So Hot Right Now: Jody Smith

Posted on November 10, 2007.

Have you got any projects up your sleeves?

Right now my main project is to get this Kingpin interview looking as best as I can get it, I actually broke and dislocated my elbow a few months ago and I found it really difficult to get my confidence back because I didn’t want to fall on it and have it pop out again. I thought at one point my elbow wouldn’t ever bend out straight again which was making me think stupid thoughts about quitting but luckily it’s working fine and I’m back skating just as hard as before.

How was it working on the recent European DC DVD? Any funny stories to report?

Usually with filming video parts I find it kind of difficult but because we were going to so many amazing spots I found it (dare I say it) pretty easy. To be honest I didn’t really consider it as a proper video part just because it was so much fun and I can’t really remember stressing over any tricks in it. Hard to pick a funny story because there are so many things to chose from, a lot of times they would involve me getting blind drunk, losing everyone and finding myself lost in a random part of Barcelona. Now every time I go out someone will remind me to have the name of the hotel where I’m staying written on a bit of paper in my pocket just as a safety precaution.

Can you talk a bit about your colourway on DC? How did it come about?

I originally chose this other model but unfortunately that wasn’t available so I got offered to design a colour way for the Pure which I thought was a cool looking shoe, not too simple and not too bulky. For some reason I always thought black denim would look sick on a skate shoe so obviously when I got told that not only could I choose any colour but I could pick pretty much any material I was keen for the denim. I’ve always been super keen on black shoes with white soles so I decided to go for those colours but because I knew the shoe needed to stand out I added some red trimming which I think looks cool and plus red, white and black are the Sjz logo colours.

Are you pleased with the end result? Is there talk of doing anything similar?

I’m totally pleased with the end result of the shoe and what really stokes me out is when I hear people saying they like them too so what could be better than that, not sure if they’re planning to do it again I’d like to think maybe they would but who knows.

Out of all the trips you’ve been on over the past few years, which one have you enjoyed the most and why?

I think the best trip I ever went on was probably my first DC UK trip which was before Leo joined the team so I found it kinda nerve wracking going on tour with people I didn’t really know at the time and looked up to i.e Bobby G (Rob Selley), Colin (Kennedy), Flynn etc. The trip wasn’t like any other I’ve been on, we basically drove all around the UK in this huge tour bus which was equipped with beds, lounging areas, toilets etc doing demos at different skate parks. I remember one of the last nights of the tour we all went out in Newquay before the Mount Hawke demo for a big piss up, after drinking a large amount of booze, getting spat on by Laurie (Sherman) and watching Pritchard break dance with his bits hanging out we all trekked back to the bus were we had the funniest shoe throwing battle. I remember at one point someone lobbing a metal bin and it hitting someone in the head, actually come to think of it I’m pretty sure it was Laurie throwing it at Passmore. Haha Good times!

And finally, what have you got planned for the near future?

Well I have a couple of trips coming up before Christmas with DC and Plan B, then I’m planning on making the big move from Cornwall to the big smoke in the New Year which is quite exciting. Obviously it’s going to be very different from my laid back life I’m used to in Truro but I’m really looking forward to it, so next year you’ll be seeing a lot more of me skating around London. To be honest it’s something I should have done a long time ago but hey better late than never.

Check out the clip below to see Jody skating the recently renovated Mount Hawke street course. A massive thanks to Leo Smith for the footage...