The Tod Swank interview. Part 1.
Comparing the average skateboard industry guy to Tod Swank is like comparing a sloth to…well, Tod Swank. Does that metaphor make sense? No. But the point is that he’s a busy and successful guy. He’s held various positions in the skateboard world, including pro skater, photographer, designer and is the president and founder of Tum Yeto which is home to brands such as Toy Machine, Foundation, Pig, Ruckus, and Dekline.
Time to stop slothing around, sloth asses. Time to think like Tod and make some moves!
SOTI: You were the first senior photographer of Tranworld Skateboard Magazine. How old do you have to be to become a senior photographer?
Swank: Ha, ha. As long as you have a senior’s citizen ID card you are good to go.
SOTI: I got swanked.com is probably the best site ever created. What are your future plans for expansion?
Swank: Not really much. If I can find more nude photos of girls riding skateboards maybe. Please forward any to me.
SOTI: What other sites do you have going that people should know about?
Swank: www.fukeneh.net is another one hit wonder. Pretty weak. The www.SkateboardingFoundation.com site sucks but we are working on a new one.
SOTI: What product would you never put the foundation logo on?
Swank: Carcass. Now bikini’s on the other hand would be a enthusiastic yes.
SOTI: You could make a pretty dope Foundation bikini, with a moon to cover one nipple and a star to cover the other. Which skater that you’ve known since the 80s has kept their skills up the best ?
Swank: There is a bunch. I’m not one of them. The 80′s gen was the first generation of skateboarders to stick around en mass. We have a crap load of daddies that skate now with their kids. Though I’m not one of those either.
SOTI: Which skater that you knew since the 80′s could fit into a pair of Corey Duffel Signature jeans?
Swank: Hell if I know. Probably none now. Old fat fucks.
SOTI: Will pressure flips ever be accepted again?
Swank: I never knew they were. I always liked them. We were best friends though I could not do them. We’d just go have beers together.
SOTI: Whats the best way to get rich in the skateboard industry? Pro? Start a hardware company, girls stuff, bearings, fingerboards, ….. etc…?
Swank: Don’t start a skateboard company, if you want to get rich. Start a bikini company. Great gross margin on tiny clothing for hot girls.
SOTI: What! That’s some sweet industry knowledge. Sounds like I’ll start nipple cover company instead of a wheel company then. What size of Pig Wheels would you fill a pillow case with if you had to beat someone down?
Swank: 58MM I think would hurt.
SOTI: Jason Lee is on Dekline…..that’s awesome. What other actor would you sponsor if they skateboarded…?
Swank: Thanks. Jonah Hill. He was in Super Bad. He looks like a skateboarder type dude and acts like a fool too. Just like most skateboarders I know. Fool.
SOTI: He looks kind of chunky for a skater, but, I’ll wait til I see if he can pressureflip. Who’s killing it as as far as your sponsored riders go?
Swank: Well Angel Ramirez and Nick Trapasso just turned pro for Foundation and Toy Machine respectively. They are both coming up hard. Killing it. We have a slew of up and coming ams that I know nothing about. I’m always the last one to know about anything.
SOTI: Who’s the oldest person that rides for any of your companies?
Swank: Not sure. Ed Templeton. Though I rank him. But I don’t really ride for the comps.
SOTI: The fattest?
Swank: Ed Templeton or me. I think Ed ranks me here. He is way fatter than me.
SOTI: The filthiest?
Swank: Gareth Stehr hands down.
Link to Tod’s companies at TUM YETO
