Do to the nature of Chad’s busy career and our eagerness to share this interview, it’s going to be updated as the questions are answered… keep checking!

1. First of all, congrats on a proper comeback… Krew, Supra, Indy, Mob, Ricta… and the big surprise of course, Element. Before the Element announcement, there was a lot of speculation going on about who might be picking you up… two standouts being Baker (as it was the common belief that you seemed to “fit in” with the lineup), as well as Flip, mainly because of your friendship with Tom Penny. Were those companies aiming for you as well, or is all of that just wild internet rumor?

When I first left Shorty’s my main goal was to start a new board company… And during the process of getting things up and running I realized that it was not the best time. A lot of the main board companies out there now are even scrambling to keep things together so I decided that getting on an existing team would be my best choice. Both of the rumors were kind of correct though… (Word spreads fast on the net!) I had been talking to the guys at flip about potentially starting a new brand through blitz distribution but they also felt that now is not the best time to start something new. And the whole Baker thing just kind of seemed natural because me and Brayden were skating a lot and after doing the whole Supra and Kr3w thing with Erik Ellington and Jim Greco we were all kicking it a lot and skating together… but there team is really big and they kind of have there little crew already formed and when Element came along and was down to do this…. I was ready to go. I felt that I had more potential to grow and really bring something new to the table that Element didn’t already have. They were open to listen to my design input and let me be involved with everything. I am really excited about this deal and have a lot of cool projects that we are working on for 07.

2. Is there any pressure on Element’s part to get you to ride their shoes? I know a few of your team mates ride with outside shoe sponsors, but is there any heat on you to consolidate that particular sponsorship with the company? I ask this because from the outside, it really seems like Element is making an attempt to brand themselves in as many facets as possible with its riders.

I think in the past they had the mind-state of wanting their riders to ride all Element products like boards, shoes, clothing, ect…. But when I was meeting with them I think that they realized that what I am doing over at Supra and Kr3w was cool and only helped to market me to a different audience then they would have been. I also think that by me skating for multiple brands only helps out the bigger picture in the long run and at the same time if I only rode Element for everything then all of my eggs would be in one basket and if something were to go wrong (which it’s not!) then I would be left to start from scratch… But to answer the question… No they have not pressured me in anyway to consolidate all my sponsors under Element.

3. Are we going to be seeing a full video part from you, man?

For sure! You can’t get rid of me… Haha! I have been filming hard ever since I got on Element. I do not have as much time to film compared to some of my other parts that I have filmed for… but I am working on making this part dope! I have a pretty solid start now and am about halfway done… So if there are no injuries (Knock on wood!) then its on! Expect a full part.

4. Recently, several members of the International Association of Skateboard Companies (IASC) have come out in force against blank decks, as well as shop boards… a position that you supported as well. I won’t hide a bias here, as our shop promotes and sells both shop and locally-branded decks (as well as pro models), but I noticed that there’s been a rather large backlash in the skateboard community against the IASC, though I must note that a large part of that backlash has been targeted towards Dwindle Distribution… in large part because of this ad. Even Birdo (from Consolidated) got angry at that one, responding with an ad of his own.

I take issue with the IASC (and Dwindle) for a few different reasons:
1. These companies distribute to malls, mail order, and chain stores, thus not supporting core skate shops (as noted in Birdo’s ad).
2. Most, if not all of these companies sell logo and art boards, which don’t benefit the pros they sponsor.
3. Dwindle makes their boards in China, whereas at least some of the prominent blank board manufacturers hire American labor to create decks (at a higher level of quality than Dwindle, as some would argue).
4. Many board companies are simply companies on paper… as they themselves simply brand blanks with their own graphics (just like the shops).

How do you respond to this side of the debate?

Yo sorry for laggin! Been on the road a bunch…

(I think) 5. This is a really hard question to answer in one sentence and I have had a lot of debate after posting this topic on my blog. I feel that there are valid argument’s on booth sides. I think that it is cool if shops make their own boards But not an entire line. Like one new graphic every couple months, And the costs should be very close to the costs of pro boards. And by all means if there is a local company trying to get started by skaters then the shops should support them. All I am saying is that I have dedicated my entire life to skateboarding and our industry and just don’t like seeing that over 70% of skateboard sales are blanks and shop boards. I understand that every kid out there doesn’t have enough money to buy new boards and when they can they might have to be blanks… but to the kids out there that can afford it should buy their favorite pro’s board. I know that all companies make other non-pro boards as well but at least they are making the pro boards too…. unlike most of the blank brands out there. I think some of the companies out there are jumping on this band wagon (IASC) for the wrong reasons… But one thing for sure is that we need pro’s and if you do not buy their skateboards than after a while there will be none. Then with out pro’s there are no magazines, videos, demos, ect. and then there is no skateboard industry. The end.

5. This will be a loose two-part question:
How did you wind up as a figure in the elite VIP-club scene, and did being saturated in that scene contribute to your full-on return as a pro skateboarder?

I am not exactly sure how I ended up in the whole Hollywood scene… But I have always been a very social person and liked going out. I moved to LA to skateboard but when I go out at night I like to have fun and Hollywood is the right place to be if you want to party. I met some of the “right” people I guess and the scene just sort of took me in. After a few years of just partying though the scene gets a little old… And I had to focus hard again on my true love… Skateboarding. I am still a man about town though! What good is work if you don’t have a little fun?

6. From the outside, we don’t really see your serious side… when you’re in a serious mode of thought, what occupies your time? Do you follow politics, religion, philosophy, or any of the other standard things that people tend to dwell on when they’re not out having a good time?

Hmmm… I am always in a pretty deep thought. I like to keep my mind ocupied by planning out projects that I have in the works. And when I am not working I am spending time with my girlfriend. No religion, politics or any philosophy… just skateboarding, designing, Djing, and photography… And a few other things in between.

7. Are we going to see a sequel to MuskaBeatz?

Yeah for sure! I am not sure when… but there will be another Muskabeatz album! I have been really busy working on this Element video and working on KR3W/SUPRA design stuff… so right now it is not humanly possible! But I have been working on some new beatz here and there and am ready to bust out part two!