PETER SMOLIK

Peter Smolik straight changed the game in 1998. His seminal part in Shorty's Fulfill The Dream wasn't just technically the best thing to drop at the time, but also had an undeniable good vibe about it. Smolik oozed good times. Even his song, rapped by his mates The Federalz was about getting drunk and high - but instead of just doing that stuff, Peter was also producing some of the most stylish and sick shit on the streets of San Diego. If you didn't wear out your Fulfill The Dream VHS with constant watches then you were fucking blowing it. Truth be told, I am still still watching that part to this day. Now the don of Skate Mafia, Peter is still doing his thing and living life to the full. We spoke with him lately to ask him a few things about past, present and future Smolik.

Weeeeestsiiiiiiiiiiiiide.

Sup Peter, if my intro wasn't clear enough, I'm a big fan - for those that don't know, tell us where and when you started skating? 
Fuck your intro, but thanx... I'll let you know tha real shit! Started when I was 4 1/2 or 5 in CLMT SD CA USA... 81 or 82 turned pro at 18, I've made DIRTY6 revolution's around the son, sunn!!!

Who was your crew back then?
Shit mad heads, CLMT monsters... My blood kike, lil b, SLARGE park heads (the reason WSVT is there), best band ever... I use to freestyle satanic slarge metal in front or church groups along side of glen, mosh pit on stage, 13 GOLD'n mins on stage. That's another interview, pillage.

I seem to recall a trick in a (I think Danny Minnick) video where you were rocking glasses and doing some tech ledge shit, was that your first time in a video that people outside of SD would see?
Naw that was a TWS vid but minnick is tight!!! 

You had an Etnies section and that TSA one, but didn't seem to get the shine you deserved until Shorty's, were you happy with your earlier parts?
I didn't give a fuck, and still don't.

How did you end up getting on Shorty's?
That story is to long to text (on my phone)... Easily 

When Fulfill The Dream came out, you popped off big time - winning best video part, best style and probably everything else that year, and deservedly so. How long did that part take to film? 
2 years or less, vids take 4 ev's when there is a big team.

Muska didn't seem to be celebrating as hard as the rest of the crew when you came up behind his nollie tail with the switch 270 to front board at the start of your part, were you guys pretty tight?
He was hyped, I just vibe off the vibe. 

You still speak to him at all?
Lost his # but a hemi 4 life. 

What about the rest of the Shorty's team? There were sick kids on there, man.
All my homies.

Did you get on with the whole team?
Not sure what that meens, but they all my hemi's.

You had Steve Olson in your section even though he had his own part, were you guys pretty close?
That tre flip was tight!!! I was hyped that he lived in SD, that was my props to him. 

What's he up to these days? Isn't he rapping or something?
Yeah in Seattle somewhere.

I gotta say man that switch five-o on Hubba with a cap over a hoodie was so fucking tight. What trick took you the longest in that part?
Not sure, every trick takes a Long time to learn and get to that point to xecute it. 

Ok, so around this time you got on Osiris, I know it's very San Diego orientated, but who hooked that up?
I just mob'd in there and I was on.

I remember our local shop stoking the SAG (Smolik Action Gear) with the velcro on the shoes and pants, that shit must have sold like fucking crazy - you make some big Osiris checks in those days?
R.L.P (Real Life PIMP'n) 

Your shoe was tight, but didn't sell nearly as well as the hideous (sorry Dave) D3. Rumour has it, that Mayhew is still living off that spaceboot, is that true? Good on him if so.
I don't wear football's or footy's on my feet, so I don't give a fuck.

Was Shorty's paying pretty well? You pretty much made that team what it was man.
Shit was tight, but they sent me a letter say'n I didn't do shit for there company... Wack ass fools!!! 

I recall some Thrasher (I think?) interview where you talked about spending thousands on yourself and your homies and then all of a sudden you were back sleeping on a couch - care to elaborate on that period?
I invested $15g's bout to make a distribution company with shorty's and that fool bullshit'd, then they went their ways, still my homies tho.

So after this came Guilty, are you happy with how that turned out? 
Hell ya!!! I'm happy with all my work. 

When it was over for Shorty's, where did you go straight after that?
I started SK8MAFIA, DUH!!!

Did you ever get any offers from Rocco to ride for any of his companies? I could have easily seen you fitting in there.
Long story, but mike ternasky was tighter. 

I heard a rumour that you were getting on Plan B? 
Yup. 

Any offers from Girl or Chocolate? 
Nope. 

You seemed to be in limbo for a while there after Guilty. Was anyone hooking you up before Sk8mafia started? 
Fuck all that shit. 

Then you had that Transworld part, were you stoked on that? 
Super fun.

How is that going anyway? It seemed to be a small homie company at first, but it's massive now. 
Tight. 

Are you the full owner or are there partners involved? 
We done talk about that. 

We interviewed Wes recently, that guy is so fucking sick man. You hyped on the team? Anyone else you want to get on?
We good now / we swoop'd Wes when he was 12. 

What's up with Laced? How is that all going and who is involved? 
Jakee brown / LACED IS THE BEST.

Some quick random questions for you:
Do you have any secret shames - simply ledge or flip tricks that you struggle with? 
EVERYONE DOES, that's the battle . 


I was always hyped on you throwing down ollie grabs and shit between the techest ledge stuff, I've seen some mini stuff too, do you skate vert? 
I don't pad up but I'll cruz it. 

Your thoughts on the Shorty's come back this year? 
Not gonna happen.

Who is your all time top 5 favourite skaters? 
SLB 
Matt Hensley 
Sean Sheffey 
Danny Way 
Gino iannuccii 
All Stee dudes
Jakee brown 

Which new kids are you feeling?
There's 2 many but they all look the same in some weird way. 

How much are you skating these days?
Depends on when I get swoop'd up. 

Any new parts for you in the pipeline?
LACED vid, work'n on it now.

Are you still partying pretty hard? You always seem to having a sick time!
I got the level in my hand, we can go hard or slow it down, depends on the sitch. 

Any regrets in your career?
Ya, not tell in you, FUCK YOU!!!

Haha, alright Peter, thanks so much for doing this man. Give us some final words of wisdom, homie.
Sk8board'n is about having fun, we are a rare breed, so welcome beginners... Make a fam and look out 4 each other... That's my vision of SK8MAFIA 

Shout outs and thank yous?
LACED, SK8MAFIA, DIAMOND supply co. Independent trucks, ACE trucks, spitfire wheels, paradox grip, seedleSs, pacific drive, KFX, RLP 

Any fuck yous to anyone that has crossed you?
Their's a few but I don't hate, they'll get theirs.

Fuck yeah man, awesome. Cheers, Peter.
Thank you too... SK8 4 LIFE !!! ............ SMolik 

Muckmouth.com

As usual, thanks so much to the amazing Chromeball for allowing us to use some images. Cheers Eric.