Donnie Ho “Not Dead Yet” Classic-fit Benefit T-shirt

$19.99 – $27.30

Back in February my cohort in skate crime-Donnie Ho, had a minor stroke. It just so happens that long-time AZPX friend and former team member Natalie Krishna Das got with Don at the Wedge before his stroke for some killer shots and and this interview. If you haven’t yet, grab a Don Ho tee, $10 of every sale goes directly to the Ho-Man to help offset some recovery costs.
-Rob Locker

1. Can you share with us your journey in the world of skateboarding? How did you get started?

I grew up in Maryvale, Arizona. In those days most kids played Little League, I was no different. In Little League I was a catcher, pitcher and a second basemen, being fast and good at all positions. I ended up on the all-stars but I was petite. I also played Pop Warner football. Team sports was a way of life for me. I was always a beast at what I played. When I started at Maryvale HS, I tried out for football and I made the team. The first time in full pads I was swimming in the uniform. Their smallest uniform was way too big for me. So I quit.

I had tried skating that summer and it fit me good. I decided to get a board. Me and my best friend went to K-Mart and so it began. No one skated back then, it was unheard of. Me and my best friend rode them daily and I got good. It was all freestyle so being strong and flexible came in handy. We rode skateboards every night after school at the basketball courts at Maryvale High School. In the mid-70’s it was handstands, headstands etc. We ended up on the news a few times and we thought we were the shit. My friends and I were looking at the magazines and copying them. Back then there was NO footage, we were just copying the Cali guys in photos.

At this point, we hadn’t even thought about riding an empty pool. Needless to say when we saw the pics of the California rippers riding the empty pools we had to go try it. We started searching the neighborhoods until we found one. My first empty pool was a left handed Kidney with Anthony coping. The first session I tried to go barefoot, big mistake! The second session I wore tennis shoes. From that day on I was hooked. We rode many pools in the area. We ended up at a huge one called Dead Cat. My best friend was older than me and had a car, so I pretty much grew up at Dead Cat.

2. What sparked your passion for skateboarding and how did you maintain that passion over the years?

I am a very driven person so once I found something that I was good at it-was a no brainer, I lived it full-on. I was bound and determined to get as good possible at skateboarding. Skating was different back then, it wasn’t a common thing to do. No one thought of us as role models. We did it ‘cuz it was fun. I can say that I never thought of stopping, ever. I had a passion for skating and that it’s a way of life. Skateboarding is like being in the Mafia; once you’re in you’re in!

3. How has skateboarding evolved since you first started? Are there any changes that particularly stand out to you?

Skateboarding now is way different. It’s mainstream. As a skater from the 70’s, I would never have imagined the level that these kids are taking it to these days. Very impressive! It’s mind-boggling. Totally different back then. No one made a living as a pro skater. I have nothing but good things to say.

4. How did the idea to produce a movie on the “history of skateboarding in Arizona” come about?

I started off doing interviews with old AZ rippers as sort of ‘where are they now?’ in a web-based article series called “Viejo Guerrero“. Rob Locker, my buddy and owner/operator of AZPX recruited me basically just to help out creating content for the website. He knew my past. I grew up with all the old shredders so who better to document the beginning of AZ skateboarding than me? As time went on, I could see that we had more than enough stories to do a full-on documentary. My former Powell-Peralta sponsor and idol Stacy Peralta had released one (Dogtown & Z-Boys). Thus “High Rollers: The Golden Age of Arizona Skateboarding was born. A three-year long project.

I knew I could capture the magic that’s all over the film. Rob and the rest of the team was very helpful and my friends were super supportive. That the fact that Steve Shelton and I grew up together is a big reason making the movie was a no brainer; and the fact that I had access to the best photographers helped. A perfect storm if you will.

5. What do you hope viewers will take away from your movie?

I want people to know that the Arizona rippers were right there alongside the Cali guys. We progressed with them. The fact that we came a while after is strictly because of where we lived. Also, we wanted to point out that Arizona was important in the story of skateboarding and for the world to know this. Hopefully our film inspired some folks.

6. As a skateboarding legend, what advice would you give to young people who are just starting out in the sport?

I want to say to all the kids out there, “Skating is Fun!” Do it for the reasons that makes you happy. There is no guarantee for tomorrow. Enjoy every moment! You’re our future! Skateboarding is a gift.