Rasta LA: June 2010

I've seen Marko in the neighborhood since I started skateboarding in 97' or 98'. Throughout the years we've become buddies mainly because we practice at the same spots. Marko is a busy man from 9am-9pm. When he clocks off at 5pm from the warehouse you can find him at the new Venice park or at Sand Gaps making sure his skate skills are still intact, he never sits down unless he gets a phone call or needs a water break. From the parenthesis you can see he's got a lot going on.

RastaLA: Sharky what up I'm trying to do this interview?

Marko: Yeah, you wanna do it right now?

RastaLA: Yeah is that possible?

Marko: um..alright go ahead.

RastaLA: First off what do you do?

Marko: (distracted) alright what did you say?

RastaLA: what do you do?

Marko: What I do is um..I guess owner and CEO of Unified Skate Supply.

RastaLA: Growing up did you wanna be Pro?

Marko: Yes

RastaLA: Who were some of the heavy hitters growing up?

Marko: First Natas Kaupas um..Mark Gonzales(distracted) okay yeah it was Natas and Gonz at first, actually no it was Natas and Tony Hawk at first. Then after that it was Danny Way the original Plan B squad, Danny Way, Colin McKay, Rick Howard, Mike Carroll, and Sean Sheffy.

RastaLA: Those dudes are sick. What about now is there anyone you look up too?

Marko: Yeah, right now I would say who I'm really hyped on...(pause) PJ Ladd, I mean the last Shane O'neill's part was really sick it just hasn't stuck in my head yet you know?...let me try n think who I like a lot um....damn that's a hard one, its hard to say cause even just like (Mark)Appleyard and (Eric)Koston those guys are really good. A while ago I was really hyped on that one guy that's on Element the tranny skater um..

RastaLA: Chris Senn?

Marko: no Brent Atchley

RastaLA: O yeah

Marko: I love his like transition skating. But I guess if you would have to say It'd be PJ Ladd and Shane O'neill for right now you know, and Brent Atchley for transition skating a while back.

RastaLA: Tight um, kick flips or heel flips?

Marko: Heel flips.

RastaLA: All time favorite skate spot?

Marko: skate park?

RastaLA: Skate spot.

Marko: O skate spot. The Courthouse(West Los Angeles).

RastaLA: You are from?

Marko: Slovenia(Europe)

RastaLA: If you weren't skateboarding what would you be doing?

Marko: Damn give me one second (gets busy)...um..

RastaLA: Do you want me to repeat the question?

Marko: yeah

RastaLA: If you weren't a skateboarder right now what would you be up too?

Marko: Probably like school and some sort of small business, a combination of both you know going to school at night and running some sort of business like import export business.

RastaLA: How long have you been in the skateboard business for?

Marko: Since 99' so like over ten years, like 15 years.

RastaLA: Damn hell yeah! i appreciate the interview.

Marko: yeah for sure.