Mark Appleyard
by Jay Revelle & Sonny Mayugba

Remember this name: Mark Appleyard. At the tender age of 17, he’s on the cusp of becoming one of skateboarding’s champions. He’s motivated enough to do anything on a skateboard that he wants. And representative of skateboarding’s next generation, skating switch stance is second nature. This boy’s got a good head sticking out of his shoulders and his sense of consciousness will guide him through the sometimes ugly industry of professionalism. Growing up in suburban Burlington, 45 minutes outside of Toronto, Ontario, Mark is far from skateboarding’s core, allowing him to hone his crazy ass skills. Now, with high school behind him and a roster of high-powered sponsors backing him, he’s moving to California to wreck shop.

What is your perception of skateboarding?
It’s seriously the best thing a kid could do. If I didn’t start skating I would not have traveled like I have. I wouldn’t do anything fun. There’s no rules involved in skating. Skaters are definitely different from the rest of the world, for the better.

How was it filming the Habitat video?
It was cool, but super casual. I got on Habitat a month before the deadline. I went to Philadelphia and skated with (Anthony) Pappalardo, Kerry Getz and (Rob) Pluhowski. I have a short part, but I saw some of the footage and it’s hot. I think it will be an amazing video.

Mike Rafter named you the Canadian Koston. How does that make you feel?
That’s amazing! Koston’s my favorite! That’s like getting straight A’s in school! Better!

Is there a lot of pressure on you right now?
A little bit. I don’t think there’s that much because I’m in control, and I know what I want to do with my life. It’s up to me to get where I want to be.

Why are you moving to Southern California?It’s easier to get coverage there, there is good skating and the weather is good all year round. I want to stay east for the summers and west for the crappy weather. From what I’ve seen, So. Cal’s cool. If for some reason it sucks, then I’ll be on the next flight to Jamaica. Or back home.

How much do you get paid as an am and how much do you want to make as a pro?
I make enough to get by. As a pro, as much as possible would be good, but I’m not going to change anything I do to get there.

When you lie in bed at night visualizing skateboarding, what tricks do you see yourself doing that you have not done yet?
Pretty much just everything I haven’t done. Skateboarding has endless possibilities.

What is your philosophy on tricks?
When you finally learn a trick, your footing is always going to be pretty much the same for it. Just memorize the foot positions. I like to learn a trick and try to get it locked. Also watch skate videos. They teach.

Do you have a certain method for figuring them out?
(laughs) A method? I don’t know. I just skate everyday. I try new things a lot.

What’s your favorite trick?
Nollie kickflips.

Who is your biggest influence?
Koston. He’s innovative and he has amazing style. There are so many others that motivate me too. I’m such a fan of a lot of skaters.

Who do you usually skate with?
Friends, like Sean Mo, Mike Smith, Jamie J., Jamie M., Alex, and Corey Sheppard when he’s in town.

Did people at school ever freak out about what you do?
I kept it on the DL. I didn’t want people to know. Just so people didn’t come up to me and start ranting, “Do you know Tony Hawk?”

What do you do when you’re not skating?
I come home, listen to music or watch TV. Hangout with my friends. I basically live a boring life.

Do you party?
I go to parties every once in a while, but I don’t drink or anything.

Do you do drugs?
Nope, never.

Do you think you’d ever get wasted in the future?
Nah, doubt it.

What do you listen to?
Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of Bob Marley, a lot of relaxing reggae music. I also like hip-hop and old rock, like Fleetwood Mac and The Who.

Do you have a girlfriend?
Nah. It’s like I’m interested, but at the same time I’m not. There’s so many good looking girls, but when you get to meet ‘em they’re fuckin’ boneheads. I was thinking about that on my walk home today. Like, “What’s up with the world?” There’s only a select few people that I can handle.

What’s the funniest thing you’ve ever seen?
I saw this guy at Love Park doing the craziest dances! The funny thing was he looked like a normal businessman and then he started to freak out for like a half an hour. Comedy.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?
I’ve never done anything really crazy. I’m pretty mellow. I don’t think I am qualified to answer this one, but I once skipped a flight and flew standby not knowing if I would get home or not.

What makes you get up in the morning? Besides your alarm clock.
(laughs) Sometimes I wonder, sometimes I have to ask myself, “What motivates me to live?” Definitely skateboarding. There’s definitely some things that make me not want to get up in the morning, like, I don’t know, reality. Sometimes I just want to find an uncharted island and live there. I think that when we’re all like 28 or something, and we’re fed up with everything, we should just all save up and move. I think about shit like that sometimes. I worry about the future too much. Who knows what will happen? Nobody. Planning sucks and so does thinking. Sometimes I think that if you think too much, it just screws everything up. There I go thinking again! But you know, sometimes you just gotta be the ball and bounce wherever you’re going to bounce.

What is the meaning of your life?
I don’t know really. Just to have fun and enjoy the world. I want to travel the world. I definitely want to see as much of the world as I can. I told all of my sponsors that if they ever want to do a tour then I’ll definitely go. I would never turn down a chance to see new places.

What’s your relationship with your Mom like?
She’s the best lady ever. She’s down for skating and wants me to go for my dream. She even told me I could forget about school and go move to California. If it wasn’t for my mom taking me to skateparks and spots when I was younger, then I probably wouldn’t be this far.

Where does your heart lie?
Family, friends, skating. All the good things.

What advice would you want to give to younger skaters who are trying to make it in the world of skateboarding?
Skate hard and keep a cool head. Travel and skate too, even if you have to use your own money. Just go and have fun skating. And travel to amateur contests all over, especially the Tampa Am.

Have anything else you want to say?
I just want to thank everybody that’s helped me get where I am. All the Hamilton boys, everybody in Toronto, and my sponsors: Circa, Habitat, Darkstar wheels, Alphanumeric clothing and Thunder trucks.