For Andrew Mapstone’s 5th part to the “NOW AND THEN” journey he interviews one of Australia’s favourite skaters, Joe Pease. Joe and Andrew share a strong friendship built through many years of skating and travelling together.
ANDREW MAPSTONE;
A question I get asked ever so often is what happened to Joe Pease?
People, Joe is still alive and well, living in the US. And yes he is still skateboarding and yes he is still ripping. But that’s all I can tell you about Joe, because as always Joe flies under the radar. Hopefully the following words from Joe might just give us all a little knowledge of the mystery man’s where abouts and happenings.
Back in the day many many years ago I was introduced to Joe on a Volcom tour to Adelaide SA. I knew him as the switch rail guy back then, he chopped rails in a tech manner and because of Joes quite nature, skaters didn’t know how to take him. Many skaters have even thought of Joe as that too cool guy.. I can tell you with Joe this was not the case. As the trip kicked off Joe and I sparked the start of a long beautiful relationship, not in a gay way but in a great way. While the rest of the team were out getting pissed, Joe and I were out doing the oppisite, mucking around playing jokes on the drunken team riders. It was loads of fun, he brought the kid back out in me. It was from that day onwards we became the best of mates for the next 5 or so years.
The best of times you can always recall and the best of people you will never forget. Although I haven’t seen Joe for many years and it’s been quite a few months since we have spoken, the bond we had will always live on. Joe still remains to me as a close friend, and one of my all time favorite skaters to live with, travel with and to shoot with. For years Joe, Shane Cross and I were stationed in the US and we had a blast. Sadly we lost Shane, but Joe and I still have that time together. I doubt Joe will ever come back to Australia like I did, he now calls the US his home but as long as he keeps producing his epic clips now and then I am happy to live on with those and the epic memories we have of those days, the Cali days…
Here is a look at the last time I shot with Joe a few years back, take a look at these clips, I hope they make you want skate as much as they make me want to skate, can I spell it out for you F-U-N, fun. That’s what skateboarding is all about.
Enjoy
Peter brings the shadows to life:
First off Joe Australia wants to know, where the bloody hell are you?
I’m on a small island off of Australia known as Maylaya
How long have you been living there?
Several years now, i quite like it here
Why did you leave Australia?
The island of Maylaya was calling my name
Will you ever move back to Australia?
Not to sure at this point, I’m loving living at Maylaya to much
Lots of Australians that dream of making it in skateboarding want to be in the US and are always battling to come back and forth, hoping to get a visa to make the move, how are you legally stationed in the US?
I can go to the US if I like which is bloody awesome. very thankful for that. The reason is my mum is American, I have duel citizenship
What’s better the US or OZ?
Maylaya
Do you have things you love or hate about the US?
No hate from me. I do miss my friends and family a lot
What do you love or hate about Australia?
love Australia always will. There is just a vibe there that is amazing
Where do you call home?
Maylaya now.
Following Joe:
Who do you skate and with in the US?
When I’m in the US I was skating with Rattray a lot but he recently moved away. I also skate with Leeper and my buddy Rygar
What are you doing for work now?
I greet everyone into Maylaya when they finally make it here
Who do you ride for?
The predatory bird, Modus, Theeve, the gays at Gravis send me shoes sometimes
The viewers of this blog are graced with some of your clips, these clips contain your skating but they also contain your direction, when did you get into the art of making these clip and how?
Ever since I landed on Maylaya I have been pumped with creative juices, can’t explain it.
Do you have a website or blog?
No just a vimeo account
When Instgram first hit you were all over it, always putting up new well though
out pics, then all of a sudden it stopped, why?
Maylaya doesn’t have great reception
Your clips inspire me to skate, back in the day you were a rail guy now it seems as if all of your skating seems to be about fun more so than jumping off a building and getting hammers how did you go from a rail guy to a slappy king?
I’m just in it to have fun. Whatever makes me stoked I’m going do
Can you tell Australia what a Cali red is?
A painted gutter. There is something special in the red paint they use that makes them grind really well. Not sure what it is.
Gravis Quarters LX:
I will never forget that first trip we did to SA with Volcom, Peanut was the TM and it was the first time we traveled together, we had a blast. You fell in love with a girl but you were to scared to talk to her and you chewed hubba bubba bubblegum for the whole trip. Putting the whole pack of gum in your mouth at once. Are you still a fan of gum? Have you got over your fear of the opposite sex yet?
My fear of the opposite sex is a huge reason I hoped on the boat to Maylaya. Don’t get into the gum much these days.
For the longest time you were living with Chad Bartie, where and what is he up to now? Do you still skate and hang together?
He travels a lot and is still shredding hard. He loves Maylaya and comes visit me while I’m out there. I haven’t skated with him in a few months, different schedules and he is working on his storm 2 for Osiris
For the longest time Joe and I were together everyday, but as the years have gone by you have changed and so have I, if I was to see you today what could I expect?
A big hug, Maylaya has made me realize my true self
Joe Pease on Theeve:
Here are some quick questions, for some quick answers –
Trucks – tight or loose?
Both
Boards – big and fat or small and thin?
No comment
Wheels – big or small?
Soft
Clothing – loose or tight?
Nude
Rails or ledges?
Red curbs
Vert or mini?
Vertical mini
Partying or Chillin?
You can’t escape the party on Maylaya
Australia or the US?
Australia
Food – Mexican or Pizza?
Mexican
Meat pie or hamburger?
Meat pie
Water or Soda?
Milo
Coffee or Juice?
Juice
Real food or Smoothie (when Joe and I were living at the Volcom USA house we tried to eat nothing but Jamba Juice for weeks, we both got wrecked in more ways than you could imagine).
Chicken smoothie. when i had my wisdom teeth removed my mum made me a chicken smoothy
Surf or Skate?
I wished I surfed more.
Local skate spot?
Snake pliskin
Any final words of wisdom?
Hit a rock, also talk to Steve…
Joe’s breakthrough video part from Matt Hookers Northern Lights video from 2004
Joe and Shane – “Lets Live”
