So you’ve ridden for DVS since its inception and you’re currently on your 13th pro model shoe – you guys must have a really good working relationship by now, right?
I’ve been good friends with (Tim) Gavin for a long time and after meeting him and the Dunlaps we have had an amazing relationship all these years and started Matix together in 1998! Lots of changes have gone on since then but I still have a family connection with DVS.

How does the process of you designing a new pro shoe work? Are you hands-on with the designers picking materials and drawing up ideas and all that?
Lately I’ve really been on it with linking up with the design team and it’s been so fun! We have an amazing crew over at DVS.

Can you talk us through a few of the features on the Daewon 13 please and tell us why you opted for those aspects?
It’s a vulcanized sole at the moment but a cupsole will be available soon, I wanted some cushion support on the upper back part of the shoe to prevent my heel from slipping out as well as the shape and width of the shoe for full board feel.

You’ve had both cupsoles and vulc soles on your previous DVS shoes – what made you opt for a vulc this time around?
I’ve gotten so used to skating in vulcs that in my head it’s all I believe I can skate, but I’m sure I will be back in cup soles soon! I do love the feel of vulcanized the most though.

Looking back at some of your earlier pro shoes from DVS there’s obviously a heavy running shoe influence in there – are you a bit of a sneaker freak in general and does this influence your approach to shoe design?
I’m not a sneaker freak at all and I’ve always loved skating in basic looking shoes but through time I’ve had some wild looking models that I really had fun in! I used to always skate in random Guess shoes and Asics back when I would buy them at shoe warehouses so maybe there was an influence from that back in the day.

Back in the early 90’s and prior to DVS what was your chosen skate shoe?
I skated anything I could get, I remember a time where I would just try and find any white shoe but especially if there was a gum sole, (laughing), it didn’t matter what they were as long it had those two things. White shoes were the only colour I would wear for so long. I definitely got into the whole shoe cutting trends as well as wearing the lowest top shoes too during that era.

If you had to pick any shoe from the entirety of your time skating as being your favourite, which would you pick and why?
I think I had the funnest time in my DVS Daewon 3 shoe! It looked like a running shoe, which made me feel as though I was in a pair of shoes not meant to be skated in! That somehow made me think I was having so much more fun!

What else do you have planned for this year? You’re always working on something…
I’ve been working on a Thrasher part that’s been hard to film for because of all the other things going on. As well as that there’s maybe a Cheese and Crackers 2 in the pipeline as well as maybe a DVS video.

And finally, as an avid Instagram user – how important do you think Social Media is to a pro’s career these days and do you have any advice for the people out there on that tip?
I was so against social media for so long because I didn’t use any of them at first! As time went by I realized that it was the best way to communicate with the fans and the amazing people who make it possible for me to make a living from skateboarding. You’ve gotta respect and appreciate them!
It’s become a great outlet to push all the brands that support you and to post whatever you’ve experienced or appreciated on trips or just day after day!