From Sidewalk 199 – April 2013

Photography by Chris Johnson
Words by Zander Ritchie

Aaron Wilmot is one of the best people/skateboarders I know. I’ve only known Aaron for about four years but over that time I’ve managed to capture some of his solid skateboarding on film. This First Light is more than overdue. Aaron definitely deserves more exposure than he actually gets! Shred on! – Zander Ritchie

I’ve been skating with him on the regular for about half a dozen years or so now and I’ve enjoyed every minute of watching him get more and more solid on his board. He kills it. Best backside blunt. Always down for a sesh. A fully-fledged member of The Rock N’ Roll Club and The Thursday Club. I miss him not staying three doors away from me. Stay Rad. – Mark Burrows

Aaron went from the Marley of skateboarding to the Jonny Cash, now he’s hung up his dreads. Ron takes joy in repping sweet ass threads. Style for miles. – Adam Paris

Aaron has played a great part in the time I’ve been skating. He has taken me to parks all over the country and helped me out a lot over the years. Keep killing it! – Kerr McLachlan

Shredding or drinking wine?
– Shred, then drink sweet wine after. Red, red wine…

Your favorite animal? Apart from Mark Burrows…
– It would have to be a Penguin. AKA Adam Paris.

Top 5 Scottish Rippers?
– Mark Burrows, T-Bag, Chris Weir, Pete Copeland, Kerr and definitely not Rawdawg.

Why do you get called Big Sexy?
– I’m just killing it with the burds, you know?

Are you working on anything?
– Yeah, I’m trying to film a bunch of stuff with you for ‘Weather Permitting’, which might turn into a section if I can get enough clips filmed.

Which skatepark or spot holds a lot of memories for you?
– This would be Blantyre. So much crazy shit went down there, from people getting bottled to getting a samurai sword pulled on us. When there wasn’t any trouble happening it was all about carving for days and good times!

If you could move anywhere in the world just to skateboard where would it be?
– Oregon as it has the best parks, but I’m not sure how long I could deal with Americans for (laughs).

Aaron back disasters the tight thinness. Photo: CJ.

Would you say Mark Burrows has been a big influence on you?
– Definitely, Burrows has helped me out so much. I’ve had some of the best sessions of my life with him. All I’m saying is if Burrows is calling you out on a trick, you better stick it (laughs)

How did skateboarding come about for you?
– My friend had an old Powell board that I kept stealing from him and riding about the streets. Eventually I got my own board and I was hooked on it.

You use to smoke alot of weed but you gave up. Will you ever go back to those old ways?
– Maybe on my one-year anniversary of not smoking, or I shall wait until I’m old and grey then chong my life away.

Yourself and Kerr have done a fair share of bonding over the years. Any tales come to mind?
– The first time I ever met the lad was at the infamous Blantyre Skatepark. We went to Asda where Kerr bribed me into trying to steal 99p headphones with him. We got caught and the police were called to the scene. Kerr starting crying and got taken back to his grans house. Luckily for me my parents weren’t home (laughing).

You went on a Euro skate trip last summer. You must have some good memories from that?
– There is so many but here are a few that spring to mind – fighting with Andy Scott, shredding Sibbarp at 5am with Greyson Fletcher and Rawdawg whilst drinking wine, and Youngo getting steaming and chatting up anything that had legs.

Thanks:
– Mark Burrows, Russ Hall, SYB, Focus, Colin Adam, Shezz, Dunder, Kerr, Adam Paris and all the other homies keeping it raw.