So tell us, what is Mike Byrnes all about?
Well, from the time I get up to the time I go to sleep late at night, skateboarding is my life. A usual day for me starts by waking up and getting some coffee; without coffee I’m pretty much brain dead. After that, I meet up with my friends and we go shred somewhere, although we usually take the train to Philly. I also like taking pictures, filming, and editing. Once I come home from a long day of skating, that’s the time I’m editing. Then I go to sleep and it starts all over again.
What are you doing these days? Is your focus more on street skating or skating rails, pipes, and ramps?
Well I skate street, a lot of street. I have a 6 foot mini ramp in my backyard which I like to shred. But street is what I mostly skate. My friends and I take the train to Philly almost everyday and Philly is full of skateboarding. From City Hall to Penn’s Landing, to Temple, to Love Park, we go everywhere. I love to skate a good launch ramp. It’s one of my favorite things to skate and I love to pop a big ollie and tweak it off a good ramp. I really don’t skate rails, but only because there are no handrails around. If there are, they are down like 20 stairs which is huge for me because I don’t skate rails that much unless I’m at Black Diamond Skate Park.
Who are you currently sponsored by?
I currently skate for As|one Clothing Company. Their designs are sick and they support me a lot. Jeremy constantly has great ideas to improve and move the company on, which is a good thing because it’s not only helping me and the other team riders, but it’s also helping out the company. They are a great company to ride for and I love supporting them. Check them out at AsOneClothing.com
So what’s the skate scene like out in Haddon Township, New Jersey?
Haddon Township is a fairly good town to skate. There are some good spots and some big stuff. Although there are only about 10 skaters in my school, it’s enough to have a good time out skating. As for the cops, they try telling us “it’s illegal to skate here” and we get kicked out of everywhere which sucks, but its like that anywhere so it can’t be beat. The closest skate park is in Morristown, New Jersey which is about 15 minutes away, but I don’t like to go there because of their prices. Though I used to skate that park a lot when it was still a Vans skate park. Altogether, Haddon Township is a fairly good place for skateboarding.
Who are the guys that have had the biggest influence on your style?
I would have to say Daewon Song, Josh Kalis, and definitely Rodney Mullen. Those 3 guys are huge in the skateboarding world and have definitely helped me to get to where I am today.
Who do you think is the most progressive skater out there today?
I think I would have to say Ryan Sheckler. He’s only 17 years old, and after seeing his part in Our Life, I think he’s one of the best, although his TV show definitely made a lot of people lose respect for him. I would also have to say Mike Mo Capaldi is one of the best. That kid is just amazing with his switch back tail switch big flip out. That’s just ridiculous.
How do you balance going to school every day with skating?
School starts at 7:30a.m and ends at 2:30p.m and though I like school, I’d rather be out skating. As soon as I get home, I pick up my board and go out. If no friends are able to skate, I go out back and sesh the mini ramp by myself. I try to at least skate a little everyday. But in the summer, it’s all day everyday.
To the guys out there who have yet to score their first sponsor, what is your advice as to how to pursue getting sponsored?
Just keep your tricks flowing and don’t go looking for a sponsor. Let them come to you. Being sponsored doesn’t mean you’re a different person, it just means you’re good at skateboarding. Get some good photos and a good video part, but make sure you are decent because sponsors don’t want to see a video of someone doing kick flips and ollies in a driveway. So just have good steezy tricks, good style, a good attitude, and you’ll probably find your way to a sponsor.
For more about Mike, check out his FirstStoke.com Profile Page
