Pierre-Luc Gagnon Interview

Courtesy of EXPN

By: Simon

Pierre-Luc Gagnon is a powerhouse skateboarder who's known for pulling off sick spins and flip tricks in the halfpipe. The 2005 X Games gold medalist talks to Simon about breaking bones, building skateparks and busting big airs.

Simon: When did you start skateboarding and what made you try it instead of other sports?
Pierre-Luc Gagnon: I started when I was eight when my dad got me a skateboard. I liked skateboarding because it's an individual sport and it's more like an art form compared to other sports. It’s about expressing yourself and being unique. You don't have a coach telling you what to do and that things have to be done a certain way. It’s about being original and doing your own thing.

Simon: Where did you usually skate when you were growing up in Montreal?
Pierre-Luc Gagnon: Well, I was really lucky. My dad convinced the city to rent a warehouse to him so he could build a skatepark there when I was 12. Skateboarding got more popular, so my dad was able to put more money into the place to build more ramps and a halfpipe. It was great, because at the time there were hardly any skateparks around so I had a place to skate all the time. If my dad hadn't done that, I don't think I'd ever have become the skateboarder I am now.

Simon: What's your favorite skateboard trick?
Pierre-Luc Gagnon: I don't really have one favorite - it kind of changes depending on the day. I really like doing lip slides across the top of the ramp, I love doing flip tricks, big spins, everything.

Simon: Any tips for mastering basic tricks like the ollie?
Pierre-Luc Gagnon: The big thing to remember is that when you do the pop on an ollie, when your tail hits the ground, make sure you're as far as possible on the tips of your toes and don't have a lot of weight on your back foot. Pop hard and get that weight off your back foot.

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