Interviews

Dee Ostrander – Interview

So to start off, we’re here on the Supra Chino tour in Barcelona with you, Boo and Oscar, each rocking a new signature colourway each. Where has the tour been through so far, and what spots have been stand-outs?

We went to Palm Springs, we went to Arizona, we went to Paris, Marseilles, Avignon and now we’re in Barcelona. They’ve all been really fun, we’ve pretty much got to do whatever we want and skate around – you know, just hang out with all the boys. And everywhere has been good you know, somewhere new!

And you’ve done alright weather-wise apart from Paris?

It was really good in the States, when we were in Palm Springs and Arizona it was so nice, but we got to Paris and yeah, it was raining for four days straight. That sucked, but we still had fun.

How does the shoe feel compared to previous Supra models?

Pretty similar I guess. It’s just a simple vulc shoe which, when I skate any other Supra shoe, I try and look for that. That’s what I like, just a simple vulc.

Dee backside 5050 on the crusty streets of our glorious Capital – Photo courtesy of Supra

I know Supra like to get their team on the road, and you’ve been over to the UK on one of their trips before right? What comparisons would you draw between the spots and scene in the UK and over in Tennessee.

Well the UK is very, very crunchy, all the spots are super gnarly. But then Tennessee has some really crunchy stuff too. I’d say it’s close, but London probably takes the cake. I’ve seen stuff that people have done there and I’m like ‘how is that even possible?’

Cobblestone run ups…

Exactly!

Following on from this one, what skate destinations have got you the most hyped in your travels?

I did really like Paris the last time, last year when we got to go. There were so many sick spots, but then I got hurt like, five days into the trip or something. So after that I couldn’t skate anymore, but I was having a lot of fun until I got hurt, Paris is really sick. There’s stuff everywhere.

You’re from Antioch on the outskirts of Nashville, Tennessee. Is it a prerequisite to like country music, or is it more a case of burnout on that particular genre?

I like old country music – Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings – classic stuff. But the new shit is terrible, Taylor Swift and all of that…Country Music Television, CMT…terrible…

On a completely different music tip, you’re heavily into Southern rap right? Which I guess doesn’t always get the rep it deserves for being before its time, bringing in mad slow beats and rhyming cadences before anyone else…

Yeah, I feel like a lot of the trap music that’s popular now, Southern rap was definitely the beginnings of trap music. Now it’s all getting popular for sure, but you know, we had that shit forever. Good stuff, classic, 90s Memphis rap…

So what five records would you recommend to someone wanting an idea about the Tennessee music scene?

I’d honestly just recommend some Three Six Mafia shit…but there’s so much, there’s old tapes and stuff, Buckshot and DJ Squeaky. Who else is there? Pretty Tony, Buckshot, there’s so many good ones!

I can definitely see a bit of Andrew Reynolds in the way you skate and the obstacles you hit – how much of an influence was he when you were growing up, and how did it feel to be asked to ride for Baker?

That was almost unbelievable, I thought it was a joke at first! Like when the dude called me and told me I was like, “Who is this, what’s going on?” and he was being serious. So that was pretty tight…probably the coolest thing that’s ever happened to me, [laughs].

And your first pro board for Baker last year had a bottle of hot sauce as the graphic, so I’m guessing you’re a hot sauce fan?

Yea that’s my favourite hot sauce, that’s what that board was playing off; Texas Pete Hot Sauce

That was actually going to be my closing question, where has the best hot sauce?

Yea I like the Texas Pete a lot, but I’ve been eating some super spicy salsas recently, that shit’s delicious. As long as it’s super spicy, it’s tasty.