Catching up with Get Lesta's Callun Loomes

Photo Matt Clarke

Get Lesta seems to have really taken off in the last year or so, did you have any aspirations or goals for it when it started?

How do i answer that? Haha I'm not stopping till I'm on billboards Tim. Nope no goals I just enjoy doing it so I've carried on, take it as it comes. Stoked on the support, I don't like the question

For those who might be unsure how would you describe Get Lesta, you put out a lot of product but essentially it is just a crew right?

Just a crew yeah, get as many people out at the weekend and have a good time (in the least weirdest way possible). That way the video can involve anyone it's not treading on anyone toes, it benefits all companies involved if anything.

Your fourth full length ‘Get420’ comes out in October how do you stay motivated to film all these projects?

Smoke endless weed apparently. Nah I don't find it difficult to stay motivated I'm hyped on everyone's skating. There's like 15 or so people on the poster so always someone to be meeting up with. I have lists of tricks, spots and cities for each person so never stuck for something to go try. Everyone lives so far apart that we can't just meet up and 'see how it goes' unfortunately we need a rough plan of where to go and what to try. Every week I do a little private link to what got filmed that week so the group can see. Realistically the full thing is 104 week edits into one big video!

When it comes to editing do you involve the skater or do you make all the decisions?

I'm usually mad stressed trying to edit two years worth of footage in two weeks so if anyone contacts me within that time good luck to them haha. I ask each person towards the deadline to send me ten songs they would be happy with for their section song. I then go through them all and see which works and is the best fitting. They don't get to know which I've chosen as like I said I'm buzzing my tits off in a cave drinking energy drinks for a month. It'll be one of the songs from their list so they won't have anything to complain about when it comes to the premiere. Obviously some people are useless and want me to just choose for them. I wish this was the case for Golding, his music selection is horrific. As far as involve them when editing nah no one see's their section and no one ever watches any of the video before the premiere I keep it completely secret. The only time I might ask them is if they did a trick say like 3 times and it's hard to call which one was the best, which they would prefer me to use.

Charlie Munro - double rail ollie photo Matt Clarke 

How do you usually decide on who has first and last part I guess those are the parts everyone wants?

Most of the time it's pretty easy to tell. People can see who's been going in the most, last time think everyone knew who was going to be first and last. At the minute it's close call between two for openers and two for enders, have to see how the next couple of months go. The other two can go in the extra's or something haha. It's only on the DVD it matters anyway i guess, because once the parts go online the order means nothing.

Do you feel pressure now because people expect the new Get Lesta videos to always be better than the last?

Everyone knows it's ten times harder to out do your previous section. Once people know your trick bag and you've been to the same spots it's going to be more difficult, you have to get a bit more creative (Mike's going for ten sections). Each video there has been a few new names involved which helps a lot as that means new spots and motivation. But I wouldn't say there's any pressure, we film anything and everything then I'd say the best 75% of the footage is the finished product. The only pressure I'd say is to get a last trick. Some people aren't bothered about enders or last trick, I'm not one of them haha. I don't wanna see a part/video end on a line, I want to see someone go all out at the end. Obviously the last thing you try is something that is a push for you, and the only way your going to do it is because of the pressure. (or £20 ten beers and a trip to hooters) Each to their own.

Backside heel - Mark Stern, photo Matt Clarke

I think what a lot of people like about your edits is that the majority is filmed in England is that a conscious decision?

Not allowed to leave the country.

Do you plan to venture around more of  Europe and more?

Nah to be honest I just much prefer UK footage. I'd enjoy trips and going to different countries but just feel footage in England is worth a lot more. I'm sure I could go Berlin and film a section in a week of stuff people have done a hundred times before. But instead I like going to Derby barrier and sitting there for 8 hours till someone can fluke a nbd over it, strange.

Is it too early to talk about the up coming ********  collab?

Depends when you upload this? Haha for the time being yes! Hyped on it though and will be out mid July.

Do you want to explain a little more about it?

Yeah but I'm not allowed so we'll have to talk about my breathing or something.

Cheers Cal any last words?

How about you tell us about your ********?  Your gonna cut that bit out aren't you.

You Bet!!

Catching up with Manuel Lopez

Kicker backside smith. Photo Reece Leung

Hey Manny what have you been up to lately?

Hey Tim I've been good, just working a little bit and skating as much as I can. I'm on the coach at the moment, to Sheffield to stay with Mark Baines to film for Fabric.

You’ve moved around quite a bit but currently residing in London, does it feel like home?

Yeah I've lived in a few places, but London is really starting to feel like home. I really want to continue living here as long as I'm travelling.

London can be pretty expensive at times do you have a job on the side or are you able to support yourself through skating?

Yeah I'm a freelance runner and I help out on sets of photo shoots and commercials. I also get some shifts at the Volcom office to sort out the show room and do whatever needs to be done. I only work a couple times a week the running is pretty good money sometimes. I share a room with my girlfriend so rent is good. I've been getting into cooking at home a lot too so that helps haha.

What are your usual hotspots for skating? Are you a ‘street rat’ or do you try and throw some parks into the mix? Street skating in London can get pretty hectic and stressful.

I don't really have a certain hotspot. I'm down to skate wherever anyone wants to go. It's always nice to find a new spot. I try to stay away from skate parks, but sometimes I'm just having too much fun or stuck on learning a new trick. I try and stay as productive as possible. London is pretty hectic, but I love it. I hate being comfortable for too long I like to move around and explore. The spots are amazing and I'm glad that they're hard to skate because it pushes you to do something challenging. 

