Team / Pierre Gravel
Pierre is so sick of being called one of the grandfather’s of Montreal skateboarding that we just have to put into print one more time. The only reason we keep his name on the sponsor list is so he doesn’t try and take us to the worker’s compensation board for alleged injuries sustained while riding our product on the job. His art direction gets censored well enough that it is acceptable to our customers and even better yet, we don’t have to look at Ian’s god-awful work anymore. Pierre is a major factor in the design of boards and the overall relationship Kebbek has with the public. He finished 2nd overall in the Mens Open at the 2011 World Slalom Championships, losing first place to his training partner and buddy, KebbeK Team Rider Pascal "The Rookie" Jean.
20 questions to Pierre
1- What’s your full name?
Jean-Pierre Gravel (I never told that to anybody)
2- What are your buddies calling you?
Old fart or "Le vieux".
3- Where and when were you born?
In Saguenay, in june 1962
4- When did you start riding skateboards?
In 1976, I repaired a buddy’s motocross bike and traded his plastic skateboard for the work, best deal of my life!
5- When was your first time on a longboard and what setup were you riding?
I think it was in 1978, my friend Éric Brassard and I shaped a pair of 36” boards by tracing his Logan Earth Ski and stretching the middle, these were our first downhill boards, I still have mine!
6- Who were your early downhill influences if any?
From magazines: at first John Hutson, Paco Prieto, Denis Shufeld and Cliff Coleman and then Roger Hickey added some fun with some crazy innovations like speed suits covering his face! But it’s really JimZ that got me back into speedboarding after the stone age!
7- Best spot you skated?
Albuquerque’s concrete heaven.
8- What is your ideal session like?
With 2 or 3 buddies in fast hairpins where there are no cracks. Or on a fast GS or dual hybrid course on a smooth surface.
9- Who’s your favorite rider to watch on video?
I like what happens on skatehouse media a lot but it pisses me off watching their videos when Montreal is burried in snow.
10- Do you have a blog or website?, shoot the url:
Well, I created the Montreal Sessions Forum 5 or 6 years ago and it’s still the main source of information for Montreal’s Longboard scene:
http://montrealsessions.forumactif.com/
11- What percentage your Facebook friends you have never met?
I’d say 25%, when they seem to be riders, i accept them.
12- Favorite meal?
My girlfriend is an amazing cook, her General Tsao chicken is amazing.
13- Favorite beer?
The cold one in my hand, but if I can be picky, make it a pint of Kilkenny.
14- What music makes you want to go skate?
Ministry, KMFDM, The Clash, The Flaming Lips, The Stone Roses and way more, and even maybe some music made in this millennium too…
15- Any musical guilty pleasure you are ashamed of?
I love the godfather of soul James Brown!
16- Can you drop in a vert ramp?
I think I can still do it but what do I do on the other wall? Probably just a kickturn!
17- What is your favorite setup right now and why?
I have some mad fun riding pro model slalom board, it can do it all for me, even riding trannies.
But the new Snaker is gonna see lots of action this summer.
18- What’s that little thing you do to your setups that makes them feel way better?
I’m a bushings freak and i collect baseplates.
19- What's the best race you've attended and why?
The Sandia all around challenge in 2004 was really fun, the concept of trying to do good on many disciplines is awesome. Also having the Top Challenge here in Montréal was the best.
As far a slalom races, every single Farm Race I attended was a blast! Thanks Joe I! Oh and the World slalom championship that were held right next door in Ottawa last year! Claude and MB made it real fun too!
20- Anyone you want to thank?
I want to thank Ian for letting me play with his company’s equipment and for his “constructive criticism” as he is never pleased with anything I do.
Also JimZ and Dwayne Pereto, for the inspiration to go fast again. And of course JF and Rookie for being the best skating and travelling buddies over the years.
Thanks!
Pierre Gravel
Pierre's favorite board: The The Snaker
