When did you start skating?
I started skating around April 1988. My older brother and some of the neighborhood kids already skated. I ended up getting my brother’s board stolen and by the time i was able to buy him a new one, he quit and said I could have it.
What was your first skateboard?
My first skateboard was a Vision Jinx. Pretty sure it had Indy trucks on it, but i can’t remember the wheels. I remember the grip tape was super rough.
When did you stop or slow down significantly?
I slowed down about 4 years ago when I moved into my RV. You would think by not working in an office that I would have more time to skate, and I probably do, but it’s also a social thing for me. So when there are no other skaters around, I’m not really skating. Skating alone was always hard for me.
What do you do for a living?
I am what they call a Front End Web Developer. I deal mostly in HTML/CSS/JavaScript. Although, I have been known to dabble in some back-end technologies like PHP/mySQL. I do most of work these days working on WordPress powered sites. I do all this from the comfort of my 1978 Blue Bird Wanderlodge motorhome.
When you are not skating, how often do you think about skateboarding?
Oh man…I constantly think about it. I even think about it when I am not thinking about it. My wife makes fun of me because I finger board on everything. Even when we are talking about work, I’m lip sliding the sides of bowls, books, or whatever!
How did skateboarding affect the direction of your life?
Well, it definitely took me far away from home. I grew up in Rhode Island and moved to California when I was 18. I also feel skateboarding is responsible for my profession. I met my wife through skateboarding and my best friends all skate. So, if I didn’t skate, I probably would have been a cook or something…in Rhode Island.
What is the connection between skateboarding and creativity?
Not to beat a dead horse, but I agree with the notion that skateboarders look at the world a bit differently. It’s funny, I feel like I am anomaly as a skateboarder. I don’t feel I am creative at all, but my wife (who is) and some friends think that I am. If I were, I’d be making much more money as a web designer AND developer! Anyway, looking at things differently can teach you to problem solve in other ways as well. Like looking at problems from a different angle.
More about Dennis Vieira
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