David Faber

Tom – How long have you been freestyle skateboarding for and how did you get into it?

David – Almost 3 years now, I got into freestyle as a pandemic hobby. I picked up skateboarding a few years earlier, in my mid 30’s and was learning bowl skating when they shut down the skateparks. I ended up skating in parking lots and that’s where the freestyle bug bit.

Tom – Current board setup?

David – Normally, you’d catch me on a spoon nose Waltz board, but I’m currently on an old, now defunct, Canadian brand, a Bamford freestyle single kick deck. I got it from a local (Phil Larin) who was thinning out his collection. It’s on Ace trucks with Waltz Deep Space Explorer wheels, the hardest bushings I can pick up from the local shops and whatever bearings were around at the time. 

Tom – Current favourite trick? 

David – Probably butterflip to carousel.

Tom – What music are you currently listening to? 

David – I’m all over the place musically. Lately it’s been early hip-hop, calypso and modern indie music, but that changes regularly. 

Tom – Who are your current favourite freestylers? 

David – Mike Osterman, Sean Burke and Denham Hill are the guys that got me into it, but the scene now is so diverse and the people are so incredible that it’s impossible to pick. 

Tom – Who was the first freestyle skater you saw? 

David – I ran into Andy (Anderson) at a local park. He picked me out of a crowded bowl and he was as hyped to see a freestyler in the wild as I was to see him skate in person. 

Tom – What other hobbies do you have? 

David – I like making music, though I’m not great at it. I also love riding motorcycles and have a fully restored 1966 Triumph. Lately, I’ve been preoccupied with my new puppy, which has been so rewarding. 

Tom – Being a Canadian freestyler, what would you like to see happen to the scene here in Canada?

David – I’d love to see the scene grow, and more grassroots events. Whether it’s a couple of friends online, like Northern Boarders, who come together and make fun edits, to group meets like Terry Chui and I are doing with the Van City Freestyle crew and all the other regular skate picnics happening. Even just an online game of SKATE. What I love about freestyle right now is that the scene is small enough to be whatever you want it to be, so make it the place you wished it was when you first started. 

Tom – Favourite movie of all time?

David – Sound of Music.

Tom – Any last words or shout-outs?

David – My teams and support systems;

@northernbordersfs

@vancityfreestylesk8

My wife for the infinite support, all of my friends in the community and those that are pushing it from where it was to where it’s going. 

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