Upon first meeting Hayden Kelly on a
skate/camping trip to BC's Okanagan during summer '08, he was very quiet, shy,
and height challenged. Well, not much has changed since then except his latest
penchant for picking on dudes way bigger than him (which is everyone). Speaking
of stature, Hayden jokingly blames the java for his stunted growth.
"I don't know if they're lying, but some people say I've been
growing," he says laughing over the phone from his family home in Point
Roberts, Washington. "I drink a lot of coffee, and started when I was around 14 – in 8th Grade. It might've stopped my growth at 14, but
probably not. For now, I'll blame the coffee."
Hayden played hooky from home school to partake in this O.T.H. episode where he sheds light on
things like border hopping, behind-the-wheel challenges, being tied to a chair,
and a few mild pre-trick quirks.
Age: 17
Residence: Ladner,
BC / Point Roberts, Washington
Sponsors: KR3W
Apparel, Supra Footwear, Destructo trucks, and Underworld skateshop.
Transportation: "I
hate driving, but when I do it's a Volkswagon Jetta. I'd rather skate or ride
my bike."
Setup: "A 7.625 ‘This is my Element' board, Momentum
Haslam 49s, Destructo mids, and I don't know what kind of hardware or bearings [laughs]. I like wearing the Supra Antwuan
Dixon shoes - they're narrow, I like the toecap, and they're super
plain with cupsoles."
Music: "I like old
music. ‘I Can't Get Next To You' by The Temptations, ‘I'm Looking Through You'
by The Beatles and ‘7th Chamber (Part II)' by Wu-Tang would be my
top 3 songs right now."
Stance: Goofy
Switch mongo push, or
regular switch push?: "Some days I can do the switch regular push better,
and other days it just looks horrible so I go mongo [laughs]. Josh
Kalis has the best switch mongo push."
It seems
like you're a Vancouverite and Canadian, but you kind of live slightly on the
US side.
I'm in Canada skating mostly every day, and I stay on the
weekends. Point Roberts is a peninsula off Tsawwassen, BC, so it's pretty much
in Canada. It's super small, and it's mostly forest. There's no stoplights,
sidewalks or streetlights – it kinda sucks.
So you have to cross
the border every day?
Yeah, but it's a super small border. I go through it so much
that I don't have to show them ID or anything – they just let me through.
Canada is super nice and so much more chill than when I go to California and
stuff.
Are you considered
American or Canadian?
I was born in Richmond, BC, but grew up in Point Roberts. I'm
a dual citizen but I might have to decide on one side when I turn 18. Right
now it's no problem to stay in Canada and work, or do the same in the States.
I don't need a Visa or anything.
Nosegrind to shuv out. Rich Odam sequence.
Growing up in a small
place like Point Roberts, how did you get into skating?
One of my best friends picked up a skateboard so I did too. We
started going out every day just skating flat and curbs until Tsawwassen got
their skatepark – we started crossing the border and going over there.
Who are your preferred
homies to skate and shoot with?
I really like skating with Stacy
Gabriel, and I go filming with Brandon Alton a lot. I like shooting
with [Brian] Caissie
and Rich [Odam].
They're both really funny, and super sick. They're always down for whatever.
Do you have any pre-trick
quirks or rituals?
Sometimes I check my shoes to make sure everything's good,
then I'll pat my griptape before I go for it. I try to just go wild and not
think before a trick. Sometimes I'll yell stuff, and sometimes I'll just dance
a little to shake off a bad try [laughs].
Do you collect
anything?
I like to collect the Polaroid test shots from a photographer.
Rich Odam usually gives them to me because he knows I like to have ‘em. I wish
I had a Polaroid camera – the photos are cool.
Odam told me you're
like a Gremlin – super energetic at night.
I'm always tired during the day. I think the caffeine from all
the coffee just stays in me, then comes out at night [laughs].
What kind of issues do
you have with driving and looking too young behind the wheel?
I hate driving. It's stressful. There's accidents and it's
hectic. I think I drove around downtown Vancouver once, and I didn't like it at
all. I can see over the steering wheel, but I sit on a bunched-up hoody because
I like to be higher up. I got pulled over once: I driving with Will Marshall
and TJ Rogers, and we
got ambushed by a cop after going into Burger King. He didn't believe it was my
car, so I had to show him the paperwork.
In Concrete #101, the opening spread of
Underworld's camping trip story was a hilarious photo of you tied up on a dock
looking totally traumatized. What's the story behind that?
Oh, that sucked [laughs].
Justin Allain did that because I did something to him the night before. In the
morning, he duct taped me to a chair, poured cold water from the hose on me and
left me on the dock for 45 minutes. It was payback [laughs]. When I first showed my mom that photo, she was like, "Oh, why did they do that to you?" Then
she started laughing and said I probably deserved it.
Do you always pick on
people who are way bigger than you?
Yeah, I always try and pick on Dan
Redmond because he picks on me [laughs].
I tried to wrestle John
Hanlon once and take him down, but it didn't work out. I thought I had a
chance, but he's big.
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Related:
An Inside Look: Brian Caissie Pt.1 (Photography)
Rich Odam: His Favourite Shots
On The Horn With John Hanlon