Rob Dyer and the Skate4Cancer team are about to undertake their next challenge in the name of cancer awareness: on Janury 8^th, Rob puts urethane and rubber to asphalt in an attempt to cross New Zealand and Australia for the Skate4Cancer cause. "The Cure Is Knowledge" will be spread across both countries from January to May. S4C resident photographer Erin Hogue talked to Rob Dyer in advance of their latest "adventure with a message".

Interview and photos: Erin Hogue

Skate4Cancer's Rob Dyer.

It has been just over a year since you skateboarded across Canada raising awareness about cancer prevention. How has Skate4cancer evolved since then?
I would say the team has grown a lot since then. Our focus on "The Cure is Knowledge" is the same, so we are just trying to grow the team behind S4C to help get the word out.

What has Skate4cancer been doing to get the word out?
The Billy Talent tour over in Europe was amazing for "The Cure is Knowledge". Each show was around 15, 000 people, so it was a great way to let people know about S4C in a place we have never been.

Now you are going to skateboard across Australia and New Zealand. What made you decide to skate these countries next?
The focus for S4C over the past 7 years or so has been here Canada and the U.S.A. After the last skate, we have been over in Europe with Billy Talent and now it's time for Aus/NZ. We feel that since S4C is an online-based organization, we should take it everywhere we can to get the word out about "The Cure is Knowledge".

There have been thoughts of Australia for a while. Why now after all this time?
We have talked about Aus/NZ since after the first skate in 2003. During that skate we had so many hits coming to our site from down under that that's where the idea came from. But looking into it more, things are a little nuts and a bit sad down there right now; there are wild skin cancer rates. We all know about wearing a hat, sun screen and such but, there is a lot more to this case. While we are down there we want to look into that and to learn.

What route will you be taking through these countries?
In New Zealand, we will be going from Auckland to Dunedin. In Australia, we will go from Perth to Sydney.

Perth to Sydney...right through the Australian outback?!
We were not going to do it, but we looked at it more and more and well, that's what our skates are about.

I hear the outback is completely insane. There are things like frilled neck lizards, racehorse goannas, wombat holes and insane bogan bushrangers that live out there.
I can't believe people live in the outback!

Roughly how many kilometres will that be?
Aus/NZ combined, it will be a little more then the last skate across Canada.

Crazy. Around 4000km total for Australia and New Zealand?
Yup.

And how long do you think it will take?
From about January to May.

On the last skate, towards the end, the weather ended up becoming a huge challenge. There was rain, below freezing temperatures and even snow. What do you expect to be some of the biggest challenges in Aus/NZ?
The same: weather. I hear the heat is around 45 - 50C. You have been there right? How hot does the outback get?

About that and it can drop to below freezing at night. What have you been hearing about the New Zealand road conditions as well?
That they are NUTS! Our team that is down there right now and are telling me they are nothing like roads in Canada.

How so?
It's what they are made out of...

Is it not pavement?
Not really...I hear it's very sad!

Like what?
I have not seen them in person yet, but Mr. Tal says they are nuts. He said they are called "the world's worst roads". People try and bike them all the time and give in.  We will find out!

Do you remember on the Canada skate, sitting on the side of the highway in Northern Ontario debating whether it could be skated? It was windy as shit, hills everywhere, and only two lanes with no shoulder. So many people told you they were death.
100%. There is a lot that goes into a road being good to skate on. People driving don't see what we do so, you can't go based on what others think. In Ontario, people didn't know there were no cars on the road, and that the cops would be amazing! Two things that can make a road amazing: no police, no cars. Win!

With all these challenges, all the unknowns, and all the people that tell you that skateboarding across countries is impossible, what keeps you going?
[laughs] As people, it's hard to put yourself out there. You may fail, but it's not about failing Skate4Cancer; it's just about getting the word out. You can't fear things people tell you; just follow your heart. Fear is man made, I think.

Totally. So, what do you hope to accomplish with these skates?
A few things. The main thing is to get the word out about the S4C mission: The Cure is Knowledge. Also, to give hope. We can do anything, including cure cancer, if we put our minds and hearts to it.

What have been some of your most rewarding experiences over the past year?
To see everyone get behind the idea of the S4C drop-in center.
[S4C finished with the most votes in the Aviva Community Fund contest, which offers funding to community projects. The projects were voted on by the public, and ultimately decided by a panel of judges]

What do you have in mind for the drop-in center?
The drop-in center is a lot in once place. The idea is to give youth a place to go when they have to deal with cancer. The drop-in center gives them people to talk, along with a place to skate, have fun and fight cancer.

Is there anyone specific you have met recently, or anything that has happened that has really touched you, and made you feel that S4C has to keep going?
Everyday. I don't think a day goes by where we don't hear a story that keeps S4C going. A girl in England has beat cancer five times, and it keeps coming back. She told me every time it comes back she is going to "f--- it up". So strong!

That is truly amazing. Some people have so much strength; it blows my mind.
Yea, it's amazing! So, this skate is nothing compared to what she has to fight each year.

I can't even imagine that... What are 3 things people can do to make this worthwhile for you? 
1 - Get that "The Cure is Knowledge".
2 - Find a way to beat cancer.
3 - Follow your heart; we can do anything!

Is there anything else you want people to know before you head down under?
Just kinda, everything is now right... like put all your fight into today. Let's beat it today.

They can also follow our skate down under here: http://www.skate4cancer.com/s4caustraliablog/

And thank you for all the help with S4C.

Any last words?
Peace. [laughs]

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Related:
Skate4Cancer Blog (Cross Canada skate)
C1RCA Culture Squad Preview (S4C collab)