As young skaters, our heads get filled with a seemingly endless list of names in videos and magazines. Some legends, some favorites, and even more randoms who you never hear from again- but for some reason their names are still with you decades later. Weston Correa is not that, however- I know exactly why his name is still with me, despite it being 15 years since I last saw new footage of him, and despite him really only being in the spotlight for a year or so. He has stuck in my brain because he defined a particular era very well. Back around 1994, Weston was shining bright as a member of The Firm team, rocking white t’s and jeans, doing long lines with clean flatground, ledge, gap and manual combos- very typical imagery of the day, but he did it with such a clean, speedy and bouncy style that you couldn’t help take note. And then he was gone. Poof. Skating changed quickly around then, and there was a new crowd doing some new things, but I always remembered Weston well, wondering what became of him...

Cut to a couple months ago. Lance Mountain, who sponsored Weston at The Firm, told me that a knee injury is what had taken Weston out of the mix but that he still saw him around from time to time. Then, strangely, I got a notice to the SLAP Twitter account saying “Weston Correa is now following you on Twitter.” I did a doubletake. WHAT? I immediately contacted him, and what you are about to see is a direct follow-up to that. It’s with great pleasure that I get to reintroduce Weston Correa to SLAP readers.

First things first- why did you disappear from skating so quickly?
What happened?
I guess I disappeared because I lost my sponsors after I got hurt. I skated with Jeron Wilson a lot more then, and anybody who was down to go skate. I never stopped.

I know you had a knee injury that took you out, and this was in the days before knee surgery was so commonplace in skating, but why do you think you didn’t come back from it? Were you over skating, scared of the injury? And how did you hurt yourself?
I got hurt on an 11-stair handrail. I was asked to get new footage but never got anything that great after that. You could say I was scared to get hurt again, but I was not over skating.

BACK TAIL, 1994

The rare Firm video from 1994
featuring Weston’s only full part

What have you been doing in your life these past 15 years? What’s your life like today, what do you do?
I have been living and skating in LA. I’ve done some extra work in movies, commercials, tv shows, and music videos. Also I worked at Val Surf and Diamond Supply Co. Now I just skate and watch my nephew. I need a job.

Do you follow skating still? How much do you skate these days?
Yes, I definitely follow skating. I skate about four days out of the week.

How did you end up on the Firm? Was it your first sponsor? Who else did you ride for?
My first sponsor was Public skateboards. How I got on The Firm was through Keith Gruber. He worked at this skateshop I rode for called Blue Alliance. He took me to Lance's house. We went skating a lot. I made a sponsor me video with my friends Julien Bello, Ethan Fowler and Jeron Wilson and then I showed Lance and the rest of the dudes on the team. I was not on right away. I had to show and prove, then I got on.

Were you ever turned pro?
Yes, thanks Lance.

KICKFLIP, 2009

Tell a favorite story or memory from those days.
A great memory for me was The Firm/Girl/Chocolate Tour. It was such a fun trip.

What do you think people remember you for?
People mostly remember me from the 411 videos.

Girl/Chocolate/Firm road trip, from 411 #8, 1994

CROOKED GRIND, 1995

Who were some of your favorite skaters then? Anybody you like now?
Guy Mariano, Jeron Wilson and Lance Mountain.

Any thanks or parting words?
First I would like to thank you Mark Whiteley and SLAP for this interview. Lance Mountain for taking photos and everything he has done for me. Also Jeron Wilson, Val Surf, Diamond Supply Co., my mom, and Jemie for all the support.