Boardslide through the kink. Photo Reece Leung

You’ve been a part of Fabric Skateboards for quite a while now, it must be sick to see how far it’s come. Any talk of a full-length?

Yeah they're my family. David and Bish have had my back this whole time. The promo was good, I'm glad people liked the skating. As a company it's going through some positive changes. Mark Baines has gotten more involved and is like our team manager and has great plans for the future of the company. Mark and Douwe have full parts right now and I think they're going to be released soon along with some tricks from the rest of the team. I think right now we are just trying go get more product out and do more boards and clothing launches through out the year. The whole media and feel of the company is going to change so that we stand out as team and company. We discuss everything as a team and contributions and new ideas are always welcome. I've got a lot of respect for Mark and what he's is doing along with putting it down in skateboarding. He just keeps getting better and better. Everyone on the team kills it. A full length will be in the works once all that falls into place. 

How’s filming for Will Miles’ Tallboy going? Are you working towards a full part?

Yeah it's been going great, I've got a full part and for the first time ever I feel happy about it for the most part haha. To be honest I haven't really been out with Will Miles that much in the past year , but the deadline is coming up and we went to Lyon a couple of weeks ago so I'm out skating with him and the rest of the boys as much as I can. Wait for Matt Hay to blow people's minds because he's got a full part and that dude has so much style. Daryl's part is going to be really gnarly and different to his other parts so I'm really excited to see it. Josh Cox is amazing and it's going to be his 3rd video part in the space of a couple of months. His love for skateboarding.is awesome even though he hates everything haha. Let's just say everyone smashes it and it's a video not to be missed. Look out for the official premiere date because the premiere is going to be wild!

Have you been travelling quite a bit for it?

I've been travelling quite a bit for several things, but the Tallboy trips are always the best. I will never forget that trip to Athens in 2014 . It was more of a holiday because there was about 15 of us and only 4 of us were working towards video parts so the rest of the guys were boozing and enjoying the sun. It was a fun group of people and we actually managed to get shit done. We went to Portugal last winter and that was sick too, the spots there are amazing. It was a tight crew so it was more productive, but with Will Miles in the group you know there's going to be some shenanigans. I love travelling so much and it's even better when you've got that piece of wood and wheels under your feet. 

Fakie Nosegrind 180. Photo Reece Leung

Shooting photos, filming and travelling can be pretty overwhelming, do you get up to much outside of skating to kind of balance it all out?

I try to do other things and I'm starting university soon to do sports science so that will keep me grounded for a bit. I try to be healthy and educate myself with what's going on around the world. My girlfriend is my balance and we have a home together so if anything that makes me more productive because I know I have somewhat of a schedule and she believes in me so much. I like being productive because it stops my mind from racing and thinking too much about bullshit and the mistakes I've made in the past. I started surrounding myself with positive and well rounded people. I've experienced a lot of shady people in my life, some were best friends and now I know better and that lesson itself has been pretty rewarding. I just can't be around people who just take and take then fuck you over in times of need. It drives me crazy because I'm a happy person that believes there's always more room for growth. 

How’s the rest of 2016 looking any comps or trip etc lined up?

So far it's looking good and I'm going to be travelling quite a bit. Barcelona, Berlin, Copenhagen and hopefully Geneva and Lyon again if I can. That might all change, but I'm pretty set on those locations to film for this Fabric part I just started working on. 

Cheers Manny, any last words?

Trust me when I say it's better to get toxic people out of your life while you're young. Don't waste your time on 'friends' that don't value you and hold you back and get the fuck out of there and surround yourself with people who make help you grow. Be true and forget about the mistakes you've made in the past and learn from them and become a better person. When you're feeling good, good things come to you.

Quick chat with Daniel Espinoza

Hey Daniel what have you been up to lately?

I've just been trying to skate and film as much as possible lately.

What’s a regular day for you at home in California like?
Go skate, get home, go hang out and do car stuffs with friends.

The rumours of a new Lakai video appear to be true, do you feel there’s a lot of pressure for it to live up to Fully Flared?
It wont be anything like Fully Flared.

Does the video have a deadline yet, can imagine that only adds to the pressure.I suspect you’re working towards a full part. Do you have a process for filming like making a list or do you prefer to take a more spontaneous route?
Yes we have a deadline it's sometime in August or September I can't remember the exact date. I just wing it, I don't make a list of tricks I want to do, I don't work that way unfortunately.

Have you been or plan to travel much for the video?
I haven't really traveled anywhere to be honest. We did a few trips last year but I was suffering from an ankle injury that kept me from enjoying, or going on most the trips.

A lot of skaters have been using snapchat to showcase their lives and skating do you think social media is becoming an essential part of skateboarding?
Yeah as much as most of us would hate to say it. It's probably the only thing that can keep us relevant these days.

Switch Backside Flip. Photo Yoon Sul

You ride for Cliche skateboards, so I’m guessing you've spent a fair bit of time in Europe, how do places like France or Spain compare to America?
Just different vibes, mostly because I never know if i'll ever go back so I try to just take it all in. If that makes sense.

Aside from the Lakai video are you working on anything else?
Not much I can speak about at the moment.

What are your plans for the future?
As in after skating? I'd like to settle down and be a pro race car driver, Haha Hey, I dreamed of being a pro skater and that came true so why stop there?
There is a lot of things I plan on doing in the future I just hope it works in my favor.

Any last words?
No.