I met Steve for the first time on a Big Blue trip from Detroit to Cali. He was Arto's mate, coming along as a special guest. Somehow The American Flag van turned into a Euro and Canadian shuttle going across the U.S.- how ironic. We just did our second Big Blue trip together, this time through the south. Between killing spots, getting arrested, shooting bow and arrows, and rope swinging in Alabama this Euro sure seemed to love the USA and Big Bluemf (as he would call it).
Über times we had on the road. He said on many occasions, “Big Blue will change you life! The uempf will never stop.” Thanks for riding in Big Bluempf, Steve! –Joe Brook

gap to bs lip

Where are you from?
I am from Austria but I grew up in lots of different places, and that has not changed yet. I guess I have no place called home.

Where are you now?
Right now I am in Barcelona doing some heavy therapy at the Gypsy camp. Just spent three months out in the States so I have to debubbleize my brain.

What is the Gypsy camp?
The Gypsy camp is an apartment far out in the hills behind Barcelona that belongs to a good homie of mine from Austria and I have been living there on and off for some years. Basically it is a place where we let all our homies come and escape the winter. When you arrive you have to bring a “palette bier” which is 24 cans. That gets you into the camp and once you’re in you have to be ready to handle the good times. Not all people manage to stay long but once you accept the vibes of the house we guarantee you that you will go home a more happy person than when you first arrived. Everything in the apartment is from the streets so lets say its not very luxurious. No TV since we know better ways to kill brain cells; no hot showers or working toilets are not always a given. It’s not always easy when you come home from a tour and there are 10 or more Gypsys in the little apartment and you only know half of them but since you will always be greeted with a cold beer and a joint it all works out. “LOCH HOCH, FUT.” The camp helps you learn valuable lessons that will help you in the outside world.

Are you a royal Austrian? King of gypsys?
I am defiantly not a royal Austrian since I ran away from my military service, and also no king of Gypsys since Gypos don’t need kings. So that leaves just a good old dirty stinking Gypsy. That’s the only way to roll in life. Just go where life takes you. If you don’t know where you are going you can’t get lost.

What are the three Gypsy rules?
#1: No complaining whatsoever because things could always be worse.
#2: Gypsys know who they are and are not ashamed of it. We are proud of what we are. If you don’t like us, too bad for you.
#3: Never say no to free food or drink because you never know when you will eat next.

f/s feeble

How many different sports has your older brother played in one day? Which one does he like most?
Oh “Sportsgoofy”- that’s the name Antton gave him. When he was here visiting me at the Gypsy camp his day might look something like this: Go out the door with us to do a downhill but of course he does not skate, he uses his rollerblades but he does not rollerblade like ramps and stuff, just wild in the streets, full blast with his 101mm wheels. I was seriously worried for him because he would just blast on some of the massive roads in Barca going as fast as the cars, and he was wasted. Of course he has his backpack with everything he needs. So once we get to the little skate park close to our place he would play tennis against the wall with some of the locals. Then he would walk across the street to play basketball with some of the other people. After that he would ‘blade down to the beach where some friends of ours live. Go swim and run on the beach, maybe play hackey sac and paddle ball. So I guess a bunch, as long as his energy lasts. I don’t think he has a favorite one, he loves em all with a passion. My little brother is more like me, he just skates basically, and rips if I may add. Gotta love the family.

Smith grind

What makes you ride a skateboard?
Beats me, sometimes I wonder myself. All I know is that if I don’t go skate for a few days my life starts to fall apart. I just need to be out in the streets and roll on my board to feel free and to keep my sanity, as far as that is possible.

If you could skate any spot right now which one would it be?
La Cantera, the skatepark at the beach in Algorta up in the Basque country of Spain, when the sun is out and the girls are working on their tans. Plus Basque people rule, they have a good attitude towards life. So a good session there with all my friends; that would definitely keep the vibals high.

Did Big Blue change your life?
Oh, of course! I met a bunch of new friends, saw new spots and saw a part of the States that not everyone knows so well. It was a blast. I also got to meet Reggie- he is all cock and no balls but he is a good one. Every tour changes your life in some ways I guess, but the life inside Big Blue is special. Plus Joe Brook is a rad dude who made it all just that tad bit more exciting. Cheers Joe! Thanks and don’t forget the Bluempf tour that will be coming soon: Big Blue meets the Stuempfer, 2010 in the Euroland.

Old World or New World?
Old World for sure. Life in Europe just suits me more. I love a lot of things about America and I have lived there before so I know it’s different everywhere you go, but all in all I am a dirty Euro cunt all the way. I need to be able to live without a car and drink my beers in the streets. Plus food is tough in the States if you don’t have much money. You can get good food because there is everything but to eat good you need the cash. Also I like it that in Europe if you take a train for one hour or two you are in a different county, different culture, different language, different everything. In the States you can drive for fifty hours straight and you are still only gonna hear English and you will see the same fast food joints. But hey everything has good and bad sides and I will leave it at that.

kickflip up Smith 180 out

What is positive hate?
Now we are getting philosophical. Positive hate is a special form of hate. Sometimes it is good to hate something. Now someone might say hate is a bad thing but I say you can’t have love without hate so its good in some ways. Plus you can’t love everything and everyone except if you are Jesus maybe and I ain’t got shit to do with that dude. I hate religions, all of them, period. It’s ok to hate something, that does not mean you will hate somebody else who might like whatever it is you hate. Some friend might love a song and you might hate it- that does not mean you like him any less. To talk about positive hate is not so easy; it is better to sit down over a six pack and an apple and then you can attack the subject better. But no worries, I am all for love, peace and happiness, with a little hate on the side.

Shout outs?
All the Gypsys including my family, the Antiz hobos, Radix crew, Wall St. crew, the Partizans and all my other friends out there who are living it up. And thanks to my sponsors for hooking up this Gypsy. I love you all and hate some of you. Cheers, cunts.

ollie