Back in 2009, the UK and Ireland hosted their very own Red Bull Manny Mania! The grand finals were hosted at The Old Truman Brewery in London and after eight qualifying rounds we caught up with Kris Vile ahead of the showdown.
You qualified for the Manny Mania final down in Bridgend, near Cardiff – how did that go for you, and have you been getting much practice in before heading to London?
The qualifier was great, and it’s good to have a competition which is all about manual – it’s something a bit different and I’m really looking forward to it. I had a lot of fun in Cardiff and managed to nail some new tricks in the end. I sometimes practise skating manual, but it’s something that takes a lot of patience and concentration – I just play around with it! I’ve been skating more and more manual since I knew I was going to be at the final because I know I’ve got to use it now – it’s all a good learning curve for me. I’m just going to try and have a bit of fun, and whatever happens happens.
'People are starting to come out of their shells a bit and develop a style, so everything’s in good health'
Manny Mania began in the States in 2007 and made its debut in the UK last year – do you think it’s good to have one competition dedicated to manual skateboarding?
There aren’t many opportunities to just focus on manual so it’s nice to mix it up a bit and have everyone skating manual in one place. It’s great that they’ve come up with something which is a bit creative. It’s means that those skaters who skate a lot of manual or don’t normally enter that many competitions have got an event that they can come out and enjoy.
What have you been up to since last year’s event?
This has been a crazy year for me. At about this time last year, I went out to Australia and New Zealand and ended up staying there for four or five months. It was like a long holiday, enjoying their summer while doing some filming with my own camera and taking a few photos.
You obviously spend a lot of time on the road – do you enjoy coming home or is it difficult to stay in touch with the UK scene when you spend so much time abroad?
It’s great to come back and see my family, and I miss the competitions we have in the UK. I spend a lot of time out in Europe and there’s more pressure out there – everything’s taken a bit more seriously. The vibe in the UK is a lot better and you know everybody, so it’s great to catch up. The competitions sometimes aren’t quite the same level and it’s not as competitive, but that can be a good thing. We’re all in the same boat, and I’m always stoked if a British guy wins, as we’re all mates.
Horse/Red Bull Photofiles
Is the scene in good health at the moment or are we struggling with the standard not being as high?
There are a lot of good skaters kicking about in this country, and the scene is still strong. People are starting to come out of their shells a bit and develop a style, so everything’s in good health. A lot of the time, you have to pay to go and watch the events in Europe, but here, anybody can come for free and that’s great for the kids. Plus, an event like Manny Mania mixes it up a bit and that's a great thing.
And what are your plans for 2010? Have you got a big year ahead?
Next year, I’m just going to take it as it comes. I’m going to head out to the States for a couple of months to link up with a few friends out there and also do a bit more stuff with the team.
You’ve been lucky to skate in some great locations all over the world, but what’s your favourite spot?
I think it has to be the skate park up in Aberdeen – that’s got to be my favourite. I really enjoyed it up there and the mini ramp is sick! The weather can be pretty rubbish in Scotland, but it’s a nice, big place, tucked away indoors. Also, some of the skate parks in Australia and New Zealand are just amazing.
And how about your favourite event? Is there anywhere you look to go back every year?
My favourite has to be Slam Trick in Ravenna, Italy. That was amazing – right next to the beach! You’d skate for just one day but stay for the whole weekend. Sometimes you’d get paid and sometimes you’d just party! They’ve stopped doing it now, and it’s sorely missed, because that was sick – rest in peace.
Comments
Add a comment