013. People were running all over the race course and racers were hitting stuff. You have to go to see first hand what its like. Its like no other race i’ve ever been to! The beaches, the hills, and the parties! The race this year was FLAWLESS since all the crap that happened in 2013.
scott wippermann photo
What gave you the biggest smiles last year?
Going on trips with Striker on the CRIB BOMB, skating with friends, Highway bombs, Travelling, racing, events, parties,
Hey. How do you know Rachel?
I knew Rachel through skateboarding. I had such a crush on her when I first met her. We got to know each other through the last years racing season. But things really started when we went on Strikers “Rocky Mountain Tour” Which involved us going from Vancouver to Calgary for a race and then getting stuck at some natural Hot Springs in the middle of the forest on the way home.
Is skating better being in love with someone who is hooked on it?
You can’t take the smile off my face when I’m skating. So imagine if I was skating with someone I loved. Skate dates are awesome!
Oh yeah. Are you still on shark wheels? Trololol.
I was never ON Shark Wheels. I RIDE FOR SECTOR 9! I was just stupid enough to go down a pretty gnarly hill on them. But my stupidest decision was actually one of my best. The video on Vimeo has now gotten over 13k views. (https://vimeo.com/78044730)
LOL. Next stop – Donk review?
I don’t think I would take Donk Wheels down a hill. They would be incredibly scary! We have tried those too though! hhahah (https://vimeo.com/89806349)
How is your year going?
This year so far has been AWESOME! I started by going to King Of Kona in Jacksonville, Florida and then flew a bit more South for a month and a half in Puerto Rico where I hit 4 races. Been back in Canada since working and skating… Mostly skating.. haha And right now im packing to go to LA for the Catalina Island Classic!
What are your plans for the rest of the year?
RACE HARD!! SKATE HARD!! BIGGER GAPS! FASTER SPEEDS! NO PRISONERS!! NO HOLDING BACK!! THIS IS MY YEAR!!
What do you do when you’re not skating?
Hanging out with friends. I really like camping and outdoors/woodsy stuff. If it involves having a good time and/or being with friends. IM IN!
Old_child_media
Who should we interview next?
YARDWASTE DOWNHILL! AS A TEAM!! I’LL GET US ALL TOGETHER TO DO THIS SAME CRAZY BOTH OF US CAN TYPE AND SEE WHAT EACH OTHER IS TYPING THING! HAHA.
Pick 3 numbers between 1-20.
4,20 …thats 3 numbers.
Yeah if you live in a binary world.
I think we all live in a world where binary exists.
4 – do you have any recurring dreams?
Honestly, I don’t really dream.. and when i do. I jump off cliffs and do really crazy stuff. GTA style but my life. I know its just a dream haha.
20 – Lyndsay McLaren asks – what is your dream skate destination?
Dream skate destination is Japan/China SOOO many hills AND cool spots to wrongboard!!! Best of both worlds!! OH! AND STELVIO PASS!! WHAT A HILL!
420 – What’s your favourite holiday?
^^ haha… Birthday!! Cause every year I’m celebrating it in PUERTO RICO!
Khaleeqovision
Troy Woy. It’s been fun doing this. Shout out to lurky Jane for the hook up.
Dizzy is RAD! She recently housed me after a skate trip we had to the interior of BC. She lives in Big White, which is a ski resort in Canada. She took me snowboarding and we partied hard in the village. She also KILLS IT on a snowboard and longboard!!!
Any last words?
Thanks to Thane Magazine for the interview! Thanks to all my sponsors, friends and family! Shred safe, have fun and party hard! Wasted on the yard or NOTHING!
Links.
Yardwaste Vimeo Channel – https://vimeo.com/yardwastedh
My Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/Turboo
My Instagram – http://instagram.com//troy_yardwaste
Coast Longboarding Website – http://www.coastlongboarding.com
- Instagram – http://instagram.com/coastlongboarding
- Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/groups/COASTLONGBOARDING/
Yardwaste Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/yardwaste.downhill?fref=ts
- Instagram – http://instagram.com/yardwaste
Replay Boardshop Website – http://www.replayabby.com
- Instagram – http://instagram.com/replayboardshop
Sector 9 Canada Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/Sector9Canada
- Instagram – http://instagram.com/sector9canada
Sector 9 Website – http://www.sector9.com
Paris Truck Co. Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ParisTruckCo
- Website – http://www.paristruckco.com
- Instagram – http://instagram.com/paristruckco
Push Culture Website – http://thisispushculture.com
- Instagram – http://instagram.com/pushculture
- Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/PushCulture
Rock Louie Website – http://www.rocklouie.com
- Instagram – http://instagram.com/rocklouie
- Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/rocklouieco?fref=ts
Timeship Racing Instagram – http://instagram.com/timeshipracing
- Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Timeship-Racing/206299982783972
Light Speed Division Facebook – Instagram – http://instagram.com/lightspeeddivision
- Website – http://www.paradoxgrip.com
Hollow Point Labs Bearings Website – http://www.hollowpointlabs.com/bearings/
- Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/HollowPointLABS?fref=ts