PRODUCT REVIEW: Technique PRESENTS: next ... - SLUG Magazine
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(36) <strong>SLUG</strong><br />
never souled ouT-<br />
The Troy Johnson inTervieW<br />
BY: PETERPANHANDLER • peterpanhandler@slugmag.com<br />
Skateboarding is the true fountain of youth, and anyone who has had the courage<br />
to ride one for the past 15-plus years is a hero. Skaters always talk about paying<br />
their dues, but to live through every era of modern skating has been a blast with<br />
no regrets except for the fact that you could have put more blood, sweat and<br />
injuries into it. I know my homey Troy can attest to this. We have been skating<br />
together since the 7th grade; now we’re in our thirties and well past our prime.<br />
The one aspect of skating that has never changed is its positive effect on our life.<br />
Sure we might not skate as much as we did in the past, but when we do skate<br />
nothing else matters and we feel the same as we did when we were kids. Except<br />
now there is a lot more frustration (it sucks when you can’t land a trick you did<br />
over 10 years ago). But hey, how many people find their passion in life at such an<br />
early age and know they’ll never give it up to anything short of the wheelchair?<br />
Here is some insight into the life of one of Utah’s elite skaters. Sure, Troy ”ROIDS”<br />
Johnson might not be hurdling himself down 15 stairs with the trendiest flip<br />
tricks possible, but he’s already been there and done that. Don’t get me wrong,<br />
Troy can still hang with the best of them, but with more style and grace. Plus<br />
Troy works full time and has a family to attend to and that’s not even mentioning<br />
that his body is plagued with a lifetime of injuries both on and off the board. If<br />
you’re 18 and looking at the photos thinking “I can do all this shit, where’s my<br />
interview?” you are a hater. Troy is you, but only 15 years farther down the path<br />
of life. Johnson you’re the shit. Oh yeah, he shot all of his tricks in less than a<br />
couple of hours—just another day at the office for “ROIDS”.<br />
<strong>SLUG</strong>: Heard you just went to the Black Pearl Skate Park in the Cayman Islands.<br />
How was it, was it better than sex?<br />
ROIDS: Well, it’s the only sex that I am getting right now, so I would have to<br />
say yeah, it’s better than sex. I just got back a few weeks ago and I miss it<br />
Ten pounds lighTer and sTill recovering from being sick Troy blasTs This<br />
nollie 270 heelflip over The hip.<br />
photo: adam dorobiala