The 30-year-old Brazilian skateboarder, Kelvin Hoefler, won a silver medal in the men's street skateboarding event at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics.
From practicing skateboarding in his own garage to winning major events like X Games and SLS, Kelvin's skateboarding path is one of dedication and passion.
In this issue of Cross-Examination, Kelvin shares his favorite tricks, his thoughts on the Brazilian skateboarding vibe, and many of the stories behind his signature shoe, the Hoefler T20 Pro!
How did you get started with skateboarding and what attracted you?
When I was about 9 years old, my neighbor used to skateboard, so my dad gave me his old skateboard and I started skateboarding.
What's your favorite skateboarding move and why?
I like a lot of different tricks. It's hard to pick one, but I think I like the flips.
Can you describe the skateboarding vibe in your hometown or where you grew up?
I grew up in a small seaside town in Brazil, and when I was a kid, I didn't have skateboarding near my house. So, my dad made me some boxes and I skateboarded in my garage and I actually stayed in the house.
I like to be in a place that is not very safe, my dad is a police officer, so I can't go to many places. However, when I was younger, my dad would take me everywhere when he was resting.
I've never skateboarded in my city because it's more like a city of football and surfing. The place where the skateboarding vibe is better would have been in the city of São Paulo, where I could often take the bus when I was a teenager.
How did you learn or master a new trick on a skateboarder?
Oh, that's a good question, because my brain is always racing, trying to learn or relearn new moves from skateboarding. There are four positions in skateboarding, so there are many ways to learn the trick. I guess that's why I still love skateboarding. We can learn all the time, but it takes a lot of patience and determination.
What do you think is the most important aspect of skateboarding culture?
I think the most important thing about skateboarding culture, at least for me, is that skateboarding is fun. You know why? Because I just love skateboarding, and when you're doing what you love, that's a beauty. We go to the contest and if our friends make a trick, we celebrate with them. It's great!
As a professional skater, how do you deal with pressure and expectations?
I just treat it like my job to get things done. I don't usually worry about people's expectations because that's out of my control. However, I can control what needs to be done, and in this case, I will try to do my best so that at least at night, when I sleep, I will be happy.
Can you walk us through the design process for the Hoefler T20 Pro?
Working at Cariuma, we are always in close contact with all our employees, especially the designers. We communicate directly on a daily basis, from concept to finished product, with design options changing several times. This is simply because we sometimes work one-on-one or in small groups.
We all have each other's phone numbers, and from the first sample to the last sample, we communicate via WhatsApp and email. I can tweak all the parts I can think of and see if they work. And then we adjust from there.
It's reassuring to know that we've had that relationship with Cariuma's co-founders, and that relationship has continued to our designers and product team with this shoe.
How are your signature shoes different from other skate shoes on the market?
It's the best on the market, haha.
I wanted to design a shoe that looked good and at the same time helped the skater perform better. I mean, the shape of the toe cap makes it easy to glide, the rubber isn't too bulky, and the smooth texture maintains a consistent response when gripping the ground. The combination of suede and mesh is both sturdy and lightweight.
How do you hope your signature shoes will impact the skateboarding world?
I hope this is just the beginning for other skaters to forge their own path and grow together with a great company like Cariuma. They are a company that is good for the world.
What advice do you have for aspiring skaters who dream of one day owning their own signature product?
Keep sliding and don't care what others say, do your job and do your best work.
How do you think the signature shoe contributes to skateboarding culture and the identity of skaters?
Signature shoes, along with skateboard graphics and other products, have always been a part of the sport of skateboarding. I think it's really good to keep it that way because it helps skateboarders have a long career after years of hard work. I think it's good that companies can reward skaters for their hard work with signed products.
What was the most challenging part of developing your signature shoes?
I think it's to make a toe cap for bouncing.
Can you share a memorable moment or anecdote from the creation of the Hoefler T20 Pro?
I remember the first pair of shoes I tried on was great, but it had a lace protector and I slipped it and it was gone quickly, so we had to reinforce it because the main purpose of the lace protector was to prevent the laces from breaking.
If your signature shoe could talk, what would it say?
Thank you!
What's the craziest trick you've ever done with your signature shoes?
The hardest one I found was the fs board shot for my Thrasher commercial. I flew in to shoot a commercial for a week, and we went to the set on Friday afternoon. I tried several times because the railing was long and big.
So, it's super hard for a skateboard because at the end of the day, I'm leaning to one side or the other, and at the end of the railing, there's a sidewalk, so I thought I'd land sideways on the sidewalk and laughed at me. I was super sad when I got home because I really wanted to finish it, so I called Jameson (Cariuma skateboard manager) and told him I wanted to go back there. But I had a flight to catch the next day, so I had to do it as soon as possible before the plane took off.
We checked if it was church day and we were able to go the next Saturday. I almost didn't get out of bed that day because I was so tired the day before so my body hurt, but I want to go again. So, we went again, it took more than 4 hours of hard work, I almost missed the flight, thankfully I succeeded, it feels very good, my mission is finally done!
Translation & Editing: Little Monsters
来源：Dose Magazine