Binger back smith.Words and photos: Tyler Orton
Many of you may know who Jamie Weller is, the head skate coach and the man behind it all for the skate scene here at Windells. What you might not know of is his recent skate company: Usurper Skateboards. He and his business partner Joel Kelley, started Usurper in 2011 and we now bring you their skate team as they visit us throughout the summer. Cam Barrett, Ian McMartin, Peter Gunn, Brenden “Binger” Boothe, and the most recent additions to the team, Ian Storm, Eric lazore, and Jamie Jihad, brick strait flat out destroy everything, including the Windells park. They keep coming back to stack clips and will soon release a Usurper skate edit at the infamous Concrete Jungle. So keep your eyes peeled folks’.
I was able to get on the phone with Weller himself and asked him a few questions about Usurper. Here are some things you should know.
Jamie and Binger.Windells: Jamie, you can tell that Usurper has it’s own style. What separates your company from the rest?
Jamie Weller: Well, we’re a small Northwest company trying to support underground skaters who shred. Bringing in cool original artwork and repping the Northwest is also something we’re big on. The Northwest needs the love it deserves. I’ve been pouring concrete forever and now I want to do something different. To put my ideas on a board is truly amazing to see and the best part is that it’s been so much fun.
That sounds legit, stoked to hear you guys are keeping it real. Literally. Why is it important to you and your business partner, Joel?
To do something fun and be a part of something in the skate scene. I’ve been skating for 26 years and skateboarding is something that I will be a part of forever. What it comes down to is it’s just about skating and getting out there with the crew. It keeps me stoked on skating.
Windells Videographer Jake Durham shows Binger the shotI’ve never heard of the word Usurper until I heard about your skate company. What does it mean exactly?
To take over. You can look up the definition too if you want. It’s right there on Google I’m sure. haha.
Ian McMartin.Sounds dangerous. Any big future plans for the company?
Try to be successful and have fun while doing it. To go skate everyday, stack some clips, learn about the skate business, and to keep having a good time with everyone and what we’re doing. We want to drop a full length at some point in the future as well. I’m just gonna keep going and going until it’s not fun anymore.
I hear that you’re a big Wu-tang fan. Why is that?
Wu-tang is the sh*t man! How can you not like Wu-tang? I’ve listened to them since I was young and everyone in Portland calls me Wu-Weller. My homie painted a mural of the Wu-tang bird on his ramp awhile back but instead of it saying “Wu-tang” in the middle it said “Weller”. The name kinda stuck after that.
Cam frontside flip.Check out the skate decks here at www.usurperskateboards.com and “like” their facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Usurper-Skateboards/191468574241424 , tell your friends about them and go buy one because they ride amazing, look sick, and it’s 100% skateboarder owned. Also check out their friends, Jivarowheels.com. Straight out of Portland, Oregon.